Q. Would you have any advice for me concerning my
Lantanas? They are sure leggy while the
ones I see out on the highways are very thick.
Could it be lack of fertilizer or water?
I do give them a lot of water.
Also, my friend’s have half the plant’s leaves green and beautiful but
about a third are yellow? This heat seems to make it difficult to keep things
alive.
Lantanas? They are sure leggy while the
ones I see out on the highways are very thick.
Could it be lack of fertilizer or water?
I do give them a lot of water.
Also, my friend’s have half the plant’s leaves green and beautiful but
about a third are yellow? This heat seems to make it difficult to keep things
alive.
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| Lantana |
A. There are several things that complicate my response
to you. It may or may not be simply a question of water. The factors you should
consider which can cause plants to be leggy or the amount of full sun they
receive, the variety of lantana planted, water and fertilizer.
to you. It may or may not be simply a question of water. The factors you should
consider which can cause plants to be leggy or the amount of full sun they
receive, the variety of lantana planted, water and fertilizer.
The two driving factors here are sunlight and the
variety. If these plants are receiving different amounts of sunlight it will
cause one to be leggy over another one. If they are different varieties, one
may be leggy over another. If we put lantana in a semi-shaded area and give it
a lot of nitrogen fertilizer and water, it will become leggy compared to the
same plants grown in full sun and receiving the same fertilizer and the same
water.
variety. If these plants are receiving different amounts of sunlight it will
cause one to be leggy over another one. If they are different varieties, one
may be leggy over another. If we put lantana in a semi-shaded area and give it
a lot of nitrogen fertilizer and water, it will become leggy compared to the
same plants grown in full sun and receiving the same fertilizer and the same
water.
When we grow plants in semi shade they will require less
water and fertilizer than plants growing in full sun. They may grow fast in
semi shade if fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers and given plenty of water
but the distances between their leaves will be much greater, the leaves will be
larger and thinner. They will also tend to lose their older leaves. Leaves
attached to older parts of stems will turn yellow and fall from them.
water and fertilizer than plants growing in full sun. They may grow fast in
semi shade if fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers and given plenty of water
but the distances between their leaves will be much greater, the leaves will be
larger and thinner. They will also tend to lose their older leaves. Leaves
attached to older parts of stems will turn yellow and fall from them.
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| Herbs getting leggy because of too much shade and not enough water |
Plants grown in full sun tend to be more compact with
shorter distances between leaves, smaller and thicker leaves and dark green if
they are receiving enough nitrogen fertilizer. When nitrogen fertilizer in the
soil is running low, leaf color will change to a lighter green and the older
leaves will begin to yellow and may drop from the stems.
shorter distances between leaves, smaller and thicker leaves and dark green if
they are receiving enough nitrogen fertilizer. When nitrogen fertilizer in the
soil is running low, leaf color will change to a lighter green and the older
leaves will begin to yellow and may drop from the stems.
What to do? You can manage these plants with some pruning
and the type of fertilizer you are applying. Plants growing in full sun should
receive the most fertilizer. Plants growing in semi shade should receive half
the amount of those growing in full sun.
and the type of fertilizer you are applying. Plants growing in full sun should
receive the most fertilizer. Plants growing in semi shade should receive half
the amount of those growing in full sun.
Shift your fertilizer from a high nitrogen to a low
nitrogen high phosphorus fertilizer. Fertilizers that are labeled for roses or
tomatoes should be lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and you could use
these.
nitrogen high phosphorus fertilizer. Fertilizers that are labeled for roses or
tomatoes should be lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and you could use
these.
Remove the long leggy stems with a sharp pruning shears all the way to
the base leaving about 1 inch of stem remaining for regrowth. If removing these
long stems are not aesthetically pleasing, select two or three of the longest
ones and cut them back first. In two or three weeks when new growth is occurring
start removing a few more until you get the look you want.
the base leaving about 1 inch of stem remaining for regrowth. If removing these
long stems are not aesthetically pleasing, select two or three of the longest
ones and cut them back first. In two or three weeks when new growth is occurring
start removing a few more until you get the look you want.