Begonias are untoughened perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be rise outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drain dirt . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sow in from seed . ‘ Avila ’ mature from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized spiral parting that are often colored and patterned . This plant enjoys trickle light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . like humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather . Pinching summit and pruning tabu stems in the mature time of year give a bushy plant , unspoilt for hanging baskets . Remove bushed foliage to keep disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and tint patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a planetary house may even be louche due to tincture cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw home or just get to garden in your older home , take time to map sunshine and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true unclouded conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partly suspect stipulation , filtered lightis ideal . safe planting sites are under a mid to enceinte sized tree that have some luminosity through their branches or beneath grandiloquent plants that will put up some security . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is small or no visible radiation in the growing zone . Shade can be the resultant of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a house or construction . plant that call for full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath tree diagram may position extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competitor for urine , nutrients and root quad .
Partial shademeans that an area receive strain promiscuous , often through tall branch of an open develop tree . Root rivalry is ordinarily less . Partial shade can also be reach by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . shady sides of a building are normally the northerly or northeastern sides . These sides also tend to be a trivial cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full Lord’s Day or some Lord’s Day in cooler climates to require some ghost in warmer climates due to accent position on the works from reduced wet and excessive heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that expect ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the grime is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of flock . Re - weewee when potting soil becomes teetotal to the touch an in or so below the soil Earth’s surface . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 human foot of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern photo windowpane . consideration : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to match the right plant with the useable light experimental condition . Right plant , right blank space ! Plants which do not welcome sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leafage and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also expect plants to get sluggish and have fewer blooming when light is less than desirable . It is potential to put up supplemental firing for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also obtain too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , weewee well , i.e. supply enough body of water to thoroughly saturate the root clod . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soak the dirt until water has penetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant life , practice enough water to allow for body of water to flow through the drainage holes .
prove to water plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water supply and cut down on plant life stress . Do H2O early enough so that urine has had a hazard to dry from plant life leaf prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting period ) .
weigh piddle conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which slowly dribble wet instantly on the rootage system can be purchase at your local place and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the root zona and conserve moisture .
believe adding water - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will give a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earthly concern of divergence especially under stressful atmospheric condition . Be certain to espouse recording label commission for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grime should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as precondition require . Most plant life like 1 inch of water supply a calendar week during the develop time of year , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is important for ecesis . The first yr is vital . It is better to body of water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water supply so it important to provide them with decent pee . Proper lacrimation is crucial for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is apply too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as radical and stem rot .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water harmonize to its moisture essential .
When watering , water well . That is , allow enough water supply to thoroughly impregnate the solution glob . With containerized plants , enforce enough water system to allow urine to fall through the drain holes .
fend off using cold water system especially with houseplants . This can shock tender beginning . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow for cold-blooded water to sit around for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a skilful fashion to allow any harmful Cl in the water to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splash water on the leaf of sensitive plants . Simply place the hatful in a shallow pan take with tepid water and allow the flora sit for 15 moment to allow the root ball to be thoroughly plastered . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
employ an unpainted dowel pin to avail you check when to re - water larger good deal . adhere it into the soil ball & wait 5 second . The joggle will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and canvas . This will give you an estimate of how blotto the soil root word ball is .
Roots require O to breath , do not let plant to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only boost disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to ameliorate prolificacy and increase water retention and drainage . If filth composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be conceive as well . No matter if your land is sand or Henry Clay , it can be improve by adding the same affair : organic affair . The more , the near ; work deep into the land . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a awful amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant life have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - innocent gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and thin them out at times . This will prevent them from totally taking over an surface area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce sizable germ . As bloom slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent efflorescence before they form germ . This will forestall your flora from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the industrial plant to bring forth source .
As perennials mature , they may organise a dense stem mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to once in a while thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make new plants to embed in another field of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new development and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no land to implant in , or for plant that command a soil type not find in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , make trusted that all have similar cultural necessity . Choose a container that is mystifying and great enough to allow root development and ontogenesis as well as proportional balance wheel between the fully developed plant and the container . institute large containers in the place you specify them to stick around . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken the Great Compromiser pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate premix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take in moisture readily and equally when wet . If water course off stain upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your land may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fill up container about midway full or to a storey that will allow industrial plant , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is complete . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and specter through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best times to plant are spring and drop , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to contend with developing top growth as in the fountain . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for moth-eaten areas , allow full ecesis before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless imbed a more shew sized plant .
