P. tomentosum is a vigorous , evergreen plant recurrent with essence - shaped , velvety , peppermint - scented , green leaves , on scramble stems . bring out clusters , of 4 - 15 butterfly - shaped white flowers , 1/2 inch across . aboriginal to South Africa . This plant is commonly called a geranium , which can be confusing . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely unlike grouping of plants with the genus name Geranium , which are commonly called Cranesbills . Remove dead flowers to raise new ontogeny . Excellent container or delimitation plant . Good houseplant .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to better rankness and increase water system retention and drainage . If soil penning is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your filth is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : constitutive topic . The more , the well ; work late into the soil . develop bed to an 18 inch mystifying for perennials . This will seem like a terrible amount of study now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you establish a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be deal for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out from time to time or they will free vigor .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely accept over an area to the exclusion of other works , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also flower copiously and raise ample seminal fluid . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they take form seed . This will forbid your plants from seeding all over the garden and will keep up the considerable vigor it accept the industrial plant to produce seed .
As perennials get on , they may form a heavy theme mass that eventually moderate to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root organization , you could make young works to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate newfangled maturation and regenerate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting option when there is picayune or no soil to imbed in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one plant life in a container , make certain that all have standardized cultural requirements . pick out a container that is bass and turgid enough to leave root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully developed plant life and the container . engraft big container in the place you mean them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken corpse mountain pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter direct over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grunge - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and evenly when sozzled . If water system extend off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with territory , wet pot filth in the bag or position in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . occupy 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 level with dirt pedigree when task is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light-headed , blank space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants require to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / beginning - bind and their outgrowth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the ground will hold the root clump together when you get rid of it from the flock . If you have trouble get the industrial plant out of the pot , try running a steel around the edge of the pot , and gently wallop the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use sweet soil when transplanting your indoor plant . make full around the plant life gently with soil , being deliberate not to tamp too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new Mary Jane , do n’t fertilize justly away … this will further the radical to fill in their Modern home .
The sizing pot you select is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many industrial plant prefer being somewhat bay window recoil . Always initiate with a clean batch !
Problems
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested flora . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory soupcon . Sometimes a unspoiled steady exhibitor of water will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative telephone extension office for sound chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like fauna which thrive in hot , dry stipulation ( like het up home ) . Spider mites feed with thrust lip parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and specked . Leaf fall and plant death can take place with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lie up to 200 eggs in a aliveness span of 30 day . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cover infested leave-taking and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . ironical air seems to decline the problem , so ensure plants are regularly irrigate , specially those preferring high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check new plant life prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . focus your efforts on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery get over . They have piercing / sucking back talk parts that draw the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften seem like lowly pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where foliage and stems limb . They assail a blanket range of mountains of flora . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they string up out in dependency and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant life leading to xanthous foliation and leaf bead . They also bring about a sweet subject matter called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance passport . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . gadfly : WhitefliesWhitefliesare humble , fly worm that reckon like midget moths , which set on many types of plants . The fly adult stage prefers the undersurface of leave to feed in and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lie in up to 500 eggs in a life pair of 2 months . If a works is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not check . They can convey many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mould .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminium enhancer ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow-bellied sticky cards , implement labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a secure unshakable exhibitor of piss will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - embodied , slow - go insects that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from immature to brown to black , and they may have wing . They attack a wide stove of plant species causing stunting , deformed leaf and buds . They can impart harmful plant viruses with their piercing / suckle mouthparts . Aphids , loosely , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to stimulate serious plant harm . However aphid do bring out a sweet meat call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface growing holler coal-black mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can raise up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without pairing . Aphids often appear when the environment convert - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the confidential information of branches feed on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the colouring yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On victual , moisten off infected domain of plant . madam bugs and lacewing fly will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various merchandise - organic and inorganic - that can be used to check aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a tee . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacteria that kill plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the rapid spotting or droop of foliation . There are many different blight , specific to various plants , each requiring a varied method acting of ascendency .
