[hulahips]

Bought inpatients and they were doing great until the temperature started hitting 90. Any suggestions?

[CFrance]

What the villages plants around the roundabouts, etc., is not cascading and would not look nice in a window box. Try keeping the lantana trimmed. Or exchange them for something that will not outgrow the boxes. If you get full sun in the afternoon, I would not go with geraniums. They will spaz in July.

[CFrance]

Ha ha! It's gardening slang.

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by hulahips

Bought inpatients and they were doing great until the temperature started hitting 90. Any suggestions?

Vinca look alot like impatients and do well in the heat. Ours come back year after year. Similar flowers to impatients. Beautiful waxy foliage.

[Yung Dum]

Impatiens need shade and lots of water. New Guinea impatiens might be a better choice. Non-stop begonias or geraniums are great in window boxes.

[njbchbum]

If the window box can be removed, try placing it in a shaded area [or put several of them inside in the air conditioning in a bathtub/shower area] and provide plenty of water to refresh the plant. Hopefully they can recover. If you must replant, I'd go with the suggestions of vinca, N G impatiens, geraniums, or even the wave petunia. No matter what you plant - that sun and heat are going to take a toll - you might have to water moderately morning and evening.

[hulahips]

Just returned from Fairfield nursery. Asked woman for help. She sold me Lantanas. Also yellow calipetite which she said will cascade beautifully over the front of the boxes. I was just outside planting them and neighbor came over and asked why she sold me lantanas as they will get high. I went to Fairfield for their expertise so we shall see how these make out. My fingers are crossed

[kittygilchrist]

Lantana can take dry and heat. It will outgrow the box quickly. Butterflies like it!

[hulahips]

I do love butterfly's but wonder why she suggested to put in flower boxes? The colors are beautiful right now and perfect hgt. This is going to be some expensive lesson!

[NotGolfer]

I've always loved impatiens...but as the others said they like "cool" and shade too. I couldn't grow them up north at the house we moved here from due to the house facing the east and getting sun through midday. Always planted begonias due to that.

Florida is a learning curve for "up north" gardeners!!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by hulahips

Bought inpatients and they were doing great until the temperature started hitting 90. Any suggestions?

If we plant the same things The Villages plant in the middle of the streets.. they will live. The annuals may only live for two months, but they will live. Ditto for the foundation plantings The Villages put in. If most people would wait a couple of years those shrubs and bushes become big and lush and are extremely hardy. They are planted to survive and do well in this zone.

[CFrance]

Are they getting too much sun? They really do mean it down here--the right plant for the right location. Which direction do your window boxes face?

Drive around the neighborhoods and see what flowers people have planted and where, especially in the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest. There are some lovely flowers planted over on Hillsborough, and also on South-something in Tamarind Grove that runs off of Tamarind Grove Run over by the postal station.

I found our geraniums spaz out in the summer afternoon sun. They face west. Maybe million bells would work well in your boxes.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by hulahips

I do love butterfly's but wonder why she suggested to put in flower boxes? The colors are beautiful right now and perfect hgt. This is going to be some expensive lesson!

Maybe to sell you something?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CFrance

our geraniums spaz out in the summer afternoon sun.

Is that gardening terminology?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by hulahips

I do love butterfly's but wonder why she suggested to put in flower boxes? The colors are beautiful right now and perfect hgt.

How about posting a picture of your window boxes?