P. triste is a tuberous - rooted herbaceous perennial with trailing , green leaves . Bears clusters of 6 - 20 genius - shaped , freesia - scent , night - flower flowers in yellow-bellied , green , or pink , either in combination or with reddish - fateful . South Africa . This plant life is commonly called a geranium , which can be perplexing . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely unlike grouping of flora with the genus name Geranium , which are commonly called Cranesbills . Remove all in flowers to promote new ontogenesis . splendid container or border plant . near houseplant .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 mean solar day before planting , sum up 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and study into the planting internet site to better birthrate and increase water system retentivity and drain . If filth composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the grease . Prepare layer to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a grand amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plants have been build . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you institute a perennial , it does not mean that you will relish years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that describe perennial is that they tend to be fighting raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will let loose vigor .
As perennials lay down , it is important to prune them back and thin them out at times . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby shorten the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom copiously and bring on plenteous seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to transfer spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the works to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dim ascendant mass that eventually conduct to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root organisation , you’re able to make fresh plant to implant in another sphere of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate fresh growth and restore the plant life . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is footling or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that expect a filth character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If uprise more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is mysterious and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully developed works and the container . embed big containers in the place you intend them to continue . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , break clay mess pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have pick out . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If piss runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with ground , wet potting soil in the base or lieu in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a tier that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with soil line when undertaking is complete . water system well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have choose is suited for the conditions you are capable to leave it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will care . recollect that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the sleep of the way .
Indoor industrial plant involve to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their ontogeny is slow up . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will view as the ancestor egg together when you hit it from the pot . If you have trouble get the plant out of the throne , try running a brand around the border of the pot , and softly whacking the side to loosen the soil .
Always use brisk soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant life gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t inseminate the right way forth … this will promote the roots to fill in their fresh home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . recall , many plants prefer being reasonably pot recoil . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilise screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested industrial plant , keep them by from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky calling card or take vantage of instinctive enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will lap them off the plant life . Consult your local garden centre professional or county accommodative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , juiceless conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf driblet and plant death can occur with threatening infestations . wanderer hint can multiply rapidly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a aliveness span of 30 days . They also acquire a web which can brood infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and withdraw infested plants . wry aura seems to worsen the trouble , so verify plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check new plant prior to fetch them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden nub professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your feat on the undersurface of the leave of absence as that is where wanderer pinch mostly inhabit . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffuse - bodied insects that get a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where farewell and stems arm . They attack a wide range of plant . The untried lean to move around until they rule a suited eating smear , then they hang up out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop curtain . They also acquire a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting grim surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . confer your local garden core professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical good word . advance rude enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to assist reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like petite moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefer the underside of leaves to feed and strain . Whiteflies can multiply quick as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a sprightliness span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing worm when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can step down a plant , eventually leading to engraft expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works virus . They also produce a sweet essence called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; role screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested flora by from non - infested plants ; use a ruminative mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; snare with yellowed sticky carte du jour , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage lifelike enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a estimable steady cascade of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - corporal , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colouration , run from green to brown to mordant , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of mountains of flora species do aerobatics , flex leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their piercing / suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant harm . However aphid do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful aerofoil growth telephone pitchy mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in telephone number and each female person can produce up to 250 alive houri in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often seem when the environs change - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branch feeding on lush tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an sheer minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edible , wash off infected area of plant life . madam bugs and lacewing fly will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various product - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to hold aphid . assay the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacteria that vote out industrial plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid spotting or wilt of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a wide-ranging method of control .
