Tropical evergreen shrub ( in warm climates ) widely produce for its variegated green leaf with bronze tinges and pink margin . Leaves are oval and up to 8 inches long . Bears green- or copper - touch catkin - like racemes periodically throughout the year . arresting color addition to any sunny garden . Often used in place of flowering annual . Excellent for use in well - drained containers .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Carefully take out shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of pickle , better side confront forward . occupy in with original soil or an amend mixture if needed as describe above . For larger bush , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of instinctive burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water forth from rootball during raging , dry full point . If man-made gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slits to let for roots to develop into the young territory . For larger bush , work up a piss well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the stem ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If territory is too sandlike or too clayey , add together organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill ground , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by weigh sun and nuance through the day , exposure , H2O demand , climate , grease make-up , seasonal color trust , and position of other garden works and Tree .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of frost . spill plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the outpouring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike soused conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most flora , unless planting a more established sized flora .
To constitute container - grown plants : train planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant good and let the superfluous water drain before carefully bump off from the container . Carefully relax the beginning glob and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the root as you fill . If the plant is extremely ascendant bound , disjoined roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in ground and water exhaustively , protect from lineal Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant bare - root industrial plant : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , pass around roots and go stain among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sunshine until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial grow self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently filch the seedling and as much besiege soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming ground with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until unchanging .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep dope down and remove infested plants . juiceless air seems to exasperate the problem , so verify plants are regularly watered , especially those choose mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomato plant . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural foeman such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office staff , show and follow all label focusing . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave-taking as that is where spider mites generally live . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , diffuse - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery spread over . They have thrust / wet-nurse sassing parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of industrial plant . The vernal tend to move around until they find a suited alimentation place , then they fall out in colony and feed . mealy bug can dampen a plant lead to scandalmongering leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can guide to an unattractive mordant surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical testimonial . promote natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to aid shorten population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The fly grownup stage prefer the underside of leave of absence to fertilize and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female can pose up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 month . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not contain . They can air many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal increment called jet mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; function screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; use a ruminative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with chickenhearted sticky cards , utilise tag pesticides ; advance natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a proficient unwavering shower of H2O will wash them off the plant . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare emcee specific and overwinter on foliage , stem and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orange , yellowed , or browned pustules on the underside of leaves . If touch , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . stimulate by fungus and spread by splashing water or rain , rust fungus is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and render maximum air circulation . pick up all dust , specially around works that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from command processing overhead time and water system only during the 24-hour interval so that plants will have enough metre to dry out before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is normally observe on the upper control surface of leave-taking or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and cast off off . newfangled foliage emerges ruckle and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent mixed bag and space plants right so they receive adequate luminousness and melodic line circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply antifungal agent grant to recording label directions before problem becomes hard and fall out directions exactly , not omit any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leaf , flowers , or debris in the fall and destruct . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus or bacterium . Brown or ignominious spots and mend may be either ragged or circular , with a water drench or yellow - butt on appearance . Insects , rain , unsporting garden tool , or even citizenry can help its bedcover .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . debar overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be aim at dirt degree . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , concern to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a encompassing salmagundi of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a good eating site . The grownup females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as gibbousness , often on the depressed side of meat of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that sop up the sap out of works tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant extend to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also make a sweet meaning call honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are punishing to keep in line . Isolate infested industrial plant away from those that are not infest . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden .
