Indian Mallow: Description & Uses

                                  

Description:


Indian Mallow is the medium sized perennial shrub which is used as a medicinal properties. The plant is called petari, Jhapi in bengali. The plant is covered with hairs and mature plant can reach upto 2 meters. Leaves are alternate, acute heart shaped and green in colour. Flowers are yellow in colour and have 5 petals. The fruits are circular in shape and have 15-20 hairy carpels and green in colour. The seeds are kidney shaped blackish brown in colour. This is very easily grown in India.

Common Name: Indian Mallow
Botanical Name:Abutilon indicum
Family:Malvaceae
Life Cycle: Perennial
Plant Height: 2 meter
Foliage Colour: Green
Flower Colour: Yellow
Temperature: 20-25 degree c
Light Requirements: Full sun/ Part sun
Soil Type: Well drained
Advantages: Easy to grow


Benefits and Uses:


1. The plant is used in traditional medicine for inflammation, piles and gonorrhea treatment and as an immune stimulant.

2. The essential qualities of the leaves used to prevent constipation and purify the blood.

3. The flowers are used to increase semen in men.

4. Indian mallow contains antibacterial properties which is very helpful to any kind of wounds.

5. The leaf of the plant is very useful to gum bleeding and toothache problems.

6. And the whole plant is used in gout, tuberculosis, ulcers, bleeding disorders, digestive, laxative and so on.

7. Root and bark are of the plant used as aphrodisiac, anti diabetic, nervine tonic, and diuretic.

8. Seeds are used in urinary disorders, piles and in the treatment of cough.

Wild Asparagus/ Shatawari: Description, Planting Information and Uses

                     Wild Asparagus/ Shatawari

Asparagus is called Shatawari in India. This is also known as wild asparagus. This a perennial shrub generally used in Indian dishes to increasing taste and flavour. Leaves are 6-32 mm long and 1mm broad. The plants are both male and female. The male plants do not produce flower and fruits.The flowers are bell shaped, greenish white to yellowish in colour. The fruit is red berry 6-10 mm broad, which is poisonous to humans. Asparagus can live for 20 or more years and can reach upto height 100–150 cm.

Common Name: Asparagus, Shatavari
Botanical Name: Asparagus officinalis
Family: Asparagaceae
Life Cycle: Perennial
Plant Height: 2-3 ft
Foliage Colour: Green
Flower Colour: White
Temperature: 20-30 degree c
Soil pH : Alkaline soil(7-8)
Light Requirements: Well drained
Soil Type: Well drained
Advantages: Easy to grow

Planting

Asparagus can be grown from seeds. But maximum, roots are used for planting.
The plant likes rich, well-drained, non-acidic soil.
Remove other existing plants from the planting area, including roots.
Now loose the soil to a depth of 6 or 8 inches over the entire planting area with a tiller or digging fork.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of compost over the planting area and mix it into the soil.
If the soil is acidic, add sufficient lime to bring the pH up to 7 and mix it into the planting area.
Asparagus roots should be at least 2 feet apart, allowing two rows to fit in a 4 foot wide bed.
Now add three cups of all-purpose organic vegetable fertilizer into the soil/compost mixture. To give the asparagus an extra boost, add a cup or two of green sand (the fertilizer high in potassium) to the digging soil.


Health Benefits:

1. Asparagus is good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium , zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, chromium, dietary fiber, and protein.
2. It is a treatment of joint pain.
3. It is a good source of vitamin E and thus helps to maintain hormone imbalances in women and men.
4. It also increase sex desire by stimulate the sex hormone.
5. Another important thing is Asparagus removes dryness in the lungs and throat, constipation, nerve pain ,skin treatment, AIDS, cancer, and diseases caused by parasites.
6. It contains vitamin B6 and folate, which can help boost feelings of arousal.
7. It is used for preventing stones in the kidney and bladder and or anemia.

Bay Leaf Plant:Description, Planting information & Health Benefits

                                    Bay Leaf Plant
Bay Leaf is called tejpata in Bengali the aromatic leaves is useful ingredients in cooking. The fresh leaves are used in cooking for the fragrance. The dried leaves are generally used in soup, curry and many other dishes in India. The plant is the evergreen shrub and mature plant can reach at the height of 40 to 50 ft. The leaves are elliptical in shape and 2.5 to 5 cm in length and 1.5 to 2.5 cm in width. The flowers are creamy white which produces black berries in summer in India.

