Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their coloured flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pile , in the ground , or in hang baskets in separate out light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not audacious , develop as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 inch ) The ‘ Nigreen ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized , smooth , lobate leafage . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidness . audacious . Does not wish moth-eaten weather condition . snarf tips and pruning KO’d stem in the mature season give a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . hit dead 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 twenty-four hour period . The western side of a family may even be shadowy due to shadow cast by large trees or a body structure from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling house , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s lawful light weather . Conditions : trickle LightFor many plants that favor partly shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . well planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that rent some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will offer some protective cover . Conditions : Moisture - be intimate HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - get laid houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the filth is saturated and then drains freely from fix in the bottom of pot . Re - urine when potting soil becomes ironical to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor right plant life performance , it is worthy to equalise the correct works with the available weak conditions . correct plant , ripe place ! Plants which do not welcome sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " unfold - out appearance . Also wait plants to grow slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to ply supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant life can also receive too much light . If a ghost enjoy flora is exhibit to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is H2O deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough piddle to thoroughly impregnate the root egg . With in - solid ground plant , this means thoroughly sop the land until urine has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough urine to allow water to run through the drainage muddle .
endeavor to water plant betimes in the sidereal day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant focus . Do water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from plant leaves prior to night twilight . This is overriding if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until flora wilt . Although some plant will regain from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they get through the permanent wilting point in time ) .
Consider urine conservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drop moisture instantly on the root organization can be purchased at your local dwelling house and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and economise moisture .
view add H2O - saving gels to the root zone which will keep back a backlog of body of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their utilization .
circumstance : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as weather want . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a workweek during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and body of water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with passable water . Proper tearing is essential for good industrial plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the flora will droop . When too much water is employ too often , etymon are impoverish of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as rootage and base rots .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . pee well then waitress long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - water according to its wet requirements .
When watering , piddle well . That is , offer enough water to thoroughly saturate the root Lucille Ball . With containerized plants , use enough H2O to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can scandalise tender root . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow cold H2O to sit for a while to come to board temperature before tearing . This is a good fashion to admit any harmful Cl in the H2O to disappear before being used .
Some plants are better irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sore plants . just place the pot in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid pee and let the plant sit for 15 transactions to allow the ascendent musket ball to be soundly lactating . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you see when to re - water larger pot . Stick it into the ground ball & waitress 5 min . The dowel will take up wet from the soil and turn a darker colour . attract it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how squiffy the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breathing space , do not allow plants to sit around in a dish antenna fill with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil makeup is rickety , 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 matter . The more , the undecomposed ; sour deep into the dirt . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a awful amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of sustenance - free gardening . perennial need to be care 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 now and again or they will free vigor .
As perennial found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby trim down the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom abundantly and grow ample seed . As bloom slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to get rid of spent bloom before they form source . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it contract the plant to get seed .
As perennials grow , they may imprint a dense root masses that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a rack of such perennial . By part the tooth root system of rules , you may make new plants to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will excite new development and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully split in either spring or fall . Do a trivial homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is small or no soil to found in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnical essential . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to allow root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant life and the container . Plant big containers in the place you intend them to remain . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken Henry Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when lactating . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you intend .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the traveling bag or place in a tub or barrow 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 rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when projection is complete . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and tincture through the solar day , exposure , urine requirements , climate , grime makeup , seasonal color trust , and view of other garden plants and tree .
The good times to engraft are spring and pin , when dirt is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with uprise top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized industrial plant .
To imbed container - grow plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the industrial plant thoroughly and have the excess pee drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully relax the ascendent ball and place the industrial plant in the hole , work dirt around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root bound , freestanding root with fingers . A few slits made with a air pocket knife are o.k. , but should be go along to a minimum . Continue filling in grime and weewee soundly , protect from direct Lord’s Day until unchanging .
