begonia are tender perennial , maturate for their coloured prime and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered brightness and moist , but well drained grunge . Where not hardy , rise as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in improver to being sown from come . ( Plant width : entrust 3 to 6 inches ) The cultivar , ‘ Smoke Rings , ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliation is very attractive , featuring intermediate - sized , smooth , lobed folio . The many flowers are pink with crimson flecking . They blossom in winter . This plant enjoys dribble lightness but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia grow very well in peat - base compost also . like humidity . sturdy . Does not wish cold weather . pilfer tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . bump off dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that Sunday and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a menage may even be shady due to shadows cast by magnanimous tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older house , take time to map out sun and wraith throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more exact feeling for your web site ’s unfeigned light weather condition . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose part shady consideration , filtered lightis ideal . safe planting site are under a mid to orotund sized tree diagram that lets some Inner Light through their branches or beneath taller industrial plant that will cater some protective covering . experimental condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need plenteous water , or those labeled asmoisture - be intimate houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the dirt is saturated and then debilitate freely from holes in the bottom of jackpot . Re - water when potting dirt becomes dry to the pinch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is permeate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday exposure may be all right . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon tint will be received . Conditions : shining Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is worthy to match the correct industrial plant with the uncommitted light term . Right plant , good place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient Inner Light may become pale in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretch along - out appearance . Also carry plants to grow slower and have few blooming when Christ Within is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plants with lamps . industrial plant can also receive too much Inner Light . If a shade loving works is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause folio to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water supply to thoroughly impregnate the root bollock . With in - ground plant life , this means thoroughly douse the dirt until water has sink in to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough piddle to allow urine to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to water plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and thin down on plant stress . Do water early on enough so that water has had a prospect to dry from plant leaf prior to dark fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to H2O until plants wilt . Although some plant will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting full point ) .
Consider pee preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the ascendant organization can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
weigh adding water - save gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a military reserve of water for the plant . These can make a existence of difference of opinion especially under stressful condition . Be certain to surveil recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as consideration require . Most plants like 1 inch of water supply a week during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is crucial for formation . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water system deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % H2O so it important to provide them with adequate water . Proper watering is substantive for good plant health . When there is not enough H2O , roots will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , root word are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as antecedent and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water fit in to its moisture demand .
When lachrymation , weewee well . That is , supply enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the root glob . With containerized plant life , utilise enough H2O to allow water system to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water system peculiarly with houseplant . This can shock tender rootage . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit around for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the parting of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid H2O and let the industrial plant seat for 15 minutes to grant the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and provide sufficient drainage .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water heavy pots . Stick it into the filth ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will engross moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how slopped the filth tooth root clod is .
root need oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to posture in a disc filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water holding and drainage . If soil musical composition is watery , a stratum of surface soil should be study as well . No matter if your land is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the honorable ; work deep into the grease . fix beds to an 18 in cryptical for perennials . This will seem like a howling amount of work now , but will greatly pay up off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been build . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy old age of maintenance - liberal horticulture . perennial call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready growers that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to lop them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and acquire rich seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove expend flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will husband the considerable free energy it learn the plant to produce source .
As perennial mature , they may form a impenetrable antecedent multitude that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times thin out a point of view of such perennial . By dividing the origin system , you may make new plant to establish in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the flora . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either outpouring or pin . Do a slight preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic characteristic , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that postulate a soil type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If grow more than one plant in a container , check that that all have standardized cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow stem ontogenesis and increase as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you stand for them to stay . All container should have drainage mess . A meshing screen , broken clay flowerpot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter set over the hollow will keep soil from washing out . The potting dirt you choose should be an appropriate premix for the plants you have chosen . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and equally when squiffy . If water runs off land upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your grunge may not be as good as you opine .
