How to Care for Thryallis Plants in Florida

Thryallis is an evergreen shrub that is widespread in Florida. The rainy weather of Florida meets many of the tropical plant's growing requirements. In addition, it can be planted in northern parts of Florida which receives frosts and freezing winters. Gardeners enjoy its late summer and early fall blooms, which give their yards interesting focal points while many other plants have gone dormant for the year.

Shovel

Soil pH test

Lime

Sulfur

Rake

Denatured alcohol

Bypass shears

Fertilizer

Mulch

Dig a 6-inch hole in the ground to collect a soil sample for a pH test. All vegetation needs a specific soil pH range in order to absorb nutrients. Thryallis should be planted within a range of 6.1 to 6.5. Amend the soil around the thryallis based on the test results. Spread lime for acidic soil or sulfur for alkaline soil.

Dip a pair of bypass shears into a mixture of 70 percent denatured alcohol and 30 percent water. Remove all dead or diseased portions of the plant in the early spring. Prune the thryallis to keep its optimal height of 4 to 5 feet. When the plant gets any higher, it can often look leggy.

Spread a fertilizer around the plant that has an NPK amount of 6-6-6 in March, May and September. Water the plant, just so that the soil is moist.

Remove the old mulch in the spring. Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of fresh mulch around the plant. Old mulch can often harbor fungal infections.

Water around the plant once a week. Although thryallis plants can survive periods of drought, they perform better when given water around their base until the ground is moist.

Hand-pick pests like grasshoppers and caterpillars off the plant. Both pests frequently infest thryallis.

Avoid planting thryallis any deeper than its root ball.