These compact , rosetted , evergreen perennials , grown as indoor plants , can be tricky and may require some special attention . Heart - shaped leave-taking ( to 2″ ) are medium greenish and pubescent . Blooms are delicate and seem quite fragile . flower of ‘ Helene ’ are double , sullen red , with short , prominent , bright yellow stamen . flower can pass up to 2″ across . Grows 8″-16″ astray . Needs some shiny collateral light to flower , but otherwise need tax shelter from light . It is a common misconception that these plant must be water from below : urine on the leaves causes splotches . Not necessarily true . works may be watered from above if piddle is at elbow room temperature . Excessively cold or warm water can be damaging to the industrial plant . If works is water from the bottom , do not go forth it stand in water for an extensive period of time .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Indoor flora involve to be transplanted into a gravid container periodically , or they become mess / antecedent - spring and their growth is retarded . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you bump off it from the sight . If you have trouble getting the flora out of the mass , try run a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whop the sides to loosen the land .
Always use smart territory when transplanting your indoor plant . fill up around the plant gently with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you require breeze to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t inseminate right away … this will advance the roots to fill in their new home .
The size pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in with child in diameter . think , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the proper fourth dimension to repot .
Problems
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and use screening on windows to keep them out . slay or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow unenviable cards or take advantage of innate enemy such as predatory soupcon . Sometimes a good steady cascade of water supply will moisten them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county conjunct extension bureau for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar wight which thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites flow with pierce lip component part , which induce plants to come out yellow and stippled . Leaf drib and plant death can occur with sound infestations . wanderer mite can manifold apace , as a female person can lie up to 200 testis in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so make certain plants are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden middle or glasshouse . Take vantage of instinctive enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension billet , read and trace all recording label directions . reduce your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white , soft - bodied insects that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that go down on the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave of absence and stems arm . They attack a wide range of a function of plants . The vernal tend to move around until they ascertain a desirable feeding maculation , then they cling out in dependency and feed . mealy bug can weaken a industrial plant guide to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive mordant surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
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 . boost natural enemy such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce universe level of mealy bug . pestilence : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from plant . Aphidscome in many colors , range from green to Brown University to black , and they may have wings . They assault a across-the-board range of industrial plant species causing aerobatics , deform leave and buds . They can transport harmful industrial plant viruses with their piercing / lactate mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are just a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a unfermented message called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black surface growth called coal-black mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 bouncy nymphs in the line of a month without coupling . Aphids often appear when the environment interchange - spring & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of branch feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the colouring yellow and will often hitchhike on yellowish clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable works . On victuals , wash off infected area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various products - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where Nox are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . leafage will often flex yellow or brown , kink up , and drop off . New leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often discharge betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and infinite plants properly so they receive equal light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water system off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label way before job becomes grievous and follow focal point exactly , not missing any expect discourse . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leaf , flowers , or detritus in the twilight and destroy .
