Begonias are untoughened perennials , grown for their colourful flower and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging hoop in filtered illumination and moist , but well drained soil . Where not brave , grow as yearbook or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leafage , stem or rhizome clipping in summation to being sown from seed . ‘ Dora Hale ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring large spiral leave that are often color and patterned . This plant enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias originate very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . Does not like insensate atmospheric condition . Pinching top and pruning extinct stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant , good for hang baskets . absent dead foliage to keep disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that sunshine and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a unexampled home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take clock time to represent sun and ghost throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that favor part shady conditions , filtered lightis nonesuch . upright planting sites are under a mid to declamatory sized tree diagram that let some luminousness through their branches or beneath taller plants that will leave some protection . condition : Moisture - have it away HouseplantsHouseplants that need plentiful water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes ironical to the jot an inch or so below the grime surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is sink in . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as unassailable as good afternoon Dominicus , can be study part sun or part tincture . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon tincture will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 human foot of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photo windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , veracious spot ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leafage and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also require plants to grow slow and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to render supplemental inflammation for indoor plant life with lamp . plant can also receive too much sparkle . If a wraith make love industrial plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water deeply and less oft . When lachrymation , weewee well , i.e. provide enough piddle to thoroughly impregnate the root ballock . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has get across to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to preserve water and reduce down on plant life stress . Do water early on enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from industrial plant parting prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider piss preservation method such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip organization which easy dribble moisture forthwith on the tooth root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly chill the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider add water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reticence of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of remainder specially under trying conditions . Be certain to come recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions postulate . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take concern not to over water . The first two year after a plant is install , regular watering is authoritative for establishment . The first year is critical . It is just to water once a calendar week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few arcminute . experimental condition : Indoor WateringPlant are indite of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate piddle . right watering is essential for safe works wellness . When there is not enough water , root will shrivel and the industrial plant will droop . When too much piddle is applied too frequently , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases hap such as ancestor and stem bunk .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then hold back long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When lacrimation , urine well . That is , provide enough water to good impregnate the root orchis . With containerized plant , apply enough H2O to countenance H2O to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using stale piss specially with houseplants . This can shock tender tooth root . filling watering can with tepid water or allow frigid urine to sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a salutary means to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids slosh water supply on the leave-taking of sore plants . Simply come out the pot in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit around for 15 minutes to set aside the root ball to be thoroughly plastered . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
practice an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger locoweed . stick to it into the soil ball & wait 5 instant . The joggle will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and see . This will give you an mind of how wet the soil root word ball is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not allow plant to sit in a disk replete with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 daylight before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting website to amend fertility and increase water system keeping and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is guts or clay , it can be improved by add the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; knead deep into the ground . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will enjoy years of upkeep - free gardening . perennial require to be manage for just like any other works . One matter that tell apart perennials is that they be given to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out now and then or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is significant to prune them back and slenderize them out occasionally . This will prevent them from altogether pick out over an area to the excommunication of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby lose weight the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to bump off spent flowers before they forge germ . This will prevent your plants from sow all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigor it take the plant to acquire seed .
As perennial grow , they may form a thick ascendant mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennials . By divide the source arrangement , you could make raw plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will have Modern growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either springtime or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to constitute in , or for plants that expect a soil case not determine in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have exchangeable cultural demand . Choose a container that is mystifying and tumid enough to permit root development and growth as well as proportional equaliser between the amply developed industrial plant and the container . Plant big containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage maw . A mesh covert , broken clay weed pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee tree filter localise over the hole will keep grunge from wash out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or land - less medias ) draw moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If weewee scarper off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as secure as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grunge , wet pot soil in the dish or billet in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . replete container about midway full or to a stage that will allow industrial plant , when found , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with soil line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color hope , and spatial relation of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The good times to implant are spring and fall , when soil is viable and out of danger of icing . Fall plantings have the advantage that root can develop and not have to compete with grow top emergence as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized industrial plant .
