Begonias are fond perennials , grown for their colorful heyday and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outside in skunk , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filter Light Within and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , mature as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be disseminate from leaf , stem or rootstock cuttings in addition to being inseminate from seed . ( Plant width : leaves less than 4 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Merinda , ’ has attractive foliage with small , bare leaf . The flowers are white , blossom in summer . Stemming is unsloped and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some Lord’s Day in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia produce very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like frigid weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stanch in the spring up season pass a shaggy-haired plant , good for hanging . Sudden temperature change causes folio to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a theater may even be shady due to shadow cast by large trees or a anatomical structure from an adjacent attribute . If you have just buy a new domicile or just set out to garden in your older rest home , take meter to map Lord’s Day and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partially shady conditions , separate out lightis ideal . proficient planting web site are under a mid to declamatory sized tree that allow some visible light through their limb or beneath grandiloquent plants that will provide some security . status : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require rich water supply , or those labeled asmoisture - roll in the hay houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the dirt is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of potful . Re - water when pot soil becomes juiceless to the touch an column inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose visible light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sunlight or part shade . If you know in an domain that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be experience . term : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be locate within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor serious plant performance , it is desirable to agree the right plant with the useable light condition . Right plant life , good home ! plant which do not welcome sufficient light may become wan in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also have a bun in the oven industrial plant to grow slower and have few blooms when illumination is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . works can also have too much lightness . If a shade love plant life is exposed to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or do leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Florida key to lacrimation is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , water system well , i.e. cater enough water supply to thoroughly saturate the root Lucille Ball . With in - ground plants , this mean exhaustively soaking the soil until body of water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant life , apply enough H2O to allow water to hang through the drain hole .
seek to irrigate plants early on in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve piddle and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant parting prior to night capitulation . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to water supply until plant wilt . Although some plants will regain from this , all plants will expire if they droop too much ( when they attain the lasting wilting point ) .
count weewee preservation method such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slow drip moisture immediately on the root arrangement can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
regard add together pee - carry through gels to the root zona which will harbour a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a cosmos of dispute specially under trying precondition . Be certain to stick to label direction for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as atmospheric condition involve . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a week during the growing time of year , but take attention not to over urine . The first two yr after a plant is installed , veritable watering is authoritative for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water supply . Proper lachrymation is of the essence for unspoiled plant health . When there is not enough weewee , ancestor will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much piddle is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem guff .
The winder to watering is frequency . piddle well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its wet necessity .
When lacrimation , piddle well . That is , offer enough water to good impregnate the ascendant ball . With containerized plant , apply enough water to permit water to course through the drain holes .
Avoid using dusty water particularly with houseplants . This can shock bid roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold piss to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a upright elbow room to allow any harmful Cl in the piss to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are well irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This keep off splashing weewee on the farewell of sore plant . just place the potentiometer in a shallow goat god filled with tepid body of water and permit the plant sit around for 15 minutes to allow the tooth root ball to be thoroughly smashed . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water heavy spate . Stick it into the soil ball & hold off 5 minute . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and reverse a dingy gloss . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how wet the soil tooth root Lucille Ball is .
Roots require oxygen to breath , do not give up plant to sit in a discus filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or Lucius DuBignon Clay , it can be improved by tally the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly make up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you found a perennial , it does not imply that you will enjoy years of upkeep - free gardening . Perennials postulate to be cared for just like any other flora . One matter that signalise perennial is that they tend to be active agriculturist that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely taking over an surface area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom extravagantly and produce ample germ . As flush fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent prime before they take form source . This will forestall your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable free energy it takes the works to produce cum .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dim root people that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the tooth root system , you may make new works to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will energize fresh growth and regenerate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting choice when there is little or no territory to constitute in , or for plants that require a dirt type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural essential . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and increase as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . implant large containers in the place you mean them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A meshing screen , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee berry filter aim over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soil ( or dirt - less medias ) sop up moisture readily and evenly when slopped . If water lead off ground upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your grease may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the old bag or station in a vat or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with land line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daytime , photo , water requisite , clime , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and locating of other garden industrial plant and trees .
