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BEGONIA

Tom Mente Iron Cross There are several types of Begonias. The photos show the diversity of leaf, color, texture and form that is available in this plant family. Rex Begonia is grown more for its showy foliage than for its flowers... although they do flower. Leaf size varies greatly from 1 1/2 inches to 1 foot and shapes from ovals, stars, spears, etc. The leaves range from crinkled to smooth, and dull to shiny. The original Begonia Rex come from India but the species probably no longer exists. All the colorful ones you see now are hybrids. Affiliate Marketing Blog WATER: Begonias have fleshy stems and absolutely detest overwatering. The soil should be kept moist (not wet) from spring to fall. Allow surface to dry before watering. Water sparingly in the winter. LIGHT: Begonias hate direct sunlight as it will burn their leaves. Choose a bright location away from direct sunlight, especially in the hot summer. Turning pots occasionally will prevent your plant from growing lopsided. TEMPERATURE: They like average temperatures (minimum of 60 degrees). Begonias like moist air but DO NOT mist their leaves. One way to raise humidity is to place the pot on a bed of stones and water in a saucer, making sure the bottom of the pot does not sit in the water. You can repot begonias every year. Pot-bound plants loose their color quickly. To propagate you can divide the plant at repotting time or they do well with leaf cuttings.

Allamanda

This plant originates in South America, mainly in Brazil. It is a robust, shrubby tropical plant with long, whorled, waxy, leathery leaves. The flowers are beautiful yellow, funnel-shaped trumpets. Prune branches back in the early spring. LIGHT:The Allamanda does best as an outdoor or patio plant. Bring plant indoors over the winter. It is a most successful bloomer in a bright sunny location with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. TEMPERATURE: Allamandas like warm temperatures of no less than 60 degrees at night and daytime temperatures of 70° or higher. 24 hour of trading WATER: Keep the soil moist and fertilize every two weeks during the growing season, less or no food the rest of the year. Water moderately during the growing season and sparingly in the winter. Take stem cuttings to propagate in early spring. Use a rooting hormone and provide bottom heat.

Azalea

Azaleas are dwarf shrubs 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall. They come in many colors; Pink, white, hot pink, red, and lavendar flowers are all available. When choosing an Azalea look for one that is healthy looking and nice and crisp. Avoid one that has drying or browning leaves. Choose one that has a few open flowers and lots of buds. Azaleas need the correct care or they will surely drop their leaves and buds and their flowers will wilt. build your own web site WATER: Azaleas MUST BE kept wet at all times; they take a lot of water. Make sure the compost is totally wet and DO NOT ever let it dry out completely between waterings or your plant will suffer.

Aglaonema

An Aglaonema features long spear-like leaves and comes in many varieties; Silver Queen, Maria, Amelia, Silver Lance, Star of India and Rembrandt just to name a few. It is considered a very hardy houseplant. They are a good choice for an area that is poorly lit although the varieties with white or yellow variegation need a bit more light. This plant is often listed in the top ten plants that are easiest to grow and most durable. It is favored by interiorscapers, florists and home growers. Aglaonemas are slow growing plants which don't need feeding often. They also do not need repotting very often. You can propagate by potting up the basal shoots with a few leaves and some roots. TEMPERATURE: They do not like smoky air or cold drafts. Keep them warm in the summer and a minimum of 60 degrees in the winter. **New Info: There are three varieties that, according to recent studies, can sustain temperatures as low as 35 for short durations. They are: 'Emerald Star', 'Star of India' and 'Jewel of India'. WATER: Water when the surface of the soil feels dry. In cooler temperatures, back off slightly with waterings. LIGHT: Keep away from direct light. They do like humidity. Mist plant occassionally. You can also surround pot with damp peat moss inside a larger pot. The Ornamental Plant The pests that would bother Aglaonemas are mealy bugs, which can be found at the base of the leaves, and/or red spider mites, especially if it's in too bright of a location. If the leaf edges turn brown it could be from the air being too cool or from being exposed to cold drafts.

Antherium

Antheriums are often called "tail flowers" or "flamingo flowers." They have large waxy petals with a tail in the center. These exotic blooms last for many weeks with a long flowering season, usually from spring to late summer in the right conditions. Antheriums need just a bit more care than many of your other plants. Given the right care they will provide you with many months of blooms. They enjoy a warm atmosphere of high humidity, so the foliage should be misted occasionally during the dryness of winter. WATER: Don't overwater. These plants like to be kept slightly on the dry side and never allowed to become soggy. Suggested watering is once weekly or as needed to keep the soil moist. You should decrease water during cooler periods. TEMPERATURE / LIGHT: While antheriums are more tolerant of cool temperatures than you might think, they will grow faster and produce more flowers if given bright light and warm temperatures between 68° and 86° days. Don't over fertilize. Too much food may reduce growth and flowers. A general purpose fertilizer mixed at half the recommended strength will help to encourage continuous blooming, but be sure to provide sufficient drainage and an occasional "soil flushing" to help prevent a salt buildup in the soil.