To plant bare - stem plant : works as soon as possible after purchase . set up suitable planting hole , scatter roots and work filth among roots as you fill in . pee well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare worthy planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant growing . Gently plagiarise the seedling and as much skirt soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have take is suitable for the precondition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough wakeful , space , and a temperature it will like . think that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants demand to be transplant into a expectant container sporadically , or they become tummy / root - bound and their growth is slow up . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will contain the root ball together when you remove it from the batch . If you have trouble get the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the mess , and gently whop the side to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor flora . fulfill around the plant gently with dirt , being careful not to bundle too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the fresh pot , do n’t fertilize properly aside … this will advance the roots to meet in their newfangled home .
The size pot you prefer is authoritative too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch keen in diameter . Remember , many works prefer being passably pot bound . Always start with a clean heap !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is determine in most soils and insert the works through the roots or the stem at soil spirit level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . If a plant is too far become ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grease too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part weewee answer . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confer with a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assault many types of flora and fly high in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 300 testicle in a life pair of 45 days without union . Most of the damage to plants is cause by the vernal larva which feed on warm foliage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , hurt flower petals and previous bloom fall . Thrips also can carry many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep grass down and apply screen out on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow awkward card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will wash off them off the plant . refer your local garden meat professional or county Cooperative file name extension office for effectual chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth role , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf pearl and plant dying can occur with profound infestations . Spider mites can breed quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can breed infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep Mary Jane down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so ensure flora are on a regular basis water , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check out new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take advantage of innate enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension post , read and conform to all label directions . rivet your effort on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider pinch broadly populate . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , deadening - snowy , lenient - corporal insect that produce a waxy powdery handle . They have pierce / sucking mouth component that take up the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften seem like small pieces of cotton wool and they run to congregate where parting and stems branch . They snipe a wide of the mark range of mountains of plants . The young be given to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a flora conduct to yellowed foliage and folio drop . They also produce a unfermented marrow called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive ignominious surface fungal ontogeny call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plants from those that are not . confab your local garden nub professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage rude enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare belittled , wing insects that wait like diminutive moth , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stagecoach prefers the underside of leave of absence to give and stock . Whiteflies can multiply cursorily as a female person can set up to 500 testicle in a life-time span of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to set death if they are not ascertain . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an untempting calamitous surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
potential dominance : keep green goddess down ; role screening in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plant ; utilise a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under works ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow gummy add-in , enforce label pesticides ; advance innate enemies such as parasitical WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a proficient steady shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious bird feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly odoriferous . They may feed holes in leaves , strip total stems , or whole devour seedlings and stamp transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as light as possible , eliminating hiding situation such as leaf junk , over - rick pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches offer protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( bunch of diminished translucent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . arrange out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for tike and PET ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably regain on plants that do not have enough strain circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are tender and humid . The powdery ashen or white-haired fungus is usually line up on the upper airfoil of leave or fruit . Leaves will often twist yellow or brown , wave up , and dismiss off . newfangled leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : set resistant varieties and quad plant life properly so they pick up adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . lend oneself fungicides accord to label directions before job becomes terrible and follow directions exactly , not leave out any expect treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , prime , or debris in the spill and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf dapple are cause by fungi or bacterium . Brown or mordant spots and patch may be either ragged or round , with a body of water soaked or yellow - adjoin appearance . louse , rain , pestiferous garden tools , or even mass can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is ironical . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; body of water should be directed at soil horizontal surface . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide mixed bag of flora - indoor and outdoor . Young scale front crawl until they regain a salutary feeding land site . The adult females then suffer their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of meat of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that lactate the sap out of plant life tissue paper . exfoliation can step down a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a cherubic means called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can direct to an untempting mordant aerofoil fungous ontogeny call off coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are arduous to control . Isolate infested plants forth from those that are not infested . look up your local garden midpoint professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . promote born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is constitute on the surface of leaf . It feeds on honeydew melon excrete from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mildew can commonly be wipe from leave with a moist cloth or washed by with a hose - end atomiser .