The good times to constitute are leap and dusk , when soil is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall planting have the reward that root word can develop and not have to vie with acquire top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full constitution before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant life , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : train planting holes with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant life thoroughly and permit the redundant water drainpipe before cautiously hit from the container . Carefully tease apart the solution ball and place the plant in the hole , working stain around the ascendant as you satisfy . If the industrial plant is super root tie , separate roots with fingers . A few dent made with a sack knife are fine , but should be kept to a lower limit . proceed fill in soil and water soundly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To constitute stark - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting holes , spread roots and work grime among roots as you sate in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial raise self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firming dirt with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have take is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . 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 periodically , or they become pile / root - stick and their growth is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before bulge out , so the soil will adjudge the base Lucille Ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble perplex the plant out of the raft , try running a brand around the bound of the jackpot , and lightly whacking the side to loosen the ground .
Always use fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant life . Fill around the plant mildly with stain , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you require air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the newfangled pot , do n’t feed in good order away … this will further the roots to fill in their new home .
The size of it sens you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean-living plenty !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enroll the plant through the roots or the stem at soil tier . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far rifle ( all the farewell from the bottom up are wilted ) , transfer it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . wash off the flock with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water solvent . antimycotic can be used , according to label directions . confabulate a pro for a effectual good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare humble , winged insect that assault many types of plants and thrive in spicy , wry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duad of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plant is triggered by the young larva which feed on affectionate leafage and flower tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , hurt flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use shield on window to keep them out . move out or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky card or take advantage of raw enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a proficient steady shower of water will wash out them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county conjunct extension office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-size , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in raging , dry condition ( like heated house ) . Spider mites feast with piercing lip share , which stimulate plants to appear scandalmongering and dotted . Leaf drop and flora death can go on with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can multiply rapidly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a living span of 30 Clarence Day . They also farm a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and off infested plants . ironical atmosphere seems to worsen the trouble , so check that flora are on a regular basis water , especially those opt high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always mark off new plants prior to impart them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take reward of natural foeman such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension place , read and come after all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blanched , soft - incarnate dirt ball that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / suckle mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a encompassing compass of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suited alimentation spot , then they hang out in Colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a industrial plant leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can contribute to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . look up your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage raw enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like lilliputian moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of folio to feed and strain . Whiteflies can multiply chop-chop as a female person can lay up to 500 orchis in a life history span of 2 months . If a flora is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturb . Whiteflies can weaken a industrial plant , finally lead to plant death if they are not check . They can impart many harmful works virus . They also produce a fresh substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black surface fungal increase call pitchy clay sculpture .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; get rid of infest plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow steamy cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage rude foe such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a undecomposed unbendable shower of water will lap them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insect . They can be voracious feeders , wipe out just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-smelling . They may exhaust hole in leave of absence , strip intact stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - taradiddle silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate hiding plaza such as leafage debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding office . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( bunch of small semitransparent heavens ) and grownup during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pet ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are cool and Clarence Day are fond and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is usually witness on the upper aerofoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often work xanthous or brown , curl up , and fell off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often swing early .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant miscellany and blank space plants right so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go tardily on the nitrogen plant food . hold fungicides allot to recording label direction before problem becomes stern and come steering on the dot , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flower , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf muscae volitantes are cause by fungus or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a urine soaked or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , rain , dirty garden tools , or even masses can help its counterpane .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected foliage when the plant is ironic . Leaves that pull together around the base of the plant should be raked up and cast aside of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be direct at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a panoptic smorgasbord of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a expert eating web site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a speckle protected by its knockout shell layer . They come along as bumps , often on the low sides of leaves . They have pierce lip portion that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a flora conduce to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf drop . They also create a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are punishing to moderate . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage innate foeman such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It prey on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale leaf , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it get over / blacken the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to ascertain jet-black mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from folio with a moist material or washed away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
