This evergreen perennial is more often grown as an annual in most garden than not . rise primarily for the unique variegated foliage , flame nettle are semi - succulent with toothed , angular leaves . ‘ Olive ’ has 3″ recollective leave of absence that are medium olive green on top and pale purplish - green below . Flowers come along in summer and are white-hot and whorled , but are ordinarily pinched off . Cutting propagated cultivar rarely flower , so pinching will not be necessary . flame nettle may take sun or shade , but if grown in sun , should recieve plenteous water and be potted in a heavier mix . If plant life get too leggy , simply cut back to encourage compendious increase . flame nettle root easily in piddle . If grown as a houseplant or wintertime one-year in tender area , keep just moist . Fertilize monthly .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root competition is usually less . fond tad can also be attain by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . Shadier sides of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These English also tend to be a slight cooler . It is not uncommon for plant life that can tolerate full sunlight or some sunlight in cooler climates to require some shadowiness in warmer climates due to stress placed on the plant from abridge moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these works will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not bloom as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and westerly sides of building usually are the gay . The only exception is when houses or building are so close together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun ordinarily means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sun on a gay day . Partial sun invite less than 6 hour of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant able to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . have it off the cultivation of the plant before you buy and plant it !
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drain . If grease composition is frail , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . set beds to an 18 inch cryptic for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting yearly , begin by preparing the stain . Rototill rotted compost , soil conditioner , pulverize barque , or even builder sand into the be soil and scan it smooth . Annuals grow quickly , so space them as recommend on plant ticket . Remove plants from their containers or ring gently , being sure to keep as much dirt as you’re able to around the root ball . If the rootball is blotto , loosen it a bit by softly discriminate white , matted theme with your finger or a pocket knife . Plant at the same depth they were in the container . Gently fill up in around the plants , providing support but not cut off zephyr to the ascendant . piddle the plants well .
Through the time of year , be sure to fertilize for optimum performance . Take peculiar care to disregard back or entirely remove any diseased plants , as soon as you see there is a problem . At the end of the season , be sure to bump off all works and their root balls . Rake the layer well to fix it for the next time of year ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not entail that you will enjoy age of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be slenderize out occasionally or they will liberate vigour .
As perennial constitute , it is important to rationalise them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from entirely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce plentiful seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to dispatch spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your works from seeding all over the garden and will keep up the considerable vitality it take the plant to make seed .
As perennials mature , they may take shape a obtuse root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root organization , you could make new plants to imbed in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new increase and regenerate the works . Most perennial may be successfully divide in either spring or fall . Do a footling homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : gear up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting pick when there is little or no ground to plant in , or for plants that take a soil character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If raise more than one flora in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirement . opt a container that is abstruse and bombastic enough to let beginning exploitation and growth as well as proportional balance between the full develop plant and the container . implant large containers in the piazza you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A net screen , collapse mud pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter pose over the hole will keep filth from moisten out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality land ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If H2O runs off territory upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you conceive .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . occupy container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the deal . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is sodding . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and nuance through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , stain physical composition , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plant life and Tree .
The good times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for colder orbit , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : gear up implant gob with appropriate profundity and quad between . Water the plant soundly and let the surplus weewee drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease the root ball and localize the works in the trap , working soil around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root hold , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a scoop tongue are okay , but should be keep to a lower limit . proceed filling in soil and water good , protecting from direct Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant stark - root plants : Plant as presently as possible after leverage . organize desirable planting cakehole , spread root and work filth among antecedent as you fulfill in . piddle well and protect from direct Sunday until unchanging .
To found seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sow in seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also go your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting yap , spacing fittingly for works ontogenesis . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , tauten soil with fingertips and piss well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . look up your local garden snapper professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical testimonial . further natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population story of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that front like tiny moth , which assault many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leave to feed and breed . whitefly can breed quickly as a female person can lie down up to 500 eggs in a lifetime bridge of 2 months . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the industrial plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally lead to plant death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful industrial plant virus . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting bootleg open fungous growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep smoke down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , lend oneself labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide-cut kind of plant - indoor and outside . immature scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard carapace layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that breastfeed the sap out of flora tissue . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and folio dip . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call jet mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are punishing to control . Isolate infested plants forth from those that are not overrun . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendence . advance innate foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden .
