Monday, November 12, 2007

MANIHOT ESCULENTA VARIEGATA


MANIHOT IS A BEAUTIFUL MEMBER OF THE EUPHORBIACEAE FAMILY AND IS WIDELY GROWN IN WARM CLIMATES. IT IS THE SOURCE OF TAPIOCA AND IS SOMETIMES SIMPLY CALL THAT. THIS STRICTLY TROPICAL PLANT IS VERY BRITTLE IN THE WIND, BUT IT IS AMONG THE MOST EASY OF PLANTS TO PROPAGATE, WHICH MAKES THE HIGH PRICES TAGGED ON IT IN MANY NURSERIES SEEM PRETTY GREEDY. EVEN STICKING A PIECE IN THE GROUND DURING GOOD WEATHER USUALLY PRODUCES ALMOST INSTANT RESULTS. THE PLANT REALLY DOES HATE THE COLD AND WILL DEFOLIATE AND LOOK PRETTY RATTY IN WINTER WEATHER. IT WILL REMAIN SMALLER AND MORE IN CONTROL IN A BIG POT, IF YOU HAVE LIMITED SPACE. BUT IT WILL HELP,WHATEVER GROWTH METHOD, IF THE PLANT IS BOTH FED AND PRUNED REGULARLY.

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