Light. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. It handles up to about four hours of direct sun a day.
Water. Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy, and do not let it dry out completely.
Soil and feeding. Use fast-draining soil enriched with peat or other organic matter. Feed with a balanced fertilizer such as Fertilome 20-20-20 monthly in spring and summer, and about every eight weeks in fall and winter.
Size. Grows slowly to about 2 ft.
Pruning. Pinch off fading flowers to get more blooms. Trim stems after flowering so the seed pods do not burst open.
Problems to watch. Spider mites and whiteflies show up now and then; check the leaves and use Insecticidal Soap if needed. Heavy rain can damage the delicate flowers.
Good to know. It loves heat and humidity but drops leaves when temperatures fall into the 50s. It also grows well in pots indoors with enough light and humidity.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Crossandra · UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County: Crossandra revisited
