From my perspective as a Lobelia plant, my number one request is a comfortable home that doesn't hold too much water around my roots. I despise having wet feet for long periods! Please choose a hanging basket with excellent drainage holes. A coir-lined or wire basket is ideal because it allows air to reach my roots, which I love. The size matters too; a basket at least 12 inches in diameter gives my trailing varieties, like 'Regatta' or 'Cascade', enough room to spread our beautiful, delicate flowers without becoming root-bound too quickly.
Next, the soil you pick is my life source. I am not a heavy feeder, but I need a light, fluffy, and moisture-retentive yet well-draining potting mix. A standard potting soil is a good start, but please mix in some peat moss or coconut coir to help hold moisture, and a handful of perlite or vermiculite to ensure it doesn't become compacted. This creates the perfect airy environment for my root system to explore and absorb nutrients. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is my preference.
My relationship with the sun is a delicate balance. While I need its energy to produce my masses of small, vibrant blue, purple, white, or violet flowers, I am sensitive to intense, all-day heat. The ideal location for me is a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. This gives me the light I crave to bloom profusely without the scorching afternoon sun that can cause me to wilt, stress, and stop flowering.
I am a cool-season plant at heart. I thrive in the mild temperatures of spring and early fall. When the summer heat becomes intense, I may begin to look leggy and tired, a condition you might call "melting." If you can, placing my basket in a location with good air circulation but sheltered from the hottest part of the day will keep me happy and blooming longer. A little respite from the peak summer sun is a gift I will reward with continuous flowers.
Watering is where your care is most crucial. My shallow root system dries out much faster in a hanging basket than plants in the ground. I need consistent moisture. Please check my soil daily, especially on hot or windy days. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist, like a well-wrung-out sponge. When you water, do so thoroughly until water runs freely from the drainage holes, ensuring my entire root ball is hydrated. However, do not let me sit in a saucer of water, as this will lead to root rot, from which I may not recover.
Regarding food, I am not a glutton, but I am a continuous bloomer, which requires energy. A light, balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks is perfect for me. Please use a diluted, water-soluble fertilizer to avoid burning my roots. This steady supply of nutrients supports the constant production of my delicate flowers throughout the season. Over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen formulas, will encourage leafy growth at the expense of my beautiful blooms.
To keep me looking my best and flowering non-stop, I need a little grooming. As the season progresses, my stems can become long and leggy, with flowers only at the very tips. If you give me a "haircut," it encourages me to become bushier and produce a new flush of blooms. Using clean, sharp scissors or pruners, simply trim back about half of my growth. This might feel drastic, but it invigorates me.
More routinely, you can practice deadheading. This simply means pinching off the spent, faded flowers. This prevents me from putting energy into seed production and instead directs it back into creating more blooms. A gentle pinch of the stem just below the old flower is all it takes. This regular maintenance keeps my basket looking tidy and encourages a dense, floriferous display that will be the envy of the neighborhood.