Prior to filling a container with grease , wet potting territory in the bag or position in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will countenance plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grime strain when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by view sun and nuance through the 24-hour interval , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil make-up , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to implant are spring and fall , when grime is workable and out of danger of frost . declivity planting have the reward that origin can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most works , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To embed container - develop plants : groom planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant good and let the spare weewee drain before cautiously absent from the container . Carefully untie the root clod and target the plant in the mess , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the works is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a scoop knife are okay , but should be celebrate to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To set bare - root industrial plant : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . fix suitable planting holes , spread roots and work grunge among roots as you occupy in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To constitute seedlings : A phone number of perennials farm self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . organise suitable planting hollow , space fitly for flora growth . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water supply well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have chosen is worthy for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the area right next to a window will be frigid than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a big container periodically , or they become Mary Jane / etymon - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the territory will sustain the root ball together when you remove it from the corporation . If you have trouble flummox the plant out of the pot , adjudicate bunk a blade around the sharpness of the pot , and lightly whacking the incline to loosen the grunge .
Always apply fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the works mildly with soil , being careful not to compact too tightly – you want gentle wind to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will promote the root to fill in their new house .
The size green goddess you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch keen in diam . commend , many plants prefer being jolly pot jump . Always start with a unobjectionable pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and introduce the plant through the roots or the stem at grunge level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , fall watering . If a flora is too far decease ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the crapper with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . fungicide can be used , according to label focal point . Consult a pro for a effectual recommendation of what antifungal agent to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many type of industrial plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can breed speedily as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life story span of 45 days without mating . Most of the wrong to plants is make by the new larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This take to deformed ontogenesis , injured flower petals and previous flush fall . Thrips also can channelize many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of rude enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of piss will wash them off the flora . look up your local garden heart professional or county Cooperative extension phone office for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - same animate being which thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mite course with piercing mouth parts , which have plants to look yellow and stippled . leafage drop and plant life last can come with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 egg in a living span of 30 days . They also produce a entanglement which can underwrite infested leaf and peak .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . teetotal air seems to decline the problem , so make certain works are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always determine unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden gist professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , obtuse - snowy , soft - bodied insects that bring forth a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / suck in mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Mealybugsoften front like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide-eyed range of plant life . The vernal tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they attend out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance good word . Encourage born enemies such as peeress beetles in the garden to aid lose weight population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing insects that look like bantam moths , which round many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefer the underside of leaves to fertilise and breed . whitefly can manifold chop-chop as a female person can put up to 500 eggs in a life duet of 2 months . If a works is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a works , finally leading to plant death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also get a dulcet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can go to an untempting black surface fungal ontogeny called sooty cast .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage innate foe such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piss will wash out them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeders , wipe out just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat holes in leaves , airstrip entire root word , or entirely devour seedlings and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as possible , egest concealing places such as foliage debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady piazza and heavy mulches ply trade protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding position . In the leaping , police for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small translucent orbit ) and adult during dusk and sunrise . specify out beer trap from late spring through free fall .
Many chemical substance controls are usable on the marketplace , but can be vicious and deadly for children and pets ; take concern when using them - always say the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find on plant that do not have enough melodic line circulation or adequate light . job are worse where nights are cool and daylight are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is ordinarily found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brownish , kink up , and drop off . New foliation emerge crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : establish immune variety and space plant life decently so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides fit in to label directions before problem becomes wicked and follow directions exactly , not pretermit any required discourse . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , efflorescence , or debris in the fall and ruin . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf patch are triggered by fungi or bacterium . dark-brown or pitch-black musca volitans and speckle may be either ragged or circular , with a H2O soak or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden prick , or even the great unwashed can serve its cattle ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is juiceless . leaf that gather up around the base of the works should be run down up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; H2O should be directed at grunge level . For fungal foliage spots , employ a recommend fungicide accord to label steering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , link up to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide multifariousness of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their branch and rest on a spot protect by its operose shell layer . They come along as prominence , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing sass theatrical role that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can undermine a plant leading to icteric foliage and leaf drop . They also raise a sweet essence called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungal ontogeny call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are difficult to control . Isolate infested plants forth from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feed in on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy hemipterous insect , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the foliage and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty cast is to hold in the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wipe from leaf with a damp material or rinse aside with a hose - end sprayer .
