- 1). Pick a location with soil that drains well and receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. Leaf compost, or other forms of decaying matter, supplies the heliconia with the necessary nutrients.
- 2). Dig a hole 3 to 6 inches deeper than the top of the heliconia's root base. Add a 13-5-13 slow-releasing fertilizer tablet to the hole. An article written by David Bar-Zwi on Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden's website recommends three tablets per gallon container.
- 3). Place the heliconia in the hole and cover it with the soil. Add a small amount of sand to the soil if it seems too heavy and does not permit proper drainage.
- 4). Water the heliconia twice a day. A morning and evening watering provides the tropical plant with sufficient moisture. Never allow the soil surrounding the heliconia to completely dry out.
- 5). Add a layer of mulch around the bottom of the heliconia plant. Make the mulch about 3 inches deep and 6 inches in diameter. This helps prevent weed growth and maintains moisture.
- 6). Trim the dead leaves and stems from the heliconia as soon as they occur. Cut the dead foliage as close to the ground as possible. After the stumps dry out, pull them up.
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