Am I Taking Good Care Of My Painted Tongue?

Did you planted your painted tongue plant in full sun location, but provided some afternoon shade if you live in a hot climate?

Did you planted your painted tongue plant in well-drained, fertile soil?

Do you allow the top two inches to dry between waterings?

Do you feed your painted tongue plant regularly with a well-balanced fertilizer?

Do you deadhead your plants to encourage continued blooming?

Do you keep your painted tongue plant free of pests and diseases?

Although it benefits from full to partial sunlight, the plant won’t bloom in high temperatures. A location in the afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates. You should also provide a thin layer of mulch to keep the roots cool and moist.

Painted tongue plants love should be planted in fertile, well-drained soil. If the soil is not draining well they will succumb to root rot. In their growing zones, these plants can tolerate even average soils, as long as they have good drainage.

Water this drought-tolerant plant only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Never let the soil become soggy. Soggy soil will promote root rots and fungal diseases.

Twice-monthly feeding with a regular, water-soluble garden fertilizer diluted to half-strength provides nutrition the plant requires to produce blooms.

Deadhead spent blooms to promote more blooms. If necessary, tuck a wooden stake or branch into the soil to provide extra support.

Good job! You are taking good care of your painted tongue plant.

This annual plant isn’t prone to pests or diseases, other than rot. If the base of the stem looks discolored, plants may have crown rot. To reduce the risk of this problem, always use quality potting soil. Aphids can be an occasional problem, but rarely a serious one.