Question
QUESTION: Hi Nick,im not sure of this plant as tropical or not.It is called mussaenda or budda's lamp. My problem is the plant has been in my front garden for about 5 years,each yr. I have cut it back after it becomes stalky and each year it has grown back with vivid peach colored leaves around august that last in color through dec. i am in south fla. My problem is that the last 2 years it first becomes beautiful green as always had but now does not turn to the peach as before,it just stays healthy looking green through dec, now.Does their coloring end at a certain age. thankyou as I miss my beautifl peach plant. ps i never gave any plant food as its planted outside

ANSWER: Hi Carolyn, mussaenda is 100% tropical, it needs full sun but moderate water, allowing to dry between waterings, and moderate fertilizer, low nitrogen; the reason for this is too much water and nitrogen encourages greenery and you sacrifice those beautiful peach bracts you had before. they actually do better when stressed a little, with low water and low fertilizer. Prune them back severely in the fall, this will encourage them to put out new tip growth where the bracts form and allow you to shape it symmetrically. good luck and feel free to follow up..Nick

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QUESTION: Thanks Nick for the info. but the problem is strange in that it cannot be colorless due to too much water as we have been on water restriction in south fla.and have been having some rain lately,and still no color again this year and as I said earlier i never gave plant food in the five years its been out there.Any other suggestions? THanks for the time!

Answer
Hi again, I'm also in south florida (southwest), albeit I don't have a mussaenda, I know they are very similar to bouganveillias in growing habits, and my bougs are pretty sparse of color right now, the reason is this is not the time of season that they are at their best; they really shine in the fall and winter, but as long as they are healthy, that should be your main concern, the color will come Wendy, Nick