Plectranthus Mona Lavender also called as Lavender Spur Flower, Plectranthus plepalila, is a cultivar in the Plectranthus genus. It is a wonderful solution to shady areas in the garden as well as making an ideal container or basket specimen for sheltered patios or entertainment areas.
Plectranthus Mona Lavender also called as Lavender Spur Flower, Plectranthus plepalila, is a cultivar in the Plectranthus genus. It is a wonderful solution to shady areas in the garden as well as making an ideal container or basket specimen for sheltered patios or entertainment areas.
IDENTIFY PLECTRANTHUS MONA LAVENDER
Plectranthus Mona Lavender ;is the result of hybridizing Plectranthus saccatus with Plectranthus hilliardiae ssp. australe 'Magwa'. The seed parent, Plectranthus saccatus, comes the Eastern Cape to northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and has the largest flowers in the genus while Plectranthus hilliardiae ssp. australe comes from a restricted distribution along the river gorges from Pt. St. Johns to Fraser Gorge in northern Eastern Cape Province. The hybridization work was done at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens by Roger Jaques in the late 1990s and the plant was released in 2002 and was introduced in North America with the cultivar name 'Plepalila' by Ball Horticultural Company.
Lavender Spur Flower is a quick-growing, vigorous, upright, rounded, bushy, herbaceous perennial shrub reaching up to 2 feet tall, forming a rounded, dense bush. It has dark green, glossy leaves with intensely purple undersides and sprays of lavender colored flowers dashed with purple markings. When it receives sun it tends to stay smaller and more compact, and the leaves exhibit a much more intense coloring, especially on the purple undersides of the leaf.
Plectranthus plepalila flowers very unpredictably, but does well in shortened daylight, which starts in autumn, but depending on how old the plant is and how much it has been pinched back, flowering can be extended right into early summer.
PLECTRANTHUS MONA LAVENDER CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Plectranthus Mona Lavender thrive in part shade and dappled shade and will languish in deep shade. In fact, their best leaf coloration is achieved with morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade. The color change can also be affected by temperature, available sunlight, soil fertility, etc.
Temperature:
Plectranthus plepalila is winter hardy in Zones 9b to 10 and withstands light frosts (temperatures down to 25 to 30 °F). They enjoy the heat and languish below 55 °F. Cold, overly damp soils can result in leaf drop and may encourage disease problems. However, extreme temperatures over 95 °F are also undesirable. Plant the plants after any danger of frost has passed when soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently and evening temperatures are above 60 °F.
They may become stressed by lack of heat and are certainly affected by available moisture. Excessive or inadequate moisture availability, while affecting vigor and appearance, may also lead to other challenges with insects or diseases.
Substrate and growing media:
Plectranthus Mona Lavender are quite tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and will do well in even average conditions. They are quite pH tolerant except for the extremes of a significantly low (or high) pH.
They grows well in containers if they are given an adequate volume of well-draining soil mix, reasonable nutrients and the proper sun exposure to thrive. Avoid windy locations as the plants can be prone to breakage in extreme winds. Container size is a factor as the volume of soil should accommodate substantial rooting by these plants and any other plants that are involved in the design. Drainage is vital so consider adding additional drainage holes as needed. The container style, color and ultimate placement should also be considered in advance. The plants filled containers, if moveable, allow for instant color as they can be positioned as needed and used to add color, provide immediate interest and accent areas of the garden, deck or patio.
Watering:
Winter and summer watering is moderate. In summer, water more, but the soil should dry a little before the next watering, and the leaves slightly tied. In winter, it should be watered occasionally and gradually; excessive watering can lead to the occurrence of fungal diseases. However, complete drying of the soil is not allowed, because this can cause the leaves to fall off. Pour preferably with soft water.
Fertilizer:
Light fertilization is recommended, particularly in containers. Slow release fertilizers with a balanced mix of nutrients are recommended for your containers although half strength liquid fertilizer applied every 2 weeks over the growing season should be sufficient. These plants do not show their best coloration if over fertilized so be conservative and consistent.
Overwinter:
Bringing the plants inside for overwintering as houseplants is one option although temperatures near 70 °F continue to be ideal. Rotate plants and pinch back as needed to maintain form. Consider grow lights as an option to provide adequate winter lighting conditions.
Pruning:
Pinch young plants regularly to encourage branching and fuller, bushier plants. Feel free to snip long-growing stems, especially in northern regions in winter, when growth might become lanky. These cuttings root easily in water and can be tucked into pots to start new plants.
Pests and diseases:
Slugs, snails, spider mites, mealybugs, whiteflies and occasionally aphids may be challenges under certain conditions. Positive identification of these pests is the first step in proper selection of a treatment program.
While there are few fungi, bacteria and viruses that affect the plants, there may be occasional issues of stem rot, root rot or downy mildew which all have a direct relationship to moisture inputs and associated growing conditions. Relocating the plant, pinching healthy cuttings for re-establishment or removing the plant might be options to consider after appropriate research and consultation.
Propagation:
Plectranthus Mona Lavender can be propagated by stem cuttings. Snipping a small, 2” length of the plans and putting it in a rooting medium or even in water will start the process of new roots being developed. Selecting healthy cuttings with at least one or two leaf nodes is vital and you should also remove the growing tip when first placing the sample in water or your rooting medium. Rooting hormone can be used but is not necessary and your new cuttings do not require fertilizer during establishment prior to planting in a container or out in the garden. Any cuttings grown in water can be transitioned to a rooting medium if desired. Keep new cuttings moist and maintain high humidity with misting. Bright, indirect light is recommended during the initial establishment of fresh cuttings. Keep cuttings warm and observe them frequently.
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