Actually this plant is a plant of
many names, depending on where you live, you may call this plant
moses-in-a-basket, moses-in-the-cradle, oyster plant and boat lily. This plant
called Rhoeo makes an excellent and fast growing ground cover in the garden.
Steps on how to grow
Rhoeo Plants
In some areas this plant is considered an
annual, the plant is a tender perennial. The plant is hardy only in USDA plant
hardiness zones 9-11. This simply means that the plant can only tolerate
temperatures down to about 20 F. (-6 C.) before they are killed off. Keep in
mind that this is the temperature that will kill the plant. But temperatures that
are 10 to 15 degrees F. (6 to 7 degrees C.) above will cause damage to the
plant, but will not kill them. The plants also enjoy partial shade to full
shade. These plants are normally grown due to the fact that they are very
drought tolerant. As a matter of fact, Rhoeo will develop some serious issues
with root rot and foliage diseases if the plant is kept too wet or watered too
often.
This is a plant where it will be
happier if you err on the side of dry and water this plant less. If you live in
an area that normally gets large amounts of rain, the plant may not grow well
in your garden no matter what you do. If this is the case and you still wish to
enjoy the beauty of the plant you can either plant the Rhoeo in a container or
you can try planting them under trees. Trees tend to suck up much of the water
under their canopies and provide shade, both conditions will make the plant
happy. If you live in an area where the plants are not hardy, you can bring the
plants inside for the winter and grow them as houseplants. Rhoeos plants grow
very well as houseplants and they can be returned to the garden in the spring.
Some of the common problems with
Rhoeos
If the plant starts to develop any
issues, the chances are that you have overwatered the plants. If you want to reverse
the damage done by overwatering, take a look at 2 important things. first,
is the plant located in an area that has excellent drainage? If not, move the Rhoeo
plant to a drier location immediately. In the process of moving the Rhoeo plant,
while the Rhoeo plant is out of the ground, make sure you check the roots for
root rot damage.
If you find suspected root rot damage
on the plant, make sure you trim off the affected roots to help keep the spread
of the root rot to a minimum. second, are you letting the ground where
the plant is growing dry out completely in between waterings? If actually not,
hold back watering. If you are having fungus issues with the foliage, make sure
you remove as much of the damaged leaves as you can and treat the rest of the Rhoeo
plant with anti-fungal plant spray. Lastly, if you live in an area where the Rhoeo
plant is hardy, make sure you check with your local extension service to see if
the plant is on the invasive species list.
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