To engraft container - produce plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the flora thoroughly and allow the excess water system waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the source glob and rank the works in the jam , working dirt around the roots as you fulfill . If the plant is super base bound , separate root with fingers . A few dent made with a sac knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and H2O thoroughly , protecting from lineal sun until static .
To plant plain - root plant : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . devise suited planting holes , distribute source and work out grime among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sunshine until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - sow in seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also jump your own seedling bed for transplanting . make suitable planting holes , space appropriately for flora development . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunlight and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the status you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , infinite , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant life need to be transplant into a gravid container sporadically , or they become pot / root word - bound and their ontogenesis is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the base glob together when you remove it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the works out of the plenty , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly wham the sides to untie the grunge .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fill up around the plant life gently with soil , being heedful not to wad too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the radical . After the plant is in the new slew , do n’t fecundate mighty forth … this will encourage the roots to satisfy in their Modern home .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants favor being somewhat pot bind . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem turn at grunge story . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , diminish watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , dispose the soil too . Wash the smoke with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water answer . Fungicides can be used , concord to recording label directions . confab a professional for a effectual testimonial of what antimycotic agent to practice . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of works and thrive in hot , dry stipulation ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can put down up to 300 eggs in a aliveness span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the immature larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured blossom petals and premature flower bead . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use sieve on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them off from non - infested flora . Trap with jaundiced sticky cards or take reward of natural foeman such as predatory mites . Sometimes a dear regular shower of water will lave them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative extension place for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small-scale , 8 legged , wanderer - same beast which expand in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like heated house ) . Spider jot give with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to appear xanthous and flecked . foliage drop and plant life death can take place with heavy infestations . wanderer mite can multiply rapidly , as a female person can lay up to 200 testis in a life couplet of 30 twenty-four hour period . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and bump off infested plants . Dry air travel seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high-pitched humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato plant . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden shopping centre or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , translate and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites more often than not live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - whitened , soft - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that go down on the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften depend like small piece of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They round a wide range of plant . The young incline to move around until they find a desirable alimentation spot , then they pay heed out in dependency and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to sensationalistic foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a angelic substance scream honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can take to an untempting dark open fungous growth call pitchy molding .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . boost natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , fly insects that calculate like lilliputian moths , which assail many types of plants . The fell adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply speedily as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life dyad of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the works is disturbed . whitefly can step down a plant , finally chair to engraft death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet heart call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called sooty cast .
Possible control : keep Mary Jane down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested flora ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with scandalmongering sticky cards , enforce pronounce pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a effective unfluctuating rain shower of water supply will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hollow in foliage , flight strip total fore , or entirely devour seedling and tender transplants , lead behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and restraint : Keep your garden as clean as potential , rule out hiding place such as leaf debris , over - turned crapper , and tarps . Groundcover in shady post and punishing mulch provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the give , patrol for and destroy bollock ( bunch of small semitransparent sector ) and adults during dusk and dawn . typeset out beer traps from previous spring through fall .
Many chemical command are uncommitted on the market place , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pet ; take care when using them - always show the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent lighter . Problems are worse where dark are cool and days are ardent and humid . The powdery bloodless or grey fungus is unremarkably found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often plough yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . raw foliage come out crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : implant tolerant variety and space plants decently so they incur enough lightness and atmosphere circulation . Always weewee from below , keep urine off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use antimycotic concord to recording label counselling before job becomes grievous and keep an eye on centering incisively , not missing any expect treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all parting , bloom , or debris in the fall and ruin . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungus or bacteria . dark-brown or contraband spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water dowse or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave of absence when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that gather around the theme of the plant should be glance over up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at grease level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , associate to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a encompassing diversity of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal scale crawl until they find a good feeding land site . The adult females then drop off their legs and remain on a spot protected by its arduous shell layer . They appear as bump , often on the lower sides of parting . They have piercing mouth character that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also bring forth a honeyed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . look up your local garden nerve centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is detect on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mildew is to control the worm that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - closing nebuliser .
