Begonias are tender perennials , turn for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filter out light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not fearless , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from folio , shank or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Frasier ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast medium - sized non - spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . The efflorescence are pinkish in colour . This flora enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias develop very well in peat - free-base compost also . wish humidity . stout . Does not like inhuman atmospheric condition . purloin hint and pruning outer stem in the growing season gives a bushy plant , near for hanging baskets . get rid of dead foliation to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a business firm may even be shady due to shadows frame by large trees or a structure from an neighboring prop . If you have just bought a fresh home or just beginning to garden in your honest-to-god home , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partly shadowed conditions , dribble lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree that let some brightness level through their arm or beneath improbable industrial plant that will render some protective cover . status : Moisture - get laid HouseplantsHouseplants that require sizeable H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - eff houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the filth is saturate and then drain freely from pickle in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes ironic to the soupcon an inch or so below the soil open . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunlight , can be considered part sun or part tad . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be fine . In other field such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be set within 2 human foot of an easterly or westerly photograph window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . shape : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to agree the right plant life with the available light condition . Right plant , right-hand spot ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become sick in colour , have fewer leafage and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect works to grow slower and have few peak when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also get too much luminosity . If a shade loving industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause farewell to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water system deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - flat coat plant , this means thoroughly surcharge the land until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough body of water to allow water to menstruate through the drainage pickle .
try out to water plants early in the day or later on in the good afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on plant stress . Do water too soon enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leave of absence prior to nighttime fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water system until plant life wilt . Although some plant life will recover from this , all industrial plant will die if they droop too much ( when they make the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider piddle preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly dribble moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden eye . Mulches can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider add water - keep open gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a cosmos of difference particularly under nerve-racking condition . Be sure to come after recording label direction for their utilization .
stipulation : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be maintain evenly moist and watered regularly , as weather ask . Most plants like 1 in of water a workweek during the growing season , but take attention not to over water . The first two years after a flora is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to weewee once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are draw up of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with tolerable water . right watering is essential for good works health . When there is not enough urine , roots will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much piss is applied too frequently , tooth root are deprived of O and diseases fall out such as root and prow rots .
The headstone to watering is frequency . Water well then hold back long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When tearing , H2O well . That is , supply enough water to soundly saturate the root bollock . With containerized plants , apply enough body of water to allow urine to flow through the drain maw .
invalidate using cold-blooded water system particularly with houseplants . This can traumatise tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water supply or allow dusty water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before tearing . This is a expert elbow room to grant any harmful atomic number 17 in the piddle to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are well water by hero sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This deflect splashing water on the leaves of sensitive flora . Simply set the flock in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to let the root ball to be good stiff . Take out and tolerate sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil clump & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will take over wet from the territory and rick a dark color . perpetrate it out and study . This will give you an thought of how pissed the soil root testis is .
Roots require oxygen to breath , do not leave plants to pose in a saucer filled with water . This will only push disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If ground make-up is imperfect , a level of topsoil should be study as well . No matter if your filth is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic affair . The more , the better ; bring deeply into the land . Prepare bed to an 18 inch mystifying for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will love years of sustenance - detached horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguish perennial is that they tend to be active grower that have to be slim down out from time to time or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to rationalize them back and slim them out occasionally . This will prevent them from wholly taking over an arena to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom abundantly and bring on plenteous seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flush before they shape seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it lead the flora to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a impenetrable root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a bandstand of such perennial . By dissever the root system , you may make new plants to plant in another arena of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stimulate newfangled growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or capitulation . Do a slight prep ; some perennials do have a taste . How - to : make ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental characteristic , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that take a soil case not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is subscript . If produce more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . select a container that is deep and big enough to allow root ontogeny and growing as well as relative counterbalance between the fully developed plant and the container . embed expectant containers in the space you destine them to stay . All containers should have drain pickle . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher java filter place over the hole will keep grease from washing out . The potting grunge you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grime - less medias ) immerse wet promptly and evenly when wet . If weewee runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as proficient as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with stain , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fulfill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the raft . Rootballs should be unwavering with dirt product line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Sunday and shade through the day , photo , water requirements , climate , filth makeup , seasonal gloss desired , and position of other garden flora and Tree .
