4 o'clock bush in a plastic pot outside on it's last leg??

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laine5958 Natchez, MS Mar 29, 2010

Last spring I moved to Natchez, Mississippi, there was a pretty bush in front which I found out is called a 4 o'clock. It bloomed in the late afternoon and closed in the evening. Smelled great. That was last spring. This year, well it looks dead. Nothing blooming. We spent the Winter out of state, it was unusually cold. I am wondering if the weather was too harsh. I'm also thinking that it may have out grown the pot, it's a very inexpensive plastic one and has split on the sides. I could not see the pot before, the grass was too high. My fiance has no clue, "it was here when I got the place" is all he can say. He's not very helpful, doesn't know much about what's in the yard after being here 2 years. I know I am grasping at straws, but I would really like to try to revive it. I'm a beginner and just joined the forum. Okay, I know I sound pathetic, but hey-- I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Mar 29, 2010

I'd wait and see--I think they're herbaceous which means they'd die back each winter and then come back in the spring. I think they're hardy in your zone, although being in a container will typically knock a little bit off the hardiness so it's possible if you had a bad winter that may have killed it. I'd give it a chance though--there's nothing you can do to make it come back to life, it's either still alive and will come back or it's not, all you can do is wait and see.

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pastime Waterman, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 29, 2010

Take it out of the pot, it's trashed anyway, and check the roots. If they're all dried out or mushy, I think you lost the plant. If you find a couple healthy ones, then it might have a chance. Get rid of the dead stuff, repot it and hope for the best. Good luck.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Mar 29, 2010

Laine, I agree, tip it out of the pot. Mirabilis grow from a tuber and are dormant until about mid-April in my garden. You may also have seeds on the soil surface. They are black and about the size of a peppercorn. Mine come back every year and receive no special winter care. The tuber resembles a sweet potato. If it is firm, then the plant should sprout out again soon.

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laine5958 Natchez, MS Mar 30, 2010

Thank you all for the tips, we are off to the gardening supply. I will let you know how things turned out. Thank you much!!!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Mar 30, 2010

Hope they come back for you--but if not, they are super easy to start from seed. I remember my sisters and I planting them every year when we were kids and they always came up no problem even though we didn't really know what we were doing.

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