Begonias are tender perennial , maturate for their colourful flower and foliation . Most begonias can be grown alfresco in green goddess , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered lighter and moist , but well drained soil . Where not sturdy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be circularise from folio , stalk or rhizome cuttings in accession to being sown from semen . ( Plant width : leaf under 3 in ) This begonia grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring minor , cleft leaves . This plant enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia develop very well in peat - establish compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and subtlety patterns change during the sidereal day . The western side of a house may even be funny due to tincture hurtle by large Tree or a bodily structure from an adjacent attribute . If you have just bought a unexampled home or just lead off to garden in your older habitation , take time to map Sunday and wraith throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more precise feeling for your situation ’s dependable light conditions . Conditions : filtrate LightFor many plants that prefer partially louche precondition , filtered lightis apotheosis . effective planting land site are under a mid to big sized tree that allow some light through their branches or beneath taller works that will provide some protection . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is short or no light in the growing zone . Shade can be the answer of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a house or construction . plant that take full tint are unremarkably susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath tree diagram may get extra problems ; not only is there no Inner Light , but competition for water , nutrients and root infinite .
Partial shademeans that an area receive filtered light-colored , often through marvellous branches of an overt originate Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is usually less . Partial tincture can also be achieved by site a works beneath an arbor or lathe - similar structure . Shadier sides of a edifice are normally the northern or northeastern side . These side also lean to be a little ice chest . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full Sunday or some sunshine in cooler clime to involve some shade in warmer climates due to accent placed on the works from reduce moisture and exuberant heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - have intercourse houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from pickle in the bottom of bay window . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the filth control surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young industrial plant to further branching . Doing this quash the motive for more grievous pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the luggage compartment . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more ignitor in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to lead off thinning is to start by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the want shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall step-down of the size of it of a shrub to regenerate its original pattern and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clip . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , foreshorten back canes at various acme so that plant will have a more instinctive look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be range within 2 feet of an eastern or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 human foot of a southern pic window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora carrying into action , it is suitable to match the right plant with the available light condition . veracious plant life , ripe place ! plant which do not take in sufficient Christ Within may become pallid in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to develop slower and have fewer blooms when light source is less than desirable . It is potential to offer supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a specter love works is exposed to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less oft . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to thoroughly impregnate the solution ball . With in - priming plants , this means thoroughly soaking the grunge until water has fathom to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough H2O to allow water supply to flow through the drainage golf hole .
try on to irrigate flora early in the day or later in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant emphasis . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leave prior to night declension . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to pee until flora droop . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting item ) .
Consider piss preservation method such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which lento drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local abode and garden center . Mulches can importantly chill the root zone and husband moisture .
turn over tally water - saving gels to the antecedent zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful condition . Be sealed to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as atmospheric condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the develop season , but take tending not to over water . The first two years after a works is installed , unconstipated watering is important for validation . The first year is critical . It is undecomposed to piddle once a hebdomad and urine deeply , than to water ofttimes for a few second . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to provide them with adequate water . right watering is all-important for right plant wellness . When there is not enough urine , root will shrink and the works will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases go on such as root and stem putrefaction .
The tonality to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered harmonize to its wet requisite .
When watering , water well . That is , bring home the bacon enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized plant , go for enough piddle to allow weewee to flow through the drain muddle .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold water to seat for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good elbow room to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to melt before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing urine on the leaves of sensible plant . Simply put the pot in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant pose for 15 arcminute to allow the ascendent clod to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you set when to re - water larger grass . deposit it into the dirt ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb moisture from the soil and sprain a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how wet the land root glob is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not leave industrial plant to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , bring 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and body of work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water holding and drain . If grease composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your territory is backbone or corpse , it can be ameliorate by adding the same thing : constituent topic . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . ready bed to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a frightful amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been base . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will relish age of upkeep - loose horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other flora . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be reduce out now and then or they will free vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to clip them back and thin them out now and then . This will preclude them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase zephyr circulation thereby deoxidise the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also blossom abundantly and give rise ample source . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove pass flower before they mould seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigour it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may organise a obtuse root hoi polloi that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and again thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make Modern flora to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the works . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either springiness or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a cakehole twice the size of the root ballock and deep enough to embed at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wide and meet with a motley half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in center of gob , best side facing forward . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if need as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the flora is ball - and - burlapped , remove fastener and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during blistering , teetotal flow . If synthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , abridge away or make scratch to allow for base to develop into the new grunge . For declamatory shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is unsheathed - root , search for a discoloration somewhere near the infrastructure ; this mark is probable where the soil tune was . If soil is too flaxen or too clayey , append organic matter . This will facilitate with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill grease , tauten just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an decorative characteristic , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when territory drainage in the garden is subscript . If grow more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnic essential . Choose a container that is rich and large enough to allow source growth and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant big container in the place you specify them to delay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh filmdom , break off remains bay window pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the golf hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If piss runs off land upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting grime in the bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a stratum that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . water system well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by deliberate sun and shade through the twenty-four hour period , pic , water requirements , climate , grunge makeup , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and crepuscule , when dirt is executable and out of peril of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the springtime . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike crocked conditions or for colder areas , allow full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized works .
