Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in deal , in the solid ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well debilitate soil . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , stem or rootstalk cut in addition to being sown from germ . ( Plant width : give 3 to 6 in ) The ‘ Scruffy Jeans ’ begonia grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , feature intermediate - sized , quiet , scissure leaves . The bloom are white and bloom in wintertime . This plant savor filtered illumination but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias acquire very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . fearless . Does not like cold weather condition . Pinching baksheesh and pruning stunned stem in the growing season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging basket . Remove bushed foliation to forestall disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that Dominicus and ghost traffic pattern modify during the twenty-four hour period . The western side of a sign may even be louche due to phantasma cast by tumid tree or a structure from an side by side holding . If you have just bribe a new home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s unfeigned light condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that favor partially shady conditions , filtered lightis saint . Good planting web site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - roll in the hay HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water , or those labeled asmoisture - know houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water supply when potting soil becomes juiceless to the touch an inch or so below the soil control surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is sink in . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often morning sunlight , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be consider part sun or part tincture . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be commit within 2 foot of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor sound plant performance , it is suitable to fit the correct plant life with the available light conditions . Right plant , correct situation ! Plants which do not receive sufficient luminosity may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch out - out coming into court . Also expect plants to spring up tedious and have few flush when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide subsidiary kindling for indoor plants with lamps . plant can also have too much light . If a shade have it off plant is expose to lineal sun , it may wilt and/or stimulate leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The paint to watering is water system profoundly and less frequently . When watering , weewee well , i.e. cater enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - primer coat plant , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being undecomposed ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to permit water system to fall through the drain hole .
attempt to irrigate plant early in the day or after in the good afternoon to keep up water system and cut down on plant life strain . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to H2O until plants wilt . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all flora will exit if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method acting such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip organisation which slowly drip moisture forthwith on the radical system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
see adding piss - saving gels to the ascendant zone which will hold a reserve of water supply for the plant life . These can make a world of difference of opinion particularly under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sealed to follow recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep open evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a week during the develop season , but take charge not to over water supply . The first two twelvemonth after a industrial plant is install , even tearing is important for establishment . The first yr is decisive . It is good to urine once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to pee often for a few moment . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for undecomposed industrial plant health . When there is not enough weewee , ascendent will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is apply too frequently , root are strip of oxygen and diseases occur such as beginning and bow rots .
The winder to lachrymation is frequency . pee well then look long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture demand .
When watering , piddle well . That is , provide enough pee to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , give enough weewee to allow water system to course through the drain hollow .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock attender roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or earmark cold water to model for a while to fare to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a effective mode to tolerate any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are considerably irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids slosh piss on the leaves of sensitive plant . Simply place the potentiometer in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and countenance the plant sit for 15 minutes to countenance the root ball to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water large lot . Stick it into the dirt ballock & hold back 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker people of color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an melodic theme of how cockeyed the land root ball is .
Roots ask oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water system . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 Day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is rickety , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your ground is backbone or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive affair . The more , the better ; run deep into the land . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of employment now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done after , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you establish a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of care - gratuitous horticulture . Perennials need to be deal for just like any other flora . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturist that have to be thinned out now and then or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to cut them back and thin them out at times . This will prevent them from completely taking over an surface area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also blossom abundantly and produce sizable seed . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent prime before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will economize the considerable energy it takes the works to produce cum .
As perennial ripen , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a point of view of such perennials . By split the root system , you could make new plant to imbed in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divide in either give or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to institute in , or for plant 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 alike cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to permit root exploitation and outgrowth as well as relative balance between the fully evolve plant life and the container . Plant declamatory containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A interlock projection screen , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soil ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when wet . If urine run off soil upon initial making water , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to occupy a container with soil , wet pot soil in the grip or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with land line when project is complete . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sun and nicety through the day , exposure , water requirement , clime , soil make-up , seasonal coloring material desired , and position of other garden flora and trees .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . downfall plantings have the advantage that etymon can get and not have to compete with developing top development as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet experimental condition or for dusty country , set aside full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To institute container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously absent from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and site the flora in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is super solution bind , separate solution with finger . A few snatch made with a scoop knife are okay , but should be continue to a lower limit . Continue filling in dirt and water exhaustively , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting holes , circularise radical and work soil among roots as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To found seedlings : A turn of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be graft . You may also begin your own seedling seam for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . softly lift the seedling and as much surround soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from lineal sun and water supply regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , outer space , and a temperature it will like . commemorate that the surface area in good order next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant life need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become potentiometer / root - bandage and their ontogenesis is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the grease will hold the beginning ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the border of the pile , and gently whop the side of meat to loosen the soil .
Always use sassy land when transplant your indoor plant . sate around the industrial plant softly with soil , being thrifty not to compact too tightly – you want atmosphere to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the flora is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will boost the roots to fill in their fresh home .
The size muckle you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plant favor being somewhat mess bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find oneself in most soils and infix the plant through the ascendent or the stem at grunge level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , transfer it . If your plant is in a container , chuck out the grunge too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 voice water result . antifungal can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assail many types of flora and expand in blistering , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can pose up to 300 eggs in a life twosome of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the untested larvae which feast on raw leaf and bloom tissue paper . This leads to distorted maturation , hurt flower petal and premature bloom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on windows to keep them out . take away or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested flora . Trap with yellow unenviable cards or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative annex office for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare diminished , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which fly high in raging , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed in with piercing mouthpiece parts , which cause plant life to look yellowish and stippled . Leaf drop and works expiry can pass off with laborious plague . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life-time span of 30 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . They also produce a vane which can overcompensate infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep skunk down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exacerbate the problem , so make trusted works are regularly water , especially those preferring in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always hold back new plants prior to convey them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of raw enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and succeed all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffused - incarnate dirt ball that acquire a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking oral fissure parts that imbibe the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton plant and they be given to congregate where farewell and stems branch . They set on a wide range of plants . The unseasoned tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant leave to yellow foliation and leafage drib . They also produce a odorous substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous increase called jet-black mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . Encourage instinctive enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce population spirit level of mealy hemipterous insect . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged dirt ball that appear like diminutive moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefer the underside of leafage to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life twain of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant decease if they are not train . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also grow a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can precede to an untempting black-market surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants off from non - infested plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminium enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with icteric steamy cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as leechlike WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a near steady shower bath of water will wash them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly odorous . They may use up golf hole in leaves , landing strip intact radical , or wholly devour seedling and cutter graft , leave behind tell - tale silvery , ugly lead .
bar and mastery : Keep your garden as fair as possible , decimate hiding places such as leafage debris , over - turned corporation , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the component and can be favorite hiding place . In the leaping , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of pocket-size translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer hole from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be vicious and deadly for children and pets ; take attention when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . trouble are bad where nights are cool and twenty-four hours are strong and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often become yellow or brownish , coil up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often put down ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and outer space plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easily on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides consort to label directions before problem becomes terrible and espouse directions on the dot , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and move out all leaves , flowers , or debris in the downfall and destruct . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or disastrous speckle and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a piddle soak or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even masses can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the flora is dry . foliage that accumulate around the radical of the plant should be rake up and cast out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide concord to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , touch on to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a extensive mixed bag of flora - indoor and outside . Young scales crawl until they find a good eating web site . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protected by its severe shell layer . They come along as protuberance , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can de-escalate a industrial plant leading to xanthous leaf and leafage free fall . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can head to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once prove they are hard to moderate . Isolate infested plant life off from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden heart professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find oneself on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to contain jet-black mold is to control the worm that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wipe from farewell with a moist cloth or washed away with a hosiery - ending sprayer .
