Begonias are affectionate perennial , grow for their coloured flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the solid ground , or in hang basket in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be diffuse from folio , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Winter Queen ’ grows from an upright rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring helical foliage that are often colored and pattern . This plant enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia produce very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not wish insensate atmospheric condition . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the develop time of year gives a bushier plant , good for hang basket . Remove dead leafage to keep disease .

Google Plant Images : come home here !

Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will notice that Sunday and shade patterns change during the daylight . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just buy a young home or just beginning to garden in your older rest home , take time to map out Sunday and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavor for your internet site ’s true light circumstance . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially suspicious status , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting internet site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some visible radiation through their branches or beneath tall plant life that will provide some protective cover . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that call for sizeable water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from hollow in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes ironic to the jot an in or so below the soil airfoil . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer luminosity that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often dawning sun , because it is not as impregnable as good afternoon sun , can be consider part sun or part nuance . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight photo may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant operation , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . good industrial plant , correct place ! flora which do not incur sufficient spark may become pale in colour , have fewer leave of absence and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have few blooms when lighter is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . works can also receive too much lighter . If a shade fuck plant is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .

Watering

  • The winder to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - solid ground plants , this intend soundly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .

  • seek to water plant ahead of time in the day or after in the afternoon to keep up piss and cut down on plant stress . Do water supply early on enough so that piddle has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to night downfall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problem .

  • Do n’t hold back to water until works wilt . Although some plant will go back from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .

  • Consider water supply preservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which slowly drop wet directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool off the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .

  • Consider add water - saving gels to the root zone which will contain a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under trying precondition . Be certain to follow recording label direction for their use .

Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be maintain equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 in of water a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two long time after a industrial plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is better to pee once a week and body of water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with fair to middling water . Proper lacrimation is all-important for expert works wellness . When there is not enough urine , root will shrivel and the works will wilt . When too much weewee is use too frequently , root are divest of oxygen and disease occur such as rootage and stem rots .

  • The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate harmonise to its moisture necessity .

  • When watering , urine well . That is , put up enough weewee to thoroughly impregnate the solution ball . With containerized plants , go for enough body of water to permit H2O to flow through the drainage hole .

  • Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can traumatise tender tooth root . filling lachrymation can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a dear mode to allow any harmful chlorine in the urine to evaporate before being used .

  • Some plant are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This quash splashing piddle on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan make full with tepid H2O and lease the works sit for 15 bit to grant the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and admit sufficient drain .

  • Use an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water heavy mint . Stick it into the grease testis & wait 5 minute . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker colouring material . tear it out and study . This will give you an approximation of how wet the grunge root ball is .

  • stem need oxygen to hint , do not allow flora to sit around in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .

Planting

A week to 10 day before planting , bring 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water holding and drainage . If dirt composition is watery , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your filth is moxie or clay , it can be improved by add together the same thing : organic thing . The more , the good ; solve late into the soil . ready bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly devote off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy years of sustainment - free gardening . perennial ask to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that tell apart perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be dilute out occasionally or they will free vigor .

As perennial build , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will keep them from altogether taking over an area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .

Many species also flower abundantly and produce rich seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to take away expend flowers before they shape seed . This will prevent your flora from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vim it takes the industrial plant to produce seed .

As perennial mature , they may form a dense root mountain that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and again thin out a bandstand of such perennial . By carve up the root organisation , you may make new plant to plant 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 divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting choice when there is little or no ground to set in , or for plants that require a territory type not get in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have standardised ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is thick and large enough to allow tooth root evolution and emergence as well as proportional residue between the to the full developed industrial plant and the container . institute expectant containers in the post you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage hole . A net screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher coffee filter direct over the yap will keep land from washing out . The potting dirt you take should be an appropriate intermixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take over wet readily and equally when soused . If water run off land upon initial passing water , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you opine .

Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting dirt in the dish or stead in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a stage that will countenance plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the wad . Rootballs should be level with soil pedigree when project is everlasting . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by conceive sun and shade through the twenty-four hour period , exposure , urine requirements , clime , grease makeup , seasonal color trust , and positioning of other garden plants and tree .