Common Name : Bay leaf or sweet bay leaf
Botanical Name : Laurus nobiliseh
Family : Lauraceae
Life Cycle : Perennial
Plant Height : 40-50 ft
Foliage Colour : Green
Flower Colour : Creamy white

Temperature: 16-35 degree c

Soil : Well drained soil

Light requirement : Full sun to par

Advantage : Easy to grow

 Planting

The bay leaf plant grows well in full sun light shade. This can grow also in over wintered country as indoor plants. The best flavor results in the full sun. The bay plant tolerant all kinds of soil with well drainage system. The bay leaf plant can be planted in the container, pot as well as the ground.
Water it regularly. Do not over water to the newly transplanted bay leaf tree. Do not plant it in wet soil. Once the top growth of the plant comes out then water it deeply. So the roots will be strong. The soil should be let to dry between the watering.

Health benefits:

1. The bay leaf contains vitamins of A,C, magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium, and iron.
2. This improves digestive health, respiratory conditions, hair health, anti-inflammatory activity, heart health.
3. This also reduces anxiety and stress.
4. It helps also diabetes management and prevents cancer.
5. Bay leaves have been used in entomology as the active ingredient in killing jars.
6. Bay leaves may helps to promote healthy hairs by removing the problems of dandruff and hair loos. 
7. And as we know it has been used to make dishes more aromatic and delicious around the world. 
8. It is also very useful to menstrual problems and cancer and such others.

Lady's Slipper Orchid: Description and Planting Tips

                           Lady's slipper orchid
This is the state flower of Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jharkhand. It has diameter up to ten centimetres and it has a pleasant fragrance.The flower attracts many kinds of insects, flies and butterfies. The plant has only two leaves.The flower stalk grows from the center from where the leaves branch out. The flower looks like a lady's slipper. It blooms in colour of white, yellow, deep pink and purple.There are lots of varieties of lady's slipper. Most common is Pink Lady's slipper. It has pink flower with the height of 3" long and has a sweet smell. Another common slipper is Yellow lady slipper. This s the large slipper which grows upto 2 ft with the flower petals upto 6 inches across.Showy lady’s slipper is another large slipper grows upto 1-2 ft. White lady’s slipper is the small reaches anywhere from 6 to 12 inches in height.

Common Name:Lady's Slipper Orchid
Botanical Name:Cypripedioideae
Family:Orchidaceae
Life Cycle:Perennial
Plant Height:2 ft
Foliage Colour:Green
Flower Colour: Pink, Yellow, White, Purple
Light Requirements:Partial sun
Soil Type:Mineral soil/ crumbly soil
Advantages:Attract bees and butterfly

Planting Tips:

The Lady slipper Orchd grows well in damp woods and natural light.
For planting, prepare the soil with 1 part of perlite, 1 part of charcoal, 3 parts of coarse sand and 3 parts peat.Mix them well with a little water until the soil is moist but not wet.
In case of rock garden dig a large hole as the root ball easily can put in it. For container plants, choose a pot where the roots can accommodate for 2 years. The pot should have holes and drainage system in the bottom and sides.
Fill the hole or pot with the potting mixture to support the orchid’s base.
Plant or place the Slipper orchid in partial shade. As the consistent sunlight should reach it.
Water it to keep the soil moist. For container plants, let the water run out to the bottom of the container.
Fertilize the Showy Lady’s Slipper orchid with the fertilizer with organic ingredients, such as fish emulsion. Apply it every alternative week. At the beginning apply it direct on the soil but do not do this again. In any case do not over fertilize.

Marble Ball Dahlia: Description & Growing Dahlia

                              Marble Ball Dahlia
Marbled purple and white ball like lollipop shaped a great variegated flower.This is the big flower in a vase or floating in a shallow bowl makes the perfect eye-catcher. Double-flowering Ball Dahlia that delights with petals of white and purple make the perfect choice for the winter season in India. Its multicolored blooms can create a freshness in the garden of winter. These plants have been hybridized into various heights.They can reach near about 28-31" tall.

Common Name:Marble Ball Dahlia

Botanical Name:Ball Dahlia Marble Ball

Family:Asteraceae

Life Cycle:Seasonal(in India),Perennial (in winter country)

Plant Height:28-32" tall

Foliage Colour:Green

Flower Colour:Purple

Light Requirements:Full Sun

Soil Type:Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil, Acidic Soil

Advantages:Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Easy to Grow, Cut Flowers, Containers


Growing Dahlias:

Dahlias are mostly winter country's flower. In India it grows mainly in winter. In Winter country planting should do after spring frosts in good garden soil with full sun.

