Pentas Flowers Info Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) are also called Egyptian stars for the bloom’s five-pointed shape. The plant is a shrub that gets up to 6 feet (2 m.) tall and 3 feet (1 m.) wide. It is a scrubby plant with an unruly shape, sporting oval to spear-shaped foliage. The flowers are generally pink, red, or white but new cultivars have introduced tones of purple and lavender and mixed blooms such as pink with red centers....
Perennial Garden Plants When trying to decide which little miracles to plant in your perennial garden design, just take a look around you. If you have neighbors who also enjoy gardening, ask them or just observe what perennial garden plants they have grown successfully. Which ones come back year after year and require little or no maintenance? Which ones have been too delicate to survive the winter? If you live in hot and humid climates, be sure to inquire as to which perennials tend to overrun the garden and require constant cutting back and digging up....
Periwinkle Control Methods Periwinkle is a very popular groundcover due to its glossy evergreen leaves and bright starry blue flowers. The plants establish and grow quickly, with remarkable tolerance to poor soils, unfavorable weather conditions, and even mechanical damage. Mowing or string trimming the plant to keep it in a manageable condition works well in containing the tangled stems. Be cautious with the trimmings though, as periwinkle will produce new plants with just a tiny bit of stem to ground contact, even once severed from the parent plant....
Leaves Curling on Persimmon from Pests Persimmon psyllid – Persimmon psyllid is a tiny, aphid-like pest that feeds on leaves, causing rolled and curled persimmon leaves. The damage is generally cosmetic and damage isn’t severe, although new growth may be deformed and stunted. Application of dormant oil in late winter or early spring, applied just before new leaves appear, will help keep persimmon psyllids in check. The pests are found anywhere persimmons are grown, but they’re most common in the southeastern United States....
Proper storage plays a large part in pesticide (herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, disinfectant, and products used to control rodents) longevity. Garden products should be stored in a dry location free from cold or heat extremes. Even so, products can begin to degrade and it is worthwhile to label these with the date of purchase, using the oldest first. It is also prudent to buy in small amounts that can be used in one season, even if that seems less economical....
Elements of Philippine Landscaping If you have ever traveled to the Philippines and gotten out into nature, you were probably drawn to the amazing variety of plants exhibited. The Philippines are home to many understory tropical species and full sun specimens that are both local and imported. Experts report that gardening in the Philippines is a dream due to the warm year-round weather. For an exotic feel in warm regions, try a Philippine garden design....
Every plant in the vegetable garden is a little broken heart waiting to happen. After all, you start them from seeds, nurture them through their awkward teenage stages, and then hope, as adults, they’ll be fruitful and, in some cases, even multiply. When pink rot potato disease appears in your mature potato patch close to harvest, your first thoughts may be about treating pink rot in potatoes, but sadly, there is no cure once it has taken hold....
Herbs are useful for more than flavoring your favorite dishes. Historical uses in medicinal and scented preparations also feature prominently. A new use, as wedding herbs, draws upon the language of love and is a perfect way to stimulate your and your guests’ senses. Tips on an Herb Themed Wedding You don’t need to be a professional designer to slip herbs into your wedding. Simple uses as a plate garnish or a small potted herb as a give-a-way will bring their fresh influence to bear easily and cheaply....
About Plane Tree Root Problems The problem with plane tree roots should not be blamed on the tree. The tree is doing what it has been prized for: growing. London plane trees are valued for their ability to thrive in urban settings in cramped quarters surrounded by concrete, lack of light, and assaulted by water that is tainted with salt, motor oil, and more. And yet they flourish! London plane trees can grow up to 100 feet (30....
Caring for Pothos Plants Basic pothos care is very easy. These plants enjoy a wide range of environments. They do well in bright, indirect light as well as low light and can be grown in dry soil or in vases of water. They will thrive in nutrient rich soil, but do almost as well in nutrient poor soil. Pothos plants make a great addition to your bathroom or office because they can tolerate low light....
