lobelia seed

How do you save seed from lobelia? I have a blue lobelia and have tried to find seeds for two seasons -- no luck yet! Where I would think there would be seeds, I don't see anything ... help! My neighbor really wants some!

Alas, the seeds are almost like powdered dust, so when the blossoms fade, just wait for 4 days (barring rain) and snip the former flower heads off into a paper envelope. If it's raining you can wait 2 more days. Try to take some of the top part with, so it might restart another bloom cycle if it's still not exhausted for the season.

No, those plants don't like to be transplanted either; but you can try to replant some of the seedlings; if you recognize them when they have 4 true leaves on them early in the spring. Handle the roots very very gently, as they don't like to be disturbed!

~* Robin

Hey Robin!

I too am a lobelia lover and have a ton of them! Do you have any more wisdom about them that you can share?

Thanks!

Ok, here's some Info:

Germinating Lobelia: Both a Half Hardy Annual & Half Hardy Perennial!

Half Hardy Annual: Early/ late spring. Normally 4-8 weeks before planting outside. A Sowing time.
Half HardyPerennial: Late winter/spring. A Sowing time.
Germination Days: 15 to 20
Seeds need light to Germinate
Germination Temp: 65º to 75º F
Sowing Depth: On top of Soil
Planting Media: Well drained

Place seed of perennial types in fridge for 3 months Stratification (cold treatment)

Some seeds need a period of moisture and cold after harvest before they will germinate-usually this is necessary to either allow the embryo to mature or to break dormancy. This period can be artificially stimulated by placing the moistened seed in a refrigerator for a certain period of time (usually 3- 5 weeks at around 41 F). With tiny seeds it is best to sow them on moistened compost, seal the container in a Polythene bag and leave everything in the refrigerator for the recommended period. However, larger seeds can be mixed with 2-3 times their volume of damp peat, placed direct into a Polythene bag which is sealed and placed in the refrigerator. Look at seeds from time to time. The seeds must be moist whilst being pre-chilled, but it doesn't usually benefit them to be actually in water or at temperatures below freezing.

Light also seems to be beneficial after prechilling and so pre-chilled seeds should have only the lightest covering of compost over them, if any is required, and the seed trays etc. should be in the light and not covered with brown paper etc.

The effect of soil temperature on sown seeds: http://tomclothier.hort.net/page11.html

Germinating Seed Using Various Methods: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/481981/

~* Robin

Does all this apply to Blue Cardinal Flower or Lobelia Siphilitica? This is what I have (although it looks nothing like the pictures of Lobelia Siphilitica I see -- it droops and has the most lovely shade of light blue and is forming a clump -- hardy in Zone 5 ... I'd like to give a chunk to my neighbor ...

crockny,

If it is this one, then go for it. Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/90304/

Leave 2 leaves & a short stem; take some of the origninal soil with it, as this helps it to adjust better to the tansplant. Feed & water it well after the transplant. Don't be surprized if it dies back until later on or next spring. Just mark where it's put so no one accidently pulls it up. Chicken (hex) wire is good for that.

I have this one Edging Lobelia, Annual Lobelia, Trailing Lobelia 'Sapphire' (Lobelia erinus) http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/17852/ in which the seeds are vslightly bigger.

As well as the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/379/index.html in which the seeds are smaller than the Great Blue Lobelia

~* Robin