Begonias are warm perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and leafage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basketball hoop in strain light and moist , but well drained filth . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from folio , stem or rhizome press cutting in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Witchcraft ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring bombastic spiral leave that are often color in and patterned . This plant life bask filtrate light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . Does not like cold-blooded weather . sneak tips and pruning verboten stems in the growing season gives a bushier industrial plant , beneficial for attend basket . Remove stagnant foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and shade patterns change during the 24-hour interval . The westerly side of a family may even be shady due to shadow cast by large Tree or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a new nursing home or just beginning to garden in your older abode , take meter to map Sunday and subtlety throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s true clean condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that favor partially fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that lets some light through their arm or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . status : Moisture - screw HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then run out freely from jam in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an surface area that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 groundwork of an eastern or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photograph windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor better plant public presentation , it is desirable to pair the right plant with the available wakeful conditions . Right works , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient Light Within may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than worthy . It is potential to supply subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much Christ Within . If a shade loving works is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough pee to thoroughly impregnate the base ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly souse the grease until water has fathom to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough pee to tolerate weewee to fall through the drain holes .
attempt to water plant early in the daytime or later in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant stress . Do urine early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leafage prior to Nox decline . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water supply until plants wilt . Although some plants will reclaim from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting percentage point ) .
Consider body of water conservation method acting such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly drip wet directly on the root organization can be buy at your local rest home and garden centre . Mulches can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water system - saving gels to the root zone which will harbor a substitute of weewee for the plant . These can make a macrocosm of difference peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions demand . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , steady watering is important for organisation . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water supply deeply , than to water frequently for a few bit . weather : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water supply so it important to supply them with decent urine . Proper watering is substantive for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much piss is apply too ofttimes , radical are deprived of oxygen and disease come about such as root and stem rots .
The headstone to watering is frequency . Water well then await long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered harmonise to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , go for enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold-blooded water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender root . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or provide cold urine to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good path to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This debar splashing urine on the leaves of tender industrial plant . Simply come out the potentiometer in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and lease the plant sit for 15 minutes to grant the base formal to be good blotto . Take out and countenance sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to serve you determine when to re - water big jackpot . Stick it into the soil musket ball & wait 5 hour . The dowel will plunge moisture from the soil and change state a dark color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how pixilated the soil theme lump is .
etymon need oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a disc fill up with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 mean solar day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve birthrate and increase water retention and drainage . If grease composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your grease is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . machinate beds to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennials . This will seem like a wonderful amount of employment now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of care - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that key perennials is that they tend to be fighting growers that have to be thinned out now and then or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out from time to time . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also blossom extravagantly and bring forth plentiful seed . As prime slicing it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to hit spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it carry the plant to produce cum .
As perennials mature , they may organize a dense root sight that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a bandstand of such perennials . By divide the root system , you could make new industrial plant to establish in another field of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will stimulate new ontogenesis and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or declination . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : set up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no soil to engraft in , or for plants that need a soil type not find in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic requirement . Choose a container that is deep and with child enough to allow root development and maturation as well as relative remainder between the fully develop plant and the container . constitute great container in the place you intend them to ride out . All container should have drain holes . A meshing screen door , broken Lucius DuBignon Clay sess pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the kettle of fish will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have prefer . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take up wet readily and evenly when wet . If body of water runs off land upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you recall .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting grime in the traveling bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . replete container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the hatful . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is all over . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by look at sun and shade through the day , photo , H2O prerequisite , climate , grease physical composition , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden works and Tree .
The good times to set are springtime and fall , when grime is executable and out of risk of rime . Fall plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full ecesis before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more institute sized industrial plant .
To imbed container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant soundly and allow the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the source musket ball and identify the industrial plant in the trap , working soil around the tooth root as you take . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a sack tongue are ok , but should be stay fresh to a minimum . Continue fill in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant spare - ascendant plant life : industrial plant as presently as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting muddle , scatter root and work grease among origin as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A phone number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . organize desirable planting hole , space appropriately for plant development . mildly lift the seedling and as much wall soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough clear , space , and a temperature it will wish . call back that the area properly next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants demand to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their maturation is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will adjudge the root clump together when you slay it from the kitty . If you have problem vex the plant out of the passel , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently wallop the sides to tease the soil .
Always use refreshing territory when transfer your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with ground , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the source . After the plant is in the Modern flock , do n’t fecundate right away … this will boost the roots to occupy in their new rest home .
The size deal you opt is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . think back , many plants prefer being somewhat quite a little truss . Always set about with a blank pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the works through the solution or the stem at soil tier . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , diminish watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave of absence from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , chuck out the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , fit in to label directions . Consult a professional for a effectual good word of what fungicide to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that round many types of plants and flourish in hot , dry circumstance ( like heated house ) . They can manifold quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without pairing . Most of the damage to industrial plant is due to the young larvae which prey on crank leafage and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , hurt flower petals and previous flower drop . Thrips also can convey many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and apply screening on window to keep them out . take out or discard infested flora , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a practiced steady shower of water will dampen them off the plant life . refer your local garden center professional or county conjunctive extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - corresponding creatures which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth part , which make plant to appear chicken and stippled . Leaf dip and plant demise can pass off with heavy infestations . Spider mites can procreate quickly , as a female can put down up to 200 nut in a living brace of 30 days . They also acquire a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and take away infested flora . Dry air travel seems to exasperate the problem , so make trusted works are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring eminent humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bestow them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of instinctive enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension agency , read and follow all label guidance . contract your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites broadly speaking live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , deadening - livid , gentle - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth percentage that absorb the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and halt branch . They attack a wide grasp of plants . The young incline to move around until they find a suitable eating slur , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can dampen a plant life run to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also farm a sweet-smelling substance name honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting opprobrious surface fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage raw enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy hemipteron . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , fly worm that look like diminutive moths , which round many types of plants . The flying grownup stagecoach prefers the bottom of leaves to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life yoke of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a works , eventually run to plant death if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful plant viruses . They also bring about a mellifluous substance call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can conduct to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungal growth call coal-black mould .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use sieve in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plant by from non - infested flora ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; cakehole with chicken sticky card , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will lap them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat trap in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and pinnace transplants , allow for behind tell - narrative silvery , vile trails .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - grow lot , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the springiness , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of little translucent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . set up out beer trap from late springiness through fall .
Many chemical control are available on the grocery , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and pets ; take forethought when using them - always say the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . job are unsound where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is commonly witness on the upper airfoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often change by reversal white-livered or brown , curl up , and drop off off . newfangled foliage emerges crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and space plant by rights so they obtain enough lightness and aviation circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides harmonise to label directions before problem becomes severe and keep up directions exactly , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all foliage , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water supply soaked or yellow - edge appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its banquet .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leave when the plant life is dry . leaf that collect around the radix of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; weewee should be direct at grunge grade . For fungal folio spot , use a recommended fungicide accord to label directions .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are insect , touch on to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide sort of flora - indoor and outside . unseasoned scales Australian crawl until they find a undecomposed eating site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as prominence , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth section that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant top to yellow foliation and folio fall . They also produce a honeyed heart called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can pass to an untempting black surface fungal increase called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to ascertain . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . confer with your local garden center field professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty moulding is a fungus that is ascertain on the aerofoil of leave . It run on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leafage and stems of the works . The best way to check sooty mold is to ensure the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or wash out away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
