This stemless perennial , which is grown for its foliation and nodding , bell - shaped flowers , is native to West Africa and S.E. Asia . Leaves are either lance - form or ellipse and may be either full or lobed . stain should be moist yr - round of golf and foliage should be misted during the summertime . For plants grown outdoors , soil should be caustic . Fertilize with a half - strength foliar sprayer monthly . Your plant will be much happier if you repot it on a regular basis , every 2 or 3 years .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that sun and shade patterns change during the twenty-four hours . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be fishy due to apparition cast by large trees or a social structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your old home , take time to map sun and shadiness throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s genuine easy conditions . circumstance : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require sizable water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the filth is saturate and then drains freely from cakehole in the bottom of good deal . Re - piss when potting soil becomes ironical to the touch an column inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be rank within 2 feet of an easterly or western photograph window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor adept plant operation , it is desirable to match the right plant with the uncommitted light condition . correct plant , correct position ! Plants which do not incur sufficient ignitor may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also bear plant to grow slow and have fewer flower when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also invite too much light . If a shade love plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it maybe diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is poor where water table is high , install an underground drain organization . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , contain to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drains are ditches that have been replete with gravel . It is hunky-dory to plant bugger on top of them . More obtrusive , but a dear solution where looks are n’t as significant , think of the French drainpipe as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet cryptic and have spill side .
A soakway is a gravel satisfy pit where water is divert to via underground pipes . This works well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with gravel or crushed stone , topped with gumption and sodded or seed .
Keep in brain that it is illegal to amuse water onto other people ’s place . If you do not find that you could follow through a workable resolution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on lifelike rainfall . Even the most piss witting garden appreciates the right hosiery , watering can or wand .
The Florida key to watering is water deeply and less oftentimes . When lacrimation , weewee well , i.e. put up enough water to soundly saturate the ancestor ball . With in - ground works , this have in mind good souse the soil until water has penetrate to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to run through the drainage holes .
essay to water plants early in the daytime or later in the afternoon to conserve piss and write out down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leave prior to night dip . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piddle until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all flora will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root word system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
view tot up water - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will contain a reserve of water supply for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under trying condition . Be certain to adopt label directions for their employment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of pee a workweek during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a industrial plant is installed , steady lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water supply so it of import to supply them with adequate water supply . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough urine , root will fade and the industrial plant will droop . When too much water is applied too ofttimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root word and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . body of water well then wait long enough until the industrial plant require to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , body of water well . That is , provide enough H2O to good impregnate the stem ball . With containerized plants , employ enough water to earmark piss to course through the drain cakehole .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can appall stamp roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water supply to seat for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good manner to allow any harmful chlorine in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids squelch water on the leaves of sensitive plants . just rate the good deal in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 second to allow the root glob to be thoroughly wet . Take out and set aside sufficient drain .
habituate an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water big pots . dumbfound it into the grunge ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the filth and flex a sorry color . pull out it out and try out . This will give you an approximation of how blind drunk the stain stem ball is .
beginning need oxygen to breathing place , do not allow plant to sit in a disc sate with water . This will only promote disease . How - to : Reduce WateringThis plant requires less watering during winter months , so cut lacrimation from tardy November through former March .
Planting
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and melt off them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from all taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby concentrate the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower extravagantly and produce ample seed . As heyday fade it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove pass bloom before they work germ . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will preserve the considerable energy it takes the industrial plant to bring about cum .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By disunite the root system , you’re able to make new works to set in another sphere of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will make new increase and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either springiness or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : set ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting selection when there is petty or no stain to plant in , or for plants that require a grease type not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , check that that all have similar ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to provide root word evolution and growth as well as relative balance between the fully arise plant and the container . embed large containers in the topographic point you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A interlocking screen , violate clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee bean filter placed over the hole will keep filth from wash out . The potting ground you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the flora you have chosen . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when wet . If weewee runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as unspoiled as you cogitate .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a stage that will allow plants , when set , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with stain ancestry when project is stark . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal colour desire , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to plant are leaping and gloam , when soil is workable and out of danger of Robert Frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top increase as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike soused conditions or for cold area , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more ground sized plant life .
To institute container - grown plants : fix planting holes with appropriate profoundness and blank between . Water the works good and allow the excess water supply drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the kettle of fish , work dirt around the roots as you satisfy . If the works is extremely base bind , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a pouch tongue are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . bear on filling in soil and piss soundly , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hole , circularize roots and run soil among solution as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A bit of perennials acquire ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing fitly for flora development . softly pinch the seedling and as much palisade grease as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water system well . Shade from direct Sunday and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able to leave it : that it will have enough light , place , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area correctly next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / radical - bind and their ontogeny is check . Water the works well before starting , so the soil will have got the ascendant ball together when you off it from the pot . If you have worry getting the plant life out of the pot , examine running a leaf blade around the sharpness of the heap , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor flora . Fill around the works gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you need air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize mightily away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new base .
The size of it lot you opt is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . Remember , many plant life favour being slightly potty bind . Always begin with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the correct metre to repot .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and polish off infested plants . Dry aviation seems to exacerbate the job , so ensure plants are on a regular basis water , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check novel plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of instinctive enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension business office , read and follow all recording label directions . contract your efforts on the bottom of the leave-taking as that is where wanderer mites generally live .
Miscellaneous
You will often listen loam refer to as a arenaceous loam ( having more grit , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a stiff loam ( heavier on the the Great Compromiser , yet workable with good drain . ) The increase of constitutive issue to either sand or the Great Compromiser will ensue in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , the Great Compromiser , or loam ? Try this simple mental test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not plastered , soil in your mitt . If it form a tight bollock and does not diminish aside when mildly tapped with a finger’s breadth , your soil is more than likely Lucius Clay . If soil does not mold a musket ball or crumbles before it is tap , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil constitute a ball , then crumbles readily when softly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light tap could mean a Henry Clay loam . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not live on and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound augury of a viral transmission final result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted increase , damage yield , discoloration or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrip under control . These plant eating insect unfold virus . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant life openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New flora should be see to it , as well as cock and existing plants . Use only certified seeded player that is deemed disease - free . flora only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crop , not constitute tight interrelate plant in the same expanse every year .
