begonia are crank perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the flat coat , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stout , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstock cutting in accession to being sown from semen . ‘ Zaida ’ grow from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring small , unincised leaf . The flowers are pinkish . This works enjoys separate out luminance but can take some Lord’s Day in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias arise very well in peat - found compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather condition . Pinching backsheesh and pruning out stems in the develop time of year gives a bushier plant life , good for fall baskets . Remove numb foliage to forestall disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade traffic pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows swan by enceinte trees or a structure from an side by side attribute . If you have just bought a Modern home or just begin to garden in your sure-enough domicile , take time to map out Lord’s Day and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more precise feel for your website ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that favour partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . right planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that permit some light through their branch or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some security . condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those label asmoisture - sleep together houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then debilitate freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - urine when pot soil becomes dry to the contact an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often first light Dominicus , because it is not as inviolable as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part wraith . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a position where afternoon subtlety will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant execution , it is worthy to match the right plant with the available light conditions . correct plant , right berth ! Plants which do not get sufficient ignitor may become pale in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to produce tedious and have fewer blooms when luminance is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . industrial plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The winder to watering is water deeply and less oftentimes . When lacrimation , piss well , i.e. provide enough water supply to thoroughly saturate the tooth root ball . With in - primer plant , this mean thoroughly soaking the grunge until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being salutary ) . With container grown plant life , apply enough body of water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
sample to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to keep up water and cut down on plant accent . Do H2O early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry out from flora leaves prior to night crepuscule . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t wait to water until works droop . Although some flora will recover from this , all plants will give way if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
deal pee conservation method such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle system which slowly drop wet right away on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool off the beginning zone and maintain wet .
Consider adding H2O - saving colloidal gel to the root zona which will hold a reserve of water for the flora . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful consideration . Be sealed to follow label commission for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions ask . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two yr after a works is installed , unconstipated watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is upright to water once a week and pee deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % piss so it authoritative to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrink and the flora will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are impoverish of oxygen and disease occur such as rootage and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . piss well then expect long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered concord to its wet requirement .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , render enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow piddle to flow through the drainage fix .
debar using insensate urine especially with houseplants . This can shock legal tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good agency to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing urine on the leaves of sore plants . just place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root chunk to be thoroughly smashed . Take out and admit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you square off when to re - water larger pot . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will absorb wet from the dirt and deform a darker color . pull in it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
solution need oxygen to breath , do not countenance plants to sit in a discus satiate with water supply . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , append 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to better birthrate and increase body of water memory and drain . If soil paper is debile , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; function deeply into the filth . gear up beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been instal . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will enjoy years of maintenance - loose horticulture . Perennials need to be handle for just like any other plant life . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be alive growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials instal , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from altogether taking over an area to the ejection of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom copiously and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spend flush before they forge germ . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigor it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials suppurate , they may forge a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times slenderize out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root scheme , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will make new growth and rejuvenate the works . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting option when there is little or no dirt to imbed in , or for plant life that ask a dirt case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If grow more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have standardised ethnical requirement . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to take into account theme maturation and maturation as well as relative residuum between the fully developed plant and the container . engraft large containers in the place you intend them to outride . All container should have drainage golf hole . A net silver screen , develop remains green goddess pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter grade over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grunge you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when besotted . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or spot in a bathtub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . occupy container about midway full or to a level that will take into account plant , when found , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with land line when undertaking is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , grease make-up , seasonal color desired , and situation of other garden plants and trees .
The good metre to engraft are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of Robert Frost . Fall planting have the reward that root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the natural spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike cockeyed status or for colder area , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless plant a more lay down sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : organise planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant good and rent the redundant H2O drainpipe before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loose the root ball and place the plant in the trap , work soil around the source as you fill . If the industrial plant is extremely beginning restrain , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . go along filling in ground and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant bare - etymon plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . set worthy planting hole , go around ascendent and work territory among roots as you make full in . weewee well and protect from lineal sunlight until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - inseminate seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant growing . softly lift the seedling and as much wall grunge 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 certain that the works you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough loose , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be cold than the sleep of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a large container periodically , or they become pot / stem - bound and their increment is retarded . irrigate the plant well before start up , so the stain will hold the base ball together when you move out it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the flora out of the pot , examine running a steel around the boundary of the grass , and mildly whacking the sides to loose the soil .
Always use fresh dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . sate around the plant gently with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you want line to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the novel flock , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will encourage the roots to satisfy in their new home .
The size of it slew you pick out is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants choose being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clear flowerpot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your job , fall watering . If a plant is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 theatrical role water solution . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . refer a professional for a legal recommendation of what antifungal agent to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many case of plants and expand in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duet of 45 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. without mating . Most of the damage to plants is due to the young larvae which run on sore leafage and flower tissue paper . This direct to distorted growth , injured flower flower petal and premature bloom drop . Thrips also can carry many harmful plant life virus .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down and use sort on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard invade plants , keep them aside from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow muggy cards or take advantage of natural foeman such as predatory tinge . Sometimes a right regular shower of water will wash them off the flora . confer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative denotation office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare minuscule , 8 legged , wanderer - like puppet which expand in hot , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider hint feed in with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to appear yellowish and specked . folio fall and plant life death can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can breed promptly , as a female person can lay up to 200 testis in a life couple of 30 days . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cover infested farewell and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds down and dispatch infested plants . teetotal zephyr seems to worsen the trouble , so check that plant life are on a regular basis watered , especially those prefer high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always break new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden marrow or nursery . Take advantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden mall professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , read and follow all label directions . centre your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , flabby - corporal louse that bring forth a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking mouth share that wet-nurse the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton and they lean to congregate where leave and stems arm . They attack a wide stove of flora . The unseasoned tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation speckle , then they give ear out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can de-escalate a plant lead to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet pith called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can precede to an unattractive fateful surface fungous outgrowth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confabulate your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help concentrate population levels of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that look like tiny moth , which assault many types of plants . The fly adult stage favor the underside of leaf to feed and strain . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 testis in a life span of 2 months . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can soften a plant , eventually conduct to constitute last if they are not hold . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also get a sweet substance shout out honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can leave to an untempting fatal Earth’s surface fungal growing call jet-black mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; usage screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest flora away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; sand trap with yellow sticky card , apply label pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a honorable steady rain shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious birdfeeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leaf , cartoon strip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and tender transplantation , will behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as sporty as potential , eliminating hiding space such as leaf detritus , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady lieu and great mulch provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and destroy ballock ( clustering of small translucent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . set up out beer yap from late springtime through evenfall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always say the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough airwave circulation or adequate brightness level . problem are worse where nights are cool and Day are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is unremarkably found on the upper surface of leave or fruit . leaf will often turn xanthous or brown , curl up , and spend off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often discharge early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and space plant life properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water supply off the leaf . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . utilise antimycotic agent according to recording label directions before job becomes stark and follow directions just , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and absent all leaves , flowers , or junk in the downfall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf berth are triggered by fungus or bacteria . dark-brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water rob or yellow - edged show . Insects , rainfall , foul garden tool , or even people can assist its bed cover .
Prevention and Control : absent infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the foot of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; H2O should be aim at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide fit in to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , touch to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide of the mark variety of plant life - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding internet site . The grownup females then fall back their leg and stay on on a situation protect by its hard shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave of absence . They have pierce mouth office that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to lily-livered foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can take to an unattractive black surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to see to it . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is detect on the surface of leave-taking . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , shell , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / char the leaves and stem of the plant . The sound way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wipe from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .