Why is my lobelia not flowering

Not only do many varieties have true blue flowers, a rarity in the garden world, many also love cool weather and are in full splendor during spring and fall. They are a must-have for my spring containers, and anywhere else in my garden where I want to add a blast of blue.

They're not just a one-color wonder, nor are they always a tender annual. There are more than species that include upright and mounding lobelias , annuals, half-hardy annuals, perennials, and even shrubs and aquatic plants.

Varies by species. Most annuals will bloom from spring through fall, with a lull during midsummer. Hummingbird havens, garden borders and groundcovers, rain gardens , woodland gardens, spillers in container combinations, pollinator gardens. Blue lobelias are among this elite group, which also includes blue sea holly Eryngium planum , Siberian larkspur Delphinium grandiflorum , Lily of the Nile Agapanthus africanus , Texas bluebonnets Lupinus texensis , blue daisy Felicia amelloides , and blue hydrangeas.

See more of our favorite blue flowers for your garden. Although there are hundreds of lobelia varieties, these are the types most commonly grown in the home garden:.

Due to serious toxic effects, L. It has, however, been used for medicinal purposes for many years. Photo by: Proven Winners. Most prefer moist, hummus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Some perennial varieties, such as cardinal flower, prefer boggy conditions and can even be grown in standing water.

In midsummer, most will need some shade to keep them blooming, with the exception of those with improved heat tolerance. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during hot, dry weather. Container-grown plants may need daily watering to maintain consistent soil moisture. Although annual types are widely available at garden centers in the spring, you can also start your own plants from seed, sown indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date.

Don't transplant seedlings outdoors until a few weeks after the last frost date. Perennial lobelias will often self-sow given the right conditions and usually bloom the first year from seed.

Plant in a potting mix rich in organic matter. When using them in mixed container combinations, be sure to team them up with other moisture-loving shade-tolerant annuals and perennials, such as violas , impatiens, and sweet alyssum.

Perennial varieties can usually get by with a yearly application of fertilizer or compost in the spring. For annuals, fertilize more frequently or apply a continuous-release fertilizer for flowering plants to sustain them throughout the growing season. If blooming slows during the heat of summer, the best way to revive them is to cut them back by as much as one-half to two-thirds, followed by regular watering.

This radical pruning will regenerate new growth, and by the time the cooler weather of fall arrives, your plants should be in full bloom again. You can also pinch back plants at any time if you prefer bushier growth. Avoid pruning back or deadheading cardinal flower and other perennials if you want them to reseed naturally. Perennials tend to be short-lived, but the plants are easy to propagate by dividing them in the spring or fall or by taking stem cuttings after your plants finish flowering.

Unless you plan to let your plants self-sow, divide them every two or three years to extend their lifespan. I've tried on and off for years to grow this stuff and to no avail. Plenty of water, Miracle Grow, you name it.

I have hundreds of different flowers that do just fine but not this one. I was so hoping that the red gerberas, blue lobelia and the shastas would be pretty for the 4th but nope. Any suggestions other than to avoid throwing my money away??????? I grow mine from seed in NC7b The green-leafed ones like Crystal Palace do way better than the purple-leafed ones. I try to trim them. The ones in the beds are mostly gone by end of July or mid August, though I saw some blooming today.

The ones in hanging flower pots are good until September. They can take some heat but do like water. I tend to think wintersown ones are tougher, if you want to try that.

They are crazy easy to grow from seed. Not to worry It doesn't like hot weather Linda C. Mine do fine all summer long since I learned not to wet the foliage. I have also been spritzing my container plants with Daconil - it makes a BIG difference in foliage appearance.

Hate my new granite!!! This whole process has been a nightmare :. In a love hate relationship with a functional stove. Help me love it. Help me hate this tile less. I hate my new island top. I, too, have had this problem for years with the standard blue lobelia. It starts out fine but dies by mid-summer. It is absolutely my favorite annual! However, I found a different variety about 2 summers ago, called "Big Blue". It is a slightly larger plant with more of a trailing habit, but, otherwise looks pretty much the same It lasts much longer and usually lasts the entire summer for me.

Here in Connecticut, I can usually find it at my favorite nurseries, though, never at places like Lowe's or Home Depot. If you have a good local nursery, maybe you can ask them about it Around here, the hanging baskets of them are fairly popular as well. I've been growing the blue lobelia the past several years. I've done different kinds of blues.

Mine bloom until it frosts. Even thru our usually hot summers. It gets about 5 hrs of sun, but only from early morning until around noon. I mulch it with cocoa bean mulch. They hate drying out. I water once a week. Our summers are quite often in the mid 80's to mid 90's. A few have been wet, but mostly I have to water once a week. I do have them in a raised bed that drains well. But the mulch keeps the soil damp and cool. I don't trim them, they just keep on blooming.

By mid July they are draping really nice over the edge of the bed. The only things I can think of is keep them out of the afternoon sun and mulch them to keep the soil cool. It really doesn't like me either I think they like it shaded. Mine is a dark blue flower on dark foliage.

Them seem to like a lot of water. I don't see much annual lobelia at garden centers any more. I think a lot of people got tired of ripping it out as soon as the heat set in. Once I plant my annuals, I want them to last the summer. I gave up on it, too. Mimulus, pansies and violas present the same problem, but I sure love those plants.

Boy am I glad to see this post! I thought it was just me The ticket with my baskets said "full sun", yeah right! Glad to know it's just not me! Some annuals are sold crowded into a cell. Lobelia seeds are so tiny, you may get 50 plants altogether, which makes them die out faster. Some annuals have short life spans and need to be cut back hard to rebloom. Lobelia rots easily when too wet and crowded. I've had very good luck with 'fountain' lobelia hanging stems of mixed colors started from seed, divided up into little plugs of only a few plants together.

They spill over the containers in full sun and last most of the summer, enough to make it worth growing these darling delicacies. This is the first year mine have done so well. The big change? I'm watering them sometimes twice daily but the problem is i've stuffed them into planters with other flowers that dont need as much water. I think my geraniums are getting too soggy, not flowering much but that's another story! I was a bit disappointed in the big flats of "Regatta" lobelia I tried this year.

Non-blooming Lobelia - Knowledgebase Question. Question by Blueboy28 May 11, Answer from NGA May 11, You must be signed in before you can post questions or answers. Click here to join! Member Login: Username or email:.