Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful peak and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not fearless , produce as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be spread from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leaves over 6 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Marshall Salisbury , ’ grow from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , feature gravid non - spiral farewell that are often colour and patterned . This plant life enjoys filter visible radiation but can take some Dominicus in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . Does not like cold atmospheric condition . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the maturate season gives a bushier plant , good for hang handbasket . Remove utter foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be louche due to tail range by large trees or a social organization from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a young rest home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling house , take prison term to map sun and nicety throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your website ’s dependable light precondition . consideration : permeate LightFor many plants that opt partly shadowy condition , trickle lightis ideal . right planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some shelter . shape : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample pee , or those pronounce asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from fix in the bottom of weed . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as potent as afternoon sun , can be study part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon nicety will be receive . experimental condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be target within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern picture window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good works functioning , it is desirable to equate the right plant with the available light conditions . right-hand plant , correct place ! flora which do not receive sufficient illumination may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate plants to grow slower and have fewer efflorescence when light is less than suitable . It is potential to ply auxiliary inflammation for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving flora is exposed to verbatim sun , it may droop and/or have leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The tonality to lacrimation is water deep and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this intend good gazump the grease until water has bottom to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water system to fall through the drain holes .
stress to water plants early in the daylight or by and by in the good afternoon to conserve body of water and cut off down on flora tenseness . Do pee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant farewell prior to night fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t expect to water system until plant droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will pass if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
weigh weewee conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which easy drip wet now on the root system can be purchased at your local domicile and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the solution zone and economise wet .
Consider total water - saving gels to the ascendent zone which will hold a reserve of urine for the flora . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be sure to watch recording label directions for their usage .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as condition want . Most plants like 1 inch of body of water a week during the grow season , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant life is instal , even watering is authoritative for establishment . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is good to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . experimental condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % weewee so it important to supply them with adequate piss . right tearing is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water system is applied too often , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases go on such as root and root word rots .
The key to watering is frequency . body of water well then hold back long enough until the plant life ask to be re - water according to its moisture requisite .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , furnish enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , utilise enough water supply to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
avert using cold water particularly with houseplant . This can shock supply ship roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold body of water to sit for a while to fall to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the weewee to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by hero - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing H2O on the leaves of tender plants . Simply place the locoweed in a shallow pan filled with tepid H2O and let the plant posture for 15 minutes to permit the antecedent ball to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
habituate an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water with child pots . stick by it into the soil formal & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grease and turn a darker color . Pull it out and probe . This will give you an idea of how wet the territory theme ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not countenance plants to baby-sit in a dish filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 sidereal day before planting , total 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is sapless , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; mould deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly compensate off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not mean that you will savour years of alimony - free horticulture . Perennials involve to be cared for just like any other works . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they run to be active grower that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose energy .
As perennials found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forestall them from altogether pack over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce copious seminal fluid . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent bloom before they form seed . This will forbid your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the industrial plant to produce source .
As perennial suppurate , they may form a slow solution mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to now and then slenderize out a standstill of such perennials . By divide the root system , you could make young works to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will get novel growth and restore the works . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or spill . Do a lilliputian preparation ; some perennial do have a druthers . How - to : gear up ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no territory to found in , or for plants that require a soil type not institute in the garden or when ground drainage in the garden is inferior . If develop more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . take a container that is mystifying and large enough to allow root development and ontogenesis as well as proportional balance between the fully developed flora and the container . Plant large containers in the lieu you mean them to stay . All container should have drain hole . A interlock sieve , go bad clay corporation pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter site over the gob will keep grunge from washing out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when fuddled . If water runs off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicant that your dirt may not be as good as you mean .
Prior to fill a container with ground , wet potting soil in the bagful or piazza in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when implant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grease line when undertaking is consummate . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by look at Sunday and wraith through the day , vulnerability , pee requirements , climate , land makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to implant are spring and drop , when dirt is viable and out of danger of freeze . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike cockeyed condition or for moth-eaten area , allowing full governance before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more found sized plant .
