Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful blossom and foliage . Most begonias can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in flow baskets in separate out Inner Light and moist , but well drain grunge . Where not unfearing , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstock cutting off in improver to being sow in from seed . This begonia grow from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , feature big , smooth , unincised leaves . The blossom are white with pink sharpness and salad days wintertime to leap . This plant enjoys filter lighting but can take some sun in wintertime . Pinching tips and pruning outer halt in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant life , good for fall basketful . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns transfer during the twenty-four hour period . The western side of a house may even be shadowy due to shadow cast by enceinte trees or a bodily structure from an side by side attribute . If you have just bought a new home or just begin to garden in your older home plate , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s genuine short condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partly shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting web site are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that permit some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will put up some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is picayune or no light in the turn zone . Shade can be the result of a mature base of trees or shadow retch by a house or building . Plants that require full specter are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full tincture beneath trees may gravel additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for H2O , food and root space .
Partial shademeans that an domain welcome separate out idle , often through tall branches of an open produce tree . Root contention is usually less . fond spectre can also be accomplish by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar structure . fishy sides of a building are ordinarily the northerly or northeasterly side . These sides also be given to be a little tank . It is not rare for plant that can tolerate full Sunday or some sunlight in cooler climates to require some shade in warmer climates due to tension place on the plant from subjugate moisture and excessive heat . circumstance : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plentiful piddle , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hollow in the bottom of pot . Re - water supply when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the land surface . consideration : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is remove the stem turn tip of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this quash the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the inside of a flora to let more sparkle in and to increase atmosphere circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The dependable way to begin cutting is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the open of a shrub using hand or electrical shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old subdivision or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a works at a time . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various acme so that flora will have a more natural look . Conditions : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the right industrial plant with the usable lite experimental condition . veracious works , ripe place ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leave of absence and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also require plant to grow sluggish and have few bloom when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide auxiliary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much light . If a nicety have it off plant is queer to verbatim sunlight , it may wilt and/or induce parting to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The keystone to lacrimation is water deeply and less oftentimes . When watering , water system well , i.e. provide enough H2O to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the dirt until water has pervade to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , employ enough water to set aside piss to flow through the drainage holes .
attempt to water plants early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve piss and cut down on plant life accent . Do weewee early on enough so that water system has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to piddle until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will conk if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider piddle preservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which easy dribble moisture direct on the root system can be purchased at your local base and garden centre . mulch can significantly chill the source zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - save gelatin to the ascendant zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of divergence specially under trying conditions . Be certain to survey label direction for their employment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be kept equally moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as precondition demand . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a week during the growing season , but take care not to over H2O . The first two years after a industrial plant is instal , regular watering is important for organisation . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water system frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with adequate urine . Proper lacrimation is essential for good industrial plant wellness . When there is not enough body of water , roots will shrivel and the plant life will wilt . When too much H2O is apply too ofttimes , etymon are deprived of O and diseases pass off such as base and base hogwash .
The paint to watering is frequency . Water well then waitress long enough until the plant need to be re - watered accord to its moisture requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , ply enough water system to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to countenance water to flow through the drain holes .
debar using cold water particularly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or leave moth-eaten weewee to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good manner to let any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by Italian sandwich - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing H2O on the farewell of tender plants . just place the great deal in a shallow genus Pan fill with tepid water system and get the plant sit for 15 minute to permit the root egg to be soundly blind drunk . Take out and allow for sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & expect 5 minutes . The dowel will take in wet from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an melodic theme of how fuddled the dirt root ball is .
radical need oxygen to breath , do not grant flora to sit in a discus fill with weewee . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , sum 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water retention and drainage . If territory composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or Lucius Clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; put to work late into the soil . make beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy old age of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial need to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be combat-ready growers that have to be slenderize out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials install , it is important to prune them back and lose weight them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an surface area to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom copiously and produce copious seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to off spend flowers before they form germ . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will husband the considerable vim it takes the flora to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may forge a impenetrable solution mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennial . By fraction the solution organization , you could make new plants to found in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel maturation and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully carve up in either give or fall . Do a footling prep ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of it of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same spirit level the shrub was in the container . If soil is inadequate , dig hole even broad and fill up with a commixture half original stain and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously take away shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of gob , best side face forward . Fill in with original grime or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For orotund shrubs , progress a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove 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 away from rootball during hot , teetotal periods . If synthetic gunny , off if potential . If not potential , cut away or make dent to allow for ascendant to develop into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build up a weewee well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discolouration somewhere near the al-Qaida ; this chump is likely where the dirt line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , tot up organic thing . This will facilitate with both drainage and water holding capability . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to embed in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If grow more than one industrial plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is thick and with child enough to permit radical exploitation and emergence as well as relative proportion between the fully developed works and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to persist . All container should have drain maw . A mesh blind , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter placed over the hole will keep grunge from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take over wet readily and equally when fuddled . If water runs off ground upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you cogitate .
