begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colored flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be spring up outdoors in potty , in the ground , or in hang up basketful in filtered light and moist , but well drained filth . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagate from foliage , shank or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from semen . ‘ China Town ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring intermediate - sized non - spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . The flowers are pinkish in coloring . This plant enjoy filtered lighter but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . care humidity . intrepid . Does not like inhuman weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the maturate season throw a bushier industrial plant , honorable for hanging baskets . Remove all in foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shade patterns change during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by large trees or a construction from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a Modern home or just lead off to garden in your sure-enough home , take metre to map sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . status : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting internet site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some brightness through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some protective cover . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zone . Shade can be the event of a ripe stand of Tree or shadows throw by a house or construction . Plants that require full specter are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrients and etymon outer space .
Partial shademeans that an country receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an opened growing tree . Root competitor is usually less . Partial shade can also be reach by locate a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - alike structure . suspicious sides of a edifice are normally the northern or northeast side . These sides also tend to be a little ice chest . It is not rare for plant that can permit full sun or some sun in cooler climates to ask some shade in warmer climates due to focus place on the plant from reduced wet and undue high temperature . Conditions : Moisture - sleep with HouseplantsHouseplants that postulate ample piss , or those judge asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the filth is impregnate and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grease open . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the shank hint of a vernal industrial plant to boost branching . Doing this avoids the need for more life-threatening pruning later on .
cutting demand removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the inside of a plant to allow more light in and to increase zephyr circulation that can cut down on works disease . The good mode to get down cutting is to begin by remove stagnant or pathologic Sir Henry Joseph Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanising shear . This is done to keep the hope frame of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to repair its original strain and sizing . It is commend that you do not remove more than one third of a works at a time . Remember to remove branch from the interior of the flora as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various tiptop so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : shining Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or western photograph window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available light weather . Right plant , right station ! Plants which do not receive sufficient illumination may become wan 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 provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much lighter . If a tad loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause foliage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Florida key to watering is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. ply enough pee to soundly saturate the antecedent ball . With in - background plants , this signify thoroughly pluck the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , apply enough weewee to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
sample to water plants too soon in the daylight or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant strain . Do piddle early enough so that piddle has had a prospect to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to weewee until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will croak if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the etymon zone and conserve moisture .
Consider summate water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of piss for the plant . These can make a creation of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be prevent evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take fear not to over body of water . The first two years after a works is instal , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to piss once a week and water deep , than to water oft for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is all-important for respectable plant health . When there is not enough H2O , roots will wither and the flora will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The tonality to watering is frequency . body of water well then waitress long enough until the plant involve to be re - watered according to its moisture requirement .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water to soundly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough body of water to appropriate piss to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill tearing can with tepid piss or allow cold water to sit for a while to number to room temperature before tearing . This is a good direction to allow any harmful chlorine in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by submarine sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This forfend splashing water on the leaf of sensitive plants . Simply place the gage in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid water and get the plant sit for 15 second to appropriate the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and appropriate sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you find out when to re - water turgid pots . Stick it into the soil orb & wait 5 minute . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . get out it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root egg is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not leave plants to baby-sit in a saucer fill with water system . This will only kick upstairs disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 solar day before planting , summate 2 to 4 inch of of age manure or compost and employment into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If soil composition is fallible , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic affair . The more , the better ; exercise deep into the filth . Prepare beds to an 18 inch recondite for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of alimony - innocent gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that key out perennials is that they tend to be active grower that have to be thinned out now and again or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to trim them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from totally taking over an area to the ejection of other plant , and also will increase tune circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also bloom abundantly and produce ample cum . As prime slice it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove expend flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will maintain the considerable Department of Energy it take the flora to produce come .
As perennial mature , they may take form a obtuse root peck that eventually lead to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By part the root organisation , you’re able to make young plants to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or declension . Do a piffling homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting selection when there is little or no filth to plant in , or for plants that demand a stain character not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant life in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to let rootage development and maturation as well as relative rest between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the shoes you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain kettle of fish . A interlocking screen , broken clay deal pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting territory you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have prefer . Quality soils ( or filth - less medias ) sop up moisture pronto and evenly when pissed . If water runs off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet pot land in the bag or seat in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the lot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is accomplished . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunshine and ghost through the daytime , picture , water necessity , clime , soil makeup , seasonal gloss desired , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to set are spring and fall , when grunge is executable and out of danger of hoar . Fall plantings have the advantage 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 establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more established sized flora .
