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stereotypeq

Los Angeles Kangaroo Paw,Sage,CalleLily, Dalhia, Help! w/ pics!

stereotypeq
11 years ago

Hi Garden Web.

So... looking for some advice. New to gardening, and things are going ok for some of my stuff. I'm in Los Angeles, and the soil is very clay like. Everything is in full sun for the most part. Everything I've brought was transplanted from store containers. Here's the questions I have (and all advice is welcome):

1. Hercules Calle Lily is pretty unhappy. I water it almost daily. I know it doesn't love the heat now.. is there nothing I can do? It looks nicer in these pics, but i remove yellowing leaves a lot. I've had to stake it to help it stand recently.



any advice/help?

2. Kangaroo paw & hummingbird Sage - was good for a bit. but I get confused, after the flowery part looses it's color i want to cut them off. I think I'm suppose to cut from the bottom of the stem.. but then there's essentially no plant left? how does this ever get big with that theory? Same question for the Sage.

{{gwi:545851}}

Dalhia - I lost the card so I don't know what variety this is. (do you??) this picture is before it went bad, but the start is at the bottom. I think i was overwatering. (I bought a soil tester and it said "wet" so I'm letting it dry out...) which is weird because it's in full LA sun and likes to be moist.. I watered like once every 2-3 days. any advice?

Appreciate any help! Also just planted some Bougainvillea. One I transplanted and is living 3 weeks later! but not growing yet... I water every other day, about. i tried less but the leaves started to sulk.

the other was purchased grown 4-5ft up and I'm leaving in store container (as it seems the other the soil just fell off the roots and this is better for it).

Is it bad to just leave things in store containers? I have a peace lily i put the store container into a pot. easy. and i think it's fine.

Lots of questions, appreciate whatever you have for me!

I'm new and don't know a lot about what I'm doing.

Comments (2)

  • stereotypeq
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    i have not watered the dalhia and it is getting better i think!! gardening is 20% figuring stuff out and 80% finger crossing for me... need to get better odds :)

  • jakkom
    11 years ago

    First of all, you might want to start posting on the CA gardening forum. There are quite a few SoCal gardeners on it.

    Second, soil and prep are ALWAYS more important than plants. If you have clay soil it won't drain well and watering so often will create root rot. Yes, new plants need to be watered to establish themselves - so it's a fine line between "watering enough" and "drowning", in this case.

    Your calla lilies will yellow and go away very soon. They HATE hot soil. They are partial shade plants at best, especially in your area. In coastal CA they bloom around Nov/Dec thru mid-May. "Hercules" gets not only very tall but will grow outwards at a steady rate.

    I wasn't successful with my own Anigozanthosos (kangaroo paw), but when advice says to prune back after flower, they mean the flower STEM, not the whole plant including leaves.

    Sage can be pruned almost any time, as far as I can tell. But like rosemary, you want to avoid cutting into the woody stems. Cut it back to a pair of leaves - any pair, just so you don't leave it leafless on that stem.

    Bougainvillea can be touchy about getting established. They hate being transplanted and it's very easy to harm the rootball because it falls apart easily. Once it's adjusted, you can cut back the watering gradually. "Sulking" won't harm it as long as you water as soon as you see the symptoms of leaf curling, etc.

    Dahlias are prone to root rot, especially when dormant in winter. With your clay soil you might be better off growing them in pots if you refuse to amend your soil.

    Watering too often and shallowly is a common error for beginners. Most plants prefer watering less often and deeply, and from underneath rather than above.

    Good luck!

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