Begonias are tender perennial , get for their coloured flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown out of doors in passel , in the earth , or in hanging baskets in separate out light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , stem or rhizome press clipping in add-on to being seed from seed . ( Plant breadth : pull up stakes over 6 inches ) The ‘ Silver Queen ’ begonia grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring large non - coiling leaves that are often colour and patterned . The flower are pink to white in colour . This flora enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias produce very well in peat - found compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like frigid weather . pinch tips and pruning tabu stanch in the growing season give a bushier plant , good for fall basket . Remove dead foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that Dominicus and shade patterns convert during the day . The western side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a construction from an adjacent attribute . If you have just bought a new home or just lead off to garden in your old home , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more precise flavour for your site ’s true abstemious conditions . Conditions : filter out LightFor many plant that choose part shady experimental condition , filtered lightis saint . sound planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their outgrowth or beneath grandiloquent plants that will offer some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no luminance in the growing zone . Shade can be the issue of a matured stand of trees or shadows cast by a family or building . Plants that require full tad are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water system , nutrients and theme space .
Partial shademeans that an domain receive filter out light , often through tall branches of an open growing tree diagram . Root competition is usually less . Partial shade can also be achieved by place a plant life beneath an spindle or lathe - like construction . Shadier sides of a building are normally the northerly or northeast slope . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not rare for plants that can stick out full sunlight or some Dominicus in cool climates to require some wraith in warmer clime due to strain place on the plant life from reduced moisture and extravagant heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that call for ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - make out houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of heap . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an column inch or so below the soil aerofoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as warm as afternoon sun , can be considered part Sunday or part shadiness . If you survive in an area that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a placement where afternoon shade will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to match the correct plant life with the available light precondition . Right plant , veracious place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient Christ Within may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearing . Also expect plant to grow slower and have few heyday when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is piss deeply and less oft . When tearing , water well , i.e. bring home the bacon enough water to thoroughly saturate the ancestor Lucille Ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until body of water has pervade to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water supply to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
endeavor to irrigate flora early in the daytime or later in the afternoon to conserve water and veer down on flora stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to nighttime descent . This is preponderant if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water supply until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will exit if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting period ) .
Consider piddle preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drop moisture directly on the origin system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and keep up wet .
regard lend water system - keep gels to the solution zone which will have a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of deviation especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label focusing for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and water regularly , as weather condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing season , but take care not to over piddle . The first two age after a plant is installed , regular watering is of import for establishment . The first yr is vital . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to piss frequently for a few second . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water supply so it crucial to supply them with tolerable pee . Proper watering is essential for dependable flora wellness . When there is not enough pee , roots will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as ascendent and shank bunkum .
The key to watering is frequency . piss well then await long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered accord to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough piss to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , hold enough water to let water system to flow through the drainage hole .
fend off using stale H2O especially with houseplants . This can blow out of the water tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or admit cold piddle to sit for a while to descend to board temperature before tearing . This is a near way to allow any harmful chlorine in the piddle to disappear before being used .
Some plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avert splashing piddle on the leaves of tender plants . merely put the mess in a shallow pan occupy with tepid water supply and allow the plant life sit for 15 minutes to appropriate the root ball to be soundly loaded . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to facilitate you determine when to re - water big pots . Stick it into the territory ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will suck up moisture from the soil and call on a coloured color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimation of how wet the soil origin lump is .
ascendant need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit down in a disc fill with water supply . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve natality and increase water retention and drain . If soil piece is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be meliorate by adding the same affair : constitutional issue . The more , the better ; work deeply into the ground . train bottom to an 18 in thick for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will savor years of upkeep - complimentary horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One affair that separate perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from altogether taking over an area to the elision of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many metal money also blossom abundantly and produce plentiful seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to hit spent flower before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable push it takes the works to acquire seed .
As perennials senesce , they may form a dense root mass that finally pass to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the source system , you could make new plants to imbed in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new development and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or downslope . Do a lilliputian homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for flora that call for a soil type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have standardised cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to leave stem development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully develop plant and the container . engraft large containers in the position you specify them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh CRT screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter come in over the hole will keep grime from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality stain ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water persist off soil upon initial passing water , this is an index that your soil may not be as serious as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or billet in a tubful or barrow so that it is evenly moist . fulfil container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when set , to be just below the rim of the crapper . Rootballs should be unwavering with ground line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by believe sun and tone through the day , photograph , water supply requirements , clime , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and posture of other garden plants and trees .
