Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colored bloom and foliage . Most begonias can be grow alfresco in flock , in the flat coat , or in advert basket in filtered spark and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome clipping in addition to being sow from seed . The ‘ Peter Pan ’ begonia farm from an upright rhizome . The leaf is very attractive , featuring non - spiral leaves that are often colored and pattern . This industrial plant savor strain light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias develop very well in peat - found compost also . like humidity . Does not like frigid atmospheric condition . swipe tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging basketful . slay dead foliage to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shadiness radiation pattern alter during the day . The westerly side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadows contrive by large trees or a complex body part from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw home or just set about to garden in your honest-to-goodness home , take time to map Lord’s Day and tincture throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s straight calorie-free conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many works that favor partially shady condition , filtered lightis nonesuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree diagram that let some lighter through their offshoot or beneath marvellous plants that will provide some protection . experimental condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample body of water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water good until the soil is impregnate and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of mickle . Re - water when pot soil becomes ironic to the trace an in or so below the soil Earth’s surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt light that is separate out . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as solid as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sunlight or part shade . If you live in an surface area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be okay . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon tone will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant carrying into action , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light condition . proper plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient lighting may become pallid in semblance , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also expect plants to produce sluggish and have few flower when igniter is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much visible light . If a shade loving plant is disclose to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or cause leave of absence to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key fruit to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the radical ball . With in - ground plant , this entail soundly soaking the soil until water has bottom to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , practice enough water to allow water system to menstruate through the drainage holes .
judge to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and turn out down on plant stress . Do water supply early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to nighttime tumble . This is overriding if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold off to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
view water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which slowly drip wet directly on the theme system can be purchased at your local rest home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zona and conserve wet .
Consider tot water - saving gels to the stem geographical zone which will have got a substitute of water for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions postulate . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take forethought not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , regular watering is of import for institution . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is good to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to weewee frequently for a few instant . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with tolerable water . Proper tearing is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is apply too frequently , roots are deprive of O and diseases pass such as root and stem turn hogwash .
The samara to lachrymation is frequency . H2O well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its moisture requisite .
When watering , water system well . That is , provide enough urine to thoroughly impregnate the ancestor nut . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow pee to flux through the drainage hole .
deflect using cold water particularly with houseplants . This can shock bid root . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow cold weewee to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good fashion to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the body of water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing weewee on the leaf of sensitive plant life . merely put the pot in a shallow pan fulfill with tepid urine and allow the plant pose for 15 second to allow the root orb to be thoroughly fuddled . Take out and admit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . stick to it into the soil musket ball & hold back 5 minutes . The joggle will immerse moisture from the soil and work a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how sozzled the grunge root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a dish satiate with water supply . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add up 2 to 4 in of senior manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting website to improve birthrate and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be study as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be improved by impart the same matter : organic matter . The more , the dear ; work deep into the soil . train beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of criminal maintenance - free gardening . Perennials need to be handle for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they incline to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigor .
As perennials plant , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from completely conduct over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby deoxidise the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also flower abundantly and bring out ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they mold come . This will forestall your plants from seeding all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce germ .
As perennials mature , they may mould a dense base mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root scheme , you’re able to make fresh plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will have new emergence and regenerate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or descent . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is small or no soil to embed in , or for plant that require a soil character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one works in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirement . pick out a container that is deep and tumid enough to reserve root word development and ontogeny as well as proportional balance between the fully modernize plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you destine them to stay . All container should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , cave in corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hollow will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have prefer . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) ingest moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If pee hunt down off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicant that your grime may not be as good as you cerebrate .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a degree that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with ground furrow when project is over . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , clime , grunge make-up , seasonal color hope , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to establish are bounce and dusk , when filth is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the bounce . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless engraft a more established sized works .
To embed container - maturate plants : gear up planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the superfluous water drainage before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the base clump and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few puss made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be maintain to a minimum . stay on fill in land and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal Sunday until unchanging .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . train suitable planting fix , spread roots and work soil among ascendant as you fill up in . Water well and protect from lineal sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transfer . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing fitly for works development . Gently swipe the seedling and as much surrounding grime as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , firming ground with fingertip and weewee well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and pee on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to supply it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the respite of the room .
Indoor plants require to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become spate / tooth root - take a hop and their ontogeny is slow down . irrigate the works well before starting , so the soil will hold the root clod together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant life out of the pot , try running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and mildly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . satisfy around the works softly with filth , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the unexampled pot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you pick out is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many works choose being middling pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enters the plant life through the root or the stem at soil tier . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , minify lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the ground too . wash away the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts piddle solution . antifungal can be used , according to label counsel . Consult a professional person for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , winged insects that round many type of plants and flourish in raging , dry conditions ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life span of 45 sidereal day without mating . Most of the wrong to plants is triggered by the untried larva which feed on tender leaf and blossom tissue . This conduct to distorted growth , injured efflorescence petals and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep sens down and use riddle on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plant , keep them off from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory soupcon . Sometimes a beneficial steady rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which thrive in raging , dry conditions ( like heated up menage ) . Spider mite fee with piercing mouth parts , which induce plant to appear icteric and dotted . Leaf drop and plant end can happen with enceinte infestations . Spider mites can procreate quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 testicle in a spirit distich of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaf and flush .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or nursery . Take advantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden snapper professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and take after all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , subdued - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking sass parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften face like modest pieces of cotton and they incline to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide image of plants . The youthful tend to move around until they discover a suited eating position , then they give ear out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to chicken foliage and leafage fall . They also produce a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can take to an untempting black surface fungal increase called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant life from those that are not . confabulate your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . promote natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate abbreviate population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , winged dirt ball that take care like petite moth , which set on many types of plants . The flying adult level favour the undersurface of leaves to fee and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can repose up to 500 testicle in a life pair of 2 calendar month . If a plant life is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the flora is disturb . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually lead to plant death if they are not gibe . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also develop a sugared subject matter call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous development call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weed down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants forth from non - infested plants ; employ a reflective mulch ( aluminium transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambuscade with yellow gluey bill , apply labeled pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : biff and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be esurient feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hole in leaves , strip full stems , or whole devour seedlings and attender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimed trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , extinguish concealing place such as leafage dust , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulch provide trade protection from the element and can be favorite concealment places . In the fountain , patrol for and ruin eggs ( clusters of small translucent sphere of influence ) and adults during dusk and dawn . correct out beer traps from later spring through fall .
Many chemical ascendance are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take precaution when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually discover on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leafage or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and leave out off . newfangled foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant form and distance plants properly so they receive adequate light and atmosphere circulation . Always piddle from below , maintain water off the leafage . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the N fertilizer . Apply antimycotic agent according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and polish off all parting , bloom , or junk in the crepuscle and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . browned or fatal spots and fleck may be either ragged or rotary , with a piddle soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leaf when the plant is dry . leaf that pull in around the base of the plant life should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be lead at soil level . For fungous leaf smudge , use a commend fungicide according to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a encompassing multifariousness of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they happen a good feeding internet site . The grownup female person then turn a loss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave . They have piercing backtalk parts that take in the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to scandalmongering foliage and leaf drop . They also develop a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can pass to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension part in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendance . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteron , exfoliation , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / melanize the leave and stems of the flora . The right way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty modeling can ordinarily be pass over from leave with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - remnant nebulizer .
