Dipladenia Rio

    Dipladenia Rio - please refer to plant caretag for specific variety information

A Carnival of Blooms

Features - Compact plants with beautiful trumpet shaped blooms appearing in summer on twining vines. Blooms in shades of red and pink. Moderately vigorous vines that do well on a trellis or in a hanging basket. Dipladenia can be grown as a climber, reaching 10ft or more, or it can be pruned back once flowering is finished in order to maintain it as a bush.

Height - Approximately 46 to 60cm (18" to 24") in height.

Width - Approximate garden width is 30 to 36cm (12" to 14").

Soil and water - Use two parts peat moss, one part packaged potting mix or loam and one part sharp sand or perlite, with a small amount of crushed charcoal. Keep the soil evenly moist during the spring and summer growing season, but allow it to dry between waterings during the dormant seasons of fall and winter. It is also important to mist the plant regularly, particularly while it is in bud and flowering.

Light requirements - Grow in sun to partial shade.

Best use - Best in hanging baskets or containers.

Growing tips - Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season with a fertilizer high in phosphorous like 10-20-10. As an alternative, use a granular slow release fertilizer if applied annually in early spring. Avoid using fertilizer in the winter.

The tropical garden

A tropical garden features tropical plants and requires good rainfall or a decent irrigation or sprinkler system for watering. These gardens typically need fertilizer and heavy mulching.

Tropical gardens are no longer exclusive to tropical areas. Many gardeners in colder climates are adopting the tropical garden design, which is possible through careful choice of plants and flowers. Main features include plants with very large leaves, vegetation that builds in height towards the back of the garden, creating a dense garden. Large plants and small trees hang over the garden, leaving sunlight to hit the ground directly.

The more your local climate differs from the natural habitat of your plants, the more challenging it can be to maintain your tropical garden. Lots of light and lots of water are key elements for success. The large leaves that feature in tropical plants require the soil to be humid at all times, so irrigation is critical depending on the specific varieties in your garden. Although be careful not to over-watering as it will cause the roots to rot.

A tropical plant that is not cold-hardy should be brought indoors during the winter and returned to the garden for the summer.