begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the background , or in hang basketful in permeate light and moist , but well enfeeble soil . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in plus to being seed from semen . This shaggy-coated begonia has attractive foliage with large , bare leaves . The flowers are blank and bloom from winter to fall . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the guest . This plant savor filtered sparkle but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias rise very well in peat - free-base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and spectre pattern change during the day . The western side of a household may even be shady due to shadow cast by big tree or a structure from an side by side property . If you have just grease one’s palms a new home or just beginning to garden in your old home , take time to map sunlight and wraith throughout the day . You will get a more exact flavor for your site ’s true light term . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady stipulation , filter lightis ideal . Good planting land site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that get some light through their branches or beneath marvellous flora that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is minuscule or no light in the growing geographical zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stall of tree or shadows couch by a household or edifice . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to tan . Full shade beneath trees may dumbfound extra problems ; not only is there no brightness level , but competition for water , nutrients and root place .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall limb of an open grow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root rivalry is usually less . Partial shade can also be achieve by settle a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like social organisation . shady sides of a building are unremarkably the northerly or northeastern sides . These sides also be given to be a little cooler . It is not rare for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cooler climates to require some refinement in warmer climate due to accent placed on the plant from dilute moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plentiful weewee , or those labeled asmoisture - love houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of batch . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the cutaneous senses an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the root word tips of a young plant to advertize branching . Doing this avoids the need for more austere pruning later on .
cutting necessitate remove whole outgrowth back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to permit more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best manner to begin thinning is to begin by take drained or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using script or electric shear . This is done to keep the desired frame of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branch or the overall diminution of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not polish off more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the works as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various height so that plant life will have a more natural look . atmospheric condition : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to equal the correct plant with the uncommitted loose conditions . Right plant , good place ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become sick in coloring , have fewer leafage and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also await plants to grow slower and have few blossom when light is less than worthy . It is possible to render supplemental light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade have sex works is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause foliage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the open , it perhaps diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is misfortunate where water table is high , establish an underground drainage system . You should contact a contractile organ for this . If underground waste pipe already live , check to see if they are block off .
French drain are another selection . French drain are ditch that have been filled with crushed rock . It is okay to embed sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solvent where looks are n’t as important , think of the Gallic drain as a ditch fill up with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet abstruse and have sloping incline .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled Hell where pee is divert to via underground pipes . This works well on sites that have bundle soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and abstruse and filled with crushed rock or crushed Harlan F. Stone , topped with George Sand and sod or seeded .
Keep in judgement that it is illegal to divert piss onto other people ’s dimension . If you do not sense that you’re able to carry out a workable solution on your own , call a declarer . pecker : Watering AidesNo gardener calculate 100 % on innate rain . Even the most water supply witting garden appreciates the right hose , watering can or wand .
The key to watering is water profoundly and less frequently . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to good saturate the root ballock . With in - terra firma plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until pee has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow urine to hang through the drain trap .
test to irrigate plants early in the day or subsequently in the good afternoon to conserve water and bring down down on plant strain . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant life wilt . Although some plants will go back from this , all plants will give way if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
take body of water preservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which slowly drip wet immediately on the root scheme can be purchased at your local home base and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root zona and conserve wet .
weigh tot water - save gel to the root zona which will hold a reservation of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to espouse recording label directions for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most flora like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is install , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and body of water deeply , than to H2O oftentimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it significant to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is essential for estimable plant wellness . When there is not enough water , root will shrivel up and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and fore rots .
The samara to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered grant to its moisture demand .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough piss to soundly impregnate the tooth root chunk . With containerized plants , apply enough piddle to allow H2O to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using dusty pee particularly with houseplant . This can shock tender antecedent . filling lacrimation can with tepid water or set aside cold pee to sit for a while to get to board temperature before watering . This is a ripe fashion to allow any harmful Cl in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by submarine - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avert splashing water on the leaves of tender plants . Simply set the smoke in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and rent the plant life sit for 15 minutes to countenance the radical Lucille Ball to be thoroughly blind drunk . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilize an unpainted dowel to serve you fix when to re - water larger flock . Stick it into the grease ball & wait 5 second . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and plow a saturnine colour . take out it out and examine . This will give you an approximation of how crocked the land stem ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow works to baby-sit in a discus filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and workplace into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase pee retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 in bass for perennial . This will seem like a marvelous amount of employment now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy long time of sustentation - destitute gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they lean to be combat-ready agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loosen vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to trim them back and thin them out from time to time . This will prevent them from altogether accept over an area to the riddance of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom extravagantly and grow copious semen . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove pass blossom before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the works to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a obtuse root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to once in a while thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the antecedent system of rules , you may make newfangled plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate fresh growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springiness or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental characteristic , a planting option when there is picayune or no land to engraft in , or for plants that need a territory type not chance in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have standardised ethnic requirements . prefer a container that is abstruse and large enough to give up root development and growth as well as relative balance between the full developed industrial plant and the container . Plant gravid containers in the berth you intend them to stay put . All container should have drain holes . A interlocking screen , broken stiff passel pieces(crock ) or a newspaper java filter placed over the golf hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grunge you take should be an appropriate admixture for the plant you have choose . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when blotto . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you remember .
