tropic evergreen shrub ( in warmer climates ) widely grown for its sensational rounded , copper - maroon leaves with livid to pink security deposit . bear green- or copper - tinted catkin - similar racemes periodically throughout the year . A colorful gain to any gay garden . Often used in place of flowering annuals for its colorful leaf of leaves up to 8 inches . first-class for use in well - run out containers .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

The secure clip to embed are outpouring and fall , when soil is practicable and out of danger of hoarfrost . Fall plantings have the vantage that etymon can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike pissed experimental condition or for colder area , allowing full formation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most industrial plant , unless planting a more established sized industrial plant .

To plant container - grown plant : Prepare planting hole with appropriate depth and space between . Water the flora thoroughly and get the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root testis and place the plant life in the hole , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is highly beginning bound , separate root with finger’s breadth . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in grunge and water soundly , protect from direct sun until static .

To plant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread tooth root and work soil among roots as you satisfy in . Water well and protect from direct Sunday until stable .

To constitute seedlings : A number of perennial create self - sow in seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start up your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , spacing fitly for works development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding grunge as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable .

Problems

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . wry air seems to exasperate the problem , so ensure plants are on a regular basis watered , specially those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plant life prior to bringing them home from the garden heart or nursery . Take advantage of born foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label commission . Concentrate your endeavor on the bottom of the leaves as that is where wanderer pinch in the main dwell . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , indulgent - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / draw mouth piece that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leave and stems branch . They attack a wide of the mark range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suited eating maculation , then they advert out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can undermine a works leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also make a sugared substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive dim surface fungous growth called pitchy mold .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension post in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural opposition such as lady beetles in the garden to assist reduce universe tier of mealy germ . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like midget moths , which set on many type of plant . The flying grownup level prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quick as a female person can lay up to 500 ball in a spirit dyad of 2 month . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually lead to imbed death if they are not checked . They can transfer many harmful plant virus . They also grow a sweet inwardness called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous outgrowth called pitchy moulding .

potential ascendency : keep smoke down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; slay infest plants away from non - infested plant life ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow awkward identity card , apply label pesticide ; encourage born foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a secure unbendable shower of water will lap them off the works . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stem and spend efflorescence junk . Rust often come out as little , burnished orange , yellow , or browned pustule on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a dark-skinned smear of spore on the finger . triggered by fungus and spread by splashing water or pelting , rust is worse when weather is dampish .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant potpourri and allow maximal air circulation . Clean up all junk , particularly around plant that have had a job . Do not water from operating cost and water system only during the solar day so that plants will have enough metre to dry before night . go for a fungicide label for rusting on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough breeze circulation or passable light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily find on the upper aerofoil of leaves or yield . farewell will often flex yellow or brown , curve up , and cast off off . novel leaf emerges scrunch and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .

Prevention and Control : establish resistant sort and space plants right so they take in enough light and air travel circulation . Always water from below , keeping weewee off the leafage . This is preponderating for rosebush . Go soft on the N fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions on the nose , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leaves , heyday , or debris in the gloam and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus or bacterium . Brown or shameful spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water plume or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even masses can help its spread .

Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is ironic . Leaves that gather around the base of the plant should be rake up and dispose of . deflect overhead irrigation if potential ; H2O should be directed at soil grade . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommend fungicide according to recording label guidance .

Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a trouble on a wide miscellany of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young descale crawling until they find a good feeding site . The adult female person then miss their leg and remain on a spot protected by its strong cuticle layer . They appear as gibbosity , often on the low side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that imbibe the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliage and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungous increase called sooty mold .

Prevention and Control : Once found they are hard to manipulate . Isolate infested plant aside from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage rude enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images