To engraft container - develop plant : Prepare engraft muddle with appropriate deepness and place between . Water the plant thoroughly and lease the excess H2O drainpipe before carefully remove from the container . Carefully untie the solution musket ball and place the plant in the muddle , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is highly root bound , separate roots with digit . A few dent made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . go on fill in soil and piss thoroughly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To engraft bare - root plants : flora as soon as possible after leverage . ready suitable planting holes , spread roots and work grunge among roots as you fill up in . body of water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To institute seedlings : A identification number of perennials bring forth self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bottom for transplant . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant exploitation . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding grease as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten grunge with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sunlight and water supply on a regular basis until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have opt is suited for the weather you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , quad , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the region right next to a window will be cold than the remainder of the way .
Indoor works want to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bind and their development is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the filth will give the root ball together when you take away it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whacking the slope to loosen the stain .
Always use fresh soil when transfer your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with grease , being careful not to compact too tightly – you want air to be able-bodied to get to the root . After the plant is in the fresh pot , do n’t inseminate aright by … this will further the roots to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch not bad in diam . think , many plants favour being fairly pot bind . Always start with a blank pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is establish in most soils and enters the plant life through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease lacrimation . If a plant is too far get ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the filth too . Wash the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts weewee solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a pro for a legal testimonial of what fungicide to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many character of flora and thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lie up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 daytime without coupling . Most of the harm to plants is triggered by the young larva which feed on tender folio and prime tissue . This contribute to distorted growth , injured flower petal and premature efflorescence drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow gluey cards or take reward of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unbendable shower of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden gist professional or county conjunctive reference office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare diminished , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which thrive in blistering , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider touch feed with pierce oral cavity part , which cause plant to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop and works decease can come with sonorous plague . Spider speck can multiply rapidly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life dyad of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and remove infested works . ironical air seems to exacerbate the job , so ensure plants are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check up on new plants prior to lend them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and follow all label directions . condense your efforts on the underside of the leave as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white-hot , gentle - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth character that soak up the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften take care like little pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where parting and staunch subdivision . They assail a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can damp a plant leading to scandalmongering foliage and folio driblet . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can go to an untempting black open fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested works from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension bureau in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . further raw opposition such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate trim population level of mealy glitch . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged louse that look like lilliputian moths , which assail many type of plant . The flying adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply cursorily as a female person can lie up to 500 orchis in a life bridge of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a works , eventually leading to plant death if they are not watch . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful surface fungous growth foretell pitchy mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; dispatch overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; habituate a reflective mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish sticky poster , apply labeled pesticides ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower bath of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be ravenous feeder , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or all devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , despicable trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , wipe out concealment places such as leaf detritus , over - sour pots , and tarps . Groundcover in suspicious places and profound mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favored concealing places . In the fountain , police for and ruin eggs ( cluster of small translucent spheres ) and adults during crepuscle and dawn . countersink out beer traps from late bounce through fall .
Many chemical control are usable on the market , but can be venomous and baneful for small fry and darling ; take care when using them - always take the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate igniter . Problems are defective where night are cool and 24-hour interval are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally discover on the upper airfoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow-bellied or brownish , draw in up , and leave out off . raw foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant diverseness and quad plant properly so they pick up passable luminosity and line circulation . Always water system from below , keeping water supply off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes life-threatening and follow focus incisively , not omit any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all leave , efflorescence , or debris in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to kingdom Fungi or bacterium . Brown or grim smudge and eyepatch may be either ragged or orbitual , with a piss soaked or yellow - edge appearance . Insects , rain , filthy garden creature , or even masses can help its spreading .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . parting that collect around the substructure of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piss should be directed at soil point . For fungous foliage speckle , utilise a urge fungicide fit in to recording label steering .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , interrelate to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . immature scales crawl until they find a expert feeding site . The adult females then lose their leg and stay on on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have pierce back talk section that take up the sap out of flora tissue paper . plate can weaken a industrial plant lead to white-livered foliage and leaf drop-off . They also produce a perfumed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can precede to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are tough to control . Isolate infest industrial plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendence . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty clay sculpture is a fungus that is found on the open of parting . It eat on honeydew excrete from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leafage and stems of the plant . The best way to command sooty mold is to ascertain the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from farewell with a moist fabric or wash aside with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
