Oh I love this plant! It looks fabulous so I don't think you are doing anything wrong.

Regards the ants, make sure it is the sap they're attrached to and not aphids (if it's aphids spray them with soapy water). You can buy ant-traps to catch the ants that enter the house or put power down if there's a nest indoors. (Don't use power outdoors tho as it's a deadly poison and not licenced for use outdoors for very good reason - it will kill anything that touches it)

The flowers will drop off whatever you do when they're finished.

thank you for the info. it is beautiful. we put johnsons baby powder down which sorts out the ants. they seem to have found a tiny crack in the grouting... little mites. It is the sap they like. gooey stuff... oh well. just have to keep on top of it....

No probs ;-)

I've nevered heard of baby powder being a deterrant for ants?

yeah, my nan told me, but it has to be johnsons though. own makes don't work.

That's interesting... Reminds me of when I was a teenager and worked at our local stables - we used to use a certain Avon product that someone discovered was an excellent fly repellant - we used to put it on the horses lol They were really nice-smelling horses!!