fertilizing

Fertilizer

Up, Down, and all Around

A common way of describing the purpose behind each chemical is to think “up, down, and all around.”

Hibiscus                                                                          17 - 5 -24                                                                                 

Nitrogen (N), the first chemical listed, helps with plant growth above ground. Nitrogen does a great job of promoting the green leafy growth of foliage, and provides the necessary ingredients to produce lush green lawns. Lawn fertilizers will frequently have a high first number for this purpose.

Phosphorus (P), the middle number, is very effective at establishing growth below ground, in the form of healthy root systems. It is also the component most responsible for flower blooms and fruit production. You’ll notice that fertilizers designed for flower production, or starter-type fertilizers for your lawn, have a high middle number.

Potassium (K), the last number listed, is considered important for overall plant health. This is primarily due to its ability to help build strong cells within the plant tissue. In turn, the plants withstand various stresses, such as heat, cold, pests, and diseases. For example, winterizer fertilizers will have a high component of potassium.

Banana peels

October

2025

New from Sweet Bay Nursery, a present from Bethia:

Rain lilies.  They need moist shade.  I'll put them near the oak in front.

Beach creeper and beach elder. Will spread. In front of the dwarf palm 

Dwarf blueberry.  2 to 3 feet, sun and moist.  Next to the tea bush

Coontie.  Slow growing. In front, city strip.S

Sea lavender. Melanie's side strip

2021

Tea olive

Tea olive can be grown in full sun or partial shade, though plants growing in deeper shade may become spindly. The plants prefer a well-drained soil and are fairly drought tolerant once established.

Because of its natural columnar shape, tea olive requires only minimal pruning, though gardeners may choose to prune the plant in order to encourage branching. Plants may grow up to 8 feet wide and reach 4 to 30 feet in height depending on the cultivar, but they can also be pruned into a small tree if space is limited.

2019

New Plants

Supercal Petchoa -- so pretty!

These pansies and celosia are so pretty together (with a purple in for color) that I can't bear to stick them in a planter. But I really should, they deserve it. Update: in a planter, they've really taken off and filled in.

Water often, fertilize monthly. Got at Lowes for $6.98  They're my planters for this month.  They're a hybrid of petunias.

Nora Grant ixora finally recovered from its transplant last month and has put out a little bloom. It looks a bit more orangy than the original pink blooms I fell in love with. ???

The milkweed in the front yard is blooming mightily, this 10/18.  Must keep an eye on it so I can harvest the seeds in the milk pods.

The Ganges primrose is coming into bloom.  

Who knew? Fig trees are deciduous. I nearly yanked mine out because it lost all its leaves. It's getting its new set just now, at the tips of all its branches.

To do: Buy pansies, snapdragon, petunias, kale. Cut back the periwinkles or vincas or whatever they are. Update: Haven't done this yet. Still soooo hot.

75 degree weather. After planting snapdragons in a full sun with well-draining soil, snapdragon care should include a few well-placed clips to manipulate this plant into a bushy, filled-out specimen. Clip the top stem and any long side shoots to encourage more flowers and more attractive planting. Tall varieties of snapdragons may require staking to remain upright. When blooms begin to fade due to summer’s heat, clip the plant by one-third to one-half and expect more blooms when temperatures begin to cool in fall. Intermingle plantings of snapdragon with heat-loving Angelonia for a similarly formed plant in the summer flower bed. Further care of snapdragons includes appropriate watering. When growing snapdragon, keep moist for the first few weeks. Once established, snapdragon care includes regular watering. Provide approximately an inch of water per week in times of no rainfall. Water near the crown of the plant and avoid overhead watering to keep your snapdragon healthy. Once established, let the soil dry about an inch deep before watering. Snapdragon care includes the removal of spent blooms. Mulch is appropriate when growing snapdragon. Though mostly sold as an annual, proper care of snapdragons may encourage them to return next year, as they are actually a short-lived perennial plant.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Planting Snapdragons In The Garden: How To Grow Snapdragons https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/snapdragon/growing-snapdragon.htm

Pansies -- more shade