Mixed Annual Combination – any instance where multiple different plant types are mixed together in the same container.
Shade
Light – Shade plants can withstand 4 hours or less of direct morning sun each day.
Water – Water when the top 2” of soil is dry to the touch. Morning is the best time to water, so that any wet foliage has time to dry out throughout the day. When the weather is hot, or windy the container may dry out faster and need water more frequently. Apply water at the base of the plants directly to the soil for optimal saturation. Proper drainage is important, check that the bottom of the container has drainage holes.
Plant Food – Regular fertilizing keeps plants healthy and increases flowering. Shade plants should be fertilized once a month. Select liquid or granular feed and apply according to package directions. Slow-release fertilizers are also available. These are applied to the soil and release small amounts of fertilizer every time the plant is watered.
Plant Care & Maintenance – To encourage continuous flowering, remove spent blooms, also known as deadheading. Snip or snap off the dead flower off at the base of its stem, near when it joins the main stem. If a plant starts to outgrow the others, use a pair of scissors or small pruning shears to trim it back to a size comparable to its companions. At some point the plants may start to outgrow the container. If that happens, trim the plants back to a reasonable length. Stems should be cut just above a leaf to avoid leaving untidy stem stumps. This encourages a new stem to grow from a bud located at the base of the leaf. Growing space for roots is limited in a container. Pruning keeps the plants healthier by holding them at a size appropriate for their contained space. Occasional dead leaves are common, just remove them to keep the plants clean and healthy. Monitor plants weekly for possible pest or disease damage.
Sun
Light – Sun plants need 6+ hours of direct sun each day.
Water – Water when the top 2” of the soil is dry to the touch. Morning is the best time to water, so that any wet foliage has time to dry out throughout the day. When the weather is hot or windy the container may dry out faster and need water more frequently. Apply water at the base of the plants directly to the soil for optimal saturation. Proper drainage is important, check that the bottom of the container has drainage holes.
Plant Food – Regular fertilizing keeps plants healthy and increases flowering. Sun plants should be fertilized once a week. Select liquid or granular feed and apply according to package directions. Slow-release fertilizers are also available. These are applied to the soil and release small amounts of fertilizer every time the plant is watered.
Plant Care & Maintenance – To encourage continuous flowering remove spent blooms, also known as deadheading. Snip or snap off the dead flower off at the base of its stem, near when it joins the main stem. If a plant starts to outgrow the others, use a pair of scissors or small pruning shears to trim it back to a size comparable to its companions. At some point the plants may start to outgrow the container. If that happens, trim the plants back to a reasonable length. Stems should be cut just above a leaf to avoid leaving untidy stem stumps. This encourages a new stem to grow from a bud located at the base of the leaf. Growing space for roots is limited in a container. Pruning keeps the plants healthier by holding them at a size appropriate for their contained space. Occasional dead leaves are common, just remove them to keep the plants clean and healthy. Monitor plants weekly for possible pest or disease damage.
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