Where carpets of blue flowers sway in the summer wind, the blue lobelia exudes its floral magic. To ensure that Mannestreu continually stages his flower spectacle in the bed and on the balcony, no questions should be left unanswered regarding plants and care. Explore tried-and-tested answers here.
How do you care for the blue lobelia, also called men's faithful?
The blue lobelia, also known as men's faithful, is an annual summer flower that blooms from May to September in sunny locations. Fresh, moist, humus-rich soil and a planting distance of 10-12 cm are ideal. Regular watering, monthly fertilization and pruning after the first flowering promote the splendor of the flowers.
Planting men faithfully correctly
From mid-May, Mother Nature opens the time window for planting ready-grown male faithful in the bed. If you choose a sunny, fresh, moist and humus-rich location, these conditions will motivate the blue lobelia to achieve top floral performance. Ideally, you enrich the soil with compost, horn shavings or alternative organic soil additives (€45.00 on Amazon), such as horse manure, bark humus or guano granules. Soak the root balls in water until no more air bubbles appear. Meanwhile, dig small pits 10-12 cm apart. Pot up the blue lobelia and plant it in the prepared soil up to the bottom pair of leaves. Then water and mulch.read more
Care tips
So that the annual blue lobelia becomes a floral hit in the garden, the care program proves to be surprisingly clear. It's that easy to meet the demands of men's loy alty:
- If it is dry, water directly on the roots in the morning or in the evening
- Fertilize organically once a month from May to September
- Administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants in the bucket and balcony box
- Short withered flowers by a third for late summer rebloom
Don't spend too much time worrying about the hassle of overwintering. From February onwards, sow new seeds on the windowsill, which will germinate quickly at 18 degrees and have developed into magnificent young plants by mid-May.read more
Which location is suitable?
The closer the chosen location is to the South African distribution regions, the more luxuriant the dense sea of flowers of the Manntreu wave through your garden. The location should be like this:
- Sunny, without blazing midday sun
- Warm and airy, protected from the pelting rain
- Fresh, moist soil, humus and nutrient-rich
In partial shade, the flowering of a blue lobelia regularly falls short of expectations. If the summer flower acts as an underplant, please pay attention to possible shadows, as occurs under densely leafed tall stems.
The correct planting distance
So that a dense carpet of flowers develops, we recommend a planting distance of 10 to 12 cm for the blue lobelia in the bed. In the balcony box or in the bucket, reduce this value by 3-4 cm due to the limited space and for an opulent look. Arranged in small tuffs, Mannestreu becomes a floral icon that no viewer can escape.
What soil does the plant need?
Männertreu thrives tirelessly in any good garden soil. As long as the soil is humus, rich in nutrients and well-drained, the blue lobelia shows its best side. In addition, the annual summer flower prefers fresh, moist soil that cannot become waterlogged. The busy mass bloomer has a neutral pH value. As long as there are no fluctuations in the strongly acidic or intensely alkaline range, the plant proves to be tolerant.
What is the best time to plant?
You should not plant a ready-grown blue lobelia in the bed until mid-May at the earliest. Since the flower does not tolerate frost, delayed ground frosts could damage it. Arranged in a balcony box or pot, there is nothing wrong with planting it in April, as long as you move the flower into a protective room at night by mid/end of May.
When is flowering time?
Mentreu's flowering period extends from May to September. To ensure that the sea of flowers continues to flourish, the plants should be cut back by 7-8 cm after the first flowering and fertilized again. In this way you create space for excessive re-blooming. After the first night of frost at the latest, the flower splendor is over, because the blue lobelia is not hardy.
Maennertreu cut correctly
Once the first flower floret has passed its zenith, cut the blue lobelia back by a third. Thanks to this gardening trick, you can create space for opulent subsequent blooms. After the first frost, Mannestreu breathes out its flower life and can be removed from the bed and pot. Cutting again will have no further effect. Only dispose of the clippings in the compost if no pets, livestock or horses can eat them, as all parts of the plant are poisonous.read more
Pouring men faithfully
Since the blue lobelia suffers greatly from drought stress, the flower should be protected from this by regular watering. Keep the substrate constantly moist without allowing irrigation water to pool. It is an advantage if you use collected rainwater and tap water alternately to prevent excess lime in the soil. Splashing rain from above with the garden hose pushes the delicate flowers to the ground. Therefore, water directly onto the roots early in the morning and late in the evening using the watering can spout.
