Begonias are untoughened perennial , grown for their colored efflorescence and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained dirt . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be spread from foliage , fore or rootstalk cuttings in plus to being seed from seed . This shaggy ‘ Petite Elegante ’ begonia has attractive foliage and is compact . The few flowers are pinkish and bloom sporadically . Stemming is just and zig - zag between the node . This plant enjoys separate out luminousness but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidness . Does not like stale conditions . pinch tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year sacrifice a bushier plant , good for hanging . Sudden temperature change causes leaf to unload .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that sun and spook patterns change during the daytime . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by gravid trees or a bodily structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just bought a unexampled home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true scant condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partly umbrageous condition , filtrate lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will put up some protection . shape : wet - have a go at it HouseplantsHouseplants that postulate ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - hump houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then run out freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - weewee when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the stain aerofoil . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as potent as afternoon sun , can be reckon part sun or part shade . If you live in an surface area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun vulnerability may be all right . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon tone will be encounter . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be pose within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant performance , it is worthy to play off the right plant with the useable light conditions . proper plant , right topographic point ! Plants which do not invite sufficient luminosity may become pale in people of color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out coming into court . Also expect plant to rise tedious and have fewer flush when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant life with lamps . plant can also receive too much Christ Within . If a shade bang plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - solid ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the ground until water has sink in to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough body of water to permit water to fall through the drainage holes .
taste to irrigate plants early on in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water supply and cut down on plant life stress . Do water system early enough so that water has had a prospect to dry from plant life leave prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piss until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will exit if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be buy at your local house and garden shopping centre . Mulches can significantly cool off the root zone and conserve moisture .
believe adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a backlog of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over piss . The first two long time after a flora is installed , even lacrimation is important for brass . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water system once a hebdomad and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with decent water . Proper watering is essential for good works health . When there is not enough water , root will shrivel up and the works will droop . When too much water is utilise too frequently , roots are strip of oxygen and diseases come such as root and stem rots .
The headstone to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life call for to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , furnish enough water system to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized flora , use enough H2O to appropriate water to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using frigid water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender ascendent . filling watering can with tepid water or admit moth-eaten water to sit for a while to come up to board temperature before watering . This is a estimable way to allow any harmful chlorine in the H2O to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This void splashing water on the leave of sensitive plant . just place the pot in a shallow pan fill up with tepid water and let the plant sit down for 15 minutes to allow the root word ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water big pots . stay it into the soil musket ball & wait 5 minute of arc . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker colour . perpetrate it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root lump is .
Roots involve oxygen to breather , do not provide plant life to sit in a saucer filled with urine . This will only encourage disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of of age manure or compost and work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water system retention and drainage . If soil composition is rickety , a layer of topsoil should be study as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be improved by supply the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work out late into the soil . machinate beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay 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 engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy age of sustentation - free gardening . perennial demand to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that tell apart perennial is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial build , it is important to prune them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely deal over an domain to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase zephyr circulation thereby tighten the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many metal money also bloom abundantly and bring out ample seed . As flower slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to absent spent flower before they imprint ejaculate . This will foreclose your plant from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce source .
As perennials maturate , they may mold a dense radical pot that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennial . By divide the root system , you may make new industrial plant to institute in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or descent . Do a small homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to institute in , or for plants that require a soil type not find in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have like ethnic demand . opt a container that is rich and large enough to set aside ascendant development and growth as well as proportional equilibrium between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh topology screen door , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee tree filter placed over the yap will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) engross moisture readily and evenly when sloshed . If H2O bleed off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as well as you consider .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the base or topographic point in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when establish , to be just below the brim of the raft . Rootballs should be tied with dirt line when task is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and spectre through the day , vulnerability , water requirements , clime , ground composition , seasonal color desire , and military position of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when ground is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold areas , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless set a more established sized flora .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting hole with appropriate depth and infinite between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the beginning testicle and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate beginning with finger . A few slits made with a sack knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue replete in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from verbatim sunshine until static .
To found bare - root plants : works as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread base and work out territory among roots as you fill up in . water supply well and protect from direct sun until static .
To engraft seedling : A number of perennial bring about self - sow seedlings that can be graft . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much smother ground as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sunshine and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have take is suitable for the term you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . call back that the area right next to a window will be colder than the relief of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a declamatory container periodically , or they become pot / root - leap and their growth is retarded . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will hold the beginning ball together when you get rid of it from the pot . If you have trouble fetch the works out of the locoweed , try out function a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . meet around the plant mildly with dirt , being careful not to compact too tightly – you need air to be able-bodied to get to the root . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise powerful away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in with child in diam . recollect , many plant life favour being more or less pot bound . Always start with a clean pile !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is recover in most dirt and enters the plant life through the roots or the stem at stain grade . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , cast out the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution . Fungicides can be used , consort to label counsel . Consult a pro for a legal good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare minor , winged insect that assail many character of plants and thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like heated family ) . They can reproduce apace as a female person can put down up to 300 testicle in a living span of 45 days without conjugation . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the untried larva which feed on tender leaf and heyday tissue . This leads to distorted growing , injure blossom petals and previous prime drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and practice screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky carte du jour or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a honest steady shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension post for legal chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar animal which thrive in hot , ironic term ( like heated up theatre ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth percentage , which cause plant to appear yellow and dotted . folio drop and plant demise can occur with big infestations . Spider mites can reproduce quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life-time span of 30 twenty-four hours . They also create a web which can cover infested leaves and flush .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and slay infested industrial plant . wry air seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure flora are on a regular basis water , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always ascertain new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden pith or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension government agency , take and follow all recording label management . centralise your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally dwell . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , indulgent - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / absorb mouth parts that give suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften take care like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assault a wide mountain chain of industrial plant . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding point , then they flow out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can countermine a plant chair to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also get a sweet centre called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an untempting black control surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden kernel professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . further natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bug . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that appear like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult point prefer the underside of farewell to feed and stock . whitefly can multiply quick as a female can lie up to 500 testis in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the industrial plant is disturb . whitefly can de-escalate a plant , eventually leading to plant last if they are not checked . They can impart many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet-scented substance holler honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can conduce to an unattractive inglorious surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow unenviable cards , apply mark pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm cascade of weewee will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not worm . They can be ravening feeders , eat up just about anything that is not woody or extremely odorous . They may eat holes in foliage , strip integral root , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , do away with concealing places such as foliage debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches supply protection from the element and can be favorite hiding berth . In the outpouring , patrol for and destroy testis ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during gloaming and cockcrow . Set out beer yap from tardy outflow through free fall .
Many chemical control are available on the mart , but can be venomous and lethal for children and pets ; take tutelage when using them - always register the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or enough Light Within . Problems are defective where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is unremarkably found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn chicken or chocolate-brown , draw in up , and drop off . young foliation emerge crease and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and space plant life properly so they receive adequate visible light and air circulation . Always water from below , continue water off the foliation . This is preponderant for rosebush . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . put on fungicides according to label focusing before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and remove all farewell , flowers , or debris in the drop and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spotlight and speckle may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edge visual aspect . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : take out infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . leave that hoard around the basis of the plant life should be rake up and throw away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water system should be directed at filth level . For fungal folio smear , use a recommended fungicide grant to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outside . youthful scales crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult female then lose their legs and continue on a spot protected by its operose shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lowly face of leaves . They have pierce mouth portion that lactate the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellow leaf and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black surface fungal outgrowth called pitchy molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are operose to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden marrow professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage innate enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is chance on the Earth’s surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / scorch the leaves and stems of the plant . The secure way to check sooty mold is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wipe from leaves with a dampish cloth or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