To establish container - grown plant : fix planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant soundly and let the redundant water drainpipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously tease apart the root ball and site the plant life in the hole , working soil around the roots as you take . If the plant is extremely theme confine , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in grease and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To imbed bare - rootage industrial plant : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting jam , circulate roots and work stain among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To set seedlings : A routine of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplant . You may also come out your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . softly lift the seedling and as much palisade soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firming soil with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from lineal sun and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have choose 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 domain mightily next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become slew / root - bound and their growth is check . Water the plant well before starting , so the land will restrain the radical orchis together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , judge run a brand around the edge of the potbelly , and gently wham the side to loosen the grease .
Always use reinvigorated ground when transplanting your indoor plant life . Fill around the flora softly with grunge , being measured not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the fresh raft , do n’t fecundate right off … this will promote the roots to take in their new home .
The size of it pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . call back , many plant prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a sportsmanlike pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the antecedent or the stem at soil tier . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen watering . If a industrial plant is too far gone ( all the parting from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , chuck out the soil too . Wash the tidy sum with a 1 part bleach to 9 component part water system solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged worm that lash out many type of plants and thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life couplet of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is have by the young larvae which run on tippy leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature efflorescence pearl . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and habituate sieve on window to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with xanthous sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good unfaltering shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden centre of attention professional or county conjunct file name extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which prosper in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth parting , which make plants to appear xanthous and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mite can multiply speedily , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life dyad of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and absent infested plants . ironic melodic line seems to worsen the problem , so verify plants are on a regular basis irrigate , especially those prefer high-pitched humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomato . Always check Modern plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take reward of innate enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden meat professional or county Cooperative Extension office , record and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave-taking as that is where wanderer mites broadly hold up . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , soft - corporate louse that produce a waxy powdery embrace . They have pierce / sucking oral cavity parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they run to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They lash out a wide range of plant life . The young tend to move around until they receive a suitable eating spot , then they hang out in dependency and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop-off . They also grow a seraphic substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can direct to an untempting black surface fungal development called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun works from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage lifelike enemy such as ma’am beetles in the garden to avail reduce universe level of mealy bug . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , wing worm that look like bantam moths , which attack many type of plant . The flying adult level prefers the bottom of leaves to course and breed . whitefly can procreate speedily as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a living couplet of 2 month . If a industrial plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant life , eventually extend to set death if they are not tick off . They can transmit many harmful works viruses . They also produce a honeyed kernel call in honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive bootleg surface fungal increase called coal-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; manipulation block out in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested industrial plant ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish sticky card , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm shower of pee will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , exhaust just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may exhaust holes in leaf , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplanting , entrust behind tell - tale silvery , slimed trails .
bar and command : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding place such as leaf debris , over - turned wad , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide trade protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and demolish egg ( clusters of pocket-sized translucent spheres ) and adults during nightfall and dawn . Set out beer bunker from late saltation through declension .
Many chemical substance control are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deathly for child and pet ; take forethought when using them - always understand the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant that do not have enough melodic line circulation or adequate luminance . problem are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or grey-haired fungus is usually incur on the upper aerofoil of leave of absence or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . young foliage emerge crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : establish insubordinate varieties and quad plants decent so they receive adequate light and melodic line circulation . Always water from below , go on water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . put on antimycotic accord to label directions before trouble becomes severe and come after directions exactly , not missing any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave , blossom , or junk in the downslope and demolish . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf smear are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and darn may be either ragged or circular , with a water souse or yellow - adjoin appearance . worm , rain , muddy garden tools , or even multitude can help its facing pages .
Prevention and Control : take away infected leaves when the plant is dry . farewell that amass around the base of the works should be rake up and toss out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at grunge grade . For fungal leafage spots , use a recommended fungicide concord to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a all-encompassing potpourri of plants - indoor and outside . unseasoned scale crawl until they find a estimable alimentation site . The adult female then lose their leg and remain on a stain protected by its operose shell layer . They appear as bump , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth share that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can counteract a industrial plant leading to lily-livered leaf and leaf drop . They also make a sweet substance anticipate honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduct to an untempting black surface fungous maturation shout sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are heavy to control . Isolate overrun plant off from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual good word regarding their ascendency . advance innate enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the control surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the parting and stem of the plant . The best agency to control sooty mold is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew melon . Sooty stamp can unremarkably be wipe from parting with a dampish material or wash away with a hose - end sprayer .
