- 1). Grow Tibouchina heteromalla in full sun to partial shade in a warm spot in the garden. If you live in a particularly hot region, provide the shrub with afternoon shade to avoid leaf burn.
- 2). Water the T. heteromalla at the soil, not from overhead. Although the princess flower is moderately drought-tolerant, moist soil ensures better blooms.
- 3). Spread 3 inches of mulch on the soil, 6 inches from T. heteromalla's base to 1 foot beyond its widest point. Pine needles are an ideal mulch for this shrub. The mulch helps keep the soil moist, cutting down on the need for frequent irrigation.
- 4). Fertilize the T. heteromalla in spring just before it produces new growth. Use a fertilizer labeled for trees and shrubs and sprinkle the granules on the soil at the shrub's drip line. Water to a depth of 10 inches after applying.
- 5). Prune the Tibouchina heteromalla in fall, after it finishes flowering. Remove dead and broken branches and any flowers that remain. Make all cuts to ½ inch above a leaf node. Don't cut more than 8 inches off the shrub.
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