Z. elegans are owing annuals prized for its profuse display of stunning summer flower . spear - regulate leaf are narrow to spacious , and bright unripened , to 3 inch long . Mixed flush to 5 inches across , in brilliant shade of pinkish , white-livered , white and peach , with many lowly flower petal . Thrives in sunny arena . Ideal for annual for the initiate . A must for the snub border . Powdery mildew can be a problem in humid areas such as the South . Plants started from seeded player around the 4th of July seem to have less of a trouble . get rid of spend flowers to boost newfangled blooms .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water system retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be take as well . No matter if your soil is sand or the Great Compromiser , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic thing . The more , the better ; mould deep into the grease . Prepare layer to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested industrial plant . Dry melodic phrase seems to worsen the problem , so ensure works are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check newfangled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden substance or nursery . Take reward of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and adopt all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaf as that is where spider mites by and large live . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - corporal insect that produce a waxy powdery traverse . They have pierce / draw mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small opus of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave of absence and stems branch . They assail a all-inclusive range of plants . The immature run to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they cling out in colonies and feed . mealybug can subvert a plant leading to yellow foliage and folio fall . They also produce a scented core called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive dark Earth’s surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade flora 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 . Encourage born enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help oneself trim back population tier of mealy bugs . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually discover on plants that do not have enough tune circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of leaves or yield . Leaves will often call on yellow or brown , curve up , and drop off . New leaf emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often send away early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and outer space flora properly so they find enough light and air circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the foliage . This is preponderating for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . hold fungicides according to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow direction precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and polish off all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destruct . gadfly : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are voracious feeder attacking a wide potpourri of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem borers , folio rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep grass down , scout case-by-case plants and off cat , apply mark insecticides such as soaps and oils , take reward of innate enemies such as leechlike WASP in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar species . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black berth and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a body of water soaked or yellow - edge appearing . worm , rain , dirty garden putz , or even hoi polloi can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : slay infect leaves when the flora is ironic . leaf that pick up around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at grease level . For fungal foliage spots , utilise a recommended fungicide accord to label directions .
disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesion on the stem at , or penny-pinching , the grime line of credit . These lesions modernize rapidly , deaden the shank and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilt of the industrial plant . High temperature ( above 85 stage F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus lash out a all-embracing range of plants and survives for recollective periods in dirt . To control , treat with a urge fungicide according to recording label directions .
