Begonias
Begonias prefer granular feed rather than liquid, if you insist on using liquid it is imperative to water the plants thoroughly after application so the fertilizer does not sit on the leaves. You will see leaf burn if it is not washed off.
The top recommended numbers for a begonia fertilizer are 14-14-14, or 14-14-16. Remember always to dilute this type of fertilizer further than you would for any other part of your landscape, so as to protect your begonias from burn.
Wax begonias require more water to get established. Once established, water when top inch of soil is dry.
Begonias can fall prey to thrips and mealybugs. They are also susceptible to gray mold, stem rot, and powdery mildew.
Protect from frost
Celosia
Celosia can bloom for up to 10 weeks, and prefers full sun. Keep soil moist, but now wet.
Fertilize the celosia flower once a month. These flowers thrive with richsoil, so you may want to include compost or afertilizerwith a high amount of nitrogen.
Pests and Diseases:Spider mites andaphidsmay become aproblem insect pestswith celosia flowers.
Leaf spots may occasionally attack Celosia but the problem is not serious.
Celosia is not frost tolerant
Remove fading flowers to promote new blooms.
For fertilizing, use a 3-1-2 ratio every two weeks or use a slow-release granular fertilizer.
Geraniums
Geraniums need full sun to grow and flower well. They won't grow and flower well in shade. This means six or more hours of direct sun daily.
Geraniums require some maintenance in order to look their best. They require dead-heading of spent blooms to encourage flower production. They're also heavy feeders, so you should fertilize them every two weeks or at least once a month. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (look for 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 on the label). Another alternative is to feed them once for the season when you plant them by using a time release fertilizer such as osmocote or nutricote.
Geraniums are a drought tolerant plant. They preform best with consistent irrigation, but have a good opportunity to fail if the soil is kept to moist.
Geraniums are susceptible to Botrytis. Botrytis is afungus that tends to show up with heavy morning dews or when days are overcast and rainy. You'll notice it first on the blooms, which will look moldy; eventually they will get brown and mushy. It spreads rapidly from one petal to the next, one plant to the next. The best treatment is removal of the affected blooms and, if necessary, the whole plant. Don'tcompost the plants; wrap them up and dispose of them in the trash.
Geraniums are also susceptible to thrips. A good way to check for this is take a half opened bloom and shake it over a white piece of paper, if you see small black insects that is an indication that you have thrips.
Another thing to take into account is crop rotation with geraniums. If you use geraniums in an area time after time they can drive the PH of the soil to a toxic level. PH tests are necessary if you do not want to rotate and there is an application of chemicals that can be used to correct the PH. Please contact us for the program.
New Guinea Impatiens
Performing best in light shade but tolerant of nearly full sun during the winter in south Florida, 'New Guinea' impatiens are ideal for edgings, borders, or mass plantings.
These plants can shed their spent flowers, and can become messy.
Plants should receive regular waterings and fertilizations. Daily irrigation is needed in Florida in warm weather.
Avoid watering overhead, and cut back watering when conditions remain moist or cool.
Mix a complete slow-release fertilizer into the soil after planting
New Guinea Impatiens relatively pest and disease free.
Petunias
Light:Like bright sunny situations.
Moisture:Water regularly as needed. Avoid overwatering and soggy soils.
They are divided into two different groups:
-Grandiflora petunias have very large flowers and are best grown in containers or hanging baskets (because they are more susceptible to rain damage).
-Multiflora petunias have smaller, but more abundant flowers and are ideal for summer bedding or in a mixed border (because they are more tolerant to wet weather).
Multiflora Petunias are self-cleaning, but Grandiflora require deadheading.
Petunias have few serious insect or disease pests. Aphids and caterpillars may be an occasional problem. Petal blight can be a problem in rainy and very humid weather; avoid getting leaves or flowers wet when watering. Viruses occasionally affect petunias. Modern petunias have been hybridized with disease-resistant old fashioned types to resist botrytis rot.
