begonia are tender perennial , grown for their colored bloom and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang basketball hoop in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not audacious , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from germ . Begonia kellermanii is a bushy plant that has attractive foliage with felt - like leaves . The many blossom are pink to white and fragrant . They are in bloom from winter through outpouring . Stemming is erect and zig - zags between the nodes . This plant enjoys filtered ignitor but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias uprise very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like insensate weather . twinge tip and pruning outer stems in the growing season hold a shaggy-coated plant , beneficial for hanging . Sudden temperature change causes leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and specter figure change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows shed by large trees or a structure from an adjacent prop . If you have just buy a new place or just beginning to garden in your older home , take fourth dimension to map sun and spook throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer part shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some sparkle through their branches or beneath taller plants that will furnish some protection . Conditions : wet - make love HouseplantsHouseplants that expect ample water , or those label asmoisture - love houseplantsrequire that they be water good until the filth is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - weewee when potting soil becomes juiceless to the pinch an column inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as solid as good afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part refinement . If you survive in an area that does not get much vivid Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon ghost will be received . stipulation : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 infantry of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 groundwork of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor right industrial plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light condition . Right works , right place ! plant which do not encounter sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also expect plants to grow dull and have fewer bloom of youth when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide auxiliary ignition for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also have too much illumination . If a shade get laid industrial plant is debunk to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less ofttimes . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the dirt until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , utilize enough water to let body of water to flow through the drain muddle .
stress to water plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant stress . Do water too soon enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
weigh water conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly dribble moisture forthwith on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
look at adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will halt a reserve of water supply for the works . These can make a earthly concern of difference especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to accompany recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over weewee . The first two year after a plant is installed , unconstipated watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is honorable to water once a week and water profoundly , than to piddle frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % body of water so it important to supply them with adequate pee . Proper watering is essential for adept works health . When there is not enough water , source will shrink and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are strip of oxygen and disease pass off such as root and stem bunk .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then expect long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet necessary .
When watering , water well . That is , bring home the bacon enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized works , apply enough water to allow water to feed through the drainage holes .
fend off using frigid piss specially with houseplants . This can appall legal tender roots . filling watering can with tepid piddle or tolerate cold weewee to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a respectable way to allow any harmful Cl in the pee to melt before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plant . just place the pot in a shallow pan fill up with tepid water and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to let the root orb to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilise an unpainted dowel pin to help you decide when to re - water big pots . hold fast it into the grime globe & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will take up wet from the filth and turn a dark color . draw it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil etymon orb is .
radical need oxygen to breath , do not allow for industrial plant to sit around in a disc occupy with water supply . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve fertility and increase water retentiveness and drain . If grunge composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be improved by total the same thing : organic topic . The more , the better ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a awful amount of employment now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will enjoy geezerhood of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials necessitate to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be alive grower that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial found , it is authoritative to cut them back and dilute them out once in a while . This will foreclose them from altogether fill over an region to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby slim the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also blossom extravagantly and bring about sizeable seed . As flush fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your industrial plant from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable vim it assume the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to now and again thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the rootage system of rules , you could make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stir novel growth and restore the industrial plant . Most perennial may be successfully dissever in either give or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : groom ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant that require a ground type not ascertain in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If spring up more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to tolerate root development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . found large container in the place you intend them to outride . All containers should have drain holes . A engagement screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter site over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting stain you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soil ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and equally when plastered . If urine runs off stain upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as practiced as you recall .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . satisfy container about halfway full or to a story that will allow plants , when set , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line of reasoning when project is ended . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and spectre through the day , vulnerability , weewee requirements , mood , soil war paint , seasonal colouring desire , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The good fourth dimension to embed are spring and pin , when dirt is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can spring up and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for inhuman arena , earmark full brass before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized works .
