Four O'Clocks, also known as 'Marvel of Peru', are compact, flowering plants that display a variety of colors on each individual stem. These hardy plants thrive in a wide range of soil types, making them a popular choice for sunny and partially shaded areas. The blooms of Four O'Clocks open every afternoon at around 4 o'clock and remain open until the following morning.Delivered as Bareroot You can enjoy the most beautiful scents and the loveliest colors outside in your garden, on your patio or on your decking with the Mirabilis Jalapa! This unique plant is also called the Marvel of Peru due to cross pollination, means that it can show a different color every season. What a lovely surprise every time! The lovely blooms also attract countless butterflies and moths – giving it its other name, 'the Four O'Clock Flower: the flowers open during the day and stay open until late! You will have a lot of joy from these miracle flowers! Use a garden fork, spade or tiller to turn the soil approximately 12 inches deep. Do this in an area that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. Incorporate or mix in 2 or 3 inches of organic matter, such as leaf mold or compost. This process helps create a well-drained, fertile bed, perfect for growing four o'clocks. Dig a hole that is two times as wide, and 1 inch deeper than the four-o'clock tuber. Space holes for more than one tuber about 24 inches apart. Set the tuber upright in the hole so that the end with the roots is at the bottom. The top is generally more rounded than the pointed root. The top of the tuber should be about 1 inch from the soil line. Backfill the soil, and tamp it down gently to remove large pockets of air around the tuber. Repeat this same process for the other tubers. Water the newly planted tubers with 1 inch of water, and maintain moist soil conditions for the first two weeks. After two weeks, watering the tubers once a week with 1 inch of water should keep them well hydrated during the growing season. Things You Will Need Garden fork, spade or tiller Organic matter Garden hose Tips If you can't tell which side of the tuber is up or down, plant it on its side, 2 inches below the soil line. Once the tuber puts forth growth, carefully dig it up and replant vertically. Once the four o'clocks emerge from the ground, evenly sprinkle 7 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every 10 square feet. Do this just before a watering or rain. Repeat fertilizer applications every four to six weeks until the plants are blooming proficiently. However, if foliage starts to yellow, stop fertilizing because you might be feeding your plants too much.
