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| Hello, I've planted Four O'Clocks about 2 months ago, and this is my first time. I've noticed that the flowers only open once (although there are plenty of buds to replace them with the next day!) , and start to rot soon after they close... is this supposed to happen? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, May 26, 13 at 9:01
| a one day show.. timed for.. wait for it.. 4 o;clock ... they are what might be termed.. a night bloomer ... they dont bloom until early happy hour... lol you dont mention the heavenly scent ... i have a space.. about 5 by 15 feet.. that is covered in 4s ... and i early evening.. after dinner.. my deck smells wonderful ... do you have the splashed ones.. or the single color ???? mine are one inch out of the ground in MI today ... i hate you ... lol ... but in a month will think of you .... ken |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Mon, May 27, 13 at 14:56
| Yes, that's what they do. Like morning glories, each flower only lasts a day (or night, as the case may be.) |
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| Don't worry about that. Once the plants get larger they'll be blooming constantly. Very rewarding plants! |
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| Still plotting my 24 hour blooming trellis: morning glory, 4 'o clocks, moonflower. Does that mean it's always happy hour? :) |
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- Posted by steelskies 10 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 1, 13 at 1:12
| Nbendord: What a great idea to plant all 3 to bloom at different times during the day/night. Gives me a good idea. Wait! I actually have all 3 plants. I never planted 4 o'clocks before, so am anxious to see/smell them. |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Sat, Jun 1, 13 at 18:07
| I agree, great idea. First thing in the morning, both vines should be open, until the sun hits them. If the option exists, they are great on the west side of the house for that reason, they stay open later. I don't remember if 4'o's stay open all night or not. To get things going as soon as possible in the season, a ring of Oxalis crassipes (where hardy) would be great. Another night bloomer although they can take more sun before they close for the day. |
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| Ooh, that oxalis looks nice! Might have to indulge at the garden center tomorrow... This is my first year growing / planting ornamentals, so I don't know what to expect most of the time. I'm also anxious to see how the 4 o' clocks come out. I plan to use them as a ground cover, but we'll see how well that works. Might put in some sort of trellis... I also have 2 datura metels growing to add to the night bloomers. Between my foxgloves, datura, castor bean and morning glory plants, I'm setting up a poison garden as well as a 24 hour blooming garden! |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 10:20
| Sounds great - as long as you don't get some weird urge to start munching on these plants - HA! I got some castor bean seeds but still waiting to see if anything sprouts. Datura metel - been trying to find plants/sprout seeds for decades. This strange, beautiful weed eludes me still... Lots of 4'o'clocks sprouting though. Easy to pull if out of bounds. |
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| If some of the local raccoons or possums want a bite, I will not stop them... :) I had a 3/5 in sprouting my castor beans. I did not soak them, so could be my fault. I think 3 may be enough, though. lol I went through an entire packet of datura and got 2 plants. That's fine, that's enough, but, geez... It took FOREVER. I had them inside and nice and warm for weeks. Threw the first batch out... Started again. Soaked seeds in fish emulsion / kelp first... Green algae growing on top. My lord... I figured they were gonners. I eventually just put the damn pot outside in the cold frame and said to heck with it. A couple weeks later, there they sprout. I probably could've had sprouted more, but I was lacking in one thing: patience! |
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| I planted 4 o'clocks two months ago as well but only have 6" vines so far...any ideas as to why? They are in part shade. They look healthy but are very slow to do anything. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Jun 9, 13 at 7:57
| my 4o'clocks are shrub like.. i am not aware of a vine version a new post.. and a pic of your plant.. might get you an ID ... or.. there is a 4o'clock i am not aware of .. ken |
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| Here is a pic Ken...perhaps vine is the wrong word. The area I planted the seeds is rather shaded and one where I don't mind the plants taking over. Thanks for any input as to why they are not getting any bigger. |
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| Are all 4:00s fragrant? I've only grown one and its fragrance was divine. Just curious if this trait was consistent for all 4:00 varieties. |
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| Four o'clocks get very bushy. Looks like you have planted them too close together. They also grow nicely in large pots, one per pot. Shady areas will slow their growth. They will form tubers and in your zone should come back every year if left in the ground undisturbed. I put my potted one in my unheated basement room for the winter and it came back this spring. |
This post was edited by mnwsgal on Sun, Jun 23, 13 at 15:08
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| mnwsgal - should I transplant them in the fall or leave them alone. I don't care if they take over but that site does get shade when the trees leaf-out. Lots of sun in early spring though. In your opinion - do you think they will ever grow bigger and bloom in this spot? |
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- Posted by billjoebob (My Page) on Sat, Jun 29, 13 at 11:23
| You are so lucky to get Four O'clocks to grow at all. I've tried them many times and can't get the seeds to even germinate. I read how to sow the seed and thought I was doing everything right. I guess I did something wrong. |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Sat, Jun 29, 13 at 14:32
| I think these seeds prefer to sneak up. Have you tried just throwing them on the ground? Might be a type that needs light to germinate. That's how these got to be here. Shown with Strobilanthes dyerianus (Persian shield,) Hydrangea, Talinum paniculatum (jewels of Opar.) |
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| I don't know how they will do in the shade as I have only seen them growing in full sun. Once they bloom and frost kills them back you can remove the foliage and leave the bulb in the soil. It should sprout the next spring. Just like dahlias. I have read that the 4 o'clock tuber can get to be very large after several years. I have to dig the tubers or place the pot inside a dark unheated basement room to over winter as they would freeze in the ground here. 4 o'clock (mirabilis) seeds can rot in the pot or ground if the soil is too wet. I've also had volunteer seedlings. Mostly I spring sow mine using the winter sowing method. My mother always direct sowed them across the width in front of her large farm garden and had a colorful display late summer/early fall. |
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