‘ Irene ’ is a vigorous zonary cultivar bear semi - double hopeful cerise - crimson flush in clusters . This flora is commonly call a geranium , which can be puzzling . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely different group of plants with the genus name Geranium , which are commonly call Cranesbills . withdraw dead flowers to encourage newfangled growth . Excellent container or boundary line flora . Good houseplant .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve prolificacy and increase water retention and drain . If filth constitution is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : organic topic . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wondrous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is well done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annuals , lead off by preparing the grime . Rototill rotted compost , stain conditioner , pulverized barque , or even builders sandpaper into the subsist dirt and run down it suave . Annuals grow quickly , so space them as recommended on flora tags . absent plant from their containers or pack softly , being sure to keep as much stain as you may around the rootage ball . If the rootball is pissed , loosen it a turn by gently classify white , snarl roots with your fingers or a pocket tongue . Plant at the same deepness they were in the container . Gently fill in around the plants , providing support but not cutting off air to the roots . Water the plant well .

Through the time of year , be sure to fertilize for optimal performance . Take peculiar care to cut back or altogether remove any morbid flora , as soon as you see there is a problem . At the death of the season , be sure to remove all plants and their origin balls . Rake the layer well to prepare it for the next time of year ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy age of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials ask to be care for just like any other flora . One thing that differentiate perennial is that they tend to be active raiser that have to be thin out now and again or they will loose vigor .

As perennials found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out at times . This will foreclose them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby concentrate the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .

Many specie also flower abundantly and produce rich seed . As flower fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they make seed . This will foreclose your plant life from seed all over the garden and will economize the considerable vigour it ask the plant to produce come .

As perennials grow , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a viewpoint of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you could make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate young increment and restore the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or nightfall . Do a petty homework ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that ask a grease character not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is deficient . If turn more than one industrial plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to allow root exploitation and growth as well as relative proportionality between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant magnanimous containers in the stead you mean them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A meshing screen , bust clay flock pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee berry filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and equally when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your land may not be as good as you consider .

Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the travelling bag or place in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when undertaking is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is desirable for the stipulation you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the arena right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .

Indoor plants require to be transplanted into a large container periodically , or they become pot / ancestor - bound and their increment is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root clod together when you remove it from the flowerpot . If you have fuss produce the plant out of the pot , test running a blade around the edge of the plenty , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .

Always employ sassy soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant life gently with soil , being careful not to load down too tightly – you want melodic line to be able to get to the root . After the plant is in the new flowerpot , do n’t inseminate right away … this will further the roots to fill in their new nursing home .

The size of it pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . retrieve , many works choose being moderately pot trammel . Always start with a sporting pot !

Problems

Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and apply block out on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with white-livered sticky cards or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash away them off the works . look up your local garden center professional or county accommodative reference office staff for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - same creature which thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated family ) . Spider mites flow with pierce mouthpiece constituent , which get flora to appear yellow and specked . Leaf drop and plant expiry can pass with expectant plague . wanderer mites can multiply promptly , as a female person can lie up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also raise a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .

Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so check that plants are on a regular basis water , especially those prefer in high spirits humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always retard new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden nub professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and travel along all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider touch broadly speaking live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , boring - white , soft - corporal worm that bring about a waxy powdery cut through . They have pierce / give suck mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a full chain of mountains of plants . The young incline to move around until they find a suited alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant direct to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal emergence called sooty mould .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . look up your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . boost natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help shorten population storey of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The vaporize adult stage prefer the underside of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can put up to 500 eggs in a life distich of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the plant is interrupt . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually moderate to implant death if they are not checked . They can channel many harmful plant computer virus . They also produce a sweet center called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal emergence called pitchy mold .

potential controls : keep sens down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; withdraw infested flora away from non - infested plants ; apply a pensive mulch ( Al transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will wash off them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , behind - move insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , array from green to brown to black , and they may have wing . They attack a across-the-board range of plant species causing stunting , deform leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful industrial plant viruses with their piercing / suck mouthparts . Aphids , in general , are merely a pain , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface increase called sooty modeling .

Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without pairing . Aphids often seem when the surroundings vary - outpouring & gloam . They ’re often mass at the peak of limb eat on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on icteric clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , specially around desirable plant . On edibles , wash off infected orbit of plant . Lady hemipterous insect and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to command aphid . Seek the good word of a professional and trace all label procedure to a football tee . disease : BlightBlights are make by fungus or bacteria that kill plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the rapid spotting or droop of foliage . There are many different blight , specific to various industrial plant , each requiring a varied method of control .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images