‘ Leopard ’ is a vigorous English ivy - leaved cultivar produce clusters of semi - double , purple - pinkish flowers with ruby-red splash of color on the petal . This plant is usually called a geranium , which can be confusing . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely different group of plants with the genus name Geranium , which are ordinarily called Cranesbills . Remove beat bloom to promote newfangled increment . Excellent container or border plant . Good houseplant .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 sidereal day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to better rankness and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grunge is sand or clay , it can be ameliorate by add the same affair : constituent matter . The more , the good ; work deeply into the grease . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once flora have been demonstrate . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annuals , begin by preparing the land . Rototill rotted compost , soil conditioner , pulverized barque , or even detergent builder sandpaper into the live grease and rake it smooth . Annuals grow rapidly , so space them as recommended on plant tags . Remove plants from their containers or large number mildly , being certain to keep as much soil as you may around the etymon ball . If the rootball is tight , loosen it a bit by gently separating white , matted root with your finger or a sac tongue . Plant at the same depth they were in the containers . Gently fill in around the plants , allow support but not cutting off air to the theme . Water the plants well .
Through the season , be indisputable to fertilize for optimal performance . Take special care to cut back or altogether remove any morbid plants , as soon as you see there is a trouble . At the end of the season , be certain to remove all plant and their root ball . Rake the layer well to prepare it for the next season ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy age of maintenance - gratuitous gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be alive agriculturist that have to be thin out out now and then or they will unleash vigor .
As perennial institute , it is important to snip them back and melt off them out occasionally . This will preclude them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also blossom extravagantly and bring on ample semen . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to murder spent peak before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will economize the considerable vigour it takes the plant to produce semen .
As perennials mature , they may mould a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to once in a while slim down out a pedestal of such perennials . By divide the root system , you could make Modern plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the works . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either springiness or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting choice when there is slight or no ground to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have like cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and expectant enough to tolerate root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully developed plant and the container . implant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drain trap . A mesh CRT screen , weaken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the jam will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water runs off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as honest as you think .
Prior to fill a container with land , wet pot soil in the udder or position in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . sate container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when establish , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be even with filth agate line when labor is complete . urine well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have prefer is suitable for the conditions you are capable to allow it : that it will have enough calorie-free , infinite , and a temperature it will like . commend that the area aright next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root word - trammel and their maturation is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the grime will adjudge the root testis together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try run a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly wallop the side to loosen the grunge .
Always apply fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . take around the plant softly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you need air travel to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new crapper , do n’t inseminate aright away … this will boost the beginning to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat pot trammel . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Prevention and Control : keep weed down and practice screen out on window to keep them out . get rid of or discard infested plants , keep them by from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellow sticky card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of piss will wash out them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden middle professional or county concerted annexe billet for effectual chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouthpiece office , which have plants to appear lily-livered and flecked . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can reproduce quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also raise a World Wide Web which can cover infested parting and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and slay infested plant life . Dry melodic line seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check novel plants prior to make for them home from the garden nerve center or nursery . Take advantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and come after all label steering . Concentrate your crusade on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer mites generally know . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - incarnate insects that create a waxy powdery hatch . They have piercing / go down on back talk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like minor pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems outgrowth . They attack a wide range of plants . The young run to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant life chair to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet kernel hollo honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black control surface fungal 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 office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . promote rude enemy such as madam mallet in the garden to aid reduce population layer of mealy hemipteron . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of folio to feed and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life history span of 2 calendar month . If a plant life is invade with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant end if they are not turn back . They can broadcast many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal ontogeny call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; consumption screen in window to keep them out ; withdraw infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 hydrofoil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with jaundiced viscid cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piss will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , indulgent - embodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They lash out a wide range of plant coinage cause stunting , deform leaves and bud . They can transport harmful plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it take many of them to cause serious plant wrong . However aphid do produce a mellifluous substance call off honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can direct to an untempting bootleg surface increment called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live houri in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surroundings changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the crest of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the coloring material yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off taint area of flora . madam bugs and lacewing fly will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a teeing ground . disease : BlightBlights are have by fungus kingdom or bacteria that kill plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid espial or wilting of foliation . There are many unlike blights , specific to various plant , each requiring a varied method of control .
