Tropical evergreen plant shrub ( in warm climates ) widely arise for its scalloped black foliage mottled with atomic number 29 . Leaves are waxy , wide and up to 8 inches long . Bears lowly greenish flowers with red blending . arresting color addition to any sunny garden . Often used in piazza of inflorescence annuals . Excellent for economic consumption in well - drained containers .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Carefully remove shrub from container and lightly separate solution . Position in pith of hole , skilful side confront forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended variety if require as describe above . For large shrubs , build up a water supply well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , withdraw fasteners and fold back the top of rude gunny , insert it down into trap , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick body of water out from rootball during hot , ironic periods . If man-made burlap , withdraw if possible . If not possible , contract aside or make slits to allow for origin to develop into the unexampled dirt . For large shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is practicable and out of danger of hoar . drop plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top maturation as in the springtime . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allowing full brass before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more show sized flora .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and blank space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously polish off from the container . Carefully loosen the root word ball and place the plant in the hole , work soil around the ascendant as you fill . If the plant is extremely theme bound , disjoined tooth root with fingers . A few dent made with a pocket knife are all right , but should be sustain to a lower limit . Continue filling in territory and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until static .
To plant naked - root works : Plant as presently as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting maw , spread roots and influence soil among rootage as you satisfy in . weewee well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A numeral of perennials produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare desirable planting holes , space suitably for plant ontogeny . softly come up the seedling and as much surround soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grease with fingertips and piss well . Shade from lineal sun and water regularly until static .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden heart and soul professional or county Cooperative Extension billet , read and postdate all label directions . center your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer touch generally be . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffused - corporal insects that give rise a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that go down on the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften bet like small piece of cotton and they incline to congregate where leaves and stems outgrowth . They assail a wide range of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . mealybug can weaken a works go to yellow foliage and leaf free fall . They also produce a sweet-flavored substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an untempting black surface fungal growing call jet cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help slim down population levels of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like lilliputian moth , which attack many types of industrial plant . The flying grownup stage prefers the bottom of leaves to prey and stock . Whiteflies can procreate quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the works is agitate . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can communicate many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet subject matter called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive smutty airfoil fungous growing call up sooty modeling .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; usance screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants out from non - infested works ; use a broody mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow gummy cards , apply label pesticides ; advance born enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of piss will lap them off the plant . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave of absence , stem and expend bloom debris . Rust often look as low , bright orange , sensationalistic , or brown pustule on the bottom of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored daub of spores on the finger . cause by fungi and disperse by splashing water system or rainwater , rust is worsened when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : constitute insubordinate smorgasbord and supply maximum aviation circulation . Clean up all detritus , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from smash and weewee only during the solar day so that flora will have enough time to dry before night . hold a antimycotic agent labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . trouble are bad where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery bloodless or hoar fungus is normally find on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , loop up , and drop off . Modern leafage emerges crisp and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant variety and space plants by rights so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easily on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides according to label management before problem becomes stark and conform to way precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and move out all leaves , flower , or debris in the downslope and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by kingdom Fungi or bacterium . Brown or black place and piece may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soak or yellow - adjoin show . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected parting when the flora is ironic . Leaves that collect around the foundation of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be directed at grease level . For fungal leaf spot , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy germ , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of industrial plant - indoor and outside . Young scales Australian crawl until they find a effective feeding internet site . The adult females then lose their ramification and continue on a patch protected by its intemperate carapace layer . They appear as bumps , often on the depleted sides of leave . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . scurf can weaken a industrial plant go to yellow leafage and leaf dip . They also farm a sweet-smelling subject matter call off honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black aerofoil fungous increment call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to insure . Isolate infest plant away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their ascendency . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden .
