Selling Size : Single Plant | Pot Included | Secure Packing
The Heliconia 'St. Lucia' is often considered a variety of Heliconia caribaea or Heliconia psittacorum (or a hybrid), known for its upright growth and colorful bracts. Like most heliconias, it requires tropical conditions to thrive.
Here is a comprehensive care guide for Heliconia 'St. Lucia':
1. Light Requirements
Ideal: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Best Results: In the hottest climates, a spot that receives morning sun and is shaded from the harsh afternoon sun is ideal to prevent leaf scorch.
Minimum: Can tolerate semi-shade, but too little light will reduce its flowering.
2. Water and Humidity
Watering: Requires consistent and frequent watering. The soil should be kept evenly moist but never soggy.
Drought: It is not drought tolerant. In hot or dry weather, you may need to water every few days.
Drainage: Excellent drainage is critical. Heliconias in general hate "wet feet," which can quickly lead to root rot.
Humidity: Thrives in high humidity, mimicking its native rainforest environment.
3. Soil and Fertilization
Soil: Use fertile, loamy, and organically rich soil that drains very well.
Amending: If your soil is heavy or sandy, mix in plenty of compost, aged manure, or peat moss to improve texture and fertility.
Fertilizer: It is a fast-growing, heavy feeder.
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer (like a 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 NPK) every 3-4 months during the growing season (spring through fall).
Supplement with a liquid fertilizer (high in Potassium and Phosphorus to encourage blooms) or organic matter like compost monthly during peak summer.
4. Climate and Hardiness
Temperature: Thrives in warm, tropical, and subtropical climates (USDA Zones 10B-11). Ideal temperatures are between 20∘C to 35∘C (68∘F to 95∘F).
Frost: It is not frost tolerant. Cold temperatures will cause the foliage to die back, and extended cold can kill the rhizomes.
Cold Protection:
In areas with cold winters, it must be grown in large containers that can be moved indoors or to a sheltered location (like a greenhouse) before the first frost.
If planted in the ground, apply a thick layer of mulch in winter, and the plant may resprout from the rhizomes in the spring.
5. Maintenance and Pruning Heliconia St. Lucia
Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (like bark chips or woodchip) around the base to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch away from the main stems to prevent rot.
Pruning: Remove old, brown, or spent flower stalks (inflorescences) from the base of the plant to encourage new growth and flowering shoots. Also, remove old or damaged leaves.
Propagation: Heliconias spread via underground rhizomes.
To keep a clump contained, install root barriers or grow in large pots.
To propagate or rejuvenate an overcrowded clump, divide the rhizomes in the spring.
