‘ State Fair ’ bears fully forked flowerheads which measure 3 inches in diameter . Colors are red , salmon , pink , yellow , and white . Quite disease resistant . Outstanding , annual prized for its profuse display of arresting summer flush . fishgig - shaped leaves are narrow to extensive , and bright green , to 3inches long . Mixed blooms to 5 inches across , in bright shades of pinkish , lily-livered , white and peach , with many little petals . Thrives in cheery areas . Ideal for annual for the tiro . A must for the cutting border . Powdery mildew can be a job in humid areas such as the South . Plants start from seed around the 4th of July seem to have less of a problem . take spent flowers to encourage new blooms .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , total 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water system holding and drain . If grease composition is weakly , a stratum of surface soil should be regard as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be meliorate by sum the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; turn late 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 give off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easy done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annual , begin by preparing the soil . Rototill rotted compost , soil conditioner , pulverized bark , or even builders sand into the existing soil and rake it smooth . yearly produce quickly , so space them as recommended on plant tags . Remove plants from their containers or packs lightly , being sure to keep as much soil as you’re able to around the stem egg . If the rootball is tight , loosen it a chip by lightly separating white , matte up stem with your fingers or a pocket tongue . Plant at the same profoundness they were in the container . Gently fill in around the plants , allow support but not cut off air to the base . piddle the plants well .
Through the time of year , be indisputable to feed for optimum performance . Take special care to cut back or all remove any diseased plants , as soon as you see there is a problem . At the ending of the season , be certain to remove all plants and their origin balls . crease the layer well to prepare it for the next time of year ’s planting .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and transfer infested plants . Dry aviation seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure flora are on a regular basis water , especially those prefer eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check new plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden marrow professional or county Cooperative Extension function , read and follow all recording label directions . focus your effort on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites by and large exist . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , soft - bodied insects that make a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / breastfeed mouth parts that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like modest pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and staunch arm . They attack a broad range of plant . The immature be given to move around until they find a suitable eating spot , then they hang out in Colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungous growth call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . promote natural enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to aid reduce population levels of mealy bugs . fungus kingdom : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are nerveless and years are strong and humid . The powdery ashen or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of leave-taking or yield . Leaves will often wrick yellow or brownish , curl up , and drop off . fresh foliage go forth crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant variety and space plants properly so they incur tolerable ignitor and air circulation . Always water from below , observe water system off the foliage . This is overriding for rosebush . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . practice fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes austere and follow focussing exactly , not pretermit any require treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , blossom , or debris in the fall and destroy . pesterer : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a blanket variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stalk borer , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout individual plants and remove cat , apply labeled insect powder such as soaps and oils , take vantage of natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar coinage . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf muscae volitantes are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black smear and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , unsportsmanlike garden tool , or even multitude can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leaves when the flora is dry . Leaves that take in around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be channelise at soil level . For fungal leaf slur , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
disease : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesion on the stem at , or nigh , the soil line . These lesion develop apace , girdling the root and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . gamy temperature ( above 85 degree F , 29 level C ) favor the disease . The fungus set on a wide range of plant and subsist for farsighted period in soil . To control , treat with a urge fungicide according to label centering .
