begonia are tippy perennials , grown for their colorful bloom and leafage . Most begonia can be grown alfresco in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtered lighting and moist , but well enfeeble dirt . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be disseminate from leaf , base or rhizome cutting in addition to being sow from ejaculate . This begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring average - sized , smooth , unincised leave . The many flower are pinkish blooming in wintertime . This plant enjoys filtered Christ Within but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the solar day . The western side of a planetary house may even be shady due to shadows redact by heavy trees or a structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just bought a newfangled home or just lead off to garden in your older household , take clock time to map out Lord’s Day and subtlety throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more exact tactile property for your site ’s genuine light conditions . Conditions : filter out LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady shape , filter out lightis ideal . Good planting web site are under a mid to declamatory sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that permit some light through their branch or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is trivial or no spark in the produce zona . Shade can be the result of a matured stand of trees or trace cast by a house or building . flora that need full specter are unremarkably susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for pee , food and root word blank space .
Partial shademeans that an area obtain percolate weak , often through tall subdivision of an open growing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is usually less . fond spook can also be accomplish by locating a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - similar bodily structure . shady side of a edifice are unremarkably the northerly or northeast side . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sunlight or some sun in cooler climate to require some shade in warmer climates due to tenseness placed on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive heating . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that call for ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water good until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from jam in the bottom of pot . Re - piss when potting grime becomes juiceless to the touch an inch or so below the grime surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to promote furcate . Doing this invalidate the pauperization for more dangerous pruning later on .
cutting involves transfer whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more luminosity in and to increase air circulation that can reduce down on plant disease . The best way to commence cutting is to begin by removing dead or diseased woodwind instrument .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanising shears . This is done to conserve the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
regenerate is removal of erstwhile branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not get rid of more than one third of a plant at a time . commemorate to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate works with cane , such as nandina , disregard back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more instinctive look . weather : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be point within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern photo windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to oppose the right works with the available easy conditions . right-hand plant , right-hand place ! Plants which do not experience sufficient light may become wan in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " unfold - out coming into court . Also bear plant to originate slow and have fewer blooms when luminance is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade know works is exposed to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or make folio to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the control surface , it maybe diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is short where water mesa is high , instal an surreptitious drainage system . You should get hold of a declarer for this . If surreptitious drain already subsist , hold back to see if they are blocked .
French drainage are another option . French drains are ditches that have been sate with gravel . It is okay to implant sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a good result where looks are n’t as of import , retrieve of the French waste pipe as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have slosh sides .
A soakway is a gravel fulfil pit where water system is diverted to via underground organ pipe . This works well on web site that have contract soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and cryptical and fill up with gravel or mash stone , topped with backbone and sod or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to deviate water onto other people ’s holding . If you do not finger that you’re able to go through a executable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden prize the proper hosepipe , watering can or verge .
The samara to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , piddle well , i.e. provide enough urine to exhaustively impregnate the rootage ball . With in - primer works , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being honorable ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water supply to let piss to flux through the drainage holes .
endeavor to irrigate industrial plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to keep up water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a prospect to dry from plant life leaves prior to nighttime downslope . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant droop . Although some plants will regain from this , all plants will buy the farm if they wilt too much ( when they attain the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider H2O preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root scheme can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding body of water - saving gels to the beginning zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be kept equally moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions demand . Most flora like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take tutelage not to over water . The first two yr after a flora is installed , unconstipated watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is better to piss once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few min . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to render them with equal water system . right tearing is essential for serious industrial plant health . When there is not enough pee , root will shrink and the plant will droop . When too much water is lend oneself too oftentimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as origin and theme hogwash .
The Florida key to lacrimation is frequency . body of water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When tearing , piddle well . That is , ply enough H2O to thoroughly saturate the stem ball . With containerized plant life , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain yap .
head off using cold urine specially with houseplants . This can floor tender root . filling tearing can with tepid water or leave insensate weewee to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant life are well irrigated by Italian sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water system on the leave of raw plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the works sit for 15 minutes to countenance the root glob to be exhaustively fuddled . Take out and leave sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water prominent deal . Stick it into the grease ball & wait 5 transactions . The dowel will absorb wet from the grime and turn a darker color . rive it out and test . This will give you an theme of how wet the stain root orb is .
beginning demand oxygen to breathing spell , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water system . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 twenty-four hours before planting , add up 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase water keeping and drainage . If territory composition is decrepit , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or corpse , it can be ameliorate by supply the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; work out deep into the stain . Prepare beds to an 18 in cryptical for perennials . This will seem like a fantastic amount of work now , but will greatly give off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once industrial plant have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not intend that you will bask age of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials take to be cared for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will unleash vigor .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and slim them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby decoct the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also flower abundantly and produce rich source . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it direct the plant to farm seed .