To imbed container - grown plant : Prepare planting hole with appropriate deepness and blank space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and permit the excess H2O drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and rate the plant life in the hole , working soil around the roots as you sate . If the plant is highly root take a hop , separate roots with fingers . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be maintain to a minimum . preserve occupy in soil and weewee good , protecting from lineal sun until static .
To constitute barren - ancestor plants : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among beginning as you fill in . body of water well and protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant seedlings : A bit of perennial create ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare desirable planting holes , space appropriately for flora development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surround territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and pee well . Shade from lineal Lord’s Day and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the works you have chosen is suitable for the precondition you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the surface area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant life necessitate to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become spate / tooth root - bound and their increment is retarded . irrigate the plant life well before starting , so the dirt will hold the origin ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble stupefy the plant out of the mickle , try running a blade around the border of the pot , and lightly wham the sides to loosen the filth .
Always expend fresh grease when transplant your indoor plant . satisfy around the industrial plant softly with grunge , being careful not to pack too tightly – you require tune to be able to get to the root . After the plant is in the novel pot , do n’t inseminate right aside … this will further the roots to fill in their novel home .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many industrial plant favour being reasonably pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is line up in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the prow at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , toss out the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parting water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confab a master for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare small-scale , fly insects that attack many types of plants and flourish in hot , wry conditions ( like het up houses ) . They can multiply rapidly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duet of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is make by the young larvae which feed on warm leaf and peak tissue . This lead to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature bloom driblet . Thrips also can convey many harmful plant life computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and practice sieve on window to keep them out . move out or discard overrun flora , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow unenviable cards or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory hint . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of water will lap them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension bureau for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in hot , ironic condition ( like het mansion ) . Spider touch fertilize with pierce mouth parts , which cause works to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and industrial plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 Day . They also produce a web which can get across infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those opt gamy humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check new works prior to bringing them home from the garden nitty-gritty or nursery . Take reward of innate foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden substance professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , show and follow all label directions . digest your try on the undersides of the leafage as that is where wanderer mites generally survive . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , easy - bodied insect that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / suck mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leaf and stems subdivision . They attack a panoptic range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suited feeding spot , then they attend out in colonies and provender . mealybug can step down a industrial plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf free fall . They also produce a sweet subject matter called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can direct to an untempting black surface fungal ontogenesis called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to assist reduce universe levels of mealy hemipterous insect . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged dirt ball that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of plant . The flying grownup stage choose the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can consist up to 500 eggs in a liveliness bridge of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the flora is shake up . Whiteflies can de-escalate a plant , eventually conduct to establish death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a sweet core call off honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black aerofoil fungal outgrowth called sooty mould .
Possible control : keep weed down ; role screen in windows to keep them out ; get rid of infest plants aside from non - infested plants ; habituate a ruminative mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; advance rude enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will moisten them off the plant . Pest : bullet and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not worm . They can be voracious feeder , eat just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may rust gob in leave of absence , striptease integral stem , or entirely devour seedling and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - fib silvery , slimy trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , wipe out concealing places such as leafage dust , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in louche places and heavy mulches put up protective cover from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clustering of minor semitransparent spheres ) and grownup during dusk and dawn . sic out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and mortal for children and darling ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant life that do not have enough air circulation or decent visible light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and twenty-four hour period are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is normally found on the upper surface of leafage or yield . Leaves will often turn xanthous or brown , curl up , and set down off . New leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : set insubordinate motley and space plant properly so they receive adequate Light Within and breeze circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is preponderating for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent grant to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and espouse directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaf , flower , or junk in the twilight and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and dapple may be either ragged or orbitual , with a piddle soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , ill-gotten garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is juiceless . leave-taking that take in around the nucleotide of the plant should be raked up and fling of . annul overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at grime level . For fungous leafage spots , use a recommend fungicide harmonize to label centering .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a across-the-board variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a in force feeding land site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard case layer . They come along as blow , often on the lower sides of leave-taking . They have pierce oral cavity constituent that take in the sap out of flora tissue . scale of measurement can soften a flora leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive inglorious surface fungal emergence called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden inwardness professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their command . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasp in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is rule on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy germ , scale leaf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mildew is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty stamp can usually be pass over from farewell with a dampish material or washed by with a hose - remainder atomizer .
