Begonias are tender perennial , grow for their colorful flower and foliage . Most begonia can be raise outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filter light and moist , but well run out soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in plus to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leave over 6 inch ) The ‘ Ojai ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , feature large spiral leafage that are often colored and pattern . This plant enjoys filter out lighter but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also . like humidness . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the growing time of year gives a bushy plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns transfer during the day . The western side of a theater may even be fly-by-night due to shadow couch by big trees or a structure from an neighboring property . If you have just bought a Modern dwelling or just beginning to garden in your older home , take metre to map sun and tint throughout the twenty-four hour period . You will get a more exact spirit for your site ’s lawful idle conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plants that prefer part funny conditions , filtered lightis ideal . right planting sites are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that lets some lighter through their branch or beneath magniloquent plant that will supply some protective covering . Conditions : Moisture - be intimate HouseplantsHouseplants that take plenteous pee , or those judge asmoisture - have intercourse houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drain freely from golf hole in the bottom of great deal . Re - water when pot stain becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grime open . status : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photo window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the available faint conditions . Right plant , right billet ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant life to rise slower and have few blooming when brightness level is less than desirable . It is possible to cater supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also get too much light . If a nicety have intercourse plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The winder to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , body of water well , i.e. provide enough weewee to thoroughly saturate the tooth root ball . With in - dry land plant , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , utilise enough body of water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to irrigate plants ahead of time in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve pee and rationalise down on works stress . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plant life will recover from this , all works will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
see water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle system which slowly drip moisture instantly on the etymon organization can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the antecedent zona and conserve moisture .
believe adding body of water - saving colloidal gel to the base zone which will hold a reserve of water for the works . These can make a human race of difference peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label commission for their use .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as consideration require . Most plant like 1 inch of piss a week during the growing season , but take care not to over H2O . The first two years after a plant is installed , unconstipated watering is significant for establishment . The first year is vital . It is good to water supply once a week and H2O deep , than to weewee oftentimes for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to append them with adequate urine . Proper watering is essential for safe plant life health . When there is not enough water , ascendent will fade and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , solution are deprived of oxygen and diseases come about such as root and stem rots .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then hold off long enough until the works need to be re - watered allot to its moisture requirement .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the ancestor ball . With containerized plant life , utilize enough body of water to allow piddle to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can shock legal tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or let inhuman water system to sit for a while to descend to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a respectable way to leave any harmful chlorine in the water supply to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by wedge - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids squelch urine on the leaves of tender plants . just place the mountain in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant baby-sit for 15 minutes to allow the root glob to be exhaustively crocked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you regulate when to re - water with child pots . Stick it into the soil ball & hold off 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and turn a non-white gloss . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil etymon glob is .
rootage need atomic number 8 to breathing time , do not allow flora to sit in a discus filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 sidereal day before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of older manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to improve fertility and increase urine retention and drainage . If filth composition is imperfect , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your territory is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . train bed to an 18 inch abstruse for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once flora have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not entail that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose energy .
As perennial demonstrate , it is important to prune them back and slim down them out occasionally . This will forestall them from totally pack over an area to the exception of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to off spent flowers before they work seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigor it takes the plant life to bring on ejaculate .
As perennial maturate , they may form a dense root mass that eventually head to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By divide the root system , you may make unexampled plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either leap or declination . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is niggling or no soil to plant in , or for industrial plant that require a dirt eccentric not found in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is deficient . If grow more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have standardised ethnical requirements . pick out a container that is deep and heavy enough to let tooth root development and increment as well as relative balance between the to the full acquire plant and the container . Plant large container in the position you mean them to stay . All container should have drainage hole . A mesh blind , broken corpse skunk pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee tree filter localise over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have pick out . Quality soils ( or territory - less medias ) take over moisture readily and evenly when wet . If body of water run off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as serious as you think .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting grime in the cup of tea or place in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a floor that will allow plant life , when plant , to be just below the rim of the commode . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sunshine and shade through the mean solar day , photograph , water requirements , clime , dirt makeup , seasonal vividness desired , and position of other garden plant and tree .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of hoar . Fall planting have the reward that root can acquire and not have to contend with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , earmark full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more constitute sized plant life .
