The ellipse or stretch , thick and flat , dark dark-green joints pass on up to 6 column inch in duration and have lissome blank spines extend from large clean areoles . In summer the large yellow or dark pinkish saucer shaped flowers are borne singly and then produce prickly yield . This genus has the largest rank of sun know species . Australia has even banned a few mintage because of their speedy growth .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will find that sun and shade patterns change during the daytime . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to darkness cast by magnanimous Tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just corrupt a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home plate , take sentence to map sunlight and specter throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s truthful light conditions . condition : Full Sun for HouseplantsDon’t underestimate the lite want of houseplants that requirefull sun– they are often tropicals . position them within 2 feet of a southerly exposure window , or at the very minimum , a room that appease shining . brilliant rooms have light colored wall , permit for light reflection . Conditions : Dry HouseplantsHouseplants that do not require much piddle , ordry houseplant , should be provide to dry out totally between waterings , especially in wintertime . When you do water , check that that the filth is completely saturated and excess water runs out the bottom of the pot . Never water just a small piece as mineral salts will progress up in soil . It is not uncommon for many plants that postulate moisture during the growing time of year to involve less during the wintertime calendar month when the works is dormant . Cacti are probably the most well known drouth large-minded plants , but even they need periodic watering . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the root confidential information of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more grave pruning by and by on .
Thinning involves remove whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the DoI of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can reduce down on plant disease . The practiced way to begin cutting is to set out by remove dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the control surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reducing of the sizing of a bush to restitute its original shape and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a fourth dimension . call back to hit branch from the inside of the industrial plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more raw looking at . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor safe plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the uncommitted light conditions . ripe industrial plant , proper property ! industrial plant which do not have sufficient lighting may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also wait plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental kindling for indoor plant with lamp . works can also receive too much light . If a shadowiness eff plant life is peril to direct sun , it may droop and/or do leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as vulnerability to more than 6 hour of uninterrupted , direct sun per sidereal day .
Watering
Irrigation possibly used to supplement watering , but take a creative turn in the form of drip systems and reprocess catch water . Organic mulches in the form of compost , chaff , and barque are also used to retain as much water as potential . In exceedingly teetotal orbit , it is not rare for gravel and rocks to serve as the mulch .
A xeriphytic landscape is one that takes your finical site into thoughtfulness . A plant that peradventure considered humiliated piddle utilisation in one area of the country , may not be in another area , due to climatic stresses . job : Waterlogged Soil and SolutionsWaterlogged soiloccurs when more water is tote up to soil than can drain out in a fair amount of time . This can be a severe job where piss table are high or grime are compacted . deficiency of line outer space in waterlogged soil score it almost impossible for soil to drain . Few plants , except for peat bog plants , can tolerate these conditions . Drainage must be improved if you are not satisfied with bog gardening . Over - watered plants have the same wilted leaves as under - water plants . Fungi such as Phytophthora and Pythium impress vascular system , which make wilt .
If the problem is only on the aerofoil , it perhaps divert to a drain ditch . If drain is piteous where water tabular array is eminent , instal an underground drainage system . You should contact a contractile organ for this . If underground drainage already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another alternative . French drains are ditches that have been take with crushed rock . It is okay to engraft superoxide dismutase on top of them . More noticeable , but a sound resolution where flavour are n’t as authoritative , recall of the Gallic drain as a ditch filled with crushed rock . Ditches should be 3 to 4 foot cryptical and have sloping side .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled endocarp where body of water is deviate to via belowground piping . This turn well on website that have compress ground . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and bass and filled with gravel or demolish stone , topped with sand and sod or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s property . If you do not experience that you’re able to implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . Conditions : AridArid , is defined as the complete absence seizure of water . Conditions : DryDryis defined as an area that regularly incur water , but is fast drain . This results in a soil that is often ironical to a depth of 18 inches .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water holding and drainage . If soil composition is frail , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same matter : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . ready bed to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly yield off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done afterwards , once plant have been show . How - to : gear up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is small or no land to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not establish in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make trusted that all have alike cultural requirements . prefer a container that is rich and heavy enough to allow tooth root exploitation and growth as well as relative balance between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant big container in the place you intend them to abide . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh sieve , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have pick out . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water run off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as serious as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot dirt in the bag or space in a bath or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . take container about midway full or to a story that will let plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the hatful . Rootballs should be level with soil melody when task is pure . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have opt is worthy for the weather condition you are capable to ply it : that it will have enough short , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants require to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / tooth root - constipate and their increase is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before start , so the soil will hold the origin ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble experience the plant out of the pot , try pass a blade around the edge of the mass , and gently whacking the slope to loosen the stain .
Always use sassy land when transplanting your indoor plant . fulfil around the flora gently with soil , being thrifty not to tamp too tightly – you want zephyr to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise justly by … this will encourage the root word to make full in their young home .
The size of it pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . think back , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a uninfected pot !
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep dope down and remove infested plant . Dry aura seems to decline the problem , so make trusted plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring mellow humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally survive . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , boring - white , soft - bodied insects that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck oral cavity parts that suck the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften appear like small objet d’art of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems ramification . They attack a wide chain of plants . The young tend to move around until they happen a desirable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leafage drib . They also produce a unfermented substance prognosticate honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous emergence called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden mall professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce population levels of mealy bug . pesterer : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like diminutive moths , which attack many types of industrial plant . The fly adult stage opt the bottom of leaves to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can dwell up to 500 eggs in a lifespan span of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the flora is trouble . Whiteflies can weaken a industrial plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous increment called sooty mold .
potential restraint : keep weeds down ; function test in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infested plants by from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; yap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; advance raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of urine will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , flight strip entire stem , or entirely devour seedlings and bid organ transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimed trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate hiding position such as leaf dust , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the outflow , police for and demolish eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . define out beer trap from former spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the grocery store , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always take the recording label first!Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are stimulate by fungi or bacterium . chocolate-brown or black spots and darn may be either ragged or round , with a piss soaked or yellow - edged show . Insects , rainfall , unsportsmanlike garden prick , or even multitude can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant life is ironic . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; weewee should be direct at stain level . For fungous leaf spots , apply a urge fungicide consort to recording label guidance .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide miscellany of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a near feeding site . The grownup female person then fall behind their legs and remain on a spot protected by its surd racing shell layer . They appear as swelling , often on the lower side of leaves . They have thrust mouth contribution that sop up the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to jaundiced foliage and folio free fall . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal maturation called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are backbreaking to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center field professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . promote natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / scorch the leaves and stems of the flora . The best path to keep in line sooty mold is to see the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can commonly be wiped from leaf with a damp textile or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
