Question
Hi, please could you possibly give me some advice, I have aquired a very young lupin from the garden of a recently departed friend, I ould like to keep this plant for as long as possible as a reminder, however, I have absolutely no idea as to how to look after it. I planted the small plant out into a large container, as I do not know if I need to bring it inside during the winter, (I live in North West England) will I need to cut the plant down in late autumn and will it grow again the following year? I am really stuck on how to look after this little plant but I am determined to try and keep it growing as loong as possible. Any information would be very much appreciated. Many thanks for taking time to read this, Sarah

Answer
If the plant is very small, it would do better in a small container. Then carefully repot it in a larger container before it gets root bound in the smaller pot. Lupines don't like their roots disturbed. So be very care when taking it out of the pot.
Grow the lupine in full sun to light shade. The soil should be average to fairly fertile, sandy, well drained, and slightly acidic. The soil should be moist, with fequent feedings during the growing season. Protect the plant from drying winds. The small offsets that develop at the base of the plant may be carefully separated and replanted to propagate the plant. They do not like extreme heat. They are short live in hot climates.
Dead heading is generally recommended for lupines to encourage more flowers spikes later in the season. On the other hand, lupines may self seed if the spent spikes are left in place. leave a few spikes in place after the flowers are gone if you want to have some new plants grow in to replace the older ones that die out.
There 200 species of Lupine. I don't know which one you have but I am sure the information I have given you is true for all of them.

bakerplanter