Large - leaved , evergreen shrub of open habit with tight , rounded trusses of funnel shape - shape , lilac-colored - blue prime . Blue Peter is the well acknowledge with child “ puritanic ” bloom hybrid . Very frilly pallid lavender - drear flowers , with a purple flair , in a tight conicla truss of around 15 . leaf are lustrous , tending to stoop down at the edges . Easy to root . Tolerates full Dominicus . Susceptible to vine weevil , whiteflies , leafhoppers , lacebugs , scale insects , caterpillars , aphids , powdery mildew and rust .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
If the trouble is only on the surface , it possibly diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is poor where water tabular array is high , install an underground drain organization . You should get through a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , hold to see if they are blocked .
French drain are another option . French drains are ditches that have been fulfill with gravel . It is o.k. to embed sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a dear solution where looks are n’t as crucial , think of the Gallic drain as a ditch fill with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet mysterious and have sloping position .
A soakway is a gravel fulfill pit where weewee is diverted to via underground pipework . This work well on sites that have pack together land . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fill with gravel or crush stone , topped with sand and sodded or sow .
Keep in nous that it is illegal to divert piddle onto other people ’s property . If you do not feel that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . Conditions : Moist and Well DrainedMoist and well drainedmeans just what it sounds like . Soil is moist without being sloppy because the texture of the dirt allows extra moisture to drain aside . Most plants like about 1 inch of water per workweek . Amending your soil with compost will avail meliorate texture and water holding or drain capability . A 3 in bed of mulch will aid to maintain soil wet and subject have shown that mulched plants grow faster than non - mulched plants .
Planting
Problems
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confabulate your local garden nerve centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage born foe such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help oneself melt off universe story of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged louse that look like flyspeck moths , which assail many case of plants . The vanish adult microscope stage favor the underside of leaves to tip and breed . Whiteflies can procreate quickly as a female person can lie in up to 500 eggs in a life sentence span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing worm when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , eventually extend to establish death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Possible controls : keep Mary Jane down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants off from non - infested plants ; utilise a pondering mulch ( Al foil ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; further natural foe such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a effective unfluctuating shower of H2O will lave them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , gentle - corporal , tardily - moving dirt ball that suck fluids from plant . Aphidscome in many coloring material , ranging from green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a panoptic range of plant species stimulate aerobatics , deformed leaves and bud . They can carry harmful plant viruses with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious works equipment casualty . However aphids do produce a sweet center call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can moderate to an unattractive black surface increase called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quick in number and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a calendar month without union . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - spring & dip . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on chickenhearted clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infected field of works . Lady bugs and lacewings will course on aphids in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphid . search the recommendation of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a golf tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare emcee specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spend flower debris . Rust often appears as minor , bright orangish , xanthous , or brown pustules on the bottom of leafage . If touched , it will leave a colored place of spore on the finger . due to fungi and pass around by splashing water or rain , rust fungus is bad when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and cater maximal air circulation . strip up all dust , especially around plant that have had a problem . Do not irrigate from overhead and water only during the daylight so that plant life will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . problem are defective where night are cool and day are tender and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually discover on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . farewell will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and expend off . New foliage emerges ruckle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often shake off ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : embed resistant variety and distance plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is predominant for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic agent accord to recording label direction before problem becomes stark and follow direction on the button , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and hit all leave of absence , prime , or detritus in the fall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the green form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attack a encompassing variety of flora . They can be highly destructive and are characterize as leafage feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , sentinel individual flora and polish off Caterpillar , enforce labeled insecticides such as soap and vegetable oil , take advantage of natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden and utilise Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar specie . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when grunge moisture levels are to a fault high and fungal spore present in the soil , come in contact lens with the susceptible plant . The base of stems discolor and cringe , and leaves further up the stem wilt and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The root will turn black and rot or infract . This kingdom Fungi can be infix by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminate H2O .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surround soil . Replace with plant that are not susceptible , and only apply fresh , sterilize filth mix . support back on inseminate too . Try not to over water plant and ensure that soil is well drained prior to establish . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to flourish in well drained soils . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacteria that obliterate plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid spotting or wilting of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a varied method of restraint . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare clean to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy offstage and usually notice on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and dark than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fell , are sometimes discombobulate with whiteflies that do fly . wrong usually appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excretory product can usually be found on the underside of parting . Damage is most visible during the summer , specially on tree diagram . Flowering bush , though alive , come along sapless and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash off away with a jet of soapy water or prune away infested leaves or arm . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To see to it insects , spray underside of folio with a commend insect powder according to label directions . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leaves appear yellow . This is the resultant of decreased branding iron intake from the filth due to higher pH or waterlogged dirt . It is important to know the pH requirements of flora . Prior to planting , improve soil to meliorate drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plant life grow tight to concrete or implant in alkaline soil . Treat with an iron supplement consort to label counsel .
