From our perspective as tuberose plants (Polianthes tuberosa), sunlight is our primary energy source. To thrive in a container on your patio, we require a significant amount of direct sunlight to fuel our growth and, most importantly, to produce our famously fragrant flower spikes. We ideally need a minimum of six to eight hours of full, direct sun each day. Please place our container in the sunniest spot available on your balcony. Without adequate light, our stems will become weak and leggy as we strain towards the light, and our crucial flowering process will be severely compromised, resulting in few or no blooms.
While we are not overly fussy, our root systems require specific conditions to support our tall flower stalks. Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches deep and wide to give our tuberous roots (technically rhizomes) adequate room to establish and multiply. The container must have excellent drainage holes; we despise sitting in waterlogged soil as it will cause our roots to rot. Plant us in a well-draining, high-quality potting mix. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is preferable. You can mix in some perlite or coarse sand to ensure the medium remains loose and aerated, allowing our roots to breathe and absorb nutrients efficiently.
Our watering needs change throughout our growth cycle. After planting, we require consistent moisture to initiate growth, but the soil should never be soggy. Once our green shoots appear and throughout our active growth period, water us deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. We will likely need more frequent watering on a hot, sunny patio as our containers dry out faster than garden soil. Regarding food, we are heavy feeders when preparing to bloom. Feed us with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks during the growing season. A fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number) can be beneficial as it promotes strong bud formation and enhances our spectacular floral display.
Understanding our natural lifecycle is key to long-term success. We flower in the late summer, releasing our intense fragrance in the evenings. After flowering, please deadhead the spent bloom spike, but allow our foliage to remain. This green foliage is crucial as it continues to photosynthesize and send energy back down to our roots for storage. Do not cut the leaves back until they have turned yellow and died back naturally. This process signifies that we are entering our dormant period. At this point, you can stop watering and move our container to a cool, dark, frost-free place like a garage for the winter. Alternatively, you can lift our rhizomes from the soil, brush them off, and store them in a cool, dry place until it is time to replant us in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