Select a site with full sun. Dahlias grow well with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. They love the morning sunlight best. The location should be protected from wind.

Dahlias like rich, well-drained soil. The pH level of the soil should be 6.5-7.0, slightly acidic.If the soil is heavy, add sand, peat moss or old manure to lighten and loosen the soil texture for better drainage.

Dahlias should be planted 9 to 12 inches apart. The smaller flowering types, which are usually about 3 feet tall, should be spaced 2 feet apart. The taller, larger-flowered dahlias should be spaced 3 feet apart. This is best to planting about 1 ft apart.

The planting hole should be slightly larger than the root ball of the plant and give some compost or peat moss into the soil. It also helps to mix a handful of bone meal into the planting hole.


For the tuber plant dig a hole that’s about 6 to 8 inches deep. Put the tubers into it, with the growing points, and cover with 2 to 3 inches of soil . As the stem sprouts, fill in with soil until it is at ground level.

It is required support for tall, large-flowered cultivars. Place stakes (five to six feet tall) around plants at planting time and tie stems to them as the plants grow.

Medium to dwarf-size dahlias will do well in containers.

After planting of 8 weeks dahlias will start blooming.

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Aglaonema Plant: Description, Growing Tips & Uses

                              Aglaonema Plant
Aglaonema Lady Valentine is hardy, low maintenance, air purifier and good luck bringer houseplant. The plant is almost the height of 6-10 inch.The plant almost height of 6-10 inches.The foliage is the colour of hot pink with speckled green. This dramatic foliage makes the plant attractive and fantastic indoor feature plant. This can be found almost 150+ extremely elegant hybrid varieties of different shapes, shades and colors.Aglaonema is also known as Chinese evergreen

Common Name:Aglaonema Lady Valentine
Botanical Name:Aglaonema Modestum
Family: Araceae
Life Cycle:Perennial
Plant Height:6-10 inch
Foliage Colour:Hot pink with speckled green
Flower Colour:Greenish-white
Tempareture: 15 C to 25 C
Light Requirements:Shade, artificial light
Soil Type:Loamy soil
Advantages:Low maintenance

Growing Tips

Aglaonema tolerate full temperature. If the plant is in high light the soil should be potting mix and dry before watering .In lower light soil should be dry completely between watering. The temperature should remain above 60℉. In cold temperature the foliage may damage.Keep the plant full and bushy, remove some of the new leaves as they appear. Do this firmly. As the new leaf grows from and hold the new leaf near its base and gently pull. Scissors should not be used. Otherwise insects can attract. Remove flowers or bracts in the same way. Do not plant it in direct sunlight.

Uses
As a house plant.

Banyan Tree: Description and Uses

Description:


Banyan tree, which is called Bot Gach in Bengal is the national tree of India.It is the tropical and subtropical plant and found all over the India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Banyan trees are one of the largest trees in the world and grow up to 20-25 m with branches spreading up to 100 m. It has smooth greyish brown bark. It can penetrate very hard surface like concrete even stones sometimes.The leaves are large,leathery, glossy, green and elliptical. Dimensions of the leaves are 10-20 cm in length and 8-15 cm in breath. The fruits are small, pinkish red in colour, with some external hairs and 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter.This is one of the world’s biggest tree and also covers more area .This tree can supplies massive quantity of oxygen.

Common Name:Banyan
Botanical Name:Ficus benghalensis
Family: Moraceae
Life Cycle: Annual
Plant Height:25 m
Foliage Colour: Green
Fruit Colour: Pinkish red
Tempareture: 16-21 degree c
Light Requirements:Sun Loving. Suitable for displaying indoors also
Soil Type: Any type
Advantages:Easy to growth


Benefits and Uses:


1. The Banyan tree is still used as a source of shade in many villages.

2. The fruits are favorite edible fruit of bird.

3. Each and every part of this tree has medical uses.The bark and seeds can be used as a tonic to maintain body temperature and treat diabetes.

4. The roots can be used to strengthen teeth and gums by brushing with them.

5. The bark is also used in making of paper, fiber.

6. The soft wood of banyan tree is used as firewood.

7. It is the fast, instant and one of the best cure for Nasal bleeding.

8. It is also very good for diarhoea, gas and dysentery.

Gerbera Flower Plant: Description,Germination & Uses

                         

                               Gerbera Flower Plant
Gerbera is a daisy like bloomer that grows on top of single, tall stems. The mature plant height is 8-24 inches , depended on the variety. The plants are basically grows in winter in India.This is normally grown as annual but in U.S they are perennial. The leaves are slightly fuzzy. Gerberas has the appearance of a single flower, but is actually a cluster of hundreds of individual flowers.They vary greatly in shape and size. Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours.

