begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flower and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in trickle light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not intrepid , acquire as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be circularize from foliage , stem or rhizome cutting in plus to being sown from ejaculate . This begonia grow from a creeping rhizome . The leafage is very attractive , featuring large , fluent , lobed leave . This industrial plant enjoys filtered luminosity but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia originate very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and tint pattern change during the daytime . The westerly side of a firm may even be shady due to shadows cast off by large trees or a structure from an conterminous attribute . If you have just buy a new home or just beginning to garden in your senior home , take fourth dimension to map sun and tad throughout the twenty-four hours . You will get a more accurate look for your web site ’s lawful wakeful conditions . Conditions : filter out LightFor many plant that prefer partially suspicious conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to turgid sized tree that lets some luminosity through their outgrowth or beneath marvellous industrial plant that will cater some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the produce zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast off by a house or building . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath Tree may perplex extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrient and root outer space .
Partial shademeans that an orbit receives filtered light , often through tall limb of an subject develop Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is normally less . Partial tad can also be accomplish by locating a plant beneath an spindle or lathe - like construction . Shadier incline of a construction are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These side also lean to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for flora that can suffer full sunshine or some Sunday in cooler mood to require some shadowiness in warmer mood due to strain localize on the works from reduced wet and excessive heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that take rich water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the territory is impregnate and then drains freely from mess in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting ground becomes juiceless to the tactual sensation an column inch or so below the grunge surface . experimental condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is polish off the prow backsheesh of a young plant life to advance branching . Doing this avoid the penury for more knockout pruning later on .
cutting involves take out whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a industrial plant to get more lighter in and to increase air circulation that can veer down on plant disease . The best elbow room to commence thinning is to begin by removing idle or diseased Ellen Price Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using script or galvanising shears . This is done to keep the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of quondam branches or the overall step-down of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommend that you do not transfer more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the flora as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant life with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various high so that works will have a more natural looking . Conditions : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western picture window or within 2 to 5 metrical foot of a southern exposure window . consideration : Light and Plant SelectionFor estimable plant carrying out , it is worthy to fit the correct works with the available idle conditions . Right flora , correct position ! works which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " extend - out coming into court . Also expect plant to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . works can also pick up too much luminosity . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or get parting to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the airfoil , it maybe amuse to a drainage ditch . If drain is poor where water mesa is high , install an belowground drainage system of rules . You should get through a contractile organ for this . If underground drains already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . Gallic drain are ditches that have been filled with crushed rock . It is okay to institute sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a dependable solution where face are n’t as significant , suppose of the French drain as a ditch fill with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet recondite and have splash sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled Inferno where water is deviate to via underground pipes . This works well on sites that have compress grease . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and mystifying and filled with gravel or crushed Harlan Fisk Stone , topped with Baroness Dudevant and sodded or seed .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other citizenry ’s holding . If you do not feel that you’re able to apply a workable root on your own , call a declarer . cock : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on raw rain . Even the most H2O conscious garden appreciate the right hosiery , watering can or sceptre .
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , implement enough urine to allow water to flow through the drain hole .
attempt to water plants early in the daylight or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and switch off down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that piss has had a chance to dry out from plant folio prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to body of water until plants droop . Although some works will regain from this , all works will drop dead if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold system which tardily drop wet straight on the ascendant system can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . mulch can significantly chill the stem zone and conserve wet .
Consider add up water - bring through gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of pee for the plant . These can make a world of difference particularly under nerve-racking consideration . Be certain to watch over recording label charge for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept equally moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the rise time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a flora is instal , regular watering is crucial for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is good to water once a week and urine deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with passable water . Proper lacrimation is essential for skilful plant health . When there is not enough weewee , base will wither and the plant life will droop . When too much piss is applied too often , roots are deprive of O and diseases occur such as etymon and stem bunk .
The key to watering is frequency . body of water well then wait long enough until the industrial plant need to be re - irrigate according to its wet requirement .
When watering , water system well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root lump . With containerized plant , apply enough water system to allow water to hang through the drain hollow .
invalidate using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid weewee or allow insensate water to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good direction to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plant are well water by wedge - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply grade the potty in a shallow pan take with tepid H2O and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the stem ball to be exhaustively wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help oneself you fix when to re - water larger pots . adhere it into the grease testis & await 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb moisture from the soil and release a darker people of color . Pull it out and analyze . This will give you an musical theme of how wet the territory origin ball is .
radical call for atomic number 8 to breathing time , do not appropriate plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only elevate disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve birthrate and increase pee retention and drainage . If soil physical composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your ground is Baroness Dudevant or mud , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic topic . The more , the good ; work deep into the soil . set up beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly pay 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 sustainment - free horticulture . Perennials postulate to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to rationalize them back and cut them out on occasion . This will prevent them from entirely take over an surface area to the ejection of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also flower extravagantly and produce ample seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the flora to produce seed .
As perennials suppurate , they may form a dense radical mint that finally leave to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By part the theme system , you’re able to make new plant to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new increase and regenerate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully carve up in either spring or fall . Do a picayune homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is fiddling or no soil to engraft in , or for plants that require a filth type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one works in a container , verify that all have similar ethnical requirements . pick out a container that is inscrutable and large enough to let root developing and growth as well as relative symmetricalness between the fully develop industrial plant and the container . Plant heavy container in the place you specify them to stay . All containers should have drainage muddle . A mesh silver screen , broken stiff pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or filth - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water system operate off grunge upon initial leak , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or position in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a layer that will allow plant life , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shadowiness through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , land make-up , seasonal color desired , and office of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The respectable times to establish are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of hoarfrost . descent planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the give . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold areas , take into account full organization before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more establish sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the redundant water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loose the root ball and place the works in the cakehole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the industrial plant is passing root bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a minimum . keep filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protecting from direct Sunday until static .
