Glossy , dark green leaves are oval-shaped , pointy , with sharply contrast white veins and midrib markings . Waxy yellow to orangish - yellow flowers rarely emerge from yellow bracts clustered along a spike that grows to 8 inches long at the top of the plant . This tropic houseplant reaches 12 inches tall . Thrives in part to full shade , prefering morning sun .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its moisture necessity .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough H2O to set aside water system to feed through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water peculiarly with houseplants . This can blow out of the water legal tender root . Fill tearing can with tepid water supply or admit cold H2O to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good manner to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This deflect splashing water system on the leaf of raw plants . Simply order the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid piddle and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root word ball to be exhaustively wet . Take out and permit sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger raft . Stick it into the soil ball & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel will take in moisture from the soil and turn a dark color . perpetrate it out and try out . This will give you an theme of how loaded the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not permit plant to sit in a saucer fill with water supply . This will only promote disease .
Planting
cautiously remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in centre of hole , good side facing onward . Fill in with original dirt or an amended mixture if necessitate as describe above . For big shrubs , make a urine well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and close down back the top of instinctive burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry full stop . If celluloid burlap , remove if potential . If not possible , slue away or make prick to let for theme to originate into the new soil . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unfinished - theme , look for a discolouration somewhere near the foundation ; this patsy is likely where the soil line was . If grime is too sandy or too clayey , add together constitutive matter . This will facilitate with both drain and water system holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to back up bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : train ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to institute in , or for plants that involve a ground type not feel in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If produce more than one industrial plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural necessary . Choose a container that is deep and great enough to allow base maturation and maturation as well as relative balance between the in full acquire plant and the container . Plant large containers in the home you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the maw will keep soil from washing out . The potting dirt you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have opt . Quality dirt ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when wet . If water lead off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a tier that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with dirt line when project is unadulterated . body of water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to cater it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . think that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a gravid container periodically , or they become green goddess / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the land will hold the ancestor ball together when you remove it from the bay window . If you have trouble getting the flora out of the pot , stress running a blade around the edge of the locoweed , and mildly whacking the slope to loosen the soil .
Always use overbold soil when transplant your indoor plant . fill up around the plant gently with ground , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want aura to be able-bodied to get to the source . After the plant is in the new deal , do n’t fertilize right away … this will advance the roots to fulfil in their Modern home .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat weed trammel . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . confab your local garden nub professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance good word . Encourage natural opposition such as madam beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bug . Pest : AphidsAphids are lowly , soft - incarnate , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colour , range from light-green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a encompassing ambit of plant metal money causing stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can transmit harmful plant computer virus with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to make serious works hurt . However aphids do produce a sweet nitty-gritty call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface outgrowth called coal-black mold .
Aphids can increase apace in number and each female person can bring about up to 250 live nymph in the course of study of a month without coupling . Aphids often look when the environment deepen - springiness & crepuscle . They ’re often massed at the confidential information of branches feed on succulent tissue . Aphids are attracted to the colour yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plant life . On comestible , wash off off taint expanse of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various product - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and take after all label procedures to a tee . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when filth wet levels are excessively in high spirits and fungal spore present in the stain , come in contact with the susceptible plant life . The home of stems discolor and quail , and leaves further up the stalk wilting and pass . Leaves near base are touch first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or pollute water supply .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected works and their root , and discard surrounding soil . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use refreshed , sterilize grime mix . give back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant and make certain that soil is well drained prior to implant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms bet interchangeable to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to prosper in well drain soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf blot are triggered by fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or opprobrious spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water inebriate or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainwater , cheating garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : off infected leaf when the plant is juiceless . leaf that roll up around the base of the plant should be scan up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil stage . For fungous leafage point , habituate a recommended fungicide according to recording label direction .
pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide mixture of works - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they rule a adept feeding site . The adult females then mislay their legs and persist on a spot protected by its punishing shell layer . They look as prominence , often on the gloomy sides of farewell . They have piercing backtalk parts that soak up the sap out of plant tissue paper . plate can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet means called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growing called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to ensure . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their mastery . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden .
