Things You'll Need:
- Lobelia tupa seeds
- Greenhouse
- Seeding containers
- Seed starting mix
- Grow lights
- Transplant pots
- Dry mulch
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Step 1
Grow the seeds in a greenhouse. To do so, seeding containers with seed starting mix and sprinkle the seeds thinly over the surface of the soil. Press them very lightly into the soil and mist the seeds every day until they germinate (it usually takes about 3 weeks).
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Step 2
Place grow lights about 3 inches above the seedlings and raise them as the plants grow. Continue to keep the soil moist. Transplant the seedlings into individual pots when they are 1.5 to 2 inches high. Grow them in the greenhouse for their first winter.
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Step 3
Select a permanent site. Lobelia tupa will need full sunlight in an open area that has some protection from the wind. This species of Lobelia is one of the hardiest members in its genus and can generally tolerate winter temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
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Step 4
Transplant the young plants in late spring or early summer, when they are 3 to 4 inches high. Ensure that the loamy soil is loose and remains moist. Lobelia tupa is relatively resistant to diseases and pests, although the crown is subject to rot in mild, damp winters.
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Step 5
Protect Lobelia tupa plants from hard frosts with dry mulch. You may need to move them back into the greenhouse in autumn if you anticipate a severe winter.
