How to Plant Mirabilis

Mirabilis flowers blossom in the late afternoon and evening, earning them their common name of four o'clocks. The five-petaled blossoms come in many colors, including red, white, purple and yellow. The foliage creates a small 1- to 2- foot-high bush, and reaches its mature height quickly after transplanting. They grow as annuals in most areas, though they are perennial in tropical and subtropical areas. The plants grow readily from seed sown indoors four weeks before the last expected spring frost.

Seed pots
Potting mix

Instructions

- 1
  Place seedling pots in a drip pan and fill them with a sterile potting mixture. Water the mix until it's moistened throughout its depth and empty the excess water from the drip pan under the pots.
- 2
  Sow two to three seeds per pot, placing them on the soil surface. Press on the seeds lightly so they make full contact with the soil beneath. Cover the seeds with a ¼-inch-deep layer of potting mix.
- 3
  Place the pots in a 70-degree-Fahrenheit location. Mist the potting mix with water as necessary to prevent it from drying out. Seeds germinate within seven to 10 days.
- 4
  Move the pots to a sunny window and continue to water as needed. Transplant outdoors once frost danger passes in spring.
- 5
  Dig planting holes to the same depth as the seedling pots in a full-sun, well-drained garden bed. Space the holes 12 to 18 inches apart in all directions.
- 6
  Lift the mirabilis from the seedling pot. Set the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface. Fill the hole in around the roots with soil.
- 7
  Water mirabilis once weekly so the soil remains moist but not soggy. The plants may not require irrigation if there is at least 1 inch of rainfall in the preceding week.

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