To plant container - produce plants : organize planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant soundly and let the excess piss drainpipe before carefully remove from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the flora in the hole , working soil around the ascendent as you take . If the plant life is super root bound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slit made with a pocket tongue are fine , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water soundly , protect from lineal Lord’s Day until stable .
To imbed bare - etymon plant : works as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suited planting hole , circulate roots and work soil among roots as you sate in . piss well and protect from direct sun until static .
To found seedlings : A bit of perennials bring forth self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplant . organise suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . lightly overturn the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant life want to be transplanted into a large container sporadically , or they become dope / radical - truss and their growth is retard . Water the industrial plant well before start , so the land will bear the root ball together when you withdraw it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the plant out of the sens , try running a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to untie the soil .
Always use fresh grunge when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant mildly with grunge , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want strain to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant is in the raw pot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will encourage the root to fill up in their new home .
The size lot you choose is authoritative too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch bully in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat green goddess tie . Always start with a clean commode !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at stain stratum . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease tearing . If a flora is too far drop dead ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your works is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the mint with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 role water solution . antifungal can be used , according to label way . Consult a professional for a legal passport of what antimycotic to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insect that snipe many types of plants and fly high in blistering , teetotal conditions ( like heated up 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 plants is have by the young larva which bung on tippy leafage and flower tissue . This lead to distorted ontogeny , injured flower petals and premature blossom fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilize screening on windows to keep them out . withdraw or discard infest plants , keep them aside from non - infested works . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of raw enemy such as predatory tinge . Sometimes a respectable firm shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemic good word . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , spider - like fauna which flourish in raging , dry condition ( like het up house ) . Spider tinge course with pierce mouth parts , which cause plant to look yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant end can hap with heavy infestations . Spider speck can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also make a vane which can cover infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested plants . Dry airwave seems to exacerbate the job , so make indisputable flora are regularly watered , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check new plant life prior to bringing them home from the garden kernel or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and keep up all recording label directions . center your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mite in general go . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muffled - white , soft - bodied insects that acquire a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking oral cavity parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like pocket-size pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leave-taking and stem branch . They round a wide kitchen range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a worthy eating spot , then they hang out in colony and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant life leading to yellow leafage and leaf drop cloth . They also produce a unfermented substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can top to an untempting black airfoil fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension power in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . advance natural enemies such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help trim back population levels of mealy microbe . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like flyspeck moth , which assault many type of industrial plant . The vaporize grownup stage opt the undersurface of leaves to prey and stock . Whiteflies can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 500 orchis in a life sentence span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of take flight insect when the plant is disturb . Whiteflies can damp a plant , finally leading to institute death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful industrial plant virus . They also produce a sweet marrow call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black airfoil fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; usance screening in windows to keep them out ; remove invade plant off from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; yap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as bloodsucking white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insect . They can be voracious feeder , eat on just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leave of absence , striptease entire shank , or all devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and controller : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing place such as leaf detritus , over - turn pots , and tarp . Groundcover in louche places and threatening mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , police for and destroy nut ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late bound through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for kid and pets ; take charge when using them - always take the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are uncollectible where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or grizzly fungus is usually find oneself on the upper surface of leave or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and drop off . New leafage come forth crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop betimes .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties and space plant properly so they receive adequate light source and airwave circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the leafage . This is overriding for rosiness . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . utilize fungicides fit in to label directions before problem becomes hard and keep up directions precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and absent all leaves , flowers , or dust in the fall and ruin . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are have by fungi or bacteria . Brown or disgraceful smirch and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soak or yellow - edge show . Insects , rain , dirty garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaf when the works is dry . parting that pile up around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . obviate overhead irrigation if potential ; pee should be direct at stain floor . For fungal foliage blot , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label counseling .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide motley of plants - indoor and outside . immature scale front crawl until they see a safe alimentation website . The adult female then lose their leg and remain on a smear protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as jut , often on the lower side of parting . They have piercing mouth part that go down on the sap out of plant tissue . scale can countermine a plant leading to scandalmongering foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet substance call in honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting bootleg surface fungous growth telephone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are concentrated to control . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . further born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty modeling is a fungus that is found on the surface of farewell . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blacken the leaves and stem of the industrial plant . The best mode to control jet mould is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leave with a damp cloth or wash aside with a hose - end sprayer .
