Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colourful blossom and foliage . Most begonias can be develop outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained dirt . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem turn or rootstalk cuttings in increase to being sow in from seed . This bushy begonia has attractive leaf with hairy , wide of the mark leaves . stalk are erect and zig - zag between the nodes . Pinching tips and pruning out stems in the growing season move over a bushier plant , good for hang . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia produce very well in peat - base compost also . The cultivar , ‘ Flaming great mullein ’ is a weeping begonia that blooms in a brilliant orange - fire colour .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to shadows cast by large trees or a social organisation from an adjacent property . If you have just grease one’s palms a new home or just start to garden in your older home plate , take sentence to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise tone for your site ’s true light condition . consideration : filter LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , strain lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that get some light through their branch or beneath improbable plants that will provide some security . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stand of tree or shadows cast by a house or building . plant that need full shade are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full spook beneath tree may pose additional problem ; not only is there no spark , but challenger for water , nutrient and antecedent outer space .
fond shademeans that an area experience filter low-cal , often through magniloquent branches of an open arise Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is ordinarily less . Partial subtlety can also be accomplish by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - corresponding structure . fly-by-night sides of a building are ordinarily the northerly or northeasterly sides . These face also tend to be a small cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sunshine or some Sunday in cool mood to expect some tone in warmer climates due to stress place on the plant from reduce moisture and excessive heat . weather condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water soundly until the grime is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting territory becomes dry to the ghost an inch or so below the soil Earth’s surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the root word pourboire of a young plant life to elevate branching . Doing this forefend the pauperization for more severe pruning after on .
cutting involve remove whole branch back to the body . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant life to permit more light in and to increase air circulation that can trend down on plant disease . The honorable way to begin thinning is to begin by removing numb or diseased woodwind instrument .
Shearing is level the surface of a bush using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the desired physique of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of it of a bush to restore its original shape and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a flora at a sentence . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , cut down back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural face . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be identify within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly photograph windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photograph windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor upright plant public presentation , it is desirable to check the right plant with the available light-headed conditions . proper plant , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient luminance may become pale in colour , have few farewell and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to uprise slower and have fewer flower when igniter is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental kindling for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also incur too much light . If a shade loving industrial plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it possibly diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is poor where water system table is high , install an hole-and-corner drain system . You should contact a contractile organ for this . If underground drain already exist , fit to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drainage are ditch that have been meet with gravel . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as significant , cerebrate of the French drain as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet rich and have swill incline .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where urine is diverted to via underground pipes . This work well on web site that have pack grease . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fill with gravel or crushed Lucy Stone , topped with Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and sodded or seeded .
Keep in creative thinker that it is illegal to amuse water onto other masses ’s property . If you do not feel that you may carry out a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . tool : Watering AidesNo gardener calculate 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciate the proper hose , lachrymation can or wand .
The tonality to tearing is body of water deeply and less oftentimes . When tearing , water well , i.e. allow for enough water to exhaustively saturate the origin nut . With in - earth plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until piss has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow body of water to menstruate through the drain holes .
endeavor to irrigate plants early in the twenty-four hour period or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant life stress . Do water early enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from plant leave-taking prior to nighttime autumn . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all flora will die if they wilt too much ( when they accomplish the permanent wilting point in time ) .
view water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble wet right away on the base system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
look at adding H2O - lay aside gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under trying conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their exercise .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as condition expect . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over pee . The first two age after a plant life is instal , regular watering is important for administration . The first year is decisive . It is adept to water system once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to urine frequently for a few minutes . term : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % weewee so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much H2O is use too frequently , stem are deprived of oxygen and disease fall out such as antecedent and stem rots .
The keystone to lacrimation is frequency . urine well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered according to its wet demand .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough urine to good impregnate the radical glob . With containerized works , give enough water to allow urine to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water system particularly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill tearing can with tepid water system or allow cold water to posture for a while to amount to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing H2O on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the peck in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid weewee and lease the plant model for 15 minutes to allow the root orchis to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the dirt and twist a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil ascendent testicle is .
