Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT TYPE OF CONDITIONS DO THEY LIKE? Lewisia is a of flowering succulents endemic to mountainous highlands of Western . Because they do best in very well-drained, low fertility soils, they are great additions to rock gardens, graveled beds, and rocky slopes or any water-wise xeriscapes. They can also be successfully grown in raised beds and containers. Although their fleshy leaves make them drought tolerant, they can be watered freely during the growing season.

WHERE SHOULD THEY BE PLANTED? Raised beds are typically well drained and are good places to grow Lewisias. If you need to improve drainage in your raised bed, add inorganic soil amendments such as river sand and grit or crushed rock. While our raised beds feature rocks accents, this is not a necessity in order to grow Lewisias. The raised bed needs to receive some sun each day and have well-drained, lean soil.

SHOULD THEY BE PRUNED OR DEADHEADED? Pruning is not necessary though deadheading is beneficial. Deadheading or snipping off the stems that have faded flowers, helps stimulate more blooms and often in even in autumn. Though not necessary it may be worthwhile especially if you have them in a container.

IS THIS SUCCULENT EASY TO PROPAGATE? Propagation is easily increased by just removing the small baby rosettes and replanting in a new location at almost any time.

IS OVERWATERING A BIG PROBLEM? Although their fleshy leaves make them drought tolerant, they can be watered freely during the summer growing season. Those that have a winter dormant period should be kept drier during their dormancies. They grow best where humidity is low during the summer and require good air circulation around the plant’s crown to prevent fungal disease.

WHAT ARE SOME NICE COMPANION ? Sempervivum, Sedum, Dianthus, Pennisetum, Creeping Thyme, Creeping Phlox, Euphorbia, Sea thrift, and other succulents make nice companions. Rainbow Mix Cliff Maids ( hybrids) First Things First...

When your plant arrives from Roberta’s, remove from the shipping box immediately.

Remove plastic bag and/or sleeve from around potted plant(s). Discard any packing material clinging to the leaves or soil. Pull away any yellow or brown leaves that may have occurred during transit. If you cannot plant it into garden or larger pot within a few days, there is no need to water the pots they came in.

When ready to plant, do the job as early in the day as possible to avoid extreme soil temperatures that prevent proper water uptake from the roots. Water them in well and whisper a few words of wisdom. quick reference Continuing Care Additional Reference planting guide light/sun exposure: Full to Partial Sun SHELF LIFE Plant into garden or larger pots and place outside immediately usda 3-9 after the night temperatures stay above 40 degrees. hardiness zones: PLANT PREPARATION Remove plastic bag and sleeve from around potted plant(s). plant type Perennial Discard any packing material clinging to the leaves or soil. Pull away any yellow or brown leaves that may have occurred during planting distance: 8-16 inches transit. If you cannot plant it into garden or larger pot within a few days, there is no need to water the pots they came in. mature height/spread: 6-16 inches SOIL Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. If you need to improve 8-16 inches per plant drainage in your raised bed, add inorganic soil amendments such as river sand and grit or crushed rock. bloom time: Late Spring - Early Summer by 2nd Season GARDEN PREPARATION Cliff Maid Cliff Maid in Raised beds are typically well drained and are good places to Shipped rock garden planting instructions: Remove plastic bag and/or sleeve from around grow Lewisias. If you need to improve drainage in your raised As Shown potted plant(s). Discard any packing material bed, add inorganic soil amendments such as river sand and grit or (soil preparation, depth, which end is up, etc.) clinging to the leaves or soil. Transplant into crushed rock. While our raised beds feature rocks accents, this is the garden as soon as evening temperatures not a necessity in order to grow Lewisias. The raised bed needs stay above 40F. Dig holes twice the width of to receive some sun each day and have well-drained, lean soil. the root ball and about 3 to 4 inches deep. POTTED PLANTS Rather than in the garden you may re-pot into large containers. Repot the plants into at least 6 -8 inch pots separately or together inside one larger container. PLANTING SPACING Planting Guide If planting in garden space 12 to 18 inches apart. PLANT HEIGHT AND WIDTH These grow about 2 to 3 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. WATER Remove plastic bag and/or sleeve from around potted Although their fleshy leaves make them drought tolerant, they plant(s). Discard any packing material clinging to the leaves can be watered freely during the summer growing season. Those Cliff Maids Cliff Maids in or soil. Pull away any yellow or brown leaves that may have that have a winter dormant period should be kept drier during in container crevice of rock wall 1 occurred during transit. If you cannot plant it into garden or their dormancies. They grow best where humidity is low during step larger pot within a few days, there is no need to water the the summer and require good air circulation around the plant’s pots they came in. crown to prevent fungal disease. FERTILIZER They respond to feeding with a high bloom fertilizer like Flower Transplant into the garden as soon as evening temperatures Magic plant food (M7503). Once a month is sufficient. stay above 40F. Dig holes twice the width of the root ball and TEMPERATURE ZONES 3 to 9 about 3 to 4 inches deep. Place them in their holes. Pack soil When nights stay above 40 degrees, place your plants outside 2 firmly around roots. Water them in. Plants prefer full sun to and leave them there. They can withstand winter temperatures to step half day of sun. minus 30F. LIGHTING In the summer growing season, full sun is the absolute best. Treat them like cactus as far as watering them. Too much Otherwise a half a day of sun is sufficient. water will rot them out. In the garden choose an area where BLOOMING the soil will drain and dry out fast. Make sure automatic Under correct conditions, blooming begins in early summer and sprinklers do not constantly wet them down. Rather than in 3 persists all summer. Cliff Maids the garden you may re-pot into 6 to 8 inch pots separately or step PRUNING in raised garden bed mix together inside larger containers. Pruning is not necessary though deadheading is beneficial. Deadheading or snipping off the stems that have faded flowers, Planted now they will produce flowers from late spring to helps stimulate more blooms and often in even in autumn. Though early summer depending on variety. not necessary it may be worthwhile especially if you have them in 4 a container. step

11-2016