Plumbago question

I bought a large plumbago in January (kid gave me money for Christmas cause he didn't have the time or inclination to shop, so this is what "he" bought me) LOL. The thing bloomed like crazy about 2 weeks ago. What I need to know is.......do I need to deadhead, or will new flowers come from other parts of the plant? It was just gorgeous. I should add here that the plant was not nearly this big when I bought it. IN fact, I thought I had almost killed it after I forgot to water it a time or two. Sure doesn't take long before they start to droop and lose leaves over it.

Wow, that is really an awesome blue.

put in half shade to stop drying out so fast, and deadhead just the flower shoots when all done, prune back half way in the fall before bringing inside, put in low light in a cool basement or put in a sunny window at room temps for winter bloom.

I don't do anything to mine, Anna.... only water and fertilizer...
It is one of the most striking plants and the bugs are not interested.... lol

Do you know what is the best way to overwinter?

in the florida keys the plumbagos are everywhere and they bloom spring, summer and fall. they are all in the ground and dont need overwintering-in all that time i dont think i ever saw a prettier one than yours. congratulations, beautiful job. debi

Thank you! Since it was a "gift", albeit one I purchased myself (but with 'gift' money) I would feel bad if it croaked! :>) I have it staked in the pot, as it is quite tall (about 5 feet or so) and the original stake wasn't nearly that tall, and it broke anyway. I put 3 metal stakes in and have it tied to that

once established, it is a plant nearly impossible to kill (at least here in California- not sure what cold would do to it)... they survive on 0 water, and we get 0 water from April to November often... yet they bloom like mad all summer long... commonly grown as median plants along the highways, they only need trimming to keep them from growing too large. I had one in my old garden, and even chopped it to the ground and soaked with round up, it refused to die and kept coming back year after year. My problem was with it was a weed- grew over everything and had sticky flowers that glued themselves onto everything (particularly me as I tried to weed or plant near it). But still great looking flowers despite it's unwilliingness to cooperate and die.

Yours is gorgeous. I love this color.

Here they are blooming right now. I am a little confused though, I only see them blooming now, not again for the rest of the year. I wish they bloomed more than once. There is a great bank of them on the freeway as Il eave the on ramp from work.

Wow, Anna!!!! Your's is more gorgeous than mine! Last year was my first winter to keep it alive. I had in the basement under my grow lights. It bloomed for me on and off all winter. It's a tough plant that if you did forget to water it, the plant does perk up very quickly. Funny thing was that I had two branches that wanted to grow to the ceiling of the basement to break out....lol. I'll have to show pictures later. It is very easy to root. I must have started cuttings from those two branches about 4 times.
:) Donna

Palmbob is right on for my area too. I grew mine in a container for a year or so until it needed more room than a 25-gallon container would give it so I put it in the ground. It can stand long periods of drought with no ill effect. Mine blooms year round. Bob is also right that it is messy. I don't deadhead either, but I do prune it back when DH complains about the mess in the driveway that it makes.

Here's a better picture:

Clare yours is sooooo blue! It's gorgeous! Mine is a softer blue.
:) Donna

Thanks, Donna. Those pictures were taken at sunset and don't really show the color well. I'll have to take an updated picture in better light. I just love blues and purples in my garden, don't you?

Yes I to luv purples, blues, pinks and yellows in my garden.
:) Donna

donna, they came out with that dark blue color a couple of years ago in florida. it's hard to even find the light blue anymore. they look really nice together, kind of mixed in. palmbob reminded me of something talking about the sticky flowers and seeds. we had so much growing thru the kennel fence when i would go out and bring kopper (our old beagle) in my nickname for her was plumbeago. she is sorely missed. debi

You mean there really is a dark blue? Oooooh, where do I find some cuttings???
:) Donna

oh yeah, its the color in the picture-that blue. let me do a little research here and see what the new color variety is called. we became bombarded with it in the keys and i never even heard it called anything but the "better blue variety".
cuttings will be easy to get. i don't have any here at the new house yet. but i will and can send you some then or maybe if you know anyone else in the florida forum they could get you some faster. i will be back with you. ps. i always thought my plumbagos were prettiest right before sunset. something about that light and that blue. debi

I'm starting to think so to. The better blue one seems to be more bushier than sprawly like mine.
:) Donna

you need to trim yours back. that's the only way any plumbago gets bushy and full. i cut mine back every fall, even tho they were blooming like crazy. boy, come 2 months later (florida) wow!!!

I must say that that is one GORGEOUS Plumbago!! I've never seen any that nice for sale around here.

track in sand, next fall when you do your trimming, I would be interesting in getting some for postage, if you're willing. All I've seen around here is the pastel blue, which is lovely, but I do like your idea of mixing two blue together. PLMK at your convenience. thanks.

Clare, yours is just gorgeous

This message was edited Sep 3, 2005 8:58 AM

Oh, ya......me too, would love to have that dark blue. I"m pretty sure mine is the light blue. Not seen anything that dark around these parts either.

Thanks, Nery. Here is a close up of my flowers, which shows the true color better. The whole bush isn't looking so pretty right now. Mine does get infestations of several different kinds of bugs including scale, whiteflies, spidermites, and mealybugs, but pruning severely and then spraying will help with that.

Here's a wider shot of it:

It does make a nice back drop for other flowers though:

talking about color echoes! that is a great pairing. I had read that bugs are a problem, but strangely, it doesn't seem to be a problem in our area.