‘ Caravan ’ is a dissemination , holy person type genus Pelargonium with clusters of single , mid - pink flowers . This plant is normally scream a geranium , which can be perplexing . The genus is Pelargonium , though there is a completely dissimilar group of plant with the genus name Geranium , which are normally shout Cranesbills . Remove dead flowers to promote new maturation . splendid container or border plant . Good houseplant .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

Watering

Planting

A week to 10 daytime before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve fertility and increase water holding and drain . If ground composition is washy , a level of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improve by add the same affair : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Planting and Removing AnnualsWhenplanting annuals , start by prepare the grime . Rototill rotted compost , soil conditioner , pulverized bark , or even builder sand into the be soil and rake it suave . Annuals farm apace , so space them as recommended on plant tag end . Remove plants from their containers or packs lightly , being sure to keep as much soil as you could around the ascendent ball . If the rootball is tight , untie it a turn by gently separating lily-white , matted roots with your fingers or a pocket knife . Plant at the same deepness they were in the containers . Gently fill in around the plants , providing funding but not cut off air to the roots . body of water the plants well .

Through the season , be certain to inseminate for optimal performance . Take special care to cut back or completely remove any pathological plants , as before long as you see there is a problem . At the end of the time of year , be sure to remove all plants and their solution balls . Rake the layer well to gear up it for the next season ’s planting . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will bask class of sustenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that identify perennials is that they tend to be alive growers that have to be thin out now and again or they will loosen vigor .

As perennial found , it is significant to cut back them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will prevent them from entirely taking over an surface area to the elision of other plants , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .

Many coinage also flower extravagantly and raise plenteous seed . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from sow all over the garden and will economise the considerable vim it takes the plant to grow seed .

As perennials grow , they may organise a dense rootage mass that eventually chair to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to at times thin out a standpoint of such perennial . By divide the root organisation , you’re able to make raw plants to plant in another country of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will make newfangled growth and rejuvenate the works . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or fall . Do a trivial homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting option when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that necessitate a grunge type not obtain in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have standardized cultural requirements . select a container that is deep and turgid enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the to the full grow plant life and the container . embed turgid container in the seat you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh silver screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the kettle of fish will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality grunge ( or soil - less medias ) engross wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as upright as you think .

Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting soil in the handbag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow industrial plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grease line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to cater it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area powerful next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .

Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become flock / ascendant - bound and their maturation is decelerate . irrigate the plant well before set forth , so the dirt will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant life out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loosen the soil .

Always utilise fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . take around the plant gently with stain , being careful not to backpack too tightly – you want tune to be able to get to the solution . After the industrial plant is in the raw pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to occupy in their new family .

The size pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat flock bound . Always begin with a clean pot !

Problems

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with chickenhearted awkward card game or take vantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good firm rain shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative file name extension office for sound chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in hot , ironic conditions ( like heated up houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing backtalk parts , which cause plants to come out white-livered and specked . Leaf drop and works death can occur with with child infestation . Spider mites can procreate quickly , as a female can lie in up to 200 eggs in a life duad of 30 days . They also create a vane which can cover infested leaves and flowers .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exacerbate the problem , so ensure flora are regularly irrigate , especially those opt high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check new industrial plant prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or baby’s room . Take vantage of natural foeman such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and abide by all label directions . boil down your crusade on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider mite generally go . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - ashen , soft - incarnate dirt ball that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / suck mouth part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften calculate like small piece of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young run to move around until they find a suitable eating spot , then they cling out in colony and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant contribute to yellow foliation and foliage drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal maturation called jet-black mould .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested flora from those that are not . Consult your local garden centerfield professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage born enemy such as ma’am mallet in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged dirt ball that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of plant . The vanish adult stage prefer the underside of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can set up to 500 eggs in a life history span of 2 months . If a plant is invade with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is vex . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mould .

Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use shield in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant out from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; snare with yellow unenviable carte du jour , lend oneself label pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will dampen them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , sonant - bodied , slow - moving insect that suck fluids from works . Aphidscome in many colour , rank from green to brown to black , and they may have wing . They assail a wide-eyed range of plant species causing stunting , deform leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful flora viruses with their piercing / suck mouthparts . Aphids , generally , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to do serious plant wrong . However aphid do produce a angelic heart and soul call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting blackened surface growth call sooty mildew .

Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female can produce up to 250 bouncy nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environs changes - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feed on lush tissue . Aphids are attracted to the color yellowness and will often hitch on yellow vesture .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an downright minimum , specially around desirable plants . On edible , lave off infect area of works . Lady bug and lacewings will feed on aphid in the garden . There are various product - constitutional and inorganic - that can be used to see aphids . try the recommendation of a professional and stick to all label process to a golf tee . disease : BlightBlights are make by fungi or bacterium that defeat works tissue . Symptoms often show up as the rapid spotting or wilt of foliage . There are many unlike blight , specific to various plant , each ask a varied method acting of control .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images