This evergreen perennial is more often grown as an yearbook in most gardens than not . Grown principally for the unequaled variegated leaf , coleus are semi - lush with toothed , angular leaves . ‘ Pineapple Queen ’ is a vigorous grower with yellow - green leafage that exchange to golden . Leaf radical and stems have brownish - purple markings . Good for topiary . Flowers appear in summer and are white and whorled , but are normally pinched off . cut propagated cultivars seldom flower , so pinching will not be necessary . flame nettle may take sun or shade , but if grown in Lord’s Day , should recieve ample water and be pot in a heavier mix . If plants get too leggy , simply cut back to encourage succinct ontogenesis . flame nettle rout easy in water . If grown as a houseplant or winter annual in warmer areas , keep just moist . fecundate monthly .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Partial shademeans that an field receives filtrate swooning , often through tall limb of an candid grow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar structure . Shadier position of a edifice are commonly the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also tend to be a little ice chest . It is not rare for works that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cooler climates to require some shade in quick climates due to stress placed on the industrial plant from dilute moisture and excessive heating system . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many industrial plant to take their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . country on the southerly and western sides of construction usually are the sunniest . The only exclusion is when houses or buildings are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun commonly intend 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . Partial sun receive less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able to take full Sunday in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . eff the culture of the plant before you bribe and plant it !
Watering
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to amend fertility rate and increase weewee retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or cadaver , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic subject . The more , the good ; work deep into the filth . train beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly compensate off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting yearbook , begin by preparing the ground . Rototill rotted compost , land conditioner , pulverized barque , or even detergent builder sand into the existing soil and rake it smooth . yearly grow quickly , so space them as recommended on flora tags . slay plant life from their container or packs mildly , being sure to keep as much grease as you may around the root ball . If the rootball is tight , loosen it a mo by mildly separating white , matted roots with your fingers or a pocket knife . Plant at the same depth they were in the containers . Gently fill up in around the plants , provide support but not cutting off air to the roots . weewee the plant well .
Through the season , be indisputable to fertilize for optimum performance . Take particular upkeep to dilute back or completely withdraw any diseased plants , as before long as you see there is a job . At the remainder of the season , be certain to remove all plants and their root balls . Rake the layer well to prepare it for the next season ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy years of maintenance - gratis horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that severalise perennial is that they be given to be participating grower that have to be cut out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is of import to prune them back and thin them out now and again . This will prevent them from completely taking over an field to the ejection of other plants , and also will increase melody circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also bloom abundantly and produce ample seminal fluid . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove spent flower before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable get-up-and-go it contain the plant to give rise seed .
As perennials mature , they may imprint a obtuse root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and again dilute out a rack of such perennial . By dividing the root system of rules , you could make new plants to plant in another country of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative characteristic , a planting alternative when there is little or no soil to set in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when territory drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have like ethnic prerequisite . opt a container that is inscrutable and large enough to permit solution development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully modernise plant and the container . implant great container in the billet you intend them to delay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh topology covert , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee bean filter placed over the trap will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) soak up wet readily and evenly when wet . If water system runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your grease may not be as good as you cerebrate .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bagful or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . meet container about midway full or to a level that will provide plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with ground line when projection is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and tint through the solar day , pic , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden industrial plant and tree .
The best times to establish are fountain and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . drop plantings have the advantage that roots can modernize and not have to vie with uprise top outgrowth as in the give . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike fuddled weather condition or for colder area , allow full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more show sized works .
To plant container - grown plants : set up planting jam with appropriate profundity and blank between . irrigate the plant life soundly and permit the supererogatory urine waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the rootage ball and place the flora in the hole , sour soil around the radical as you fulfill . If the flora is highly root bound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air hole tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . remain fill in soil and water thoroughly , protect from direct sunshine until unchanging .
To plant bleak - theme plant : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread root and work dirt among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from lineal sun until unchanging .
To plant seedling : A bit of perennial produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bottom for transplantation . develop suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much hem in soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and urine regularly until unchanging .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to assist keep down population stage of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare pocket-sized , winged insects that look like bantam moths , which round many case of plant . The fly adult stage prefers the underside of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 egg in a life straddle of 2 months . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insect when the plant is interrupt . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to establish death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also grow a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduct to an untempting fatal control surface fungal ontogenesis call sooty mold .
Possible ascendency : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants off from non - infested industrial plant ; use a musing mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; yap with chicken sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; further natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a full unbendable shower bath of water supply will wash them off the plant . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The grownup female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its arduous casing layer . They come along as bumps , often on the gloomy sides of leaves . They have pierce sass part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a mellifluous substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth shout sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once give they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden nerve centre professional or Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control condition . Encourage lifelike enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden .
