Care & Maintenance

Plant Code:
LW00973

Light:
Part Sun - Morning Sunlight Only

Water:
Semi-Moist

Bloom Time:
Spring

Flower Color:
Red

Average Size:
2-3' H x 2-3' W

Spacing:
2-3'

Cold Hardiness:
Zone 9 (30 to 20°F)

Find Your Cold Hardiness Zone

About This Plant

• Most tropical plants need a frost free environment to successfully overwinter and be used as permanent plants in the garden. Geographically this leaves most areas of North America, except USDA cold hardines zones 10 and 11, unsuitable for reliably growing tropical plants as year-around permanent landscape addtions.  However, that does not mean you can't enjoy tropical plants during the warm growing season as annuals (re-planted each year) or as container plants that are overwintered indoors.
• Adding tropical plants to traditional annual or perennial plantings, outside their natural cold hardy range, is an exciting new trend in garden design.   A mixture or mass planting of exotic tropicals with huge shiny leaves, bold outrageous colors, ferny textures, and spectacular flowers can transform the ho hum summertime landscape. A big plus is that topicals love the heat when other plants fizzle.
• Containerized plants can be placed on patios, decks and around pools.  Planting in containers makes it much easier to move inside for the winter if you desire or simply replant next season.
• Accent plants bring attention to a specific plant characteristic and in turn draw the eye to the area of the landscape they occupy. Accent plants offer stunning foliage color, interesting growth habit, unique flowers or a combination of all three.

Additional Information

Usually grown as houseplant or protected patio accent.

Uses

Color Accent, Beds and Borders, Specimen, Container, Houseplant, Mass Planting

Attributes

• Bold variegated foliage
• Stems and leaf backs are red
• Great in containers
• Loves high humidity

How to Water

• New plants require more frequent watering than established plants. After planting check for water regularly until fully rooted and established.
• For large plants; build a soil ring around the plant to use as a water reservoir. This will assist in watering until the plant is established.
• Always water slowly and deeply making sure the root ball is completely saturated.
• Don't water at night if possible. Watering in the morning helps prevent disease.
• If new plant wilts between watering, increase the frequency of watering.
• Plants in hot, humid or sunny areas need more frequent watering than plants in cool climates.
• Plants in containers may require more frequent watering than plants in the ground. This will depend on plant variety, pot size and soil.
• Add a 2-3"" layer of organic mulch around plant to maintain and conserve soil moisture. Mulch will reduce watering frequency and speed root establishment.

How to Plant

• Prepare the area for planting by conditioning the soil. Loosen the soil and incorporate an organic soil conditioner according to directions.
• Dig a hole 2 times the width of the root ball and a depth slightly less than the height of the root ball. Allow the top surface of the root ball to rest 1/2 inch higher than the soil line.
• For container grown plants, carefully remove plant by squeezing container and slowly removing the root ball. Never pull on the plant trunk. Instead let the root ball slide out by tipping the container. If the plant is heavily rooted, loosen roots by gently pulling a few away from the root ball. This encourages stronger root growth. Set root ball in hole making sure the top of the root ball is slightly higher (1/2 inch) than ground level. Place soil mix under root ball if too low. Backfill soil mix around plant to ground level and tamp lightly removing all air pockets.
• For biodegradable pots, follow the directions on the container.
• For bare root plants, trim any broken, twisted or discolored tips. Determine the original soil line by the change in color on the plant trunk. Set the plant in the hole so the soil line is above the surrounding soil. Space the roots evenly. Backfill soil mix around and between the roots and tamp lightly removing all air.
• Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the plant. Add more soil mix around plant if necessary after watering. Apply root stimulator to encourage new root growth and fast establishment.
• If a large plant; build a soil ring around the plant, 6" beyond the edge of the hole, to use as water reservoir to assist in watering until established.
• Add a 2-3" layer of mulch around plant to conserve soil moisture and eliminate future weeds.
• For large shrubs, it may be necessary to secure the trunk by using three stakes placed at equal distances around the plant.

How to Fertilize

• Fertilize just before and during the plants active growing cycle. Fertilization should begin just prior to new growth and end three or four weeks before the first frost.
• Choose an all-purpose fertilizer recommended for flowering and/or foliage plants. Frequency will depend on the type of fertilizer. Liquid (water soluble) and granular quick release fertilizer, require more frequent application; slow release granular fertilizer requires less.
• When using granular fertilizer be sure to sprinkle fertilizer pellets away from the plant stems or trunk to prevent possible burning and always water thoroughly after application. This dissolves or releases the fertilizer into the soil. Apply water soluble fertilizer by thoroughly drenching the leaves and soil.
• Always follow fertilizer package directions.

How to Prune

• Prune as required to keep plants a desired size or shape.
• Encourage new blooms by cutting off dead or faded flowers.
• Plants with branches originating from the roots of the plant need to be selectively pruned. Prune by removing the oldest branches completely. This will allow new, more productive branches to develop and produce flowers.
• Remove damaged or dead limbs back to live wood.
• When pruning, make angled cuts just above the bud.
• Use proper tools such as shears, hand pruners, pole pruners and pruning saws. Make sure all equipment is clean and sharp.
• Fertilize after pruning to help speed new growth.