From YourSITE.com
The Magic of Four O'Clocks
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Jul 4, 2005 - 3:04:00 PM
Four O'Clocks (Mirabilis Jalapa) are a popular perennial that open their brilliant, multi-colored flowers in the late afternoon. They get their name from these afternoon-blooming flowers, although you shouldn't really rely on them for keeping the time. This plant also goes by the name of "Marvel of Peru."
Because they maintain their flowers open through the evening, they will attract lots of unusual pollinators such as hummingbird moths and other nocturnal pollinators. During the daylight hours of the late afternoon, you will often see hummingbirds feeding on their nectar. Four-o'clocks are available in a variety of colors, including yellow, white, purple, pink, red, and combinations of these colors. In addition to their beauty, the flowers produce a delicate scent that will waft gently through your garden on summer evenings.
If you live in warmer parts of the country, with time your Four O'Clocks will develop large underground tubers. Unfortunately, if you live in colder parts of the country, you'll only be able to grow Four O'Clocks as an annual. However, these wonderful flowers produce so many seeds that you can easily collect and replant them year after year. Another option in colder climates is to provide your plants plenty of organic mulch during the winter to insulate the ground. Also, if you find that your plants have started to produce tubers, you can dig them up, separate them, and try storing the tubers for planting next year. Make sure you keep your tubers dry during this storage period to avoid rot. The tubers can last up to five years before needing to be replaced.
Four O'Clocks are suitable to plant in full sun to partial shade. They require well-draining soil with plenty of organic material mixed in. They are drought tolerant and require minimal maintenance. The abundant seeds can sometimes be a hassle to clean up, but if you take the time to collect them, they make great gifts for your gardener friends.
Follow these easy planting instructions to get your Four O'Clocks started:
PLANTING FOUR O'CLOCKS FROM SEED:
* Before you plant, loosen the soil and mix in organic compost to about 10 inches deep.
* Wait until all risk of frost has passed to plant your seeds.
* Place the seeds about half an inch deep into the soil and cover. Space your seeds at least one foot apart.
* Water gently but deeply after you plant your seeds.
* Your seedlings should sprout with about one to two weeks depending on the climate of your region.
* Mulch around the plant after they achieve a decent height.
PLANTING FOUR O'CLOCKS STARTER PLANTS:
* Buy your starter plants from a small, knowledgeable local nursery.
* Buy plants with healthy, abundant growth and a few flowers.
* Before you plant, loosen the soil and mix in organic compost to about 10 inches deep.
* Wait until all risk of frost has passed to plant your starters.
* Space your plants at least a foot apart.
* Set your plants in the soil to the same level where they were growing in their containers.
* Fill in the hole with the soil/compost mixture.
* Water deeply.
* Mulch around the plant.
PLANTING FOUR O'CLOCKS IN CONTAINERS:
* Five gallon containers are appropriate for growing Four O'Clocks indoors or outdoors. Make sure your container has an adequate number of draining holes.
* Fill the container with a high quality potting soil.
* Plant your seeds after wetting the soil. Around five seeds will work for smaller containers. Plant more seeds for larger containers.
* Place the container in full sun.
* Water regularly as the soil feels dry to the touch.
* Keep a close eye on the soil as the plant grows, as soil in containers will dry out quicker than in your garden.
To keep your Four O'Clocks looking good throughout the year, apply a small dose of organic fertilizer. High quality organic fertilizers are available on-line and at your local nursery. Avoid chemical fertilizers. You can also replace your mulch each year at the beginning of the growing season. At the end of the growing season, cut back the old stems to the ground. They will sprout back quickly in early spring if you live in a warm region.
For a fascinating article on the botanical history of the Four O'Clock, check out this site from Texas Cooperative Extension. The site includes a nice photo, too.
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