The four o'clock flower blooms in the afternoon, usually between four and six o'clock in the afternoon when the air is cool. When in bloom, the flower is shaped like a trumpet and can be yellow, red, white, pink, or a variety of striped colors. Four o'clock flowers will usually continue to bloom throughout the spring and into late summer, when the autumn chill begins. When grown outdoors, this plant can reach a height of between 46 and 91 centimeters, but the height may be shorter if the plant is grown in a growing medium such as a pot.
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Part 1 of 4: Planting in the Garden/Outdoors
Step 1. Wait for the weather to warm up
Plan for planting in early spring, when the cold weather has passed.
- Spring usually occurs between April and May, depending on where you live.
- Since four o'clock flowers can grow quickly, you don't need to sow the seeds indoors first. It's a good idea to wait until the weather starts to warm so you can immediately plant the seeds outdoors.
Step 2. Soak the flower seeds at four o'clock
The night before you plan to plant, store the seeds in a small saucer and pour water into the cup. Let the seeds soak up the water overnight.
- The shells of four o'clock flower seeds are so thick that if the seeds are not completely submerged, they will not germinate properly.
- After soaking overnight and ready to be planted, the seeds will appear bloated, but not mushy.
- Keep in mind that if you plan to plant flower seeds at four o'clock in the rainy season, you do not need to soak the seeds because the soil you will be planting is already wet with rainwater.
Step 3. Choose a sunny location to plant flowers at four o'clock
Four o'clock flowers will grow best if they are planted in direct sunlight or, at least, in partial sun.
- To achieve optimal growth, choose a place that gets 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day.
- If planted in a place that is too shady (not getting much sunlight), the plant will become thin and flower development may be hampered.
Step 4. Loosen the soil
Use a small spade or garden fork to dig up the soil where the four o'clock flowers will be planted. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 30 to 61 centimeters.
You do not have to improve the quality of the soil in your field when planting flowers at four o'clock. While it is true that this plant thrives best if it is planted in soil rich in minerals and has a good drainage system, four o'clock flowers generally thrive in all types of soil conditions, even if the soil has poor conditions
Step 5. Press the seeds into the soil carefully
To plant the seeds, you just need to press each seed into the soil with your finger. Make sure the depth does not exceed 1.25 centimeters.
Make sure the seeds are covered with soil you've loosened to protect them from bad weather and wild animals, especially birds. The height of the soil used to cover the seeds should not exceed 1.25 centimeters
Step 6. Leave a distance of about 30 to 61 centimeters between the seeds that are planted
Usually, for every 30 centimeters of spacing, you only need to plant one seed.
It is possible that you will need to increase the spacing of the seedlings so that there is a gap of about 61 centimeters between each seedling. Therefore, from the start you can plant the seeds with a distance of 61 centimeters between each seed so that later you don't need to thin the seedlings
Step 7. Water the seeds well
Carefully water the seeds using a plant sprinkler or garden hose set to light spray mode. Make sure the soil is thoroughly moist, but not soggy.
- Keep in mind that the seeds will usually begin to germinate within 7 to 14 days, depending on how warm the weather is. Warmer weather can promote faster germination.
- It is important to remember that as the seeds begin to germinate, the soil moisture must be maintained. However, do not make the soil too muddy or over-watering as this can cause the seeds to be washed away.
Part 2 of 4: Planting in Pots
Step 1. Soak the seeds to be planted
Place the seeds in a saucer or cup, then fill them with enough water to cover the seeds and leave them overnight.
- Because the shell is so thick, the seeds will germinate better if softened with plenty of water.
- After soaking, the seeds still feel firm when pressed, but when touched will feel a little softer and appear bloated.
Step 2. Find a pot that is large enough
You can use a pot or other planting medium that is about 4 to 20 liters in size.
Ideally, the pot should have four to five drain holes in the bottom. If you plan to place the pot indoors, cover the pot with a saucer so that the water that escapes through the drain does not contaminate the floor or the area around the pot
Step 3. Fill the pot with potting soil
Instead of using soil taken from your garden, it's a good idea to use a potting mix or potting soil (planting media which is a mixture of several materials, such as humus soil, compost, husks, etc.) of medium or high quality. You can buy a potting mix at flower shops.
A standard quality multipurpose potting mix is sufficient to be used as a planting medium because four o'clock flowers do not require a certain soil as a planting medium
Step 4. Water the soil well
Before you plant the seeds, you must first moisten the soil with water. Make sure the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy.
- Before you plant the seeds, first let the excess water out through the drain holes.
- You must ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist during the seed germination process. The germination stage usually takes about one to two weeks.
Step 5. Place four to seven flower seeds at four o'clock in the pot
Carefully press each seed into the soil to a depth of about 0.6 to 1.25 centimeters. Leave an even gap between each seed.