Purple-flowered varieties tend to be the most vigorous, while yellow ones are the least. Red-flowered varieties of all types also tend to be weak.
Over-fertilizing your petunias can result in excessive vegetative growth and fewer flowers. Fertilizing once a month will be sufficient.
Salvia
During the hot summer months, plant salvias where they will have some protection from midday sun. High light can burn the flower spikes of white, coral, and salmon cultivars of S. splendens, changing them from white to brown; darker colors are more resistant to sun burn.
Salvias need soil that drains well,whether they're planted in the ground or in containers. In soil that's too wet or too dry, the plants will just sit, producing no new growth or flowers. In water-logged soil, the roots may rot.
Salvia does need some attention. Water regularly, if it doesn't rain. Even though S. splendens and S. farinacea need a well-draining soil, lack of moisture is as detrimental as soggy soil. Fertilize plantings in the landscape once a month with a balanced granular or water-soluble fertilizer or use a slow release fertilizer when you plant. Because salvias will continue to bloom for a long time, remember to keep feeding them. Dead head the spent blooms in order to obtain the healthiest looking flowers. Dead Heading will encourage new blooms.
Salvias tend to be relatively pest- and disease free. The diseases and pests that can plague salvias are usually problems in the greenhouse for growers, not in the landscape. However, you might want to keep an eye out for white fly, spider mites, and aphids, all of which may cause problems. Spent flower spikes can encourage botrytis, especially in cold, wet weather.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons range in size from six inches to three feet tall and come in a rainbow of colors, so you can select a variety that fits your landscape. They will bloom most profusely infull sunto partial shade.
Plant snapdragons as weather cools in the fall, generally around November in South Florida.
Snapdragons like a neutralsoil pH, between 6.2 and 7.0. As short-lived plants, they are not heavy feeders, but addingorganic matterwill help keep them healthy and blooming.
Regulardeadheadingwill keep your snapdragons blooming longer, and some of the taller varieties will require staking.
Snapdragons are affected by few pests or diseases. Rust andother fungal diseasescan be a problem, especially in wet seasons. Snapdragons may also attractaphids.
Sunpatiens
These impatiens can take the high heat and intense sunlight in Southern climates, although they’ll also perform in partial shade.
Incorporate a slow release fertilizer at label rates into the soil when you plant. An alternative way to fertilize is to apply water-soluble fertilizer at label rates 2-3 times per month
Water plants well after planting and keep the media evenly moist until plants are established, which should be in 7-10 days. If plants wilt after they are established, simply water well and they should revive within 24 hours.
In most cases, SunPatiens should not be cut back to control size as it alters their natural form.
Dusty Miller
The small yellow blooms of dusty miller are small and not considered showy. Foliage of the dusty miller plant, however, is long lasting and drought resistant. As with most silvery, furry plants, growing dusty miller helps the garden remain attractive through the heat of the south. It will also tolerate frost.
The dusty miller plant is adaptable to many soil types, thriving in acidic clay to sandy loam soils. Soil must be well draining to avoidroot rot. Water regularly right after planting and withhold water once roots have developed and the plant is growing.
Dusty miller care may involve a midsummer trim if the plant becomes leggy. The dusty miller flower may be removed to keep the plant compact. This specimen can grow as tall as 1 foot, but often remains shorter. Leave a few flowers to bloom in late summer if you wish the plant to self seed.
When growing dusty miller, be sure to plant compatible, colorful companions. The lacy leaves areresistant to deerand are an excellent choice for areas where browsing animals may create problems with other plants in the landscape.
Dusty miller is a light feeder and too much fertilizer may result in a weak, leggy plant that requires more water. It benefits from a light application of a general-purpose, slow-release fertilizer in early spring. To apply the fertilizer, sprinkle 2 to 3 teaspoons of dry fertilizer around every plant, and then water deeply to prevent scorching and to distribute the fertilizer evenly around the roots. After that, you don't need to fertilize.