• NATURE ATTRACTION – These plants attract hummingbirds into the
garden with their sweet pollen-bearing flower anthers. They are deer
resistant!
• KEY TIPS – Be patient for spring growth. They break in late June with
a vigorous growth rate. They like deep watering and make great bog
plants. They bloom for many months late into the autumn every year.
• SHELF LIFE – Re-pot into the garden immediately after the night temperatures
stay above 35 degrees.
• PLANT PREPARATION- Cut away any yellow or brown leaves or broken
stems that may have occurred. This grooming is completely normal
and will take place as the plant grows.
• POTTED PLANTS- Rather than the garden you may re-pot into large
containers. Repot the plants into at least 15 inch pots separately or
together inside one larger container.
• SOIL- Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil. They prefer bagged potting
mixes for houseplants that will drain well. Most garden centers
carry various brand names with perlite, vermiculite, soil and sand.
• GARDEN PREPARATION - If your soil is clayish amend it with a standard
garden soil for adequate moisture retentiveness.
• PLANTING SPACING – If planting in garden, space 24-60 inches
apart.
• WATER- Water the plants thoroughly and deeply. They make great
bog plants. Keep moist all summer long and they will thrive.
• FERTILIZER- To promote more flowers use a well balanced fertilizer
like Roberta’s Flower Magic Plant Food once a week in the summer.
• LIGHTING- Full sun is best. Otherwise a half a day of sun is sufficient.
• BLOOMING - Blooms after 8-10 weeks upon receipt and will continue
to bloom throughout late autumn until a heavy frost.
• TEMPERATURE ZONE 4 to 10- These are hardy down to about minus
30 degrees below 0 Farenheit.
• WINTER DORMANCY – After the first heavy frost, cut all shoots back
to about 4 inches above the soil. Plants rest from November - June.
They need a full 26 weeks of dormancy in order to bloom for such a
long time every year.
• GROOMING/PRUNING - Remove spent flowers throughout the summer
In addition, cut away any yellow, brown leaves or broken stems
that naturally occur. This grooming is completely normal and will take
place as the plant grows. New leaves and stems appear as the old ones
are pruned away.
• PROPAGATING- The plants can easily be sub-divided every 3-4 years
in late autumn. Get your shovel out, divide, and re-plant.
• CUT FLOWERS – The individual flowers are beautiful when floated in
a bowl as a centerpiece on a table.
• STAKING – The flower stems usually need no staking.