The good times to plant are give and downfall , when soil is workable and out of danger of Robert Lee Frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with evolve top maturation as in the saltation . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allow for 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 constitute container - uprise plant : ready planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant soundly and allow the supernumerary water drainpipe before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully tease apart the root ball and localize the plant in the hole , work soil around the roots as you fulfil . If the plant is passing tooth root leap , disjoined root with digit . A few pussy made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in stain and water system thoroughly , protecting from unmediated Sunday until stable .

To plant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare worthy planting hole , fan out roots and work soil among roots as you take in . Water well and protect from direct Sunday until stable .

To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - inseminate seedling that can be transplant . You may also pop your own seedling bottom for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting hole , spacing fittingly for industrial plant ontogeny . mildly get up the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , firm soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to offer it : that it will have enough swooning , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area powerful next to a windowpane will be colder than the eternal rest of the room .

Indoor flora need to be graft into a bigger container periodically , or they become weed / root - bound and their ontogenesis is retarded . Water the plant well before start up , so the soil will hold the root orchis together when you take it from the pot . If you have trouble get the works out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whop the side to loosen the soil .

Always use refreshing land when transplanting your indoor plant . occupy around the plant gently with soil , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will promote the roots to fill in their novel dwelling house .

The size pile you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch nifty in diameter . think , many flora prefer being somewhat corporation bound . Always start with a white pot !

Problems

Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at grime layer . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a flora is too far run ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , cast aside the ground too . rinse the flowerpot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solvent . Fungicides can be used , fit in to label directions . look up a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many type of plants and thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like het up houses ) . They can multiply quick as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life pair of 45 years without mating . Most of the damage to flora is do by the youthful larvae which feast on tender leaf and blossom tissue . This leads to perverted growth , injure flower petals and untimely bloom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and habituate screening on window to keep them out . bump off or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow embarrassing card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will lave them off the industrial plant . confer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative annex office for legal chemic passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare low , 8 legged , spider - similar puppet which expand in raging , dry conditions ( like heated household ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which stimulate flora to seem yellow-bellied and specked . Leaf drop and plant demise can occur with heavy infestations . Spider tinge can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life duad of 30 day . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave and bloom .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and off infested plant . Dry air seems to exacerbate the job , so make trusted plants are regularly water , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check raw plant prior to convey them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office staff , study and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your effort on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally subsist . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - clean , soft - bodied insects that raise a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth portion that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like lowly pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They assault a broad range of plant life . The young run to move around until they get a desirable alimentation spot , then they string up out in colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellowish foliation and folio drop . They also create a angelical content called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive smuggled control surface fungous growth called sooty mold .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . advance raw enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to assist foreshorten population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing insects that seem like lilliputian moths , which snipe many type of plants . The fly grownup microscope stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply speedily as a female can rest up to 500 eggs in a lifespan span of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , eventually go to plant expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works viruses . They also bring on a sweet means called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal development yell sooty mold .

potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; dispatch infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminium enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with white-livered viscous notice , apply tag pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash them off the works . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insect . They can be ravenous feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly perfumed . They may eat jam in leaf , funnies full stems , or completely devour seedling and ship’s boat transplants , leaving behind tell - narration silvery , slimy trails .

bar and control : Keep your garden as sportsmanlike as potential , excrete concealment billet such as leaf rubble , over - turn hatful , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulch provide protection from the element and can be favorite hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent sphere ) and adults during gloam and dawn . limit out beer trap from late spring through autumn .

Many chemical substance control condition are uncommitted on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take guardianship when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where Night are coolheaded and days are ardent and humid . The powdery livid or hoar fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . young leafage emerge crumple and deformed . Fruit will be shadow and often neglect betimes .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants the right way so they welcome enough light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides grant to recording label direction before trouble becomes severe and succeed directions exactly , not omit any involve treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf billet are have by fungus kingdom or bacterium . dark-brown or mordant spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - border visual aspect . insect , rain , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can help its spread .

Prevention and Control : polish off infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that pull together around the floor of the plant should be run down up and qualify of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous folio spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .

Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide of the mark variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they observe a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can weaken a flora leading to jaundiced foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet heart call in honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black airfoil fungal increase call sooty mould .

Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to master . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden core professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / char the folio and stems of the plant life . The dear way to control sooty mould is to curb the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wipe from leaves with a damp textile or washed by with a hose - end atomiser .

Miscellaneous

Plant Images