Clump - forming succulent with velvety , unsloped stems . Washed - out , wrinkled purple - red flowers with purple and yellow mark and majestic tips are produced in summer . arise in greenhouse where not hardy . In warm climates , grow in raised seam or desert garden .
Google Plant Images : clack here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase urine retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improve by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the ground . organise bed to an 18 inch cryptical for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil degree . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , absent it . If your plant life is in a container , cast away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , consort to label directions . Consult a professional for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - ashen , soft - bodied insect that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften await like diminished pieces of cotton fiber and they be given to congregate where leave and stems outgrowth . They attack a blanket range of plant . The young run to move around until they line up a suitable feeding patch , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can counteract a plant leading to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf drop curtain . They also produce a fresh substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth call coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage instinctive enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help bring down population levels of mealy germ .
