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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.  A good mix would be 2 parts quality potting soil to 1 part perlite.

Pot size -- Start it in a 1 gallon pot or thereabouts.  After a few months, repot to a larger container, like a 3-5 gallon pot, or into the ground if you're in a frost-free area.  The final pot size is 5 to 15 gallons, depending on how large you let it grow.

Transplant gently, being careful not to damage the root ball.   After transplanting, don't compress the soil down - simply water it.  Don't fertilize your plant the first week after transplanting.

Climate -- 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 55 and 85 during the day, and 45 to 65 at night.  In warmer areas, give the plant afternoon shade and plenty of air circulation.  Keep the pot shaded to avoid overheating the roots.  You may plant it in the ground in mild-winter areas, such as along the Pacific coast.  Protect the plant from all frost. As far as humidity, over about 40% is recommended. 

Your plant was grown in filtered light and should be acclimated to direct sun gradually over a period of 2-3 weeks.

Watering - Deppea likes evenly moist soil, but it shouldn't be perpetually soggy either.  Water whenever the soil is about halfway dry down where the roots are.  "Soft" water is preferred, so if you water is "hard" (high in minerals), use bottled spring water or rainwater, at least until your plant is established.  Avoid water filters that add sodium to the water.

Feeding - Deppea has average fertilizing needs. Feed about once a month during periods of active growth, using an ordinary complete vegetable fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended dose.  If some of the older leaves turn yellow and drop, this could be a sign that the plant needs more fertilizer (nitrogen), or dry soil down in the root zone. 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.

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

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

Have fun growing it!

Jeff

Strange Wonderful Things

 

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