Common Name :Gerbera

Botanical Name: Gerbera hybrida

Family: Asteraceae

Life Cycle: Annual

Plant Height: 8-24 inches

Plant Type: Shrub

Flower Color: Pink,Purple,Red,White,Yellow,Orange

Sun Exposure: Full/half sun

GERMINATION

Fill trays or pots with a light seed starting medium, or make a own mix using peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Dampen the medium with water.

 Plant Seeds: Use a toothpick to poke a hole in the planting medium. Plant the Gerbera seeds with the seed end pointing down, and the little brush part just barely at the top of the soil.

 Grow Seeds: Keep the seeds moist, but not waterlogged, and above 70° F, with eight hours or more of bright light per day. The easiest way to do this is to cover the trays with a clear plastic tent and place them indoors in a bright window or under grow lights. When the Gerbera  seeds germinate in two to three weeks, remove the plastic cover but keep the seedlings moist.

Harden Plants: When it’s consistently warm outside, and the Gerbera  plants are hardy and growing, move the pots outdoors to a protected spot for a few days to get the young plants used to the breezes and temperature shifts found outside.

Transplant Seedlings: After the Gerbera seedlings have developed two sets of true leaves,  carefully transplant the plants to larger pots.

Enjoy Flowers: At this point,  it can leave their pots or plant them in the yard. Locate the plants in a spot with plenty of morning sun and a little afternoon shade to keep them from wilting. Feed the plants regularly with a balanced organic fertilizer, and keep them watered.

Uses:

Root infusions are used for heart pain and for abdominal pain in babies. Cut flowers can be used in bouquets. The plants can be sold for special occasions/traditional events. They can be sold as dried flowers andused in artistic combinations.

Ajwain: Plant description, Germination & Heath benefits

Ajwan plant is a very easy growing, herbal, perennial plant. This is very good to look at. The beautiful ridged leaves of the ajwain plant are edible and an easy home remedy. The plant is similar to parsley and seed looks like cumin seeds.Its plant is a small, annual shrub with soft fine hairs. It has many branches of leafy stem which has 4-6 rays of flowers head.The flowers are white, tiny, hairy outside appear in summer. Fruits are tiny, aromatic, small egg shaped and brown grey in colour.

Botanical name: Trachyspermum ammi

Family : Apiaceae

Plant height :Up to 1 m

Colour: Green

Fruit Colour: Brown grey

Temperature: 15 to 25 degrees C

Rainfall: 100-110 cm

pH balance: 6.5- 8.0

Light: Full sun/Adequate sunlight

 
Soil: Moderately fertile, rocky or sandy, well-drained soil

Advantage: Easy to grow


GERMINATION:

Use a germination dish/seeding basket prepared with a mixture of compost and cocopeat. Seeds can be shown in shallow, 1/4 inch deep holes or scattered on the surface of soil.Place in semi-shade and spray water evenly. Spray the sowsn seeds daily until seedlings emerge in 7-15 days.
After 2 weeks of growth plant out the seedling when they start leaves emerge.Now choose medium-composted, well-drained soil that could be alkaline, mildly acidic or neutral, as this plant will tolerate different soil types. It does however, produce the richest foliage in alkaline soils that are not too rich in organic matter.It does however, produce the richest foliage in alkaline soils that are not too rich in organic matter.If you use cuttings planting them a few inches into the soil. plant the saplings/cuttings in direct sunlight or partial shade, and spaced about 6 inches apart to allow room for growth. Carom will grow well on open plots or in containers.

HEALTH BENEFITS

• This gives the the instant Relief from Acidity and Indigestiona and cleans the body.
• Ajwain leaf is a very good treatment for cold and cough congestion for infants and small children.
• Ajwain leaf gives relief from stomachache and other stomach problems like abdominal disorders.
• Ajwain leaf juice with little honey can be consumed for children and infants weekly to build up their resistance power against small illness and also to prevent them from having cold cough very often.

