The Painted tongue plant also known as Salpiglossis plant is a plant with lots of long-lasting color and beauty. The Salpiglossis plants are upright annuals with trumpet-shaped, petunia-like blooms. The Salpiglossis sometimes display more than one color on a single plant, and it comes in various shades of red, reddish-orange and mahogany. The Less common colors are yellow, purple, deep blue and pink. Salpiglossis flowers are really perfect for cut flower arrangements, and they can be even more spectacular when they are planted in groups. The Painted tongue plants reach a mature height of two to three feet (.6 to .9 m.), with a spread of about 1 foot (30 cm.). The Painted tongue plant is a South American native plant that loves cool weather and blooms from spring until the plant begins to fade in midsummer. The Painted tongue plant often produces a late-season burst of color when temperatures drop in autumn.  

 

How to Grow Salpiglossis Plant

Plant the Salpiglossis in fertile, well-drained soil. Although the plant benefits from full to partial sunlight, Salpiglossis won’t bloom in high temperatures. A location in afternoon shade can be helpful in hot climates. Make sure you also provide a thin layer of mulch to keep the roots cool and moist.

 

Growing Painted Tongue Plant from Seed

Plant the Painted tongue seeds directly in the garden after the soil is warm and all danger of frost has passed. You can sprinkle the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil, the Painted tongue seeds germinate in darkness, and you need to cover the area with cardboard. Make sure you remove the cardboard as soon as the seeds sprout, which usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Alternatively you can plant the Painted tongue seeds indoors in late winter, about 10 to twelve weeks before the last frost. Peat pots work well and it will prevent damage to the roots when the seedlings are transplanted outdoors. You can cover the pots with black plastic in other to provide darkness until the seeds germinate. Water as needed in other to keep the potting mix slightly moist. If you don’t relish the idea of planting seeds you can look for the plant at any garden centers.   

 

Painted Tongue Plant Care

Thin the Painted tongue plants when the seedlings are about four inches (10 cm.) tall. This is also a good time to pinch the tips of the young plants in other to encourage bushy, compact growth. Water the Painted tongue plants only when the top two inches (5 cm.) of the soil are dry. Don’t ever let the soil become soggy. Twice-monthly feeding with a regular, water-soluble garden fertilizer diluted to half strength provides nutrition that the plant requires to produce blooms. You can deadhead spent blooms to promote more blooms. The Painted tongue plants tends to be pest-resistant, you can spray the plant with insecticidal soap if you notice aphids.


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