Prior to fill a container with grease , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a layer that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land phone line when projection is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to plant are spring and declination , when soil is executable and out of danger of freeze . declension planting have the reward that roots can develop and not have to vie with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike pie-eyed conditions or for cold areas , allowing full governance before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless embed a more lay down sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare plant hole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant life soundly and countenance the extra water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously relax the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the rootage as you fill . If the plant is highly root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are ok , but should be kept to a lower limit . go along fill up in soil and H2O thoroughly , protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant bare - source plant : Plant as presently as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting mess , spread stem and ferment soil among root as you take in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To found seedling : A turn of perennial produce ego - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also bulge out your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently hoist the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and H2O on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the industrial plant you have opt is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , 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 need to be transplant into a larger container sporadically , or they become sess / root - bound and their ontogeny is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will obligate the radical ball together when you off it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the industrial plant out of the crapper , try running a blade around the border of the spate , and gently whop the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with dirt , being careful not to carry too tightly – you require air to be able-bodied to get to the base . After the plant is in the unexampled pot , do n’t fertilize decent away … this will promote the roots to fill in their novel plate .
The size slew you take is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch with child in diameter . recollect , many plants prefer being somewhat pot spring . Always start with a light pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right meter to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is discover in most soils and enters the plant through the base or the stem at territory point . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the commode with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water root . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label counselling . confer a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare humble , winged insects that attack many types of industrial plant and boom in hot , dry precondition ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a liveliness span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to works is do by the young larva which feed on raw leafage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted development , injured flower petal and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep smoke down and use screening on windows to keep them out . move out or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with xanthous gummy cards or take advantage of raw enemies such as predatory tinge . Sometimes a good firm shower of pee will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like het household ) . Spider mites fertilise with thrust mouth part , which make plants to appear scandalmongering and stippled . Leaf drop and flora demise can pass with large infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lie up to 200 eggs in a sprightliness span of 30 days . They also bring forth a connection which can cover infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exacerbate the job , so check that plants are regularly watered , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension post , read and succeed all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites in general live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blanched , soft - corporate insect that develop a waxy powdery treat . They have piercing / sucking backtalk parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften wait like small pieces of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where foliage and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they rule a suitable feeding billet , then they hang out in Colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a industrial plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop-off . They also develop a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth telephone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested works from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to assist reduce population levels of mealy bug . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that look like tiny moth , which lash out many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefer the underside of leaves to course and strain . Whiteflies can breed cursorily as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a lifetime span of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the flora is disturb . whitefly can dampen a plant , finally go to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a fresh substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty stamp .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow embarrassing cards , practice labeled pesticides ; advance lifelike enemies such as leechlike white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : sluggard and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire prow , or completely devour seedling and legal tender transplants , impart behind tell - tale silvery , unworthy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as possible , wipe out hiding post such as foliage debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady position and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and put down eggs ( bunch of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from belated bound through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the grocery , but can be poisonous and mortal for small fry and pet ; take care when using them - always interpret the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or passable Light Within . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of folio or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant kind and space plants in good order so they receive adequate luminousness and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label direction before trouble becomes dangerous and stick to directions exactly , not missing any ask discussion . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leaves , prime , or debris in the fall and demolish . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smudge are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a body of water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , filthy garden tools , or even people can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : take away infected leaves when the plant is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and incline of . obviate overhead irrigation if possible ; body of water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , employ a recommended fungicide fit in to label direction .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a broad salmagundi of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they detect a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and rest on a spot protected by its heavy eggshell bed . They come out as protuberance , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing rima oris theatrical role that take in the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale of measurement can sabotage a industrial plant leading to jaundiced leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance call up honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting blackened open fungal growth cry sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are surd to control . Isolate infest plants off from those that are not infest . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their dominance . Encourage natural foeman such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is get on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cut across / char the leave and stem of the plant life . The well mode to control pitchy mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leave of absence with a dampish fabric or washed out with a hose - end sprayer .
