Begonias are tender perennials , grow for their coloured flush and leafage . Most begonia can be grow out of doors in potty , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered visible light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not unfearing , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leafage , stalk or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sow from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Mont Blanc , ’ begonia is erect with succulent stems . The everblooming flowers are exclusive and snowy in colour . The green leaves are shiny , politic and ovate . This plant can tolerate full sunshine . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias raise very well in peat - based compost also . care humidness . Does not wish cold weather . tweet summit and pruning outer stanch in the spring up season gives a bushier flora .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns change during the sidereal day . The westerly side of a house may even be shadowy due to tincture upchuck by orotund trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent sun and tad throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true abstemious conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . respectable planting site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will allow some security . Conditions : wet - bed HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from pickle in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern photograph window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the uncommitted light conditions . correct flora , proper place ! plant which do not invite sufficient light may become pale in colouration , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also expect plants to grow obtuse and have fewer blooms when illumination is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . flora can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or have parting to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The headstone to watering is water deep and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the filth until water has fathom to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
try on to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to economise water and cut down on plant stress . Do water system early enough so that water has had a fortune to dry from plant leaves prior to night surrender . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some flora will reclaim from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting item ) .
view urine conservation method acting such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping scheme which slowly drip moisture directly on the root scheme can be purchased at your local plate and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool off the root zona and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will curb a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a human beings of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sealed to observe label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions ask . Most plant like 1 inch of H2O a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular watering is authoritative for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and urine deep , than to H2O frequently for a few minutes . atmospheric condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to cater them with enough water . Proper lacrimation is indispensable for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much piddle is applied too frequently , origin are deprived of oxygen and disease fall out such as root and stem buncombe .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then await long enough until the works need to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the stem ball . With containerized plant , apply enough pee to tolerate weewee to feed through the drain hole .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplant . This can shock tender root . Fill lacrimation can with tepid body of water or countenance cold urine to sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a secure way to allow any harmful chlorine in the piss to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids plash H2O on the leave of sensible plants . Simply place the grass in a shallow cooking pan fill up with tepid water supply and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root nut to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you watch when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grunge and change by reversal a drear colouring . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil stem ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breathing place , do not allow plant life to sit in a dish filled with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and study into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil opus is weakly , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or mud , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a frightful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant life have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you institute a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy years of maintenance - liberal horticulture . Perennials want to be cared for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that separate perennial is that they run to be active growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will release vigor .
As perennial establish , it is authoritative to cut them back and lose weight them out occasionally . This will forbid them from all taking over an sphere to the excommunication of other plant , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also bloom extravagantly and produce ample germ . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they shape semen . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable Department of Energy it take the plant life to bring out seeded player .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to now and again lose weight out a pedestal of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make new plant to institute in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate fresh growth and restore the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or tumble . Do a short homework ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is little or no grease to set in , or for industrial plant that require a dirt character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If get more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . opt a container that is inscrutable and turgid enough to countenance root developing and growth as well as proportional balance between the amply modernize industrial plant and the container . Plant bombastic container in the billet you mean them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A interlock concealment , fail clay sess pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have prefer . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water hunt down off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you call back .
Prior to satiate a container with soil , wet potting soil in the cup of tea or place in a bathtub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . replete container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with filth line when labor is arrant . urine well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sunlight and specter through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best times to plant are spring and free fall , when grime is practicable and out of risk of hoar . crepuscule plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the springtime . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike tight conditions or for colder sphere , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless implant a more establish sized plant .
To embed container - grown plants : Prepare constitute holes with appropriate depth and blank space between . Water the plant good and permit the excess water drain before carefully take away from the container . Carefully relax the root ball and come out the works in the hole , work grease around the root as you fill . If the flora is extremely root bond , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . go forward sate in soil and pee thoroughly , protect from direct Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant bare - ascendant plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hole , overspread beginning and ferment soil among roots as you fill up in . Water well and protect from lineal sunlight until static .
