Greetings, dedicated cultivator. I am Lobelia, a genus of flowering plants known for my cascading trails of delicate blooms in shades of blue, violet, white, and crimson. To see my kind flourish in your home garden is a joy we share. I will now explain the two primary methods of my propagation, from my perspective, so you may understand the journey from my very roots and seeds.
This method allows you to create a genetic duplicate of a parent plant you admire. It is ideal for perpetuating a specific color or habit, especially for tender perennial varieties you wish to overwinter. The best time for this is in late summer when my growth is vigorous but beginning to slow.
First, please select a healthy, non-flowering stem from my body. A stem about 3-4 inches long, with several leaf nodes, is perfect. Using a sharp, clean blade, make a clean cut just below one of these nodes; this is where my rooting potential is greatest. Gently remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting to expose these nodes.
Now, prepare a nurturing medium for my new roots. A light, well-draining mix of peat and perlite or a fine seed-starting mix is ideal. Moisten it thoroughly. Before placing my cutting into this medium, you may dip the severed end into a rooting hormone powder. This is not strictly necessary, but it encourages me to root more quickly and reliably.
Make a small hole in the medium with a pencil, insert my cutting, and gently firm the mix around it. This protects my delicate tissues. Place my pot in a bright, warm location but out of direct, harsh sunlight. Maintain consistent moisture in the medium and provide high humidity, perhaps by covering the pot with a clear plastic bag. In two to four weeks, I will have developed a sufficient root system to signal my readiness to be transplanted.
Growing from my seeds is a more common method for annual varieties and offers the thrill of raising many new plants. My seeds are incredibly tiny, almost like dust, so they require careful handling. I need light to germinate, so please do not bury me deeply.
The ideal time to start my seeds indoors is about 10-12 weeks before your last expected frost. Sow my seeds on the surface of a fine, pre-moistened seed-starting mix in a shallow tray. Gently press them into contact with the soil, but do not cover them. To maintain the crucial moisture and humidity, cover the tray with a clear plastic dome or wrap.
Place my tray in a warm location (65-75°F or 18-24°C) with bright, indirect light. I am delicate at this stage; direct sun will scorch me. Mist the surface lightly if it begins to dry. With consistent moisture and warmth, my seedlings should emerge in 14 to 20 days.
Once my true leaves appear, you can carefully thin the seedlings. When they are large enough to handle, transplant them into small individual cells or pots. Continue to provide bright light and gradually acclimate us to outdoor conditions—a process you call "hardening off"—before planting us in our final garden home after all danger of frost has passed.
