These plants are excellent companion plants alongside other flowring plants. Here is a companion example.
Continue to read this article if you want to save money from buying expensive garden plants, sounds interesting right, ofcourse you can thank me later. The four o’clock plant, also known as Mirabilis jalapa, is a garden-flower that gets its name from its unique ability to open its blooms at around four o’clock in the afternoon every day. They are shrub-like, multi-branched plants that can grow up to 2-3 feet tall, and the flowers are typically yellow, pink, and red. Historically they have been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples and also have been used for dyes and food coloring.
| The time telling myth | Why bloom in the evening | What type of pollinators are attracted |
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| How Exactly Does the Four O’Clock Plant Tell the Time? The four o’clock plant, and many other plants are able to “tell the time” because of pigments such as phytochromes that are able to detect the amount of daylight. | The four o’clock plant particularly opens at 4 PM to avoid competition with most other flowers, which open in mornings to attract pollinators such as bees. At 4 PM, these pollinators are less active and nocturnal pollinators like moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies are active instead. | Four o’clock plants have a distinct shape, and are attracted by a specific audience of pollinators, more specifically those with long tongues that are able to consume the nectar. |
| Initial Stage | Small plant stage | Intermediate stage | Bloom Time |
|---|---|---|---|
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Soaking seeds in water before planting them is helpful and can increase germination rates, since the seeds are typically quite hard.
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The plants require regular watering (though overwatering can be detrimental), and in some cases adding mulch around them can be helpful to retain moisture.
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These plants typically bloom in the summer all the way until fall, and thrive in warmer weather.
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These plants die in the winter, and come back in the following spring, as the roots underneath the soil stay alive and will push for new growth once temperature increases.
These plants are excellent companion plants alongside other flowring plants. Here is a companion example.
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Adding these wonderful environment friendly plants to your garden can be very rewarding experience that offers a sustainable and fulfilling way to connect with nature. It's a simple yet powerful way to reduce your environmental impact, save money, and enjoy this beautiful colorful plant in your garden. You can save the seeds, which are produced in abundance and can be shared with friends and family. Start your journey today!