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Flowering
Tropicals
Hibiscus
Care:
Summer
Care: Please
report into a clay pot at least
12". Use 'GOOD' potting mix
(we recommend Heartland Potting
Mix). Use Osmocote fertilizer..2
tablespoons in a 12" pot.
3 tablespoons in a 16" pot.
Miracle-Gro can be used instead,
but must be used weekly. One gallon
per week per pot. Place in 1/2
day of sun, to full day of sun.
Systemic insecticide is recommended
year round.
Water
Care! Soil
should be kept moist. A 12"
to 16" pot will probably
require at least 2 gallons of
water a day to fully moisten the
soil properly. Yes - water will
come out the drainage hole. That
DOES NOT mean
its well watered. It takes a while
for the Root Ball to get thoroughly
wet. Don't be afraid to
over water - it's next to impossible
when growing in a sunny spot!
Winter
Care: Hibiscus
should come into the house before
the first frost. If plant has
grown too large, prune back. They
can be pruned back to 1/2 its
size. It doesn't matter where
on the stem. If it needs to be
repotted, do so before bringing
in for winter. Place in the sunniest
window you have. **When moving
back out in spring cut back if
necessary. Fertilize, repot if
necessary, and step up the watering.
If repotting isn't an option you
can root trim: cut off 1 to 2
inches of root, repot into same
pot with fresh soil, Osmocote,
and systemic insecticide. Place
in shade for a week before gradually
moving into a sunny spot.
MANDEVILLA
(MANDY) CARE:
Mandy's
are an easy to grow tropical twining
vine. Place near deck rails, trellis
or other support. They like at
least 1/2 day of sun, and thriving
in full sun. Can grow on hot decks
or patios. Small Mandy's should
be repotted into larger pots.
Use Heartland Potting Mix, and
Osmocote fertilizer. Water daily
if grown in pots.
Winter
Care: Bring in before first frost.
Cut it back to about 2 feet from
the soil level and place in a
sunny window. They will probably
not bloom, but that is normal.
You are just keeping it alive
until spring when you can take
it back outside. In spring wait
until about May 1st to put it
back outside in the shade for
a week before moving it to it's
sunny spot.
Mandy's
do not like to be cool.
BOUGAINVILLEA
-"BOOGIE":
Tropical
vine that likes it sunny and hot.
Needs at least 1/2 day of sun,
but prefers more. Water when soil
is dry.
Bring
inside for the winter and put
in the sunniest window you have
or use grow lights.
It
if grows leggy, cut it back in
the spring when you take it back
outside. About May 1st is when
it's time to go back outside.
Place in shade for a week, before
putting it in a sunny location.
If
you are having trouble getting
it to re-bloom, cut back on the
watering. Allow soil to dry until
plant wilts, Let it be wilted
for a day or 2 and then water
well. This should SHOCK it into
blooming again. Use Osmocote fertilizer
in summer.
Dipladenia
- "DIPS":
"Dips"
grow under the same conditions
that Mandys do. They are a cousin
of the Mandy. They have a much
glossier leaf than a Mandy. Unusually
then do not need to be cut back
before brining into the house.
They are also not a vigorous vine
that a Mandy is. They are beautiful
in a pot.
GARDENIAS:
Fragrant
and beautiful. Grow gardenias
on the north or east side of the
house. They can not tolerate hot
afternoon sun. Repot into larger
pot and use Miracid, or other
acid based fertilizer once a month.
Outside they need to be watered
almost daily.
Gardenias
are sensitive to sprays, so be
careful what you spray on them
if they get insects. Check the
label very carefully.
Gardenias
come into the house for the winter,
and want to be in a north or east
window. Keep away from heat vents.
Mist weekly, and it is preferable
to get a pan filled with pebbles
and filled with water to set the
pot on the raise the humid which
is a must fro gardenias. They
can sometimes be difficult in
the house because of temperature
and humidity issues.
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