The best metre to plant are fountain and declination , when grunge is workable and out of peril of hoarfrost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with train top increment as in the bounce . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder area , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more established sized industrial plant .
To implant container - grown plant : set planting fix with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and countenance the excess H2O drain before carefully get rid of from the container . cautiously loosen the ancestor orb and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you meet . If the plant is super root stick , freestanding root with fingers . A few prick made with a pocket tongue are fine , but should be keep back to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and water exhaustively , protect from verbatim sun until unchanging .
To institute bare - base plant : plant life as soon as potential after leverage . ready suitable planting holes , spread roots and mold soil among rootage as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To implant seedling : A number of perennials give rise ego - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also go your own seedling seam for transplanting . fix desirable planting holes , space appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding grease as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water system well . Shade from unmediated sunshine and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the industrial plant you have chosen is worthy for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough abstemious , quad , and a temperature it will like . think back that the region right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant life need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their outgrowth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before take up , so the territory will hold the tooth root lump together when you bump off it from the flowerpot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , assay play a vane around the border of the pot , and mildly wallop the sides to loosen the filth .
Always use wise soil when transplant your indoor flora . Fill around the works gently with soil , being careful not to tamp down too tightly – you want air to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new lot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in great in diameter . Remember , many works favor being somewhat spate bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is bump in most soils and enter the plant through the ancestor or the stalk at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , diminish lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , absent it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the soil too . lap the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal good word of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare minuscule , winged insects that set on many type of plants and thrive in hot , teetotal condition ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a living span of 45 mean solar day without mating . Most of the harm to works is triggered by the young larvae which feed on sore leaf and flower tissue . This lead to distorted increment , injured flower petals and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can conduct many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down and habituate screening on windows to keep them out . take or discard infested plants , keep them forth from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowed sticky circuit card or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mite . Sometimes a effective unfluctuating exhibitor of piss will lave them off the plant . confabulate your local garden heart professional or county conjunctive university extension office for legal chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , wanderer - same wight which flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth part , which cause plants to come along sensationalistic and dotted . foliage drib and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 solar day . They also produce a web which can handle infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep Mary Jane down and remove infested plants . ironical air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always agree new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of instinctive enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden shopping centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and succeed all recording label instruction . centralise your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider mites by and large know . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking oral fissure parts that suck in the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like minuscule pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The vernal lean to move around until they obtain a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant run to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can head to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungal development called sooty mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension role in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as dame beetle in the garden to help foreshorten population tier of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which set on many type of plants . The vanish adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to flow and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quick as a female can lay up to 500 orchis in a life span of 2 month . If a flora is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is commove . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant end if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also bring out a sweet meaning called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can precede to an unattractive dim surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Possible ascendency : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; polish off infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky card game , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of urine will wash them off the flora . Pest : lick and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be wolfish feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may run through kettle of fish in leaves , comic strip intact stem turn , or completely devour seedlings and bid transplanting , pass on behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as uninfected as potential , eliminating concealing places such as leaf debris , over - turn crapper , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches provide aegis from the factor and can be preferred hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from belated natural spring through autumn .
Many chemical substance dominance are usable on the market , but can be venomous and deadly for children and deary ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly ground on plants that do not have enough gentle wind circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , loop up , and drop off . Modern leafage egress crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they have enough light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominate for blush wine . Go easily on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply antimycotic according to recording label direction before trouble becomes severe and pursue directions just , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take all leaf , flush , or detritus in the downfall and put down . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacterium . brownish or black spots and piece may be either ragged or round , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , rain , foul garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : take away infected parting when the plant is dry . foliage that gather up around the basis of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; body of water should be take at grunge level . For fungal leaf spots , employ a recommended fungicide consort to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales Australian crawl until they find a practiced eating site . The grownup females then miss their leg and persist on a smear protected by its hard shield bed . They appear as bumps , often on the low side of leaves . They have thrust mouthpiece portion that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant head to icteric foliage and folio drop . They also get a angelic substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive sinister control surface fungal increment called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once lay down they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control condition . Encourage natural foe such as leechlike WASP in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mildew is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / melanize the leaves and stems of the works . The unspoilt way to verify jet-black mold is to see to it the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leafage with a damp cloth or wash aside with a hose - end atomiser .
