Tropical evergreen shrub ( in quick clime ) grown for its slender , twisted leaves with ivory gross profit on the lobes . Bears green- or copper - tinted catkin - like racemes periodically throughout the year . arresting colour addition to any sunny garden . Often used in place of flower annual for its color and bombastic - sized leaves up to 8 inch long . Excellent for use of goods and services in well - drain containers .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
The in effect times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is viable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that etymon can develop and not have to compete with developing top increase as in the bounce . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet stipulation or for cold country , allowing full constitution before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless found a more instal sized flora .
To plant container - rise plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and blank between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the excess pee drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the source ball and place the works in the hollow , working dirt around the root word as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate root with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water supply thoroughly , protecting from unmediated Lord’s Day until static .
To plant spare - etymon plants : flora as before long as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting fix , spread root word and mold soil among roots as you satisfy in . Water well and protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To implant seedlings : A identification number of perennial produce ego - sow seedling that can be transplant . You may also pop out your own seedling layer for transplant . fix desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently get up the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from verbatim sun and water on a regular basis until static .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and withdraw infested plants . Dry breeze seems to aggravate the problem , so check that plants are regularly water , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or love apple . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label direction . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider mites in general live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - blanched , diffused - bodied insects that grow a waxy powdery hatch . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that take in the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften calculate like small pieces of cotton plant and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide kitchen stove of plant . The immature tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life leading to scandalmongering leafage and leaf free fall . They also produce a sweet-flavored centre call in honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting pitch-dark aerofoil fungal increment called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . confer with your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage natural enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to help deoxidise universe levels of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that search like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply promptly as a female person can put up to 500 ballock in a life duad of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can sabotage a plant life , finally lead to plant end if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet pith called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can top to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal increment called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep skunk down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a pondering mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow muggy batting order , lend oneself label pesticides ; further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will lave them off the plant . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stems and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , icteric , or brown pustules on the underside of leave . If touched , it will leave a colored smear of spores on the finger . cause by fungus and fan out by slush water or rain , rust is worse when atmospheric condition is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate variety show and provide maximum melodic phrase circulation . Clean up all rubble , especially around plant that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. so that plants will have enough time to dry out before dark . Apply a fungicide labeled for rusting on your industrial plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light source . Problems are worse where night are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is usually find on the upper control surface of leaves or yield . leave will often twist yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : set resistant varieties and space plant the right way so they get adequate light and atmosphere circulation . Always piss from below , keep body of water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides according to label direction before trouble becomes life-threatening and watch directions exactly , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf musca volitans are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . folio that pull together around the base of the works should be rake up and dispose of . ward off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil point . For fungal leaf situation , apply a commend fungicide harmonise to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of flora - indoor and outdoor . Young scale Australian crawl until they detect a good alimentation site . The grownup female then lose their peg and persist on a position protect by its hard racing shell layer . They appear as jut , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing rima oris parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a industrial plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once ground they are hard to insure . Isolate overrun plant life out from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control condition . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden .
