cardinal's guard

Water your Cardinal’s Guard (Pachystachys coccinea) once per week in the spring and summer months and every other week in the fall and winter. Make sure the soil is well-draining and moist, but not soggy. Before watering, check the soil to be sure it’s not already wet. If the soil still feels damp, wait until it feels dry before watering. During the spring and summer, add water until it starts to trickle out of the bottom of the pot and then let the soil run dry before the next watering. For winter waterings, only water enough to keep the soil just barely damp.

Cardinal's Guard (Pachystachys coccinea) does best in full sunlight. It should receive lightly filtered sunlight for 5 to 6 hours each day, which is best divided into 2 or 3 doses throughout the day. If the sunlight becomes too intense, the plant can be moved to a slightly shadier area to protect it from any potential heat stress. When grown indoors, they should be placed near a sunny window where they will receive the maximum amount of sunlight available.

Cardinal's Guard (Pachystachys coccinea) should be pruned cautiously. Prune off dead or diseased branches at any time of year. For shaping, careful pruning may be done in early spring before new growth has started. Start by removing weak or dead branches at their base. Prune by making clean cuts just above a node. Cutting too far above could leave an unattractive stub coming off the plant. When encouraging flowering, prune cardinal's guard plants back to 6 to 8 inches above the soil level in early spring. If this plant becomes too tall and lanky, you may prune it back further to help encourage a fuller, bushier shrub.