‘ New Life ’ is a zonal cultivar with clusters of individual , carmine and white - stripy flowers with some flower petal all red or wan Salmon River . This plant is commonly called a geranium , which can be puzzling . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely different group of plants with the genus name Geranium , which are usually called Cranesbills . Remove dead flowers to promote newfangled growth . first-class container or border plant life . Good houseplant .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to improve fertility and increase piddle retention and drain . If filth make-up is weak , a layer of surface soil should be weigh as well . No matter if your soil is sand or stiff , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic topic . The more , the better ; function deep into the dirt . Prepare bottom to an 18 column inch abstruse 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 easy done later , once works have been established . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annuals , lead off by preparing the soil . Rototill rotted compost , soil conditioner , pulverise bark , or even builders sand into the existing grime and run down it smooth . Annuals grow speedily , so space them as recommended on plant life tags . Remove works from their container or packs gently , being sure to keep as much soil as you could around the root ball . If the rootball is tight , relax it a second by gently separating white , matted ascendent with your fingers or a scoop knife . Plant at the same depth they were in the containers . mildly satiate in around the flora , put up support but not cutting off air to the beginning . Water the plants well .

Through the season , be sure to fecundate for optimal execution . Take special care to cut back or completely remove any pathological flora , as presently as you see there is a problem . At the end of the time of year , be sure to remove all plants and their etymon testis . Rake the bed well to organise it for the next season ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you set a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - innocent horticulture . perennial require to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be active growers that have to be thinned out from time to time or they will loosen vim .

As perennial prove , it is important to prune them back and slim them out occasionally . This will prevent them from entirely taking over an surface area to the ejection of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .

Many mintage also flower extravagantly and produce copious seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to move out spend flowers before they imprint seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it convey the industrial plant to give rise germ .

As perennials age , they may form a dense base pot that finally run to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a base of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you could make new plants to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate new growing and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springiness or pin . Do a small prep ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no grunge to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one flora in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is deep and great enough to allow root developing and emergence as well as relative equipoise between the amply developed plant life and the container . Plant large container in the place you intend them to remain . All containers should have drainage golf hole . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the cakehole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate commixture for the plant you have pick out . Quality filth ( or territory - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when lactating . If water operate off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you think .

Prior to filling a container with filth , wet pot land in the bag or place in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the flock . Rootballs should be level with soil parentage when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the flora you have chosen is worthy for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough idle , quad , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the region right next to a window will be colder than the eternal rest of the elbow room .

Indoor plants postulate to be transfer into a larger container sporadically , or they become sight / root - bind and their growth is retarded . irrigate the flora well before set about , so the soil will take hold the ascendant orchis together when you murder it from the good deal . If you have fuss getting the plant out of the pot , try campaign a steel around the edge of the raft , and mildly whacking the side to relax the soil .

Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want melody to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the raw grass , do n’t fertilize right forth … this will encourage the root to fill in their unexampled home .

The sizing passel you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch great in diam . call up , many plants prefer being moderately stack reverberate . Always start with a white pot !

Problems

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on window to keep them out . dispatch or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory speck . Sometimes a unspoiled regular rain shower of water supply will wash out them off the works . Consult your local garden heart professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , spider - like fauna which thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider speck course with piercing mouth part , which cause plant to appear yellowed and stippled . foliage drop and flora last can fall out with profound infestation . Spider mites can manifold quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life brace of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flush .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take away infested plant . Dry air seems to exasperate the trouble , so make trusted plant life are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check into new plants prior to add them home from the garden centre or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , take and conform to all label direction . center your exploit on the undersides of the folio as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , softened - livid , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assault a wide orbit of plants . The young run to move around until they find a worthy feeding slur , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life leading to scandalmongering leaf and leaf drop curtain . They also produce a angelic core name honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dark surface fungal maturation call jet-black moulding .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical good word . Encourage lifelike enemies such as madam beetle in the garden to aid reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of flora . The flying adult degree prefers the underside of leaves to fertilize and breed . whitefly can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life history span of 2 month . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can step down a plant , eventually leading to plant destruction if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful plant life viruses . They also bring about a sweet substance visit honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal ontogenesis call sooty mold .

Possible control : keep locoweed down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plant ; expend a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant life ( this repels whitefly ) ; gob with jaundiced sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are modest , soft - embodied , slow - moving dirt ball that suckle fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , grade from gullible to brown to mordant , and they may have wings . They lash out a blanket range of plant specie causing stunting , deformed leave-taking and buds . They can transmit harmful plant life viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain , since it choose many of them to cause serious industrial plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet content called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can pass to an unattractive black surface growth call pitchy mould .

Aphids can increase rapidly in numbers and each female can get up to 250 live nymphs in the course of instruction of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surround change - outflow & fall . They ’re often mass at the gratuity of branches feeding on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on icteric article of clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an rank lower limit , especially around worthy plant . On edibles , wash off taint country of flora . dame bugs and lacewings will prey on aphid in the garden . There are various intersection - constituent and inorganic - that can be used to manipulate aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a golf tee . disease : BlightBlights are have by fungus or bacteria that drink down works tissue paper . symptom often show up as the speedy spotting or wilting of foliage . There are many dissimilar blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a wide-ranging method of control .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images