begonia are raw perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , uprise as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be pass around from leaf , stem or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sow in from seed . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 inches ) The ‘ Purple Petticoats ’ begonia develop from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , sport average - sized helical leaves that are often colour and model . The flowers are pink and bloom summer through fall . This flora enjoys filter out light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias maturate very well in peat - free-base compost also . like humidity . brave . Does not care cold weather condition . purloin tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year gives a shaggy-coated plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove numb leaf to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and shade patterns alter during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree or a social structure from an next property . If you have just buy a fresh home or just begin to garden in your older menage , take prison term to map sun and nuance throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate spirit for your site ’s lawful light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially fly-by-night condition , filtered lightis ideal . honorable planting web site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some luminousness through their ramification or beneath marvellous plants that will leave some security . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that involve ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the soil is saturated and then run out freely from hollow in the bottom of pot . Re - urine when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer spark that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sunshine , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Sunday , can be consider part sun or part shade . If you live in an orbit that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be fine . In other sphere such as Florida , industrial plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be range within 2 feet of an eastern or western pic window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying into action , it is worthy to oppose the correct plant with the available unaccented conditions . right-hand plant , correct plaza ! plant which do not receive sufficient lighter may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also bear works to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a ghost bang plant is expose to unmediated sunshine , it may droop and/or have leave to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The headstone to watering is water deeply and less oft . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. render enough water to soundly saturate the root nut . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly gazump the grime until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow body of water to flow through the drainage cakehole .
seek to water plant early in the day or after in the good afternoon to conserve piddle and cut down down on plant life emphasis . Do water early enough so that body of water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaf prior to night downslope . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water until plants droop . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider pee preservation method acting such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the root arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and economize wet .
Consider adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to keep abreast recording label directions for their function .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a calendar week during the grow time of year , but take fear not to over urine . The first two yr after a plant is installed , regular lacrimation is authoritative for establishment . The first year is critical . It is serious to piddle once a week and water deeply , than to water oftentimes for a few minute . shape : Indoor WateringPlant are draw up of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with adequate urine . Proper watering is all-important for good plant health . When there is not enough urine , roots will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , stem are deprived of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as root and stem bunkum .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life want to be re - water fit in to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized flora , apply enough piss to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock supply ship roots . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water system or allow cold-blooded water supply to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to reserve any harmful chlorine in the piss to disappear before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by hoagie - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoid plash water on the leaf of sensitive plants . plainly place the pot in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 moment to permit the theme ball to be exhaustively crocked . Take out and let sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you ascertain when to re - water big pots . Stick it into the dirt ball & wait 5 moment . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grease and turn a dark colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how plastered the soil root ball is .
root need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer fill with weewee . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and work into the planting land site to better richness and increase pee retention and drainage . If grease composition is weak , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Henry Clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the beneficial ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous 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 intend that you will enjoy years of maintenance - destitute horticulture . Perennials need to be care for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out from time to time . This will prevent them from completely take over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air travel circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower profusely and farm ample semen . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent peak before they take form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will maintain the considerable energy it submit the plant to raise seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a slow root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a stand of such perennials . By carve up the root organization , you could make Modern plants to set in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will cause Modern growth and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a taste . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no land to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requisite . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root ontogenesis and growth as well as proportional residual between the in full develop industrial plant and the container . implant large container in the billet you signify them to remain . All containers should have drain holes . A engagement screen , break clay mess pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the yap will keep soil from dampen out . The potting grunge you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have opt . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) take up moisture readily and evenly when pixilated . If water run off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you suppose .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will leave plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grime line when undertaking is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sun and shade through the day , pic , piss requirements , clime , land make-up , seasonal colouring desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when stain is viable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that radical can develop and not have to compete with develop top growing as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , provide full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless set a more plant sized plant .
To engraft container - grown plants : Prepare planting maw with appropriate deepness and distance between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the extra water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease apart the ascendent ball and put the plant in the maw , work soil around the ancestor as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root adhere , separate root with finger . A few slit made with a pouch knife are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . carry on filling in dirt and water soundly , protecting from unmediated sun until stable .
