I love the sun! Please give me a nice spot in the sun where I am sheltered from the wind. Be careful with the bright afternoon sun! It can be too bright for my flowers. You can plant me in the open ground or in a pot, it is up to you.

No, unfortunately I am not winter hardy. If you planted me in the ground, I will probably not survive the winter. Did you plant me in a pot? Lucky you! Then you can let me hibernate indoors in the garage. In this case, bring me inside as soon as the temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, and only put me back outside when it stops freezing and it gets nice and warm outside again. Usually this is from April onwards.

I am a big drinker, so it is important to keep my soil moist at all times during the flowering season from April to September and to water me regularly. Am I planted in a pot? Then it is very important that I stand in a pot with holes at the bottom of the pot, so that excess water can drain away properly. I also need more water in a pot, because more water flows away from my pot than in the open ground, where my water can be stored in all the soil around me. Outside of the flowering season, I need less water.

During the flowering season, which runs from April to September, I like to get fertilizer twice a month. Give this in the recommended amount listed on the package. Outside of the flowering season, I do not need any fertilizer.

Every year I need a new, at least 20% larger pot. When you repot me, give me new, humus-rich potting soil. That way I have a fresh start with lots of nutrients! Preferably do this in spring when I have enough energy, so I can recover quickly from my move.

My beautiful flowers bloom for 2 to 3 days before they are finished blooming. Once they are spent, it is important to remove them. This will make room for my new flowers again. I also like to be pruned back in the spring to promote my growth.

I am the national flower of Malaysia. How cool is that!

No, I am not edible.