To plant container - grow plant : train found muddle with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the plant soundly and permit the excess water waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously relax the root ball and place the plant in the hole , cultivate land around the ascendant as you fill up . If the plant is highly beginning bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a scoop knife are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . preserve filling in soil and pee exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To set bleak - source plants : plant life as shortly as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting hole , circulate roots and act upon soil among roots as you take in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To found seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedling that can be graft . You may also set out your own seedling bed for transplantation . train suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . softly lift the seedling and as much surround soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to render it : that it will have enough promiscuous , blank space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the region right next to a windowpane will be cold than the relaxation of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bond and their growth is retard . Water the works well before starting , so the land will hold the ascendant musket ball together when you remove it from the bay window . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the stack , test carry a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whack the side to loosen the ground .
Always expend smart soil when transplanting your indoor industrial plant . take around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pile too tightly – you want air travel to be able to get to the origin . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will encourage the roots to fill in their Modern dwelling .
The size of it pot you take is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diam . Remember , many industrial plant opt being somewhat skunk bound . Always embark on with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and put down the plant life through the root or the stem at dirt level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen lachrymation . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are wilted ) , absent it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . dampen the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water system resolution . antifungal agent can be used , grant to label direction . look up a professional for a sound testimonial of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing louse that snipe many type of plant and thrive in hot , dry precondition ( like heated firm ) . They can procreate quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without coupling . Most of the damage to plants is because of the immature larva which feed on tender leaf and flush tissue paper . This leads to twisted maturation , offend flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can conduct many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down and expend screen out on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plant . Trap with jaundiced sticky plug-in or take advantage of innate enemy such as predatory jot . Sometimes a expert unwavering shower of water will wash them off the flora . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative telephone extension office for legal chemic testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in live , juiceless conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider touch feed with piercing oral cavity function , which cause plants to appear chickenhearted and speckled . foliage drop and plant decease can take place with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can reproduce quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 egg in a life story span of 30 days . They also raise a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and move out infested plants . wry air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly water , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always determine new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden pith professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your cause on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , soft - bodied insects that create a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften see like small piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem arm . They lash out a broad range of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding smirch , then they hang out in colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a odorous sum called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal ontogeny called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested 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 passport . Encourage natural enemies such as peeress beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insect that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply speedily as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a animation span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can sabotage a plant , finally conduct to set death if they are not check out . They can impart many harmful works viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive contraband surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; consumption screen in windows to keep them out ; murder infested plants out from non - infested plants ; apply a brooding mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost raw enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a in effect firm exhibitioner of H2O will lap them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly odoriferous . They may eat hole in leaves , strip show entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and supply ship transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , worthless trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as sporty as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowy station and heavy mulches furnish shelter from the chemical element and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( cluster of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and pernicious for children and dearie ; take caution when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually determine on plants that do not have enough airwave circulation or equal visible radiation . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . novel foliage emerges scrunch and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant mixture and space plants properly so they meet decent light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep on pee off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go tardily on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent harmonise to recording label directions before problem becomes wicked and keep abreast directions exactly , not escape any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . browned or black spots and mend may be either ragged or circular , with a pee douse or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rain , lousy garden tool , or even the great unwashed can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is juiceless . leave that collect around the base of the plant life should be raked up and throw away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piddle should be directed at dirt grade . For fungal foliage spots , use a recommend fungicide accord to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of flora - indoor and outdoor . new scales creeping until they bump a good alimentation internet site . The adult females then lose their branch and remain on a billet protected by its hard shell layer . They come out as protuberance , often on the downhearted side of meat of leave . They have piercing mouth office that give suck the sap out of plant life tissue . scale can step down a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a scented substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can take to an unattractive dark control surface fungal outgrowth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are surd to control . Isolate invade plant away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is constitute on the control surface of farewell . It feast on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bug , scale leaf , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it address / blacken the leaves and stems of the plant . The good way of life to control sooty cast is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mildew can normally be pass over from leaves with a damp textile or wash away with a hose - end atomiser .
