Flowering Plants in Red Earth

Plantastic
Red Earth
Soil-less Potting Mix

Our top-of-the-line soil-less potting mix. Especially blended for flowering plants and rare ornamentals.

This low-maintenance blend gives busy urban gardeners the luxury of not having to fertilize frequently. Slow-release fertilizers in the formula give plants the extra nutrients they need for up to four months outdoors -- and up to a year indoors.

After the estimated period of fertilizer efficacy, simply apply a fresh dose of compost and the appropriate amount of slow-release fertilizers. You can purchase these from any garden center.

TOPICS

Best Potted Plants

Choosing the Pot

The Right Potting Mix

How to Repot

Fertilizing

Wise Watering

Propagating
from Seeds

Propagating
from Stem Cuttings

More gardening tips at

BOUGAINVILLEAS are sun-loving tropical vines. Take care when repotting these plants as the roots don't like being disturbed. Remove new growth to encourage the plant to grow out rather than upward. If the bougainvillea grows larger than you would like, trim back the branches drastically. Follow the same care instructions as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow for maximum floral displays. BACK TO TOP
CHRYSANTHEMUMS are more than just gorgeous plants. NASA studies show they help reduce indoor air pollution. Mums are always sold in full bloom. After the flowers fade, deadhead your plant and fertilize the plants regularly. Give them lots of sunshine, water regularly but allow Red Earth to dry slightly before watering again. Do not allow to wilt. It takes some patience, but wait a few weeks and your mums will start to form buds. Even then, it's still going to be a bit of a wait as the buds "ripen". For those living in hot Metro Manila, yes -- they will bloom again even though you're far from Baguio and Tagaytay! BACK TO TOP
GERBERA DAISIES are on NASA's list of indoor-filtering plants, which can help improve the quality of the air in your home. They come in a rainbow of bright colors, including orange, red, pink, yellow and white. In hot Metro Manila, the sunlight is too brutal and can cause the plant's leaves and blooms to become sunburned. Keep the potting mix moist but not wet. Put them in a cool spot that receives semi-sun. BACK TO TOP
HYDRANGEAS, better known in the Philippines as "mil flores", range in color from white to pink to lavender to blue. You can change the color by altering the pH of the potting mix. Acidic growing media produces blue flowers and alkaline produces pink. Keep the potting mix moist and put pots in areas protected from the afternoon sun. Hydrangeas are heartbreakers for those who dwell in hot and humid Metro Manila. These plants are cultivated in cool areas like Baguio -- then sold in garden stores in the hot lowlands. Just be sure to keep them in the coolest area you can find to give them the best chances. BACK TO TOP
MARIGOLDS are perfect for new gardeners, especially those who want some gardening pleasure despite the fast pace of urban living. They come in a profusion of bright colors in blends of yellow, orange and red to please every gardener’s eye. Marigolds require full sun and adequate water. To keep the plant looking good, deadhead as the blooms fade. BACK TO TOP
PETUNIAS are available in a dazzling selection of colors and even have striped varieties. Place your potted petunias in a location that receives at least five hours of sunlight each day. Pinch off faded flowers to promote new blooms. Prune the branches back to one-half their original length if they become spindly in the heat. Remember, petunias are annuals; no matter how excellent the care you give, they’re programmed by nature not to stick around for very long. BACK TO TOP
		PLUMBAGO is often incorrectly called "Forget-Me-Not" in Philippine garden stores. The real Forget-Me-Not will find it difficult to grow in our country as it prefers much cooler climes. Plumbagos, fortunately, are tropical plants and can be very easily grown here. It is both a sun-loving and water-loving plant, and grows very easily with no particular care needs. It's a prolific bloomer with amazingly rich foliage and long-lasting flowers. Varieties come with white, pale blue and dark blue flowers. BACK TO TOP
ROSES are voracious eaters, which is why we recommend that they should be pampered with organic foliar fertilizer once a week. Top dress with compost once a month. This will give them a healthful organic diet while Red Earth provides a steady supply of slow-release nutrients. Most of the roses for sale in Metro Manila are grown in the cool highlands. The good news is, the plants will continue to bloom in the lowlands -- but will have flowers a few centimeters smaller. Give roses lots of sunlight. But find a spot where they will be insulated from the hottest part of the day. Placing them next to other lush plants will help cool them. BACK TO TOP
	YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW gets its name from the quick change in the flower colors from purple to lavender to white, all in a matter of days. This plant (Brunfelsia pauciflora) also goes by the name of Morning-Noon-and-Night. This plant thrives under the cramped conditions of under-potting. Keep it cramped in a pot indefinitely for best results. This plant also does better with periods of dryness which leads to an abundance of bloom. Grow under periods of drought stress. Allow the plant to dry down between waterings and even wilt on a continuous basis. Once you see signs of wilting, water generously. Give it lots of direct sunlight. After a period of intense flowering, the plant will rest. Top dress with compost to replenish nutrients. BACK TO TOP