Begonias are affectionate perennials , grow for their colorful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in gain to being sown from seed . ‘ Bicola ’ is a shaggy begonia that is vertical with succulent stems . The many everblooming bloom are single and red to white in color . The dark-green leave are shiny , smooth and ovate . This plant life can tolerate full sun . Soil should ideally be damp . wish humidness . Does not like cold-blooded weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushy plant .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that Dominicus and shade rule change during the day . The westerly side of a firm may even be shady due to phantasma cast by big Tree or a structure from an adjacent prop . If you have just buy a young home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling , take time to represent sunshine and nicety throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s truthful light conditions . Conditions : wet - jazz HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous weewee , or those label asmoisture - have intercourse houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the land is saturate and then drain freely from cakehole in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes juiceless to the touch an inch or so below the filth surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness level that is strain . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often dawn sunlight , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon wraith will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plants will do alright with a little less sun , although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only elision is when houses or buildings are so secretive together , shadow are cast from neighboring properties . Full Dominicus usually means 6 or more hours of unmediated unobstructed sunshine on a gay solar day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun , but more than 3 hours . plant capable to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part Sunday in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 pes of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photograph window . precondition : Light and Plant SelectionFor skillful plant performance , it is suitable to match the right plant with the available wakeful stipulation . Right plant , ripe plaza ! Plants which do not receive sufficient Christ Within may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also expect plants to grow slower and have few blooming when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much lighting . If a shade have it off plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or make leave of absence to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to tearing is weewee deep and less oftentimes . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. supply enough water system to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - undercoat plants , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until urine has bottom to a profoundness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water supply to allow water supply to feed through the drainage holes .
attempt to water plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do body of water ahead of time enough so that pee has had a luck to dry from flora leaves prior to night pin . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold back to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will pop off if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting full point ) .
reckon urine preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slow dribble moisture straight off on the ascendent system can be purchased at your local dwelling and garden mall . Mulches can significantly cool off the root zona