I have two Ixora plants in my bed this year. The flowers are beautiful...but I'm only getting about 2 blooms at a time. They shrivel and die back pretty quick. Is that common for this flower? Should I be deadheading more often to encourage more blooms? It's worth what I paid for them just as they are...I love the color, the delicate little flowers that make up the big flowers, the foliage, everything. So I'm happy to keep them as they are but want to try to encourage more blooms if possible.
Anyone growing Ixora?
you don't say where yours is planted. I've read they're not too keen on extreme cold or heat. I love this plant. mine is inground, full sun. Ones I've purchase before have died following mild winters, but this one has come back. It is tiny, the entire shrub is the size of my hand in a fist, but I'm so glad it came back, I will wait for it. Also, mine doesn't get much supplemental water.
I'm talking about Ixora Maui Red
This message was edited Jun 18, 2006 10:08 AM
That's what I have too. Mine is also in ground, full sun. They really are beautiful. The heat may be keeping them from reaching their full potential but I'm happy with what I'm getting. I'd love to have a big galvanized tub or whiskey barrel full!!
there is this mechanic in my town that has a planter built along the front of his shop. In it he has planted red ixoras and they are the most beautiful thing you've ever seen! They don't lose so much as a single leaf during our mild winters. Truly sickening. Every time I drive by there I get really jealous.
The first time I noticed it and make hubby stop so I could ask him what that beauty was. He grunted that it was his wife's doing and then looked away. I think he was disappointed I didn't wanna talk cars, lol.
All this to say, that perhaps you are on to something when suggesting they might do better containerized. I would tend to agree.
I have three of them in containers. I have 2 of the maui red and one of the yellows. I do deadhead mine and after doing research found that they like acidic soil. I now feed it food for azealas. I think that coffee grounds can also make a soil more acidic and that would be great for the in ground plants, but you might want to double check that. I think their blooms are beautiful, but so is their foliage and the tender new growth that has that orange hue.
Edited to correct grammar.
This message was edited Jun 19, 2006 11:01 AM
Well I can't get going without at least two cups in the morning so I have plenty of those. I'll check around on that to be sure though.