Fertilize correctly for men
Fertilize the blue lobelia monthly with compost and horn shavings from May to September. Alternatively, administer a rich plant manure, such as nettle or comfrey manure. For male faithfulness in the planter, we recommend using commercially available liquid fertilizer, as this is easy to apply.
Wintering
Since the blue lobelia comes from the hot to maritime climate of South Africa, the flower has no resistance to frost. At the same time, sowing and propagation are so uncomplicated that the majority of hobby gardeners opt for annual cultivation. In order to overwinter successfully, carry the withered flower to a cool, bright winter quarters in good time before the first frost. At temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius, water the root ball every now and then. The plant does not receive any fertilizer. From March onwards, gradually accustom the blue lobelia to higher temperatures and increase the amount of irrigation water in order to move it outdoors from mid-May.read more
Propagate men faithfully
In order to grow more specimens, sowing behind glass is a good idea. Since men's trees from the garden center are mostly sterile hybrids, collecting seeds in the bed makes little sense. Instead, purchase certified seeds from specialist retailers. From the end of February/beginning of March, follow these steps:
- Fill the seed tray with peat sand or seed soil
- Mix the fine seeds with bird sand and scatter thinly
- Do not over-sift the light germs, just press them down and moisten them with a fine shower gel
- Place a transparent hood over each container and place at 18 degrees Celsius in partial shade
The strongest seedlings with two pairs of leaves are transplanted into individual pots and kept constantly moist until mid-May. Ideally, you should place the young plants outside during the day from April onwards to harden them off gradually.
True to men in the pot
The blue lobelia forms a congenial partnership as an underplant with tall-growing balcony plants or standard trees in the pot. The delicate flower also looks colorful in the small pot. Commercial potting soil can be used as a substrate, optimized with compost and lava granules. To prevent waterlogging from forming, place a piece of clay over the opening in the ground as drainage. This is how you properly care for male faithfulness in the pot:
- When the surface of the substrate dries, it is poured
- Fertilize liquidly every 4 weeks from May to September
- After the first bloom, cut back by a third
If you decide to experiment with overwintering, put the blue lobelia in the pot in the frost-free, bright winter quarters. Do not let the root ball dry out and stop fertilizing.
Is Maennertreu poisonous?
Because the blue lobelia contains alkaloids in its plant veins, the plant is poisonous to humans and animals. Therefore, refrain from growing when children or pets are within reach. When in doubt, cultivate male loy alty in a traffic light dangling out of reach from the ceiling. For reasons of caution, planting and care work should be carried out with gloves.read more
Is the blue lobelia hardy?
Native to the warm, sun-drenched regions of South Africa, the blue lobelia is not made for a Central European winter with ice and snow. From May until the first frost, Mannestreu feels comfortable in sunny locations in the bed and on the balcony. In principle, overwintering is possible in frost-free, bright quarters. Considering how easy sowing and propagation are, the effort is rarely worth it, especially since new growth in spring is not always guaranteed.read more
Trivia
There are two versions circulating about the origin of the common name Mannestreu for the blue lobelia. In the first variant, the researchers assume that the blue flower color symbolizes the man's true loy alty to his loved one. In the second variant, the scientists assume an ironic naming motif, which the Duden also follows. The loy alty of men is as unstable as the flowers of a blue lobelia fall off after being picked.
Beautiful varieties
- Riviera Marine Blue: Extra early blooming blue lobelia with a spherical silhouette; Growth height 15 cm
- Kaiser Wilhelm: Historical, proven variety that catches everyone's attention with its violet-blue flowers; Growth height 15-20 cm
- Hamburgia: Premium variety with indigo blue flowers and vigorous growth, ideal for the balcony; Growth height 10 cm
- Crystal Palace: Impressive blue lobelia that contrasts wonderfully with dark foliage; Growth height 10-15 cm
- Techno Heat: Extremely heat-resistant blue lobelia that doesn't weaken under the blazing sun; Growth height 15 cm
- White Cascade: New Male True breeding with white flowers over lush green foliage; Growth height 15 cm
- Rosamund: Pink flowering male faithful with white eye for bed and balcony box; Growth height 10-15 cm
- Richardi: Thanks to its hanging tendrils up to 80 cm long, it is the ideal variety for hanging baskets