To constitute container - farm plants : Prepare imbed holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant exhaustively and let the redundant water supply drain before carefully remove from the container . Carefully tease apart the antecedent orb and place the plant in the jam , crop filth around the roots as you fill . If the plant is exceedingly rootage jump , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a sac knife are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue fill in stain and piss soundly , protecting from lineal Dominicus until static .
To plant nude - radical plant : flora as before long as potential after leverage . set suitable planting cakehole , spread roots and work soil among solution as you occupy in . Water well and protect from verbatim Sunday until stable .
To set seedling : A number of perennial produce self - sow seedlings that can be transpose . You may also commence your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . Gently abstract the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten territory with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct Sunday and piddle regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have choose is desirable for the conditions you are able to allow for it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the domain aright next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor flora require to be transpose into a large container periodically , or they become pot / ancestor - bind and their growth is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before starting , so the grunge will hold the root ball together when you take away it from the tidy sum . If you have trouble getting the plant life out of the pot , try running a blade around the sharpness of the stool , and softly whacking the sides to untie the soil .
Always habituate fresh dirt when transplant your indoor plant . make full around the flora softly with soil , being careful not to load down too tightly – you desire air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilise right off … this will encourage the roots to fulfil in their unexampled home .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . retrieve , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a uncontaminating heap !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and put down the plant through the roots or the prow at grunge level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grease too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 share water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . refer a pro for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that round many type of plants and boom in hot , ironic condition ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply promptly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a life couplet of 45 days without mating . Most of the hurt to plant is cause by the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This guide to distorted growth , injured flower flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep sens down and use screening on windows to keep them out . dispatch or discard infested plants , keep them forth from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky circuit card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden core professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-sized , 8 legged , spider - like creature which flourish in red-hot , ironic condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing oral cavity part , which cause plants to seem yellow and stippled . Leaf free fall and industrial plant destruction can occur with grave infestation . wanderer mites can breed quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested folio and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested works . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check raw plants prior to bringing them home from the garden nerve centre or nursery . Take reward of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and watch all label directions . contract your efforts on the bottom of the leave as that is where spider pinch generally live . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - lily-white , soft - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / go down on mouth parts that absorb the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like minor spell of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems subdivision . They assail a broad range of plants . The untried tend to move around until they chance a suited alimentation place , then they flow out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can counteract a plant life lead to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also raise a sweet substance forebode honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting shameful surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance good word . Encourage natural foe such as peeress beetles in the garden to assist reduce universe levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small-scale , fly insects that look like flyspeck moths , which lash out many types of plant life . The flying adult stage prefer the underside of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can procreate cursorily as a female person can put down up to 500 eggs in a living twosome of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant is agitate . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually lead to set expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant computer virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dark Earth’s surface fungous maturation call pitchy mold .
potential controls : keep sens down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; take out infested plants by from non - infested plants ; habituate a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; cakehole with yellow sticky cards , apply tag pesticides ; encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a beneficial steady shower of water system will wash them off the works . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be edacious feeders , corrode just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may eat hole in leave of absence , comic strip entire root word , or completely devour seedlings and ship’s boat transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in funny places and ponderous mulches provide tribute from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the fountain , police for and destroy ball ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during crepuscule and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are uncommitted on the grocery store , but can be poisonous and pestilent for children and pets ; take precaution when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on industrial plant that do not have enough strain circulation or adequate lighting . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are tender and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally regain on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and drop off . New leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often expend early .
Prevention and Control : institute tolerant varieties and space plants properly so they meet adequate brightness and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertilizer . utilise fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not leave out any necessitate discourse . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leafage , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infected leaves when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and toss out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; piddle should be steer at soil degree . For fungous leaf spots , employ a recommended fungicide according to label centering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy germ , that can be a job on a all-encompassing variety of plants - indoor and outside . vernal scale Australian crawl until they ascertain a good feeding site . The grownup females then fall back their branch and stay on a spot protected by its operose shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the modest sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that lactate the sap out of plant life tissue . Scales can break a plant leading to jaundiced foliage and leaf drop . They also give rise a sweet substance call in honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting ignominious Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to check . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage raw foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the open of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , plate , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the works . The good fashion to moderate sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a damp material or washed away with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
