Plant trailing ice plants in a sunny spot with fast-draining soil to ensure their successful growth and vibrant blooms. Here's a more detailed guide:
1. Choosing the Right Location:
- Sunlight: Trailing ice plants thrive in full sun, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. This promotes abundant flowering and compact growth.
- Soil Drainage: Excellent drainage is crucial. Ice plants are susceptible to root rot in soggy soil.
- Soil Types: The best soil types are sandy, sandy loam, or gravelly soils. Garden loam can work in drier climates.
- Avoid Clay Soil: Clay soil retains too much moisture and should be avoided.
2. When to Plant:
- Climate Considerations: In colder climates, planting by mid-summer allows the plants to establish themselves before winter. In warmer climates, planting can occur in spring or fall.
3. Planting Process:
- Soil Preparation: Amend the soil with sand or gravel to improve drainage if necessary.
- Spacing: Space the plants about 12-18 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Planting Depth: Plant the ice plants at the same depth they were in their nursery containers.
- Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to help the plants settle in.
4. Ongoing Care:
- Watering: Once established, trailing ice plants are drought-tolerant and require minimal watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is a common cause of problems.
- Fertilizing: Fertilize sparingly, if at all. Excessive fertilization can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring is sufficient.
- Pruning: Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
5. Additional Tips:
- Containers: Trailing ice plants are excellent for containers and hanging baskets, provided the containers have drainage holes.
- Ground Cover: They make a colorful ground cover, spreading quickly to fill in spaces.
- Winter Hardiness: While generally hardy, protect plants from extreme cold in colder regions by mulching around the base.
By following these steps, you can successfully plant and enjoy the vibrant colors of trailing ice plants in your garden.
