What month does the four o'clock flower bloom, does it open during the day or at night, and is it toxic and can it be grown in a pot?

The four o'clock flower, is native to tropical America. It is often cultivated throughout northern and southern China as an ornamental flower, and sometimes escapes into the wild. So, in what month does the “herbaceous plant” four o'clock flower bloom? Does it open during the day or at night? Is it toxic? Can it be grown in a flower pot?

1. In what month does the “herbaceous plant” four o'clock flower bloom? Does it open during the day or at night?

The annual herbaceous four o'clock flower blooms from June to October, and its fruit period is from August to November. It generally opens around four or five in the afternoon when the sun begins to set, and closes the next morning. In English it has another name, four o'clock flower, and in various parts of China it also has folk names such as cooking flower and bath flower, meaning that once it blooms it is time to cook dinner and heat bath water.

2. Is it toxic? Can it be grown in a flower pot?

The underground part of the four o'clock flower is a round, brown fleshy root, which illegal vendors dry in the sun to pass off as gastrodia or ginseng. It contains toxins such as trigonelline, and eating it by mistake will cause vomiting and diarrhea. Its seed powder can remove facial spots, moles and acne.

The four o'clock flower has great ornamental value, and it can be planted in a flower pot. Mirabilis jalapa grows easily, and its care and management are relatively extensive; proper fertilizing and watering during the growing period are enough.

Because Mirabilis jalapa is wind-pollinated, varieties easily cross with each other. To ensure that the harvested seeds retain excellent characteristics, different varieties should be cultivated in isolation.

Mirabilis jalapa likes a warm climate, and the soil should be loose, fertile, deep, and rich in humus loam or sandy loam is better. The daily management of Mirabilis jalapa is relatively simple: spray some water in the evening on sunny days, and apply dilute fertilizer 1-2 times in the evening each week, which is beneficial for normal growth. There are few pests and diseases; dry weather easily breeds aphids, and paying attention to moisture retention normally can prevent aphids. Growing it in flower beds and courtyards, no pests or diseases have been found for many years. Daily management is relatively simple: spray some water in the evening on sunny days, and apply dilute fertilizer 1-2 times in the evening each week, which is beneficial for normal growth. Grown in flower beds and courtyards, no pests or diseases have been found for many years.