In my boredom this winter I ordered more plants than I know what to do with, some where Iochromas. They are growing well and blooming, but I was hoping somebody could tell me how much sun they like, and if they need as much fertilizer and water as Brugs.
I like to keep them in pots since I have more holes to dig than I care to think about. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kerstin
Iochroma question
I had mine in pots last year and they were in full sun. They did get thirsty. When I watered and fed the brugs they got it too! I think Cala or Kell knows how to root them now if they get to big for you.
They can stand more sun and like less water than brugs.
Fertilize less and you will get more flowers.
Watch the pots in sun, the sun can heat the black pots in GA.Better the pots will have shadow.
Yes, what Ludger and Deb said, lol. I use red terracotta pots(plastic, not clay)Here in the south, mine get a bit of afternoon shade and are doing great, but not too much shade or they stretch. I've found they like to get a bit dry(but not to the point of wilting).
Thanks for the answers! It's perfect, it means that I can keep them on my deck.
As for the pots, I only use white ones because of the heat, and I also cover the soil with pine bark nuggets.
I can't think of a way to shade the pots though. Any suggestions?
I plant vines or things that tend to hang over the edge of the pot. I plant these around the edge of the pots the brugs and things are in. Be sure to pick something that likes the same amount of fertilize and water as the iochroma(or brugs).
Plant Wave petunias!! They love fertilizer and will hang over quickly and go to the ground. Of course use a big pot to accomadate both!
I planted my 3 lochromas in the ground in full sun. But we are 70's weather here. This last week end I dug up 2......and potted them to give away. I have not room for them, they get huge! I have seen one 12 feet! This is the one I kept. I am going to try to grow it as a standard.
What colors did you get Kerstin?
This message was edited Tuesday, Apr 29th 11:54 AM
Kell, that one is pretty! I love them grown as a standard and had no idea they got 12 ft tall.
Gotta get one of these, very pretty. I don't believe I've ever seen that anywhere.
Cala, that picture I sent to you last night, that was one that is permanently planted at a nursery in Berkeley and is old. It is huge!!! So tall. Mine is only about 6 feet and drooping all over! I have a main stem staked just have not had the heart to start cutting all the sidegrowth back. It is so lush with new growth and blooms.
I think I'll move to California instead of Texas. I want a 12 ft tall iochroma!
Edited to add:
No...changed my mind, they have earthquakes out there!
This message was edited Tuesday, Apr 29th 6:09 PM
Cala... the earthquake is moving to the east coast. early this morning there is 4.9 earthquake in Alabama. if u want to know the truth, i prefer earthquakes than tornadoes. so come on down, am sure u'd love California.
gingerlily, will be glad to send you one for postage.
Calalily, please tell me what standard means. I assume (and you know what that can mean) that you cut back all the side growth like Kell said.
Last year my Indigo grew to about 8'. I wintered the original over. Have cut back a bit, but hate to cut the ready to bloom long stems which are getting droopy already.
Agapanthus, standard to me means one straight trunk with a bushy top. I let the trunk get as tall as I want it, cutting off the side branches as they grow(always leave the branches near the top) and when it's as tall as I want, I pinch out the growing tip. The top will bush out(and yes, droop a bit) and I keep the side shoots trimmed off. Those side shoots root easily.
If it has buds, you can enjoy this flush of flowers then cut the the tips back.
I hope that makes sense. I need to use my hands to describe how to do something.
Wave Petunias sounds like a great idea. The ones I had last year where amazing, I had to cut two feet off them twice.
So far the only Wave that I really like is the regular purple. I had two different Tidalwave last year but they where not anywhere as good.
Kell, which ones have you tried?
The Iochromas that I have is the one you posted, if that is Grandiflora. Also Wine Red and Royal Blue.
I hope they don't get 12 feet tall though!
LOL Sometimes i'm real glad I live in Ireland! No Volcanos,earthquakes,tornados,big freezes,big spiders *yikes*,snakes, crocodiles etc. etc. LOL
We get the odd small flood here and there but nothing too devastating! :o)
agapanthus, Believe I will take you up on that. Please email me with particulars (your address, amount, etc.).
Thanks loads!
LOL Painted lady....a minute ago I had posted on the annual forum that I am desperate to find some Tidal Waves this year. Why did you not like them? I had one in a birdbath last summer that was just incredible as well as the color! I loved them all. There is a silver lavender that came back that is so pretty. I just bought tons of Waves and a few of the new ones this year called the Easy Wave.
I just posted some of my Wave pictures on this thread
http://davesgarden.com/t/292477/
Kell, great wave photos, and I finally know what to do with my concrete birdbath. It's too heavy to clean out, so I gave up on using it for the birds.
As for the Tidal Waves, they grew straight up for too long. When they finally plopped over they didn't look right. They didn't have as many flowers either.
I didn't find that but I did not plant them next to one another to get he hedge effect. I have still had no luck finding any Tidal Waves and I have been on a hunt. I have bought some Easy Waves though, they are supposed to be more mounding than last years Waves. I am planting some in the bottom of my brug big pots. I also found a salmon colored Easy Wave, which is not on their website. I may plant that one at the bottom of one of my peachy colored brugs.
gingerlily, you have mail. Haven't been able to get on for days!
Calalily I can just see your hands waving and weaving because as I read your post, I realized I was doing the same thing...teehee
Anyway, I thought that was the way to do it, but just needed confirmation.
Thank you.
They do root easily....I've got 6 going now just in case anyone wants one for postage. Have one ready for gingerlily and sending another one out to another plant nut. And to think Catlady started me on this.
Great to see you posting again Diane!
Agapanthus, I'd love to get a start of your iochroma, also. I haven't been able to find it out here. I tried to e-mail you but the system seemed to be hung up. I'll try again later.
Agapanthus, I thought Iochromas where hard to root. How do you do it?
I do not know about Paintedlady, but I have had great luck this spring. I find that the green growth does best for me.
Do try again, sewcrazy. Paintedlady, have had trouble rooting, but like Kell said, they seem to do very well in the spring. I had about given up, but tried again, and by gum it worked!