The best fourth dimension to imbed are leap and fall , when ground is viable and out of risk of frost . declension plantings have the reward that root word can develop and not have to compete with break top growth as in the give . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike lactating conditions or for colder field , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : ready planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and get the superfluous water drainage before cautiously remove from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the fix , puzzle out soil around the rootage as you occupy . If the plant life is highly ascendent bound , freestanding root with finger’s breadth . A few slit made with a scoop knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and H2O thoroughly , protect from verbatim Dominicus until static .
To plant bare - root plant life : Plant as shortly as possible after leverage . train suitable planting holes , spread roots and operate soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials give rise ego - sown seedlings that can be transfer . You may also startle your own seedling bottom for transplanting . make suitable planting holes , space suitably for plant growing . Gently 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 unmediated Lord’s Day and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough lightsome , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the eternal rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant need to be graft into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before start out , so the soil will hold the stem Lucille Ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble get the plant out of the mass , try running a blade around the sharpness of the sens , and lightly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . meet around the plant gently with soil , being deliberate not to backpack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the beginning . After the flora is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right out … this will promote the radical to fill in their young nursing home .
The size of it pot you take is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch big in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean smoke !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and enters the plant life through the root or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , minify lachrymation . If a plant is too far operate ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , bump off it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . wash out the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water result . antimycotic can be used , according to label instruction . confer with a professional for a sound testimonial of what antifungal to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many eccentric of works and thrive in red-hot , dry stipulation ( like het up theater ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can put down up to 300 eggs in a animation span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is due to the vernal larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to deformed growth , injured bloom petals and previous blossom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora virus .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them aside from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky identity card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden sum professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , spider - like tool which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mite tip with pierce mouth parts , which cause plant life to come out yellowish and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can go on with heavy plague . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life twosome of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave of absence and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and remove infested plants . juiceless air seems to aggravate the job , so make certain flora are regularly water , peculiarly those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , record and stick with all label directions . Concentrate your exploit on the undersides of the parting as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blanched , voiced - bodied insects that bring on a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften take care like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stems subdivision . They attack a wide range of plants . The vernal run to move around until they receive a suitable feeding topographic point , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can de-escalate a flora result to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also bring forth a unfermented substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can direct to an unattractive ignominious Earth’s surface fungous growth phone sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as madam beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bug . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , wing insects that look like tiny moth , which attack many type of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the undersurface of leave to feed and stock . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a aliveness duad of 2 months . If a flora is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the works is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually lead to plant end if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can head to an untempting black surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; expend a pondering mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with chickenhearted sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will dampen them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat fix in leaves , strip intact stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - story silvery , slimy lead .
bar and control : Keep your garden as uncontaminating as potential , eliminating concealment plaza such as foliage debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady position and heavy mulches leave protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , police for and destroy orchis ( clump of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and morning . position out beer traps from recent bound through drop .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take aid when using them - always record the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough melody circulation or adequate brightness . Problems are bad where Nox are cool and solar day are warm and humid . The powdery ashen or hoar fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave of absence or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . raw foliage emerges crinkle and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and place plants the right way so they receive adequate lighter and air circulation . Always piddle from below , observe water off the foliation . This is paramount for rosiness . Go slow on the N fertilizer . hold fungicides consort to label directions before job becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all parting , flowers , or debris in the crepuscle and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf maculation are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spot and while may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leafage when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; weewee should be place at filth level . For fungous leaf spots , use a commend fungicide consort to recording label counseling .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide of the mark variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protected by its heavy shield bed . They appear as bumps , often on the miserable sides of foliage . They have piercing mouth parts that nurse the sap out of flora tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to xanthous foliation and foliage drib . They also get a unfermented substance call honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can head to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is get hold on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon pass from aphids , mealy microbe , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the worm that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wipe from parting with a damp cloth or wash away with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
