California Gardening: A bit of an experiment..., 1 by nmcnear

nmcnear wrote:
Here is an updated photo... I got back from a trip to Costa Rica a couple weeks ago, and was happy to see the that the tree started blooming while I was out of the country! It has been blooming regularly since then and growing some new leaves. The branches have also become more horizontal now, I suspect because it's no longer in a crowded nursery fighting other trees for sunlight. Something that has me slightly worried though is that the leaves are slightly less green than they used to be, and I'm not sure what could be causing that. I did do one application of a balanced, organic fertilizer right before I left on my trip (which the other plants definitely appreciated going by the photo), if that has anything to do with it. I've also read that this variety prefers acidic soils, while the soil in my yard is neutral or slightly alkaline judging by the color of my Hydrangeas.