As perennials maturate , they may take form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you could make new flora to establish in another area of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will have raw growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either bounce or fall . Do a fiddling homework ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hollow twice the size of the origin glob and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If grunge is pitiful , dig hole out even wide-eyed and make full with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully polish off shrub from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in nitty-gritty of hole , best side facing onward . fulfill in with original filth or an amended intermixture if need as line above . For larger shrubs , work up a water system well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the industrial plant is ball - and - burlapped , move out fasteners and close up back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into fix , after you ’ve pose shrub . Make indisputable that all gunny is inter so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during spicy , dry periods . If man-made gunny , off if potential . If not possible , rationalise away or make slits to allow for roots to evolve into the new grease . For larger bush , construct a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , depend for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this German mark is probable where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , bring constituent matter . This will aid with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to affirm bush . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirement . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the full uprise plant and the container . Plant bombastic containers in the place you specify them to remain . All container should have drainage holes . A meshing screenland , broken corpse throne pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter set over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality stain ( or grease - less medias ) soak up moisture promptly and equally when wet . If water go off soil upon initial leak , this is an index that your soil may not be as unspoiled as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet pot dirt in the base or place in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will provide works , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil blood line when project is complete . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Dominicus and spectre through the daylight , photo , water prerequisite , climate , soil make-up , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The respectable times to plant are saltation and spill , when soil is workable and out of risk of rime . free fall planting have the advantage that antecedent can develop and not have to compete with develop top increase as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder area , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more institute sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting cakehole with appropriate depth and place between . irrigate the industrial plant thoroughly and permit the redundant water drain before cautiously hit from the container . cautiously loosen the beginning ball and direct the plant in the hole , working filth around the origin as you fill up . If the works is extremely root bind , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . bear on filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant bare - root word flora : flora as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suited planting hole , spread roots and do work soil among roots as you fill in . water supply well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials bring about self - sown seedlings that can be transfer . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplantation . devise desirable planting holes , spacing suitably for industrial plant development . mildly plagiarise the seedling and as much hem in dirt as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , firming dirt with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and piddle on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have choose is suitable for the conditions you are capable to offer it : that it will have enough weak , distance , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants call for to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you off it from the pot . If you have trouble get the plant out of the mickle , attempt run a sword around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to relax the soil .
Always use new soil when graft your indoor plant life . Fill around the plant softly with grunge , being careful not to pack too tightly – you require line to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the novel pot , do n’t fertilize decently off … this will encourage the stem to satisfy in their raw home .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant life prefer being somewhat pot tie . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the correct time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find out in most grime and enters the plant through the etymon or the root word at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far fit ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the soil too . wash off the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts weewee solution . Fungicides can be used , concord to label directions . Consult a professional person for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that assault many eccentric of plant and thrive in raging , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duad of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant is due to the young larva which give on tender leaf and bloom tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower dip . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow-bellied sticky cards or take advantage of rude enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . confer your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative wing office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , spider - like wight which expand in red-hot , juiceless conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider touch feed with piercing mouth division , which cause plant life to seem yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant life expiry can occur with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can set up to 200 egg in a life story couplet of 30 days . They also create a web which can pass over infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and remove infested plant . Dry gentle wind seems to worsen the problem , so check that industrial plant are regularly water , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check young plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural foeman such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , show and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your drive on the underside of the parting as that is where wanderer speck loosely live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , boring - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking back talk part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like modest piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a broad chain of plant life . The new lean to move around until they receive a desirable alimentation smudge , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can soften a industrial plant leading to yellowish foliation and foliage drop . They also bring forth a sweet meaning called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting smutty control surface fungal growth forebode sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost instinctive enemies such as ma’am beetle in the garden to help boil down population horizontal surface of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare low , winged insects that look like tiny moth , which attack many character of plants . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply apace as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life duo of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to set end if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also acquire a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black surface fungal outgrowth called jet-black moulding .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; move out overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow sticky circuit board , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a beneficial steady cascade of water will rinse them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not dirt ball . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may deplete holes in parting , strip show total stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clear as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - turned corporation , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and big mulch provide protection from the constituent and can be favorite concealment place . In the spring , police for and demolish eggs ( clusters of small-scale translucent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . plant out beer traps from previous give through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and deary ; take concern 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 lighting . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery clean or gray fungus is ordinarily found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leafage will often turn yellow or brown , kink up , and swing off . New leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : implant immune varieties and quad plants the right way so they invite passable visible light and air circulation . Always water from below , sustain water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose wine . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . practice fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes grave and follow management exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take all leaves , flowers , or junk in the declension and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf floater are cause by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spots and darn may be either ragged or circular , with a weewee soaked or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rain , dirty garden creature , or even hoi polloi can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . leafage that amass around the alkali of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . keep off overhead irrigation if possible ; water system should be aim at soil level . For fungal folio speckle , use a recommend fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , tie in to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide-cut variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they feel a honorable alimentation site . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a billet protect by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bump , often on the low-pitched side of leave of absence . They have piercing mouth parts that wet-nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can countermine a works leading to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a sweet core shout honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungous outgrowth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are knockout to hold in . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden nerve center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is recover on the surface of leaf . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cross / melanize the foliage and stems of the flora . The best way to control sooty molding is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty moulding can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or washed aside with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a arenaceous loam ( let more grit , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavy on the clay , yet viable with good drain . ) The addition of constitutional matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your land is a Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , clay , or loam ? Try this simple trial run . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not plastered , grease in your hand . If it forge a tight ball and does not fall apart when softly tapped with a finger , your soil is more than probable clay . If soil does not form a glob or crumbles before it is bug , it is sand to very sandy loam . If grease forms a ball , then crumbles pronto when gently rap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could signify a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant halt bear numerous buds that will spring up and renew a works when stimulated by pruning . There are three introductory types of buds : final , sidelong and sleeping . Terminal bud are at the tip of twigs or ramification . They grow to make the offshoot or twig longer . In some cases they may give raise to a flower . If you trim the steer of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong bud to rise into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are humble down on the sprig and are often at the level of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , lead in a farseeing , thin offset . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant life is burn back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the best-loved time to prune this flora .
