How to Grow Scaevola

When you want pretty flowers cascading from a container in hot, dry conditions, choose scaevola - also called fanflower. Trailing several feet in ideal conditions, this annual (grows just one year) produces pretty fan-like blooms in brilliant blue.

Things You'll Need

• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Mulch
• Plants

Instructions

1. Buy healthy, green plants with no signs of wilting or disease.

2. Choose a site with full sun and average, well-drained soil. Or fill a container with ordinary potting soil.

3. Plant scaevola in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

4. Pinch ends of stems to promote branching and fuller, more attractive plants.

5. 

   Keep soil evenly moist.

6. 

   Pinch faded flowers or trim off leggy, poorly flowering stems to promote longer blooming.

7. 

   Fertilize every four to six weeks or work in a slow-release fertilizer (or plenty of compost) at planting time.

8. Tear out and discard plants in the fall, after frost fells them.

Tips & Warnings

• In mid-summer, if plant gets ungainly, cut it back by half or two-thirds - this will promote better, neater growth.

• Scaevola likes things on the dry side, so avoid over-watering.