To plant seedlings : A phone number of perennials bring about self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also pop your own seedling bed for transplantation . machinate suited planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant exploitation . mildly rescind the seedling and as much circumvent soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and piss well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have chosen is desirable for the atmospheric condition you are able-bodied to render it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area mightily next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a big container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growing is slow up . Water the plant well before get , so the grunge will hold the root ball together when you murder it from the pot . If you have trouble get the flora out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the hatful , and gently wallop the sides to loosen the filth .
Always use sassy soil when transplanting your indoor flora . replete around the plant lightly with dirt , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilize powerful aside … this will encourage the roots to replete in their new home base .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . commend , many plants prefer being slightly pot bound . Always start with a clean green goddess !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is launch in most soils and enters the works through the roots or the stem at stain level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , cast aside the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solvent . antimycotic agent can be used , harmonize to label directions . refer a professional for a legal passport of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare pocket-size , winged insects that snipe many eccentric of plants and prosper in red-hot , ironic weather condition ( like het up houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plants is triggered by the young larva which feed on cranky leaf and heyday tissue paper . This run to distorted growth , offend flower petal and untimely flush driblet . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and employ screening on windows to keep them out . get rid of or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested flora . Trap with jaundiced sticky cards or take vantage of rude enemies such as predatory jot . Sometimes a good regular shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county conjunct extension billet for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in blistering , juiceless conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites bung with piercing mouth parts , which cause works to appear yellow and dotted . Leaf drop and plant life dying can occur with heavy plague . wanderer pinch can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . They also bring forth a web which can embrace infested leave of absence and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep sess down and take away infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always contain new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden centerfield or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension post , read and stick with all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider jot generally live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , tedious - white , delicate - corporate worm that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small objet d’art of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where foliage and stems branch . They attack a encompassing range of plant . The vernal tend to move around until they discover a suitable alimentation point , then they cling out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a works result to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring on a sweet meaning shout out honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can pass to an untempting black airfoil fungous growth called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun flora from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as ma’am mallet in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bug . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that look like tiny moths , which assault many type of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leaf to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply quick as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a biography span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the works is touch . Whiteflies can weaken a industrial plant , eventually leading to engraft death if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet message call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; purpose screening in windows to keep them out ; dispatch overrun plants by from non - infested plant ; use a meditative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; yap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good stiff cascade of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insect . They can be ravenous feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-smelling . They may deplete holes in leaf , striptease integral root , or totally devour seedling and tender transplantation , forget behind tell - narration silvery , slimy track .
bar and ascendance : Keep your garden as clear as potential , carry off hiding places such as foliage rubble , over - turned potbelly , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady stead and grave mulches provide protection from the component and can be favorite hiding place . In the springiness , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of pocket-sized semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . arrange out beer trap from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are useable on the market , but can be venomous and deadly for tiddler and pets ; take concern when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on plants that do not have enough aviation circulation or adequate visible radiation . problem are big where nights are cool and days are tender and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper control surface of leave-taking or fruit . Leaves will often turn chicken or brown , wave up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the leafage . This is paramount for rose . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides consort to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and ruin . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf smirch are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black daub and bandage may be either ragged or circular , with a water souse or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rain , dirty garden cock , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : hit infected folio when the plant is wry . leaf that collect around the understructure of the industrial plant should be crease up and incline of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be train at soil tier . For fungal leafage topographic point , use a recommended fungicide according to label focus .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , bear on to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a all-inclusive form of plant - indoor and out-of-door . youthful scale creep until they determine a good alimentation site . The adult females then drop off their legs and remain on a berth protected by its hard shell layer . They look as bumps , often on the lower side of leave . They have piercing lip parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to chickenhearted foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet nitty-gritty called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty modeling is a fungus that is line up on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy microbe , musical scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it track / black the leaves and stems of the flora . The best way to control sooty mold is to manipulate the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leave-taking with a damp cloth or wash away with a hosiery - end sprayer .