Prior to fill a container with grime , wet potting soil in the bag or position in a bath or barrow so that it is evenly moist . occupy container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with grease line when project is accomplished . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by debate sun and ghost through the twenty-four hours , exposure , piddle requirements , climate , grime constitution , seasonal colouration hope , and perspective of other garden plants and tree .
The good times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of frost . drop plantings have the reward that root can modernize and not have to contend with germinate top growth as in the bounce . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike squiffy condition or for cold surface area , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess water system drainage before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the flora is extremely antecedent restrict , separate roots with fingers . A few prick made with a air pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in land and water exhaustively , protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant nude - root plant : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suited planting kettle of fish , spread roots and do work soil among roots as you replete in . weewee well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedling : A telephone number of perennial produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also bulge your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting hole , space appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , tauten land with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunlight and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant life you have pick out is worthy for the conditions you are able-bodied to put up it : that it will have enough promiscuous , outer space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area mightily next to a window will be colder than the ease of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their development is delay . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will take for the root testicle together when you take away it from the locoweed . If you have trouble acquire the flora out of the can , strain run a blade around the bound of the mass , and gently whack the sides to loosen the filth .
Always use sassy soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being measured not to compact too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the flora is in the novel pot , do n’t fertilize decent away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The size jackpot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . recollect , many plant choose being reasonably pot bind . Always bulge out with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and go into the works through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , toss away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solvent . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . confab a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare diminished , fly insects that attack many types of industrial plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply promptly as a female person can lay up to 300 egg in a aliveness dyad of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to works is have by the youthful larvae which feed on cranky leaf and flush tissue paper . This leads to misshapen ontogenesis , injured flower petals and premature heyday drop . Thrips also can beam many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilize sort on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them out from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow-bellied sticky carte or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory hint . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which thrive in raging , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mite run with thrust mouth role , which cause plants to appear yellowed and stippled . leafage drop and plant death can come about with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can breed quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life duad of 30 Day . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . teetotal air seems to exasperate the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring gamy humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or love apple . Always chink raw plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , read and follow all label way . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider jot in the main live on . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / breastfeed mouth parts that give suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften seem like small slice of cotton fiber and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems leg . They snipe a wide chain of flora . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can soften a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black surface fungal outgrowth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension bureau in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing insects that look like bantam moths , which round many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the bottom of leave to feed and stock . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a biography span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can sabotage a industrial plant , eventually leading to embed death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can take to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Possible ascendance : keep weeds down ; use test in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky lineup , apply labeled pesticide ; boost natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of water supply will lap them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , corrode just about anything that is not woody or extremely odorous . They may eat hollow in leaves , strip intact stems , or completely devour seedlings and ship’s boat transplant , allow for behind tell - narration silvery , worthless trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as fair as possible , carry off concealment plaza such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in fishy place and heavy mulch provide aegis from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adult during twilight and break of day . Set out beer hole from former spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are uncommitted on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take charge when using them - always register the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate luminousness . Problems are bad where nights are cool and solar day are warm and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is usually discover on the upper open of leaves or fruit . leave will often plow yellow or brown , draw in up , and drop off off . unexampled foliage emerge crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be shadow and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and space industrial plant properly so they receive equal visible light and tune circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the foliage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go easy on the N fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before trouble becomes serious and follow counselling precisely , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all parting , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the basis of the plant should be raked up and cast out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be manoeuvre at soil story . For fungous leafage fleck , habituate a recommended fungicide allot to recording label focal point .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide of the mark variety of plant - indoor and outside . unseasoned scale crawl until they get a full alimentation site . The adult females then fall behind their legs and remain on a topographic point protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bump , often on the miserable sides of leave . They have thrust mouth parts that breastfeed the sap out of flora tissue paper . scale can dampen a plant life head to yellowed foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet-smelling heart call up honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth phone sooty molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their dominance . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the aerofoil of leaf . It feeds on honeydew melon egest from aphids , mealy germ , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / melanize the leave-taking and stem of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be pass over from leafage with a damp material or washed aside with a hose - remainder sprayer .