Canterbury bells: Description and Germination

                                   Canterbury bells
Canterbury bells plant is a popular biennial (perennial in some areas) garden plant reaching about two feet or slightly more. Campanula Canterbury bells can be easily grown that can add grace and elegance.Plants grow 21/2 feet to 4 feet tall, with roughly the top two-thirds covered with pink, rose, lavender, blue, or white flowers. The plant shape is pyramidal and leaves are long and narrow.
It is a mixed flower and bloomed mostly in summer.

Common Name: Canterbury Bells or Bellflower

Botanical Name: Campanula Medium

Life Cycle: Biennial

Temperature: 15-35 degree c

Mature Height: 20-25" tall & 12-18" wide

Flower Color: White,Pink, Blue,Purple

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Well-drained loamy soil

Soil pH : 6.6 - 7.8

Advantage: Cut Flowers, Containers, Plants for Small Spaces


GERMINATION

1.Mix one part per liter sand and one part potting soil in a 5-gallon bucket. Add water slowly to the mixture until it is evenly moist but not soggy. Fill a plastic seedling tray with soil, tamping the media down slightly until it is 1 inch below the tray's top.

2.Spread the Canterbury bell seeds horizontally over the surface of the media in the tray. Space the individual seeds 2 to 3 inches apart. Press the seeds down gently to ensure full contact with the soil's surface.

3.Put on a pair of gloves. Read all label directions and warnings on a package of seedling fungicide. Dust the fungicide onto the surfaces of the seeds with a small paintbrush.

4.Sprinkle a 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer of soil over the top of the seeds, covering them completely. Lightly mist the soil's surface with water from a spray bottle. Cover the tray with a clear plastic cover.

5.Position a heat mat in an area with bright, indirect sunlight and a constant temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the mat on and adjust its temperature setting to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the tray on top of the mat.

6.Remove the cover once per day, and wipe away any condensation from its interior with a paper towel or cloth. Lightly mist over the tray when the top layer of soil begins to dry. Keep the media moist, but never soggy.

7.Watch for emerging sprouts one week after planting. Remove the cover once the seeds germinate. Remove the tray from the mat, put the mat away and replace the tray in its former position.

8.Water the seedlings in the morning with a watering can when the top 1 inch of soil becomes dry. Pour the water directly onto the growing media, being careful not to splash the leaves.

9.Fertilize the seedlings weekly with a 10-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer. Mix 1/2 teaspoon fertilizer with 1 gallon of water. Pour the fertilizer solution directly into the tray, applying it in place of a watering.

Brownea Flower Plant: Description and Germination

                                     Brownea
Brownea is a slow-growing, small, tropical tree with large heads of orange-red flowers, 6-8 inches across, which hang primarily beneath the foliage, on older branches. It is also known as Scarlet Flame Bean. Generally, the exotic looking flowers are not visible at all from the outside. Leaves are compound, leaflets up to 6 in long and up to 2.3 in wide, up to 6 pairs, with sometimes one terminal leaflet, pink-brown and pendulous when young. Flowers borne in large, bright, orange-red clusters, hanging mostly beneath foliage primarily on older branches, which distinguishes it from other Browneas. Fruit is a woody pod about 6 in long and 5 2 in broad.

Common Name: West Indian Mountain Rose, Brownea

Scientific name : Brownea grandiceps

Family: Fabaceae or Pea family

Plant Height or length:4 to 6 meters

Flower color:Red

Foliage color: Green

Tempareture:10-25 degrees C

Light:Full sun/Semi shade

Water:Normal, Can tolerate more

Advantages: Attracts butterflies, Evergreen Tree


GERMINATION

Use a flat tray like container about 10 inches by 15 inches (biggest or smaller your choice) 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Make sure it have plenty of holes in it for good water drainage. Put the seedling mix that prepared up to almost top leaving about 0.5 inches space. Now evenly spread the seeds over it after that cover the seeds with seedling mix only about 0.5 cm (half centimeter). Now water it by watering can. Place the container in semi shaded place.

Step 1 :

Fill a pot with water that equals five times the seed volume and bring it to a boil on a stove. Check the temperature of the water.


Step 2:

Place the Brownea flower seeds in the hot water and stir them for up to two minutes with a spoon before draining the liquid.

Step 3:

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water that's between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and soak the seeds in it for 24 hours. This pee-treatment is called scarification and alters the hard seed coat, which increases the chances of uniform germination.

Step 4:

Fill a pot with moist seed-starting mix up to 1 inch from the top, place the seed on top of the surface and cover it with a 1/2-inch layer of the mix. Tamp down lightly and moisten the surface with a water-filled spray bottle to avoid washing away the seed.

step 5:

Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a dimly lit area of the house. Lift the plastic daily to check that the soil is moist. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic. Expect germination within three to five days.

