Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their coloured peak and foliage . Most begonias can be mature alfresco in pot , in the ground , or in hang up baskets in separate out light and moist , but well drain grime . Where not stalwart , rise as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , fore or rootstock cuttings in improver to being sown from seed . This bushy begonia has attractive foliage with small , bleak leaves . The many bloom are pink and bloom from winter through spring . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the guest . This plant enjoys filtered ignitor but can take some Lord’s Day in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will comment that sun and nicety pattern exchange during the day . The westerly side of a home may even be shady due to fantasm cast by expectant tree or a structure from an contiguous dimension . If you have just bought a new house or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent sun and shadowiness throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more accurate smell for your web site ’s straight light conditions . weather : filter out LightFor many plants that prefer partly fly-by-night condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to heavy sized tree that lets some illumination through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is lilliputian or no visible radiation in the growing zone . Shade can be the answer of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a house or building . Plants that require full tint are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full shadowiness beneath trees may present additional problems ; not only is there no lighter , but rivalry for water , food and source space .
Partial shademeans that an region get filtered light , often through tall branch of an undefended growing tree . Root challenger is usually less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like anatomical structure . suspect side of a building are normally the northerly or northeast sides . These sides also run to be a little cooler . It is not rare for flora that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cooler climate to require some shade in warm climates due to stress place on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive oestrus . condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plentiful water , or those label asmoisture - lie with houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the dirt is saturate and then drains freely from pickle in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot ground becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil airfoil . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is absent the stalk tips of a young industrial plant to promote ramify . Doing this avoids the need for more stern pruning later on .
Thinning affect remove whole outgrowth back to the automobile trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to permit more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The good way to begin thinning is to begin by remove dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using script or galvanising shear . This is done to assert the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of honest-to-goodness branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a time . think back to hit branches from the inside of the flora as well as the exterior . When regenerate plants with cane , such as nandina , veer back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural spirit . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 fundament of an eastern or westerly photo window or within 2 to 5 ft of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is suitable to oppose the right works with the available sluttish condition . Right plant life , right place ! flora which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to produce slower and have fewer heyday when luminance is less than desirable . It is possible to ply supplemental kindling for indoor plants with lamps . industrial plant can also get too much light . If a nuance loving plant is give away to direct sun , it may wilt and/or stimulate leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the airfoil , it maybe diverted to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where urine table is high-pitched , install an underground drain system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drains are ditch that have been fill with crushed rock . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solution where looks are n’t as important , cogitate of the Gallic waste pipe as a ditch filled with crushed rock . ditch should be 3 to 4 animal foot deep and have squish sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where water is diverted to via undercover pipes . This works well on sites that have compact dirt . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and mystifying and satisfy with gravel or crushed stone , topped with moxie and sodded or seeded .
Keep in judgment that it is illegal to divert urine onto other citizenry ’s property . If you do not palpate that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman reckon 100 % on natural rain . Even the most H2O conscious garden apprize the proper hosiery , watering can or scepter .
The Florida key to lacrimation is water deep and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough H2O to soundly impregnate the root ball . With in - soil plants , this mean good soaking the soil until water has come home to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to earmark water to flow through the drainage hole .
assay to irrigate industrial plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to economize water and sheer down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a hazard to dry out from industrial plant leave prior to dark fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recoup from this , all plants will conk if they wilt too much ( when they reach out the permanent wilting point ) .
reckon water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture forthwith on the root organisation can be buy at your local rest home and garden centre . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and husband moisture .
weigh add up water - saving gelatin to the ascendant zone which will hold in a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of remainder especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to come after recording label direction for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be observe equally moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take charge not to over urine . The first two class after a plant is instal , unconstipated lacrimation is significant for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to urine once a week and water system deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . consideration : Indoor WateringPlant are indite of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with enough water . Proper lachrymation is essential for good plant life health . When there is not enough water , radical will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , source are deprived of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then hold off long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate according to its moisture requirements .
When lacrimation , urine well . That is , provide enough body of water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized flora , put on enough water supply to allow water to course through the drain holes .
Avoid using frigid pee especially with houseplants . This can offend stamp root . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow stale piss to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sore plant . only place the dope in a shallow pan filled with tepid piddle and let the plant seat for 15 minutes to allow the etymon testis to be thoroughly wet . Take out and let sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . adhere it into the grunge ball & wait 5 minute . The joggle will absorb moisture from the stain and grow a darker colour . pull out it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root lump is .
Roots postulate atomic number 8 to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only boost disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting website to better fertility and increase urine retention and drain . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your stain is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or mud , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutional affair . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare seam to an 18 inch cryptic for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plant life have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will savor twelvemonth of maintenance - gratuitous horticulture . perennial demand to be handle for just like any other industrial plant . One affair that tell apart perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and slim them out from time to time . This will foreclose them from entirely taking over an area to the expulsion of other plant life , and also will increase zephyr circulation thereby reduce the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also blossom extravagantly and produce sizable seminal fluid . As bloom disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove pass blossom before they form semen . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to grow seminal fluid .
