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Deppea splendens

Please take your time removing your plant from its packaging. 

Soil --  Deppea likes moist soil that is high in organic matter, but that also drains well.  Most ordinary potting soils should work.  If you mix your own soil, use something along the lines of 3 parts well-decomposed compost to 1 part sand and 1 part perlite or pumice rock.  I like to add some slow-release organic fertilizer too. 

Pot size -- Start it in a 1 gallon pot or thereabouts.  Then when the roots start circling around the bottom and poke out of the holes, it's time to repot to a larger container, like a 3 gallon size, or into the ground, if you're in a mild-winter area.

Transplant very gently, being careful not to damage the root ball. If the plant is hard to slide out, squeeze the sides of the container near the bottom, to help push it out.  After transplanting, don't compress the soil down - simply water it. 

I recommend growing your plant indoors or in a cool greenhouse until it's grown a few inches taller.  Give it either well-filtered sunlight, or fluorescent lighting, kept about 6" from the plant (do not use incandescent bulbs).  Your plant was grown in filtered light and should be acclimated to more light very gradually over a period of a few weeks.  As far as humidity, over 50% is recommended.   

Watering - Deppea likes consistently moist soil, but it shouldn't be perpetually soggy either.  Water whenever the soil is about halfway dry down where the roots are.  For the first month, please ensure the original soil ball remains moist.  I recommend using a moisture meter probe to monitor the soil moisture. You can buy this at garden and hardware stores for about $4.  Simply stick the probe in the soil at the level where the roots are, and water whenever the needle is halfway across the dial, or slightly less.  I strongly recommend using bottled spring water or rainwater until your plant is well-established.  Avoid using alkaline tap water (above pH 7.0).  Also avoid water filters that add sodium to the water, like Brita and Pur.

Feeding - Deppea has average fertilizing needs. Feed once a month during periods of active growth, using an ordinary complete vegetable fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended dose.  Most potting soil contains fertilizer, which means your plant won't need to be fed for at least a few weeks.  If some of the older leaves turn yellow and drop, this could be a sign that the plant needs more fertilizer (nitrogen). Deppea will occasionally drop a leaf or two for no apparent reason.  If this happens, check for changes in the soil moisture, humidity, and lighting.  Try to keep these parameters consistent to avoid problems.

Growing outdoors - Deppea prefers filtered sunlight.  Morning sun + afternoon shade is fine, as well as tree-filtered sunlight all day.  It prefers moderate temperatures.  The ideal temps are between 60 and 85 during the day, and 45 to 65 at night.  In warmer areas, give the plant mid-day shade, and don't place it near a wall where heat can collect.  Keep the pot shaded to avoid overheating the roots, and mulch heavily to keep the soil moist.  You may plant it in the ground in mild-winter areas, such as along the Pacific coast.  Protect the plant from all frost. 

Pests to watch for - mealybugs, whitefly, aphids, scale (little brown lumps on the stems or leaves), and possibly spider mites (tiny "dots" under the leaves).

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 

Have fun growing it!

Jeff

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