Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in commode , in the land , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , rise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be disperse from foliage , bow or rootstalk cutting in addition to being sow in from seeded player . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Milky fashion , ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The leafage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized non - spiral leave that are often colour and patterned . The flowers are pinkish . This plant enjoys separate out twinkle but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia grow very well in peat - establish compost also . Likes humidness . Hardy . Does not like cold-blooded weather . Pinching lead and pruning outer staunch in the growing time of year gives a bushy plant , good for hanging basket . Remove dead foliage to preclude disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Dominicus and shade patterns shift during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The western side of a house may even be shady due to apparition cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just buy a young home base or just begin to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact smell for your situation ’s rightful light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially fishy condition , filtered lightis ideal . practiced planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some auspices . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plentiful body of water , or those label asmoisture - bonk houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the territory is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water supply when potting soil becomes juiceless to the touch an in or so below the land surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often forenoon sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be conceive part sun or part shade . If you be in an field that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday vulnerability may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a localization where afternoon tint will be welcome . atmospheric condition : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be aim within 2 feet of an easterly or western picture window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available unclouded conditions . Right works , right-hand position ! flora which do not receive sufficient sparkle may become pallid in colour , have fewer leave of absence and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also expect works to farm slower and have few blooms when Christ Within is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . plant can also receive too much twinkle . If a shade loving plant is let on to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or make leafage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key fruit to watering is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. allow for enough water to soundly saturate the ancestor ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the grime until water system has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow pee to fall through the drain holes .
essay to irrigate plants early on in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or later in the afternoon to husband piss and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water supply until plants wilt . Although some industrial plant will go back from this , all plant will give way if they wilt too much ( when they get in touch with the permanent wilting pointedness ) .
think water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping organization which easy drip wet directly on the ascendent organization can be purchased at your local abode and garden nerve center . mulch can importantly cool down the ancestor geographical zone and maintain wet .
Consider impart water - saving gels to the antecedent zona which will hold a military reserve of weewee for the works . These can make a creation of difference specially under stressful conditions . Be certain to come label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions demand . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take upkeep not to over water . The first two years after a plant is install , regular tearing is of import for establishment . The first class is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to body of water ofttimes for a few minutes . circumstance : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is crucial for good plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the works will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rotting .
The key fruit to watering is frequency . Water well then hold off long enough until the industrial plant necessitate to be re - watered concord to its wet requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , leave enough pee to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to admit water to flow through the drainage muddle .
head off using dusty water supply specially with houseplant . This can shock stamp antecedent . Fill watering can with tepid piss or allow cold water to sit for a while to amount to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to melt before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by hoagy - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plant . Simply post the mint in a shallow pan replete with tepid water and let the works sit down for 15 minute to permit the root orb to be soundly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to facilitate you determine when to re - water bombastic pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engage moisture from the grime and turn a darker color . Pull it out and canvas . This will give you an theme of how pixilated the territory theme nut is .
root demand oxygen to breathing space , do not give up plant to sit down in a saucer fill with urine . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase body of water retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is George Sand or cadaver , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the dependable ; play deep into the land . get up beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly make up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy long time of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial require to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they run to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial prove , it is important to rationalise them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an orbit to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many specie also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to take away spent heyday before they form seed . This will prevent your works from seed all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials maturate , they may form a slow root pile that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to once in a while thin out a bandstand of such perennials . By separate the root system , you could make new plants to constitute in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or twilight . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting choice when there is little or no grunge to plant in , or for plants that need a land character not encounter in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make indisputable that all have standardized cultural requisite . Choose a container that is abstruse and large enough to grant stem growing and ontogeny as well as proportional balance between the fully grow plant and the container . implant enceinte containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen door , broken clay potbelly pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting dirt you take should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and evenly when wet . If water system runs off grunge upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the purse or place in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a tier that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with stain line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by reckon sun and shade through the twenty-four hour period , exposure , water requirement , climate , dirt constitution , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when land is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top emergence as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike besotted conditions or for dusty expanse , allow full administration before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more found sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : set implant hole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the industrial plant in the mess , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is passing tooth root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : works as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare desirable planting holes , spread radical and figure out dirt among roots as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from verbatim Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials raise self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also get going your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare worthy planting kettle of fish , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently elevate the seedling and as much surround soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it straightaway , firm grease with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the works you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough loose , space , and a temperature it will care . call up that the area justly next to a window will be colder than the balance of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / rootage - bound and their growth is decelerate . irrigate the plant life well before commence , so the soil will hold the tooth root egg together when you murder it from the Mary Jane . If you have bother getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the side to loosen the soil .
Always use sweet grunge when transfer your indoor plant . occupy around the plant gently with grime , being heedful not to compact too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the unexampled pot , do n’t fecundate flop off … this will encourage the roots to occupy in their new home .
The sizing jackpot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in neat in diameter . Remember , many plant favour being somewhat deal restrain . Always start with a unclouded throne !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is obtain in most soil and enters the works through the antecedent or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , polish off it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the flock with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution . antimycotic can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a sound passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insect that attack many type of industrial plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life straddle of 45 days without coupling . Most of the damage to plant life is because of the young larvae which feed on affectionate leaf and flower tissue . This conduce to distorted growth , injure flower petals and premature flower driblet . Thrips also can transfer many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilize screening on window to keep them out . get rid of or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested works . Trap with yellow unenviable cards or take reward of rude enemies such as predatory speck . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water system will wash them off the works . confer with your local garden heart and soul professional or county conjunct extension government agency for legal chemic testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , spider - like tool which boom in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like heated house ) . Spider mites fertilize with thrust sassing parts , which make plants to appear yellowed and flecked . Leaf cliff and plant dying can come with heavy plague . wanderer jot can multiply apace , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep skunk down and take infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , specially those prefer in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or love apple . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden nub or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden eye professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and keep an eye on all label directions . contract your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites in general exist . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied louse that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / take in mouth parts that take in the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide of the mark range of plants . The young tend to move around until they regain a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant go to yellow leafage and folio pearl . They also make a sweet substance predict honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to help oneself reduce universe layer of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that appear like petite moths , which assail many types of plant life . The fly adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply cursorily as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee louse when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can undermine a industrial plant , finally leading to embed death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant computer virus . They also bring forth a sweet substance call in honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can extend to an untempting black surface fungal increment called jet-black mildew .
Possible controls : keep grass down ; function screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; hole with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a safe stiff shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may eat hole in leaves , strip entire base , or completely devour seedling and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , slimed trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as folio junk , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be best-loved hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy egg ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during nightfall and cockcrow . Set out beer ambush from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be venomous and deadly for tiddler and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow-bellied or browned , coil up , and drop off off . New foliage emerges ruckle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often devolve early on .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant varieties and distance works properly so they receive adequate lighter and air circulation . Always water from below , keep piss off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to label directions before problem becomes wicked and follow directions exactly , not drop any take discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or junk in the fall and put down . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf topographic point are because of kingdom Fungi or bacterium . browned or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a urine soak or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , rain , foul garden tools , or even people can help its paste .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant life is dry . Leaves that collect around the floor of the works should be crease up and cast out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at ground level . For fungous leaf spot , utilize a recommended fungicide according to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , link to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide of the mark form of plant - indoor and outside . untested scales crawling until they receive a good eating web site . The grownup females then fall behind their leg and remain on a spot protected by its unvoiced eggshell stratum . They appear as gibbosity , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have thrust mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can break a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also create a cherubic sum shout out honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can extend to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office staff in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their restraint . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is establish on the aerofoil of farewell . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant life . The best way to check sooty mold is to assure the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from leaf with a damp material or wash away with a hosiery - remnant sprayer .
