From my perspective, I am a child of the sun. I thrive when I can bask in its full glory for at least six hours a day. This intense sunlight is my primary energy source, fueling the vibrant colors of my bracts (the colorful leaves that many mistake for flowers). Please do not relegate me to a shady corner; I will become leggy, with long stretches of stem between my leaves, and my colors will be dull and sparse. I am also a tender perennial, meaning I adore warmth and despise the cold. I can only survive year-round outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. If you live outside these zones, I will need to be brought indoors before the first frost, as freezing temperatures are fatal to me.
My roots despise being waterlogged. I require soil that allows water to drain away quickly and efficiently. A well-draining potting mix, perhaps amended with sand or perlite, is ideal. When you water me, please do so deeply, saturating my entire root ball. Then, allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely before watering me again. This cycle of deep watering followed by a period of dryness encourages my roots to grow strong and deep as they search for moisture. Overwatering is a common mistake that leads to my roots rotting, a condition from which I may not recover.
To produce my spectacular displays of color, I require the right nutrients. During my active growing season (spring and summer), I benefit from regular feeding. However, please use a fertilizer that is not too high in nitrogen. While nitrogen promotes lush, green leafy growth, it does so at the expense of my beautiful bracts. I prefer a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the fertilizer package), as this element supports prolific blooming. A balanced, slow-release formula or one specifically designed for blooming plants is perfect. Feed me according to the product's instructions, typically every few weeks during the growing season, and cease feeding in the late fall and winter when my growth slows.
I understand that my vigorous, sometimes wild, growth habit can be intimidating. Pruning is not something to fear; in fact, I respond very well to it. The best time to prune me is right after a flush of blooms has faded. This encourages me to branch out and produce new growth, which is where the next round of color will appear. You can shape me, control my size, and remove any dead or weak wood. Do not be timid; a good, hard prune will invigorate me. For the best results, always make your cuts just above a node (the point where a leaf meets the stem).