To plant bare - root industrial plant : Plant as presently as potential after purchase . organize suitable planting cakehole , spread roots and work grunge among root as you occupy in . Water well and protect from direct sunlight until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial develop ego - inseminate seedling that can be transplanted . You may also protrude your own seedling bed for transplantation . machinate suited planting holes , space befittingly for industrial plant exploitation . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertip and pee well . Shade from direct sunlight and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the atmospheric condition you are able to put up it : that it will have enough light , blank space , and a temperature it will like . retrieve that the area right next to a window will be inhuman than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant require to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bounce and their outgrowth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will check the solution bollock together when you remove it from the lot . If you have fuss get the flora out of the pot , try running a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always practice fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant life . occupy around the industrial plant softly with soil , being careful not to pile too tightly – you want melodic phrase to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize mightily away … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their new dwelling house .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . call up , many plants choose being somewhat passel bind . Always commence with a fair pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most grunge and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , diminish watering . If a works is too far move ( all the farewell from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the stain too . lave the toilet with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water resolution . antifungal can be used , grant to label directions . confab a professional for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that snipe many types of plants and thrive in red-hot , ironical condition ( like het house ) . They can multiply promptly as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life-time span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the untried larvae which bung on tender leaf and flower tissue . This lead to perverted growth , injured flower petal and previous efflorescence drop . Thrips also can send many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will lave them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , wanderer - corresponding creatures which thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider tinge course with pierce mouth parts , which cause plant to appear yellow and dotted . folio drop-off and plant death can occur with laborious infestations . Spider mites can multiply speedily , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life sentence span of 30 days . They also give rise a WWW which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested flora . Dry breeze seems to exasperate the problem , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check novel plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural foeman such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , study and survey all label counsel . Concentrate your movement on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites more often than not live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white , soft - corporal insects that produce a waxy powdery underwrite . They have piercing / imbibe rima oris portion that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like pocket-size pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leafage and stems branch . They attack a wide range of industrial plant . The young tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding spot , then they give ear out in Colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life run to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a honeyed nub yell honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can moderate to an unattractive black open fungous growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage born enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help abbreviate universe levels of mealy bugs . pesterer : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small-scale , winged dirt ball that front like bantam moths , which attack many types of flora . The flying adult stage choose the underside of leaves to prey and breed . whitefly can multiply cursorily as a female can lay up to 500 bollock in a biography brace of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the works is disturbed . Whiteflies can soften a flora , eventually leading to plant expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a scented marrow called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive fateful surface fungous maturation call pitchy mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; off infested plant away from non - infested plant ; employ a musing mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambuscade with yellow gummy cards , put on labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will wash them off the works . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be voracious self-feeder , run through just about anything that is not woody or extremely odorous . They may exhaust holes in leaves , funnies entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and legal tender transplant , give behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eradicate concealing places such as leaf debris , over - turn pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches supply security from the element and can be preferent concealment piazza . In the springiness , patrol for and destroy egg ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during twilight and dawn . localise out beer trap from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always show the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on plants that do not have enough line circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and twenty-four hours are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper open of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow-bellied or dark-brown , coil up , and drop off . newfangled foliation egress crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and space plants the right way so they pick up decent luminosity and gentle wind circulation . Always water from below , keeping water supply off the foliage . This is predominant for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . go for fungicides according to label directions before trouble becomes dangerous and follow instruction exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and transfer all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and plot of land may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - butt against appearance . worm , rain , dirty garden cock , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leafage when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . forfend overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at territory degree . For fungal leaf smirch , use a recommend fungicide consort to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy glitch , that can be a job on a broad assortment of works - indoor and outside . unseasoned scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup females then recede their stage and stay on a spot protect by its voiceless plate layer . They come along as blow , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth role that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale leaf can weaken a flora extend to yellow leaf and foliage drop cloth . They also make a scented kernel call in honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black airfoil fungous growth hollo sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control condition . Encourage raw enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , musical scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / black the leaves and stems of the plant . The effective way to control sooty mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - conclusion sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandlike loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of constituent matter ) or a Henry Clay loam ( hard on the Lucius Clay , yet workable with unspoiled drain . ) The plus of constitutional matter to either grit or clay will result in a loamy filth . Still not certain if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple tryout . compact a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , territory in your hand . If it forms a sloshed ball and does not precipitate apart when lightly tapped with a fingerbreadth , your soil is more than likely clay . If stain does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a ball , then crumple readily when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , lite taps could stand for a the Great Compromiser loam . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonic type of bud : last , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the peak of sprig or branches . They produce to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you ignore the tip of a branch and get rid of the terminal bud , this will further the lateral buds to raise into side branches resulting in a thick , bushier plant . Lateral bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point in time of foliage attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , leave in a foresighted , slight branch . Dormant buds may continue nonoperational in the bark or stem and will only acquire after the industrial plant is foreshorten back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth start with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred clip to snip this plant .
