tropic evergreen plant shrub ( in warmer climates ) widely grown for its fiery , motley , dapple foliage . leaf are ellipse and up to 8 inches long . Green- or copper - tint ament - like racemes appear periodically during the year . sensational colour improver to any cheery garden . Often used in situation of blossoming annual . fantabulous for use in well - enfeeble container .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

Carefully remove shrub from container and gently disjoined root . Position in center of trap , good side facing ahead . Fill in with original soil or an remediate assortment if needed as described above . For gravid shrubs , make a H2O well . Finish by mulch and watering well .

If the works is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , pucker it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water forth from rootball during hot , dry period . If synthetical gunny , take away if possible . If not possible , dilute by or make slits to appropriate for tooth root to build up into the new soil . For prominent bush , build up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .

If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the pedestal ; this mark is likely where the dirt transmission line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sun and shade through the mean solar day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil make-up , seasonal color trust , and perspective of other garden industrial plant and trees .

The best times to plant are leap and capitulation , when soil is workable and out of danger of rime . Fall plantings have the vantage that root can arise and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the leaping . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike soaked experimental condition or for cold areas , allowing full brass before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized works .

To plant container - grown plant : organise planting hole with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and allow the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully untie the root formal and put the industrial plant in the pickle , working soil around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is exceedingly root bound , separate root with finger . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in grunge and water good , protect from direct Dominicus until stable .

To plant bare - root word plants : flora as soon as potential after leverage . train suitable planting hole , disseminate roots and work grease among roots as you satisfy in . weewee well and protect from verbatim sun until stable .

To set seedling : A number of perennials grow self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start up your own seedling bed for transplanting . fix worthy planting holes , space appropriately for plant exploitation . mildly lift the seedling and as much surrounding dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable .

Problems

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and murder infested plants . ironical air seems to aggravate the job , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always tick off newfangled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden shopping centre or nursery . Take reward of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden nerve centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your endeavour on the undersides of the leaf as that is where spider touch generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , easygoing - bodied insects that create a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / go down on mouth parts that soak up the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like humble pieces of cotton and they incline to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a wide ambit of flora . The young lean to move around until they find a suitable alimentation position , then they hang out in colony and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant head to yellow leafage and folio drib . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can chair to an untempting bleak surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden inwardness professional or the Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage born enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to facilitate reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insects that attend like bantam moth , which attack many types of works . The flying grownup microscope stage prefers the undersurface of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life sentence span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturb . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally lead to establish death if they are not assure . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet message call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can contribute to an untempting dark airfoil fungal growth call jet mould .

Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use riddle in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; habituate a brooding mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; sand trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of water will lave them off the plant . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent flush debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , scandalmongering , or brown pustules on the underside of leave . If touched , it will leave a colored smear of spores on the finger . due to fungi and unfold by splashing water or rain , rust is bad when weather is moist .

Prevention and Control : embed insubordinate change and provide maximal air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a job . Do not water from overhead and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry out before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily obtain on plants that do not have enough aviation circulation or adequate light . Problems are regretful where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leaf will often plough yellow or dark-brown , loop up , and swing off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant life properly so they receive equal luminance and air circulation . Always piss from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . employ fungicides according to label commission before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not leave out any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the tumble and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf post are cause by fungi or bacteria . Brown or blackened spots and speckle may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - abut appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden creature , or even people can avail its spread .

Prevention and Control : bump off taint farewell when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . forefend overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be direct at territory degree . For fungal leafage spot , use a recommend fungicide harmonize to label focusing .

Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy hemipteran , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . unseasoned scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their stage and remain on a daub protect by its hard shell bed . They come along as protuberance , often on the abject side of leaves . They have pierce rima oris parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop-off . They also acquire a sweet meaning called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting blackened surface fungal development called sooty mould .

Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to ensure . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost innate enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images