How to Grow Bok Choy in Containers Bok choy is a good-sized plant. To grow potted bok choy, begin with a pot with a depth of about 20 inches (50 cm.) and a width of at least 12 inches (31 cm.) in order to grow one plant. Double the width of the container if you want to grow more potted bok choy plants. Fill the pot with fresh, lightweight potting mix containing ingredients such as finely chopped bark, compost, or peat....
Considerations on Catnip in Containers Watching a feline roll in delight as it enjoys the potent oils of a catnip plant is always amusing. Cats seem to be disposed towards this member of the mint family and, fortunately for us, it grows like a weed and can be harvested and dried several times without complaint. In smaller gardens, potted catnip plants may be the only way your cat can have a consistent, fresh supply....
Crocosmia Plant Diseases In order to learn how to treat crocosmia plant diseases, you must first know what they are. Below are some of the most common problems connected with these plants. Gladiolus rust – Although gladiolus hybrids are the primary victims, crocosmia are sometimes affected by gladiolus rust. Symptoms include blackish-brown or brownish-yellow spores that appear mostly on leaves, but can occasionally show up on flowers. Gladiolus rust is caused by low light and high humidity....
Taking Forsythia Cuttings Prepare a pot before you take your cuttings so they won’t dry out while you work. Fill the pot to within one-half inch (1 cm.) of the top with perlite or sand. Moisten the perlite or sand and allow the pot to drain. In June or July, take 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) cuttings from the tips of the current year’s growth. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip 2 inches (5 cm....
Tips here refer to cold hardy runners, in the Phyllostachys species. This is likely what you’re growing in an area that has cold winters. Hopefully, you’ve chosen the right bamboo for your zone and one for a lower zone if it is grown in containers. How to Winterize Bamboo Bamboo takes the first three years of its life to get established. Once it’s made it through this timeframe, it will be able to better survive the cold season....
Common Reasons for Yellow African Violet Leaves African violet leaves usually only live for about a year. It’s a common trait for the older leaves to fade and turn yellow before they die and drop off, leaving room for new foliage. If the lower leaves are not the only ones turning yellow, it’s time to investigate a few potential causes. Cultural care, lighting or disease may all be potential reasons for African violet leaves turning yellow....
Red Leaf Palm Information Chambeyronia macrocarpa is a feathery palm tree that is native to New Caledonia, an island near Australia and New Zealand. These extremely attractive and ornamental trees grow to 25 feet (8 m.) tall with leathery leaves some 12 feet (5 m.) long. The claim to fame of this exotic palm is its eccentric coloration. The new leaves on many specimens grows in vivid red, remaining red for up to ten days or longer as the trees get older....
About Reliance Peach Trees Reliance peaches are a freestone cultivar, which means the stone is easily removed. They can be grown in USDA zones 4 to 8, perfect for northern gardeners. Reliance was created in New Hampshire in 1964 and is still one of the cold hardiest of peaches without sacrificing taste. The medium to large sized fruit has a nice blend of sweet and tart. The tree blooms in the spring with a profusion of aromatic pink blossoms....
What are Kikuyugrass Weeds? Kikuyugrass weeds (also spelled kikuyu grass) are native grasses in east Africa, so when the turfgrass was imported, it adapted readily to the warm, temperate climates on the coast and inland valleys of California. It was planted on ditch banks in an attempt to stop erosion, but it rapidly jumped over into the surrounding countryside. It has been an invasive pest ever since. In ornamental plantings, kikuyugrass invades and chokes out groundcovers....
Rhubarb Growing Conditions Rhubarb does well in most zones of the United States, with the exception of areas where the winter average is not above 40 degrees F. (4 C.). In these areas, the plant is an annual and produces sporadically. In temperate climates, rhubarb grows like a weed in spring and continues to produce leaves all summer into fall. Over-wintering rhubarb in these zones simply requires a layer of mulch prior to the first freezes....