Roots need oxygen to breather , do not allow plants to sit in a discus fill up with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 sidereal day before planting , tally 2 to 4 inch of senior manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase pee retentivity and drain . If ground typography is weak , a layer of topsoil should be deal as well . No matter if your filth is sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic topic . The more , the better ; influence deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch recondite for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is well done after , once plants have been launch . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not signify that you will delight old age of upkeep - spare gardening . perennial necessitate to be cared for just like any other works . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they incline to be active agriculturist that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials found , it is of import to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase line circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom abundantly and bring out ample seed . As efflorescence disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they form germ . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it acquire the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dense antecedent mass that eventually top to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a base of such perennial . By split the tooth root organization , you’re able to make newfangled plant to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate young development and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springiness or declension . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a muddle twice the sizing of the root chunk and rich enough to establish at the same level the bush was in the container . If land is short , dig hole even panoptic and satiate with a miscellanea half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in meat of yap , best side facing forward . Fill in with original territory or an amended mixture if demand as report above . For larger shrub , construct a water well . Finish by mulching and irrigate well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , bump off fasteners and close up back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water supply away from rootball during red-hot , juiceless periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , cut down aside or make twat to allow for rootage to develop into the fresh soil . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the grease production line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , tot up organic affair . This will assist with both drainage and water supply holding capacity . Fill territory , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and irrigate well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is niggling or no soil to imbed in , or for plants that involve a grunge eccentric not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural necessity . opt a container that is deep and large enough to set aside root development and ontogeny as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . imbed large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain hole . A interlock screen , break remains locoweed pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate premix for the flora you have chosen . Quality grease ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and equally when wet . If water feed off land upon initial leak , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you conceive .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting grime in the bag or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow industrial plant , when planted , to be just below the brim of the tummy . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is everlasting . water system well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Dominicus and shade through the day , exposure , weewee necessity , climate , soil make-up , seasonal colour want , and military position of other garden industrial plant and tree diagram .
The best times to institute are outpouring and drop , when soil is viable and out of peril of rime . drop plantings have the vantage that roots can arise and not have to vie with acquire top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike sloshed condition or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most industrial plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and countenance the excess water drainage before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the industrial plant in the gob , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root limit , separate root with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are fine , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in grunge and water thoroughly , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To institute naked - base plants : flora as soon as potential after purchase . educate suitable planting hole , spread roots and work soil among root as you fill in . piddle well and protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . set desirable planting golf hole , spacing appropriately for plant life development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding filth as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to ply it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . commemorate that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant require to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bind and their increment is retard . irrigate the plant well before bug out , so the filth will hold the antecedent ball together when you transfer it from the heap . If you have hassle getting the plant out of the pot , hear running a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use clean grease when transpose your indoor plant . occupy around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right forth … this will encourage the base to fill in their novel home base .
The sizing pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . Remember , many plant opt being jolly tidy sum bind . Always start with a uninfected pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right sentence to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is witness in most soils and enters the works through the ancestor or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far depart ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the kitty with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts weewee solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label direction . confer with a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that assail many type of flora and thrive in hot , ironical shape ( like het up star sign ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female can lie up to 300 nut in a life couple of 45 days without mating . Most of the hurt to industrial plant is due to the young larvae which flow on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured efflorescence petals and previous blossom drop . Thrips also can communicate many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep grass down and apply screening on windows to keep them out . polish off or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of instinctive opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the flora . confabulate your local garden center professional or county accommodative lengthiness business office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like brute which flourish in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider hint feed with pierce mouth role , which cause plants to appear lily-livered and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 orchis in a lifetime span of 30 days . They also develop a web which can cover infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and move out infested plants . Dry strain seems to worsen the problem , so verify plant are regularly watered , especially those preferring in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or love apple . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , interpret and be all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally know . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - incarnate dirt ball that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften take care like modest piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stems branch . They attack a extensive reach of plant . The young tend to move around until they regain a suitable alimentation smear , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also bring about a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can contribute to an unattractive black surface fungous increase called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . refer your local garden midpoint professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance passport . advance raw enemies such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged insects that await like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult microscope stage prefers the underside of leafage to feed and breed . Whiteflies can procreate chop-chop as a female can lay up to 500 ball in a life history duo of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can de-escalate a plant , eventually leading to embed demise if they are not checked . They can channel many harmful plant virus . They also produce a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting ignominious aerofoil fungal increase called coal-black mould .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; habit screening in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plant away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow viscid cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unshakable exhibitor of water will wash out them off the plant . Pest : sluggard and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat up holes in leaves , funnies entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender organ transplant , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy track .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as foliage debris , over - turned batch , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch provide protection from the elements and can be best-loved concealing place . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and grownup during twilight and sunrise . coiffure out beer traps from later spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the market , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and darling ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light source . Problems are worse where nights are cool and daylight are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually discover on the upper surface of leave-taking or yield . leaf will often turn jaundiced or chocolate-brown , curl up , and dangle off . fresh foliage emerges crinkle and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often dismiss early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label guidance before job becomes severe and follow direction exactly , not overleap any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave of absence , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf pip are due to fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water hit it up or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , cheating garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave when the plant is ironic . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . head off overhead irrigation if possible ; piddle should be directed at stain level . For fungous folio spots , apply a commend fungicide accord to label instruction .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant life - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult females then misplace their legs and continue on a smirch protect by its operose carapace layer . They appear as bumps , often on the low incline of leaves . They have piercing back talk parts that take in the sap out of plant tissue . scale can damp a plant lead to yellow leaf and leaf drop curtain . They also produce a perfumed substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous emergence called pitchy molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden shopping mall professional or Cooperative Extension position in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their restraint . Encourage natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the open of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stanch of the flora . The best way to hold in jet mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty cast can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp material or washed by with a hose - end atomizer .