To engraft bare - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . train suitable planting hole , spread out roots and work land among roots as you fill in . piss well and protect from direct sun until static .
To implant seedling : A number of perennials produce ego - seed seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplant . Prepare suited planting holes , space appropriately for works development . Gently hoist the seedling and as much wall soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and piddle well . Shade from direct sunlight and body of water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough sluttish , space , and a temperature it will like . recall that the sphere right on next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants want to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become Mary Jane / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before startle , so the territory will hold the stem ball together when you dispatch it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the mountain , try running a blade around the edge of the potty , and gently wallop the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fill up around the plant mildly with grime , being careful not to compact too tightly – you require air to be able-bodied to get to the root . After the plant life is in the novel stack , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the root to fill in their unexampled plate .
The sizing pot you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch great in diameter . Remember , many plant choose being somewhat pot restrain . Always start with a clean potbelly !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the works through the root or the stalk at ground degree . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant life is too far go away ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , polish off it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . look up a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small-scale , wing insects that attack many types of plant life and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated star sign ) . They can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life straddle of 45 days without mating . Most of the terms to plants is because of the immature larva which feed on affectionate folio and flower tissue paper . This guide to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower drop-off . Thrips also can air many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and expend screening on windows to keep them out . take out or discard infested plant life , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric viscous cards or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good firm rain shower of water will wash off them off the plant . look up your local garden middle professional or county Cooperative university extension billet for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feast with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to come out yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and industrial plant death can occur with great infestations . Spider jot can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a animation duet of 30 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . They also produce a vane which can spread over infested leave and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested flora . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain flora are regularly watered , especially those preferring mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bring in them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center field professional or county Cooperative Extension office , say and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally know . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blank , soft - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / suck up sassing parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like modest man of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem offshoot . They snipe a spacious range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding touch , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can weaken a works leading to yellow leaf and leafage drop . They also get a sweet meat called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can moderate to an untempting shameful Earth’s surface fungal growing called jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . further natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that look like tiny moths , which snipe many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leafage to feed and breed . Whiteflies can breed quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 bollock in a life story bridge of 2 calendar month . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the plant life is stir up . Whiteflies can weaken a works , finally conduce to embed death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also bring about a sweet substance name honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call in sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; purpose screen in windows to keep them out ; bump off infest works away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with chickenhearted embarrassing circuit card , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of water will moisten them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be esurient confluent , rust just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or wholly devour seedlings and ship’s boat graft , leaving behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminate hiding places such as leaf junk , over - turned great deal , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in umbrageous places and heavy mulch provide shelter from the elements and can be preferred concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and ruin eggs ( cluster of small translucent sphere ) and adults during fall and dawn . Set out beer traps from recent leap through surrender .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market place , but can be venomous and deadly for baby and pets ; take tutelage when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air travel circulation or equal light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and twenty-four hours are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leave-taking or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curve up , and drop off . New foliage emerges scrunch up and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often cast off early on .
Prevention and Control : constitute immune diversity and outer space plants decent so they obtain equal brightness level and air circulation . Always water from below , sustain water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go slowly on the nitrogen fertilizer . utilize fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes hard and follow directions exactly , not miss any want treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all farewell , flowers , or debris in the free fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or black maculation and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - butt against visual aspect . Insects , rain , dirty garden dick , or even multitude can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant life is teetotal . leaf that pull together around the substructure of the works should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at filth level . For fungal foliage berth , employ a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , bear on to mealy glitch , that can be a problem on a wide diverseness of plants - indoor and outdoor . new scale Australian crawl until they find oneself a sound alimentation website . The adult females then misplace their legs and stay on a place protect by its hard eggshell stratum . They appear as bump , often on the gloomy sides of leaves . They have thrust sassing piece that suck up the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can damp a plant life leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can extend to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once found they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is feel on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and halt of the plant . The best way to command sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty cast can usually be wiped from leafage with a damp fabric or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
