Growing Lobelia

I bought a flat of trailing lobelia last week and used half of it in a hanging pot. I always thought lobelia was a shade plant but the tag says "sun". What has been your experience?

 

I have grown this a lot in the past and had them on a south western facing balcony. They got loads of sun and did great. They had short moments of shade in the early morning and very late in the afternoon.
The main thing was to not allow them to dry out completely.

Really nice plant--hanging Lobelia.

 

Wow, I've been planting them in shade with a very few hours of early morning sun. They didn't get huge and thick but they bloomed and looked nice.

 

Sounds like they are pretty versatile. I agree with Sjoerd: the primary concern is regular watering.

 

I agree on full sun. I grow it for a friend who plants it in a border for her middle of the yard flowerbed.It is always beautiful. I also grow the trailing lobelia for hanging baskets and they sit in full sun all day. The thing they don't like is hot and dry. they will wither away in the horrid heat of August if you let them dry out..

 

Lobelia trails? Seriously?

Man, the things you learn here!!!

 

I have half a flat left and am trying to decide what to do with it. I will add some water crystals to the pots to help retain water, don't want them to dry out and get all sickly

 

Strats: That is what I would do too. I like those water crystals even though I guess they are not quite organic.

 

Instead of using the crystals I use disposable baby diapers. I know they last at least 3 years as today I removed most of the soil from my patio pots and the diapers were still good so I just refilled the pots with fresh soil.

 

Is it cheaper that way 2ofus? I am a little out of touch with the diaper department!

 

Ref the Lobelia. This has always been a very great favourite over here - fror many many years both "trailing" and "standard" plants. Its a great favourite edging plant around beds of annuals in company with white Alyssum mainly but other things also. Can recall my very first owned garden efforts way back in 1957 when into the mowed meadow grass of first bungalow garden I cut these fussy small flower beds centrally in the plot and planted thus - alternate blue Lobelia and white Alyssum edging with scarlet Salvias filling the beds.
There is some very nice herbaceous Lobelias also but they are on the tender side so need correct environment/temperatures.

 

I have planted Lobelia in a flower garden that was raised. The Lobelia did nicely in the sun.