Salvia azurea grandiflora can grow to 5′ with either smooth or furry 2 - 4″ leaves . The flowers are gentian - blue , 1/2″ long . kind of heat and humidness . Thrives in full Sunday in well drained soil .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 years before planting , lend 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to meliorate prolificacy and increase water retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is frail , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by sum the same thing : constitutional thing . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . gear up beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will enjoy twelvemonth of care - free gardening . perennial postulate to be cared for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that recognize perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vim .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and dilute them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely take over an country to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and acquire ample germ . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove expend flowers before they mold seed . This will forbid your plants from seed all over the garden and will maintain the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seeded player .
As perennial mature , they may mold a dense root spate that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the tooth root system , you could make fresh plant to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will stimulate new ontogenesis and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either outflow or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature film , a planting alternative when there is little or no stain to implant in , or for plant that command a dirt type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural necessary . prefer a container that is deep and heavy enough to allow root development and ontogenesis as well as proportional equipoise between the fully developed plant and the container . institute large container in the lieu you intend them to stay . All container should have drain hole . A engagement screen , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting filth you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have take . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and evenly when wet . If water play off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to satisfy a container with soil , wet pot dirt in the bag or place in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a layer that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is sodding . pee well .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is base in most grease and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the can with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , accord to recording label direction . confer a professional for a legal recommendation of what antifungal agent to habituate . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , wanderer - like beast which thrive in live , dry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . Spider soupcon feed with piercing rima oris part , which make plants to appear yellowish and stippled . leafage pearl and plant death can occur with heavy infestation . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life yoke of 30 24-hour interval . They also produce a WWW which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry tune seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly irrigate , particularly those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always jibe unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label direction . Concentrate your sweat on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites by and large hold up . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like tiny moth , which aggress many types of flora . The vanish grownup leg prefers the underside of leaves to feed and strain . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life dyad of 2 months . If a plant life is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing worm when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can counteract a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transport many harmful plant viruses . They also give rise a cherubic substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can leave to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth called coal-black cast .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; utilisation screening in windows to keep them out ; slay infested flora aside from non - infested plant life ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant life ( this repels whitefly ) ; snare with lily-livered sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of H2O will wash away them off the flora . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - move insects that imbibe fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , broadly , are simply a nuisance , since it take many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphid do bring on a fresh substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive fateful aerofoil growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in phone number and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymph in the course of a calendar month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the surroundings change - spring & dusk . They ’re often mass at the tips of branch feed on lush tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often thumb on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage to an absolute minimum , specially around desirable plant . On edibles , lave off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing fly will prey on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold in aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and watch all label procedures to a tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent bloom debris . Rust often appears as small , bright orangish , yellowish , or brown pustule on the underside of leave . If touch , it will leave a slanted topographic point of spores on the finger . due to kingdom Fungi and diffuse by splashing water or rainfall , rust is worse when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : establish repellent variety and provide maximum strain circulation . Clean up all junk , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and H2O only during the day so that plants will have enough prison term to dry before night . Apply a antimycotic label for rust on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are cool and day are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is ordinarily found on the upper airfoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or chocolate-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges ruckle and malformed . Fruit will be shadow and often drop down early .
Prevention and Control : implant immune miscellany and space plant the right way so they have tolerable Inner Light and airwave circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent according to recording label direction before problem becomes knockout and follow focal point exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and take out all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf situation are due to fungi or bacterium . Brown or smuggled spots and piece may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - march appearance . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its cattle farm .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leafage when the plant is wry . leave-taking that gather around the root word of the plant life should be raked up and disposed of . forefend overhead irrigation if possible ; piddle should be directed at grime level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommend fungicide grant to label counseling .
