Here is a picture of a potted Dipladenia. It did not bloom much in May as it was getting established. It has really taken off since June and should bloom like crazy until frost. It seems to love a little Osmocote thrown on it now and then. This plant is watered daily and is in full afternoon sun. This one belongs to my boss . This plant is in the Mandevilla family but more bushy as compared to the Mandevilla which is more viney.
Beautiful plant!
I think that is the prettiest one I have ever seen. About that Osmacote, how often is "now and then"?
Gorgeous plant Betty. I have a yellow one also. Thanks for sharing.
Patti
rsquared,
Thanks for the nice reply. Happy Gardening in NY. I love NY!!!!
ardesioa,
This Dipladenia I planted for my boss last May. It was slow taking off and suddenly it took off in June and has not stopped blooming. I put about a fourth a cup of Osmocote around the top of the soil when I planted it. I fertilized 3 times with an organic liquid fertilizer. I threw about a half a teaspoon on it this morning and I just do that whenever I feel like---every 3-4 weeks. It seems to be forgiving if I give it too much fertilizer. I have 5 at my house and the ones that are doing the best are the ones that are getting really soaked daily. The ones in the backyard are not as big because they do not get soaked daily but they are still very pretty. They are my favorite plant for containers and I have had them for 10 years and give them to friends.
rose 318,
Thanks, I have never seen a yellow one and would like for you to post a picture.
Thank-you for sharing...that is such a pretty plant!
Kat
Hi Kat,
Thanks for the nice reply and Happy Gardening in Florida. You are lucky to be living in Florida where your growing season is so very long!!!!
Betty, you certainly have the knack when it comes to Dipladenias. I have a pitiful one in the ground. Later today I will add lots of fertilizer and see if that helps.
ardesia,
I have never seen one growing in the ground around here. Everyone has them in pots and that may be the key. Miracle Gro potting soil is pretty light and the roots grow through that soil pretty fast, helping the plant to get established quickly. If I were to try and plant one in the ground, I would dig a huge amount of composted cow manure and peat moss into the soil to make it really loose, Look at some of the pictures I posted a week or so ago of my front and back yard under the Photos Forum. I have pretty loose soil and I have incorporated a lot of compost into the soil over the years. MY begonias are huge right now and that is because I put a tablespoon of osmocote around each one at planting time and because the soil is so loose the roots just take off and each plant gets so large.
Betty your garden is beautiful and so lush. Your soil sounds wonderful too. We have been in this house 7 years and I am still amending the soil. It never seems to be enough; in the intense heat organic matter just melts and disappears.
I suspect the dipladenia would do better in a container but I already have so many pots around the property and we live in an area that could be hit by a hurricane. Whenever a storm is predicted we have to stow all the loose stuff - including huge 24" ceramic planters so they don't become missiles and fly through someones home. It is a horrible job and we haven't had to do it for 3 years so I am worried it might be time.
I have been putting as much as possible in the ground but you know how it is, containers are addictive and they just keep multiplying at my house. LOL
Oh Betty...Your garden is just gorgeous. I really miss a little more Northern climate for that reason. I am lucky that I get to garden all year, but it's a real struggle at this time to keep anything colorful in this heat. For me, container gardening is the only way to go right now. And YES...they are totally addictive! (Started with 3 and have about 65 right now! hehe)
I wish you continued success with your beautiful garden...enjoy!
Kat
ardesia,
I understand. That was very funny " so the planter's don't become missiles and fly through someone's home." I am just trying to see that scene in my mind's eye and it makes me laugh. Take care.
Your plant is one of those "WOW" plants...............thanks
katG,
Thanks for sharing that beautiful picture. That environment looks so inviting--wish I could be there to relax right now and enjoy the view. Never say you want to be further North. We up here just get so low at times in the middle of winter when we are inside for months and long to be where you are digging in our gardens!!! I am counting the weeks I will still be able to enjoy gardening. We have about 11-12 more weeks until frost!!!
Happy Gardening in Florida! Even if I did not have much that was blooming in August or Sept in Florida---I would still prefer to be living where you live. You should count your blessings daily for that !!!!
gessiegail,
Thanks for the "Wow" comment. That made my day. Hope you are not one of those in Texas who has gotten so much rain this summer. I feel for you guys and my relatives live in Houston.
Betty I love your garden! I am hoping to have something like that next year. What perennials do you have in that front area and what direction is it facing? I have a plant similar to your beautiful dipliadenia but it is the vining type. Thanks for any info you would like to share....Rose
wow, dellrose...........a beauty you have nurtured along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you gessiegail...I appreciate the encouragement!
delrose,
Your Mandevilla vine is to die for!!! I cannot believe it is growing that big in a pot. Maybe I will try that next year. I was in Springfield visiting relatives a couple of years ago---great state!!!
MY front yard receives morning sun and a little of the afternoon sun. But I am growing the same flowers in my back yard and the backyard gets mostly the hot afternoon sun. See pictures I posted a few days ago under Photos Forum. One set of pictures is just my front and back yard. The second set I posted last Tuesday and the girls I nanny for are in the pictures. I took about a hundred pictures of them in two days and posted the best ones. They were both so co-operative and were given "Dora" dolls. Needless to say they are thrilled with their new dolls.
The tall yellow flowers are Rudbeckia Indian Summer and they are grown as annuals but do reseed themselves at times. The ones in my front yard did not reseed this year so I bought plants. I put composted cow manure in the beds before planting and a little Osmocote and fertilized about 3 times with organic liquid fertilizer--this year I am using Algoflash--got that on line from Burpee Seeds. I like it so far. The Indian Summer in the backyard reseeded and I moved the little plants when they were 2 inches high to another bed and I will post that picture. The reseeded Indian Summer look the same as the plants from last year. They are one of my favorite flowers and they look so graceful expecially in the front yard when they are blowing in the breeze. The ones in the front ,last year I let the stalks brown and go to seed and then I buried the whole thing, but none came up. We had a warm March and then a very hard freeze for 5 days, the first week in April. That is what killed them. I am surprised the seeds from that one bed survived. I lost 10 roses the worst in many many years.
If you look at the pictures Under Photos, you will see my White David Phlox. It is my favorite this year because it is really big and blooming well. My neighbor gave me a small sprig of hers last Fall and I did not expect it to do much the first year but it has taken off like crazy. Maybe I will post another picture right now if I can find the time. I am getting ready to cut the grass first .