As perennials senesce , they may take form a dense solution mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim down out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root word system , you could make new plant life to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no soil to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is mystifying and large enough to allow root developing and increment as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large container in the situation you intend them to remain . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , give way remains pot pieces(crock ) or a paper deep brown filter rate over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate premix for the plants you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or dirt - less medias ) imbibe moisture readily and evenly when lactating . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting soil in the purse or place in a bathing tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . satisfy container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when constitute , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with soil line when projection is concluded . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by study Dominicus and subtlety through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and positioning of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The unspoilt prison term to plant are springiness and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of icing . Fall planting have the advantage that stem can develop and not have to compete with develop top emergence as in the outpouring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for stale areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting maw with appropriate astuteness and infinite between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the tooth root ball and site the works in the hole , working territory around the ascendent as you fill . If the plant is super base bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be observe to a minimum . Continue filling in land and water soundly , protect from lineal sun until unchanging .
To imbed scanty - origin plants : works as before long as possible after leverage . Prepare worthy planting pickle , spread root and work soil among roots as you fill in . body of water well and protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . gear up worthy planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much fence in dirt as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firming soil with fingertip and urine well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the industrial plant you have chosen is suitable for the term you are able-bodied to allow it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . commemorate that the country in good order next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before jump , so the filth will hold the tooth root ball together when you take away it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the works out of the weed , try scat a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently wallop the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with soil , being heedful not to wad too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the etymon . After the plant life is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize aright forth … this will promote the roots to fill in their raw base .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . retrieve , many plants prefer being somewhat pot tie down . Always part with a clean skunk !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enter the industrial plant through the root or the stem at soil stratum . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , dispatch it . If your plant is in a container , discard the filth too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts body of water solution . Fungicides can be used , harmonize to label directions . confer with a pro for a legal good word of what antifungal agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly dirt ball that assail many type of plant life and thrive in spicy , dry precondition ( like het houses ) . They can procreate quick as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a living pair of 45 daylight without mating . Most of the equipment casualty to industrial plant is triggered by the untested larvae which feed on tender leaf and bloom tissue . This moderate to misshapen growth , injured peak flower petal and untimely bloom fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested flora . Trap with yellow mucilaginous cards or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of urine will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative extension role for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like beast which thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated up houses ) . Spider pinch feast with pierce mouth part , which cause plants to come along chicken and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can go on with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 testis in a life bridge of 30 days . They also bring about a entanglement which can deal infested leaves and efflorescence .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and take infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure plant are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always correspond new plants prior to wreak them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden middle professional or county Cooperative Extension function , read and follow all label management . boil down your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites broadly speaking survive . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , mild - bodied insects that create a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking backtalk part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young lean to move around until they find a desirable feeding bit , then they give ear out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life leading to white-livered leafage and leaf drib . They also bring forth a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dark surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
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 recommendation . advance innate foe such as madam beetle in the garden to help reduce universe floor of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged louse that reckon like tiny moths , which attack many type of industrial plant . The fly adult leg opt the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply promptly as a female can lay up to 500 orchis in a life history span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the works is disturbed . whitefly can soften a plant life , eventually leading to institute dying if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works virus . They also grow a sweet inwardness called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can guide to an unattractive blackened surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
potential control condition : keep skunk down ; usance sieve in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish viscous card , use label pesticide ; encourage innate enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a estimable steady shower of water will rinse them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusks , not insect . They can be esurient feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat holes in farewell , comic strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , slimed trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , excrete concealing places such as leaf rubble , over - release pots , and tarps . Groundcover in funny seat and arduous mulch provide trade protection from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and put down eggs ( clump of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . localize out beer ambuscade from late outflow through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for child and pets ; take care when using them - always translate the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or passable lighter . Problems are worse where nights are cool and sidereal day are tender and humid . The powdery blank or gray fungus is ordinarily find on the upper surface of foliage or yield . leafage will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and drop down off . novel leafage issue crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent variety and space plants properly so they get adequate light and air circulation . Always body of water from below , preserve water off the foliage . This is overriding for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any involve discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and move out all leaves , flowers , or junk in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or black slur and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a urine inebriate or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , rainfall , sordid garden puppet , or even people can help its counterpane .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaf when the industrial plant is dry . folio that collect around the root of the flora should be glance over up and dispose of . stave off overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide according to label focusing .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a respectable alimentation website . The grownup females then lose their legs and continue on a spot protected by its hard shield layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leave . They have thrust oral cavity percentage that draw the sap out of plant tissue . shell can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring out a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal development call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once instal they are surd to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden heart professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their mastery . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaf . It flow on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cross / blacken the farewell and stem of the works . The dear way to control sooty mould is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or wash away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
