obedient plant

The obedient plant has unique cultural requirements that are best met through providing the right amount and frequency of watering. The plant prefers moist soil, so daily watering is recommended during the growing season, ideally during the cooler parts of the day. During the summer, the soil should be kept evenly moist but not soggy, while in the winter months the watering should be reduced to every 2 to 3 days. High humidity (over 50 percent) will also help the plant stay healthy, but the plants should never be left standing in water. If the leaves start to wilt, it's a sign of underwatering and more frequent watering should be provided.

The obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Nicauca' Autumn Carnival) will need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth. It will grow best in locations that receive direct, full sunlight. If the plant receives more than 8 hours of sunlight, it may be prone to sunburn, so if the sunlight is too intense, partial shade should be provided. To avoid sunburn, it is best to place the obedient plant in a gradually increasing amount of sunlight over the course of several weeks. When the days become longer in summer, the plant should have ample opportunity to adjust. In the winter months, the obedient plant will require the same amount of sunlight but for a shorter duration, since daylight hours are shorter.

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Nicauca' AUTUMN CARNIVAL) should be lightly pruned after flowering to maintain its shape and size, and to encourage bushier growth. Prune lightly in late summer or early autumn once flowering has finished. Begin by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged stems, as well as any shoots from the previous season's growth. Then, look at the plant and decide which branches are crossing, competing for space, or growing in an unattractive direction. Snip them off with sharp scissors, being careful not to leave stubs, which can introduce disease and pest problems. Finally, trim any remaining stems back by 1-third of their length to promote compact, bushy growth and maintain the desired shape.