Poor show of lobelia - anyone else?

[IcanBe]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone else is suffering from a really poor show of lobelia this year?

I've bought (from different garden centres) and planted trailing in mid-May and they're all so lacklustre - a few blooms here and there but really disappointing. Planted as I normally do in good quality compost and they have been regularly watered and fed and other plants in the pots seem ok. Is it too early? Having a BBQ in mid-July and was really hoping for a great show by then. Is there anything I can do to buck them up?

Anyone else noticed the same thing? I'm in the south east btw if that makes a difference.

Thank you.

I have never had any luck with lobelia. They are beautiful plants for a short time.

Mines thriving!

Where is it from?

MemphisMum - glad to hear! Mine was bought from three different garden centres so it's not just a poor batch from one. Really odd.

Cakeandchampagne - usually mine's OK so just wondered if it's a bad year for the lobelias kind of thing...

I'm in Manchester, in the last week it's just started to grow properly. I think I planted them about the same time as you

That gives me hope then Redshoeblueshoe - maybe today's mad heat will help bring them on too. Fingers x

I never have great results with lobelia, as my garden is part shaded and I they like a lot of sun. This year I grew them from seed and although the plants are really green and healthy I've not had a single flower yet. Even the ones that are in the sunny spots and getting 7-8 hours direct sun have not flowered yet. I put it down to a combination of an odd spring... some hot spells but some wintry weather, along with a grey and rainy June, until the last week. Maybe they just need consistent warm weather to perform well?

Yes, I guess the weird weather could be to blame - it's supposed to be pretty good this coming week so hopefully things will improve. Thanks everyone

Mine are thriving as usual, S Wales.
Tried growing from seed last year. Never again.

Try sweet alyssum instead.
It smells gorgeous, I think it's really beautiful, flowers a long time and grows really well for me (also in the south)

Thanks Fucksandflowers I'll definitely try the sweet alyssum as I like great scent in the garden - is it too late to plant out now for this year?

Also, does alyssum come in trailing versions? That's the other thing with the lobelia I've got, it was sold as trailing but is only nominally so and the few blooms I do have are bush-like.

S Wales here too and they are doing really well - and I am a very novice gardener!