Step 6:

Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area over a two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight.

Step 7:

Transplant the seedlings outside to an area with full sun and well-draining soil after three to five months, when the seedlings are about 8 to 12 inches tall.

Azaleas Flower Plant: Description, Planting & Germination

                                          Azaleas
Azaleas is a popular flowering bush and foundation plant, with bright spring blooms..The mature plant reaches almost 20 ft. This is a shallow rooting plant with red, pink and white blossoms. Gardeners have developed a number of hybrid varieties over the years.They will usually bloom for a couple weeks, or longer if the previous winter was warm.The colorful Azaleas often bloomed in spring. They're quite easy to plant.

Common Name : Azaleas

Botanical Name: Godetia amoena

Family: Rhododendrons

Plant Height: 20 feet

Plant Type: Shrub

Flower Color: Pink,Purple,Red,White,Yellow

Bloom Time: Spring,Summer

Life Cycle: Annual

Soil pH: Acidic

Sun Exposure: Full/half sun


PLANTING

Azaleas likes part shade of sun. Deep shade or full sun is harmful.A sunny spot that receives a few hours of shade is perfect.Soil should be well-drained, humus-rich, moist, and acidic (pH 4.5–6). Early varieties can blossom in march, late ones into July or even the fall.

HOW TO GERMINATE AZALEAS

Step 1 :

Fill a pot with water that equals five times the seed volume and bring it to a boil on a stove. Check the temperature of the water.

Step 2:

Place the azaleas seeds in the hot water and stir them for up to two minutes with a spoon before draining the liquid.

Step 3:

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water that's between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and soak the seeds in it for 24 hours. This per-treatment is called scarification and alters the hard seed coat, which increases the chances of uniform germination.

Step 4:

Fill a pot with moist seed-starting mix up to 1 inch from the top, place the seed on top of the surface and cover it with a 1/2-inch layer of the mix. Moisten the surface with a water-filled spray bottle to avoid washing away the seed.

step 5:

Cover tightly plastic polythene wrap over the pot to promote soil moisture retention and place it in a dimly lit area of the house. Lift the plastic daily to check that the soil is moist. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray bottle before replacing the plastic. Expect germination within three to five days.

Step 6:

Remove the plastic as soon as the seedlings emerge, and gradually move the pot to a brighter area over a two-week period so that at the end of that time they're acclimated to being in full sunlight.

Step 7:

Transplant the seedlings outside to an area with full sun and well-draining soil after three to five months, when the seedlings are about 8 to 12 inches tall.

Croton Gold Dust - Thin Leaves: Description, Planting, Caring & Uses

                  Croton Gold Dust - Thin Leaves
Croton Gold Dust is a bushy, upright houseplant. The leaves are splashed with green, orange and red with the veins often yellow, depending on the variety. An evergreen shrub that is dense and compact when young. It can become more rounded and leggy when larger. Some cultivars are more green and yellow, while others can be brilliant mixes of reds, oranges, maroon, and yellows. Leaves are alternate to spiral in the arrangement. Leaf shape is also variable with some cultivars being elliptical to oval and others being narrow and linear, while some are even corkscrew.

Common name: Croton Gold Dust

Botanical name: Codiaeum variegatum

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : Upto 7 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: White

Temperature: 25-35 degree C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: well-drained soil

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Planting and Caring:

• Plant the croton plant in well-draining soil to prevent insect and mold issues. If you're planting it in a pot, use a pot with drainage holes, and fill the pot with a mixture of equal parts sphagnum moss and perlite. Outdoors, consider mixing 2 to 3 inches of moss, perlite or aged compost into the soil to aid with drainage.
• Provide the plant with at least six hours of full sunlight each day to maintain the look of the leaves. If it's outdoors, make sure there are no overhanging plants that will block the sun. Indoors, keep the plant in a sunny window, or move it from location to location throughout the day to make sure it receives enough light.
• Water the croton at the first sign of wilting in the leaves, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Indoor crotons will require more frequent watering ,sometimes every day,than outdoor crotons, which generally need to be watered once per week. A little wilt will not harm the plants, so allow them to dry out between watering.
• Feed the gold dust plants with a liquid or slow-release fertilizer when blooming begins. The fertilizer should have a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, this should be indicated on the box or bag in which the fertilizer comes.

Uses:

 Beautiful and popular houseplant.