Caring for a Red Riding Hood beardtongue , or Penstemon , requires some specific step to ensure its health and beauty . As an expert in gardening and landscaping , I can provide you with detailed education on how to give care for this plant .

Planting:1 . receive a suited locating : Red Riding Hood beardtongue plants flourish in full sun and hotness . Choose a spot in your garden that obtain maximal sunshine throughout the day.2 . get up the soil : Penstemon requires well - drain territory . If your filth is clay - base , it is authoritative to amend it with constituent matter or sand to better drain . This will foreclose waterlogging and root rot.3 . Give it elbow joint elbow room : Beardtongue plants do n’t like to be crowded by other plants . Make certain to give each plant enough infinite to grow and spread out out . This will also guarantee good air circulation around the foliage .

Care:1 . Watering : Penstemon plants are drouth - large-minded once established . However , they still demand even lacrimation during their initial growth time period . H2O deep and exhaustively , ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged . Once established , water system slenderly , let the top inch of soil to dry out out between waterings.2 . Mulching : Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the industrial plant to help retain wet and suppress weed growth . This also helps to keep the roots cool during hot summer months.3 . Fertilizing : Red Riding Hood beardtongue plants do n’t require heavy fertilization . In fact , too much atomic number 7 can lead to excessive leaf increase at the expense of prime . Use a balanced , slow - release fertilizer in leaping when new growing appears , following the package instructions.4 . Pruning : In late winter or former spring , before new growth start , prune back any dead or discredited stem . This will promote new growth and keep the plant ’s bod . Deadheading spend flowers throughout the bloom time of year will also prolong the flowering period.5 . Rabbit electric resistance : Most Penstemon varieties are rabbit resistant , making them a good choice for gardens prone to rabbit hurt . However , if you comment any nibbling on the foliage , you could use innate deterrents like mesh topology fence or repellents to protect your plants .

Personal experience : I have grown Red Riding Hood beardtongue in my garden for several years , and it has been a delicious addition . The vibrant red flowers are a front-runner of hummingbird , adding a touch of smasher and wildlife activity to my garden . I have retrieve that provide proper drainage , ample sunshine , and casual watering during the establishment phase angle have helped my plants prosper . I also make trusted to prune them back in early spring to advance unexampled maturation and hold a neat coming into court .

Caroline Bates