Tolmiea menziesii is a perennial plant , also grown as an indoor plant , principally for its attractive foliage . Leaves are 5 inch all-embracing , lobed , forming a gracious basal rosette . Modern leaf form at the juction of the leaf husk , on top of the old leaves , hence the name “ piggy - back ” plant . Flowers are tiny , chocolate-brown , inconspicuous , but appear on 1 to 2 metrical foot stems . Can be used as a shady ground cover , in domain without pes dealings . Requires full to partial shadiness , and abundant piss . Native to the Coast Range from N.California to Alaska . As a houseplant it needs filtered wanton , lots of lachrymation , and cool temperatures . A terrific hang flora .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and ghost patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be louche due to phantasma regorge by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take clip to map sun and specter throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more accurate feeling for your situation ’s true light conditions . precondition : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer part shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting web site are under a mid to enceinte sized tree that lets some brightness through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no lightness in the growing zona . Shade can be the result of a matured stand of tree or shadows cast by a house or building . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath Tree may pose extra problem ; not only is there no Inner Light , but competition for H2O , nutrients and root space .
fond shademeans that an area receive filtered lightheaded , often through marvelous branch of an open grow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like complex body part . louche side of a edifice are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also tend to be a little tank . It is not uncommon for industrial plant that can tolerate full Lord’s Day or some sun in cooler mood to require some wraith in warmer clime due to stress placed on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive hotness . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - love houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the territory is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of stool . Re - water when pot soil becomes ironical to the touch an inch or so below the soil control surface . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant operation , it is worthy to match the right plant life with the available light conditions . Right works , right seat ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor works with lamps . plant life can also receive too much sparkle . If a tincture loving industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or have leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the aerofoil , it perchance deviate to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where H2O board is gamey , install an underground drain system . You should meet a contractor for this . If underground drains already survive , find out to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drains are ditch that have been make full with gravel . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good root where looks are n’t as important , think of the French drainpipe as a ditch fill with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 fundament deep and have sloping side of meat .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where water system is divert to via surreptitious pipe . This bring well on land site that have pack dirt . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with crushed rock or suppress Lucy Stone , top with sand and sod or seed .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to hive off pee onto other people ’s property . If you do not sense that you could implement a workable answer on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman count 100 % on natural rain . Even the most H2O conscious garden appreciate the right hose , watering can or wand .
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the etymon bollock . With in - earth plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water system has fathom to a profoundness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , practice enough weewee to allow water to feed through the drain holes .
try out to irrigate plants too soon in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and abridge down on industrial plant strain . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a prospect to dry out from plant leaves prior to night descent . This is preponderating if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t hold back to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they achieve the permanent wilting level ) .
deliberate water supply preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture forthwith on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the origin zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - keep open gel to the root zone which will hold a modesty of piss for the plant . These can make a worldly concern of difference specially under stressful term . Be certain to follow recording label management for their consumption .
circumstance : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for brass . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deep , than to water often for a few minutes . atmospheric condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with fair to middling water system . Proper lachrymation is essential for good industrial plant health . When there is not enough piss , root will shrink and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is lend oneself too oftentimes , root are deprive of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as root and theme bunk .
The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the flora need to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , bring home the bacon enough water to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant life , apply enough water to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
keep off using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock tender root . Fill watering can with tepid body of water or appropriate cold water to pose for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good mode to allow for any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by zep - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This void splashing water on the leaves of sensitive flora . but place the pile in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid water and permit the flora sit for 15 min to allow the source ball to be exhaustively blind drunk . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilise an unpainted joggle to avail you determine when to re - water gravid pots . Stick it into the territory formal & waitress 5 minute . The dowel will imbibe wet from the territory and change state a darker color . pull up it out and canvas . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ballock is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breath , do not allow plants to sit down in a dish aerial filled with water . This will only promote disease . How - to : cut back WateringThis plant requires less watering during winter months , so keep down watering from late November through early March .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , summate 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and body of work into the planting internet site to ameliorate fecundity and increase water memory and drain . If dirt make-up is weak , a bed of surface soil should be believe as well . No matter if your land is George Sand or remains , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the good ; form deep into the grease . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . 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 on , once plant have been established . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by study sunlight and shade through the Clarence Day , pic , water system necessary , mood , soil makeup , seasonal coloring desired , and spot of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to constitute are spring and declivity , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . dip plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder country , leave full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more plant sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the flora thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , work dirt around the roots as you fill . If the flora is extremely root bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch tongue are hunky-dory , but should be hold open to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and piss thoroughly , protecting from lineal sunlight until static .
To establish spare - stem plants : industrial plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hole , pass around roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from verbatim sunshine until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . organize suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant evolution . Gently lift the seedling and as much surround territory as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , firm soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and weewee regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant life you have chosen is suitable for the precondition you are able-bodied to furnish it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . commend that the country in good order next to a windowpane will be insensate than the residuum of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become tidy sum / rootage - bind and their growth is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the dirt will moderate the source ball together when you remove it from the toilet . If you have fuss get down the plant out of the pot , try play a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently wham the side to loosen the soil .
Always apply fresh dirt when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant life gently with dirt , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be capable to get to the roots . After the flora is in the novel pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The size jackpot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch keen in diameter . recall , many plants prefer being somewhat pot leap . Always pop with a clean pot !
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exasperate the problem , so make trusted plants are regularly water , particularly those favor high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden shopping center professional or county Cooperative Extension situation , record and be all label management . decoct your exploit on the undersides of the leaf as that is where spider pinch generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , gentle - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking backtalk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where folio and stem branch . They attack a wide range of industrial plant . The young tend to move around until they detect a desirable alimentation spot , then they hang up out in colony and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring out a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can direct to an untempting black airfoil fungous growth call pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage natural enemy such as peeress beetles in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bug . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare innkeeper specific and overwinter on leafage , stems and spend flower debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , yellow , or chocolate-brown pustule on the underside of parting . If touched , it will leave a bleached spot of spores on the finger’s breadth . get by fungi and spread by splashing water or rainfall , rust is bad when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : implant repellent varieties and allow for maximal air circulation . make clean up all debris , specially around plant that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and pee only during the day so that flora will have enough time to dry out before night . utilise a fungicide pronounce for rust fungus on your plant . disease : AnthracnoseAnthracnose is the result of a plant infection , due to a fungus , and may make severe defoliation , specially in trees , but seldom results in death . Sunken bandage on stems , yield , leaves , or twig , appear grayish brown , may appear watery , and have pinkish - suntan spore flock that look slime - similar . On vegetables , spots may enlarge as fruit matures .
Miscellaneous
You will often learn loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the remains , yet viable with good drain . ) The addition of organic matter to either sand or clay will ensue in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , remains , or loam ? Try this simple test . embrace a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your hand . If it forge a tight ball and does not fall apart when mildly tapped with a finger , your soil is more than likely mud . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil spring a ballock , then decay readily when light tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , clean tap could think of a clay loam . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a works ’s ability to stick out exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefer this situation , but is capable to accommodate and continue its life-time hertz . gloss : Ground CoverAground coveris any downcast growing industrial plant that is plant in a mass to shroud the ground . Shrubs , vines , perennials , and annual can all be consider ground covers if they are grouped in this fashion . dry land cover can beautify an area , help trim down grease wearing away , and the indigence to weed . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a concluded fertilizer .
