Posted by Gary Antosh | Posted in insecticides | Posted on 31-10-2010
Tags: garden, gardening, home improvement, insecticide, insecticides
This plant is not hardy and must be carried over the winter but a few plants will do as they may be divided and started from cuttings so it is an easy matter to get plenty. Even if one has but a plant or two that may be enough.
In winter long before time to set out tender plants I begin to break off pieces each with a joint or two and place few or many in cooled boiled water in small container - a half pint bottle is good or use open mouth bottle, and if of colored glass, so much the better. The cuttings are short stemmed so the water must fill the bottle then keep the root ends so they reach the water.
In a few days they will begin to root and as the roots grow, the plants may be removed and set in a flower pot two-third full of sand and peat moss or sandy soil and keep damp. One may keep taking cuttings as they are to spare until soon there will be plenty, for this is one of the best and most desirable border plants to be had with never a bug nor other pest to take a chance at them as I have found. But if pest did show up I would use my favorite natural solution - neem oil.
I have both the bronze green-red variety and the green-gold kind each beautiful and fine, separate or used together for special design as in formal beds or borders, with one for the background and the other as the design. They are same size and type and experience park gardeners use them profusely. I think most of them take the plants up in fall or make cuttings of all wanted and plant in greenhouse to winter, but I take a couple or so plants of each and set in flowerpot and leave in sunny window till ready for starting new ones for border.
Even the smallest pieces if they have a joint will grow, so if scarce of plants use all for any live bit will root and grow. Even if the plants are withered, revive with c o 1 d water and they will look up and smile at you for all they ask in life is a chance to grow and do their work in helping to make more beauty.
You may not always get what you want, but you can find what you need on neem oil. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com/pest-control-without-pesticides.html. Check here for free reprint licence: A Plant Free With Neem Oil.