A 4 liter pot can hold four flower seeds at four. If you're using a 20 liter pot, you can plant a dozen or more seeds at four o'clock without crowding them
Step 6. Store in a place exposed to direct sunlight
The pot should be stored in a sunny place that is exposed to sunlight for about 6 hours each day.
- If the weather is warm enough, you can place the pots outdoors such as on the terrace or balcony.
- If they don't get enough sunlight, the plants tend to grow elongated. In addition, the development of flowers can also be disrupted.
Part 3 of 4: Providing Daily Care
Step 1. Thin seedlings that have grown
After the seedlings appear, sparse them so that there is a distance of (approximately) 60 centimeters between each seedling.
- If you are planting flowers at four o'clock in pots or are deliberately stunting them, you can leave a gap of 20 to 30 centimeters between each seedling.
- Before thinning the seedlings, wait for a pair of leaves to start growing from the stem of the seedling. Keep the seedlings that appear to be the healthiest and strongest, and remove those that appear to be the weakest.
Step 2. Keep the soil moist
While the four o'clock flower tolerates dry soil conditions, the plant should not be left to dry for more than a day or two.
- Try to water the seedlings with water that can reach a depth of 2.5 centimeters every week. Watering can be done either through rain intermediaries or manual watering using a hose or plant sprinkler.
- Keep in mind that plants grown in pots will require more watering than plants grown outdoors.
Step 3. Apply a light fertilizer every month
Choose a fertilizer that can be used for all types of flower plants and is soluble in water. Apply fertilizer before it rains or when you water.
Choose a fertilizer that has a balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content (10-10-10). This type of fertilizer can help maintain the balance of plant health
Step 4. Treat insect and disease attacks as necessary
Four o'clock flowers rarely experience problems with insect attack and disease. Therefore, it is not recommended to give initial treatment, such as spraying insecticides on plants.
If a problem occurs with the plant, treat it with an appropriate pesticide or fungicide. You can use organic products as well as chemical products
Step 5. Try to remove the tubers before winter arrives
Each four o'clock flower bush will have large bulbs growing underground. If you live in a warm climate, you can leave the bulbs buried in the soil during winter, without damaging the plant. However, if you live in a cold climate, it's a good idea to remove the bulbs in late fall.
- Put the tubers in a cardboard box or wooden crate that has been lined with newsprint. You can also place the bulbs in a container with peat moss or sand. Do not put the bulbs in a plastic bag or other closed box as this can lead to rotting of the tubers.
- Store tubers in the garage, shed, or similar places. During winter, the bulbs should remain dry and dark in color.
- Replant the bulbs in the spring. Dig a fairly deep hole in the same place where the bulb was planted earlier. Insert the bulbs into the holes, cover them with soil, and give them the same care as before.
Step 6. Try covering the soil with mulch
If you decide not to uproot the bulbs in winter, you can still protect them in winter by covering the soil around the plant with organic mulch. Cover the soil until the mulch reaches a thickness of 2.5 to 5 centimeters.
- Organic mulch can include leaves, grass clippings, sawdust, and newsprint.
- Mulch can limit cold temperatures so they don't directly hit the soil, and can keep the soil temperature warm.
- Keep in mind that mulch alone may not be enough to protect plant bulbs in the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate.
- If you are planting four o'clock flowers in pots, it is also recommended to cover the soil in the pot with mulch during the spring or summer. Mulch can help reduce evaporation of water that occurs so the soil will not dry out too much.
Part 4 of 4: Harvesting Flower Seeds at Four o'clock
Step 1. Wait for the seeds of the plant to form
Seeds form when the flowers on the bush dry out and fall off the stem.
- Once the flowers are released, you can see black, pea-sized seeds where there were flowers before.
- Every four o'clock flower plant will produce a large number of seeds.
Step 2. Collect the seeds
You can pick the seeds right away by hand or wait for them to fall on their own. If seeds fall to the ground, pick them up as soon as you see them.
- If the seeds are left alone after falling, they can grow into flower plants at four o'clock where they fell.
- Another way to collect seeds at four o'clock is to shake the stems. Shake carefully so that the seeds that stick together can come off and fall to the ground at the same time.
Step 3. Dry the collected seeds for five days
Spread the seeds on a clean, dry paper towel, place in a dry place and let sit for five days.
- Seeds can rot if stored in damp conditions, so it's important to dry them first.
- Dry indoors to prevent birds or other animals from picking up the seeds.
Step 4. Store the seeds in a paper envelope
Once dry, you can store it in a paper envelope. Mark the envelope so you remember it, then close the envelope and store it in a dry place.
- You can also use paper bags. With a paper base material, the air circulation in the bag is also smoother.
- Do not use airtight containers, such as airtight plastic containers. If stored in a container like this, mold can grow and the seeds can rot.
