Castor Bean Color

Hi All,

Been growing this beautiful tropical for a few years and love the foliage and the seedpods. However, I never get the nice reddish color in my foliage that I have seen in so many photos. I have tried a number of varieties including Carmencita and Impala and got the same results. Any ideas? I tried fertilizing more, but that did not help. Thanks.

Victor

my carmencita leaves are always bright red and purple IF they are in full sun, otherwise they stay green with red veins and trunks. i never feed them and once they are a couple of months old, i don't water them either.

Victor, I posted a similar question some time ago and got no help here. However, after some research, I think it is like Track says, sun alters the coloration (maybe soil does also, don't know for sure). Mine are also in full sun and I don't fertilize.

Thanks. However, mine ARE in full sun! I have acidic soil, if that has an effect.

Victor

Victor,
They say "misery loves company". If it'll make you feel any better, my carmencitas weren't that red either. They were in full sun -sun up to sundown. Soil was rich, and they were well watered. They got huge, 14 ft tall with about a 10 foot spread at maturity. just not that red . Sometimes I wonder if the wrong seeds get into the pkgs.
Deanna

Just found my pic of the carmencita's I grew .. they were green too.

X

Thanks again. Yes, Deanna, mine were huge as well. Still love the leaf shape and size, but would really prefer the red.

Victor

I have some huge ones (15 fett tall and 8 to 10 feet wide) I love them. I grew from beans I'd ordered on the internet since I couldn't find beans at any nursery or plants...supposed to be red but mine are green also. I thought they sent me the wrong beans. The stems are red. Mine are in full sun. Then the other day I was at a nursery I'd never been to and he had red and green growing right next to each other so now I am sure the beans were not for red. I WILL have some red next year now that I found this new place who has them growing and I will know for sure whether it's my soil or not!

Connie, you can gather up some seeds from the red ones once you get them, and share them with the others! :-) Wanna go tomorrow? I'll get one too and we can both share! HAHAHAHA

Janet

Sure! You twisted my arm !