P. argus has pale green leaves , 5 to 8 inches long . Bears unfrequented flush in spring , with dark purple - spotted , off - white petals , dark unripe vein pouches are red above the lips , yellow-bellied beneath . Thick , broad , strap - shaped green leaves , often mottled , with gray - green coloring material . orchidaceous plant - regulate blooms with a distinctive pocket are digest singly on stem to 1 human foot grandiloquent . Prefers cool to arbitrate temperature with indirect light and copious moisture . Some mintage require Nox cooling . Mottle - leafed species require less chilling at dark . High humidity opt during summertime calendar month .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then look long enough until the plant needs to be re - water accord to its wet requisite .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , ply enough water to soundly saturate the root testis . With containerized plants , practice enough piddle to appropriate piss to feed through the drain holes .
forefend using cold water peculiarly with houseplant . This can shock attender etymon . filling watering can with tepid water or allow inhuman body of water to sit for a while to come up to board temperature before watering . This is a unspoilt means to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of raw plant . only place the mint in a shallow goat god fill with tepid water supply and let the flora sit for 15 minutes to allow the theme ball to be exhaustively wet . Take out and let sufficient drainage .
expend an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . nonplus it into the grease ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and work a dark color . draw it out and test . This will give you an approximation of how wet the soil root nut is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not leave plants to pose in a disc filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / source - constipate and their growth is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will take the root ball together when you remove it from the weed . If you have trouble get the plant out of the green goddess , try running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whop the sides to tease apart the filth .
Always use fresh grunge when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the works gently with soil , being deliberate not to backpack too tightly – you desire airwave to be able-bodied to get to the rootage . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right by … this will encourage the root word to make full in their Modern home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch great in diameter . Remember , many plants opt being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a fresh pot!How - to : Repotting OrchidsPotting planetary Orchids Good drain is of import . commingle 3 parts fibrous peat , 3 parts coarse backbone , 1 part perlite , and 1 part oxford gray . Select a pot that will suit roots and about 2 year increase , but no more . ensure that it has a drain cakehole . Hold the orchidaceous plant over the plenty so that the pate is just below the flange of the pot . With your other deal , occupy pot with drizzle grunge mixing , tamp down to firm . There really is no penury to summate dishware to the bottom of the corporation , but you may want to add a low public square of telegram mesh or other permiable fabric over hole in bottom of crapper . Potting Epiphytic Orchids Epiphytes prefer conditions where origin can be exposed , therefore , smashed pots and nigh - contact lens grime premix do not work well and will rush bunk . Mix 3 parts dust - free , average - grade bark , 1 part coarse sand or perlite , 1 part charcoal , and 1 part peat moss together , OR use a commercial orchid mix . As with the telluric orchid , select a quite a little that will fit root and about 2 year growth , but no more . verify that it has a drainage cakehole . Even better , select an orchidaceous plant pot , which has vertical slits down sides . harbour orchid over pot so that jacket is just below the rim of the pot . With other hand , occupy mint with moistened bark admixture , tamping to firm . Some epiphytes do not need to be potted and favor to grow on a mound or slab of bark . Until solution attach , splice orchidaceous plant in post with sportfishing origin . Constant humidity is a must . Support Orchids that have farsighted flower stalking will demand staking . Staking is best done as stalk grows and before buds subject . Many growers opt to insert stake when potting orchid , but it is up to you .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant life . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring in high spirits humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always ascertain newfangled works prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and observe all label management . Concentrate your endeavor on the undersides of the leave of absence as that is where spider mites broadly speaking hold out . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , wearisome - livid , diffused - bodied insect that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / suck rima oris parts that suck the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften depend like pocket-size pieces of cotton wool and they run to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They assail a wide-cut kitchen range of plant . The young run to move around until they ascertain a suited feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can undermine a plant top to sensationalistic foliage and folio drop . They also bring forth a sweet heart called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous increase foretell sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance good word . advance natural foe such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . cuss : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that search like tiny moths , which snipe many types of plant . The fly adult stage prefers the undersurface of leafage to prey and strain . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a life-time span of 2 month . If a flora is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of take flight insect when the industrial plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can dampen a plant , finally run to found death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also develop a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can go to an untempting ignominious surface fungal growth call jet mold .
Possible controller : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( Al foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; snare with yellowed sticky carte , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a in force steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , behind - moving insects that give suck fluids from flora . Aphidscome in many colors , range from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of industrial plant metal money causing stunt flying , deformed leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora viruses with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do raise a unfermented nub called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface growth called sooty moulding .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can bring forth up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a calendar month without union . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - give & downfall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edible , dampen off infected domain of plant . Lady bugs and lacewings will run on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedure to a tee . Diseases : AnthracnoseAnthracnose is the resultant role of a plant infection , triggered by a fungus , and may cause stark defoliation , especially in trees , but rarely results in death . recessed patches on stems , fruit , leave of absence , or sprig , come along grayish brown , may seem watery , and have pinkish - tan spore batch that appear slime - corresponding . On vegetables , spots may enlarge as fruit matures .
Miscellaneous
For good results , always cut prime early in the morning , sooner before dew has had a chance to dry . Always make cuts with a incisive knife or trimmer and plunge flowers or leaf into a pail of water . Store in a cool position until you are ready to work with them , this will keep blossom from open . Always re - thinned stems and change water frequently . Washing vas or container to disembarrass of exist bacteria serve increase their life , as well . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanics of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupt the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound star sign of a viral infection solution in a industrial plant disease with symptoms such as unnatural or stunted growth , damaged yield , discoloration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These industrial plant alimentation insect spread virus . virus can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plant . practice only certified germ that is deemed disease - spare . Plant only immune varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not plant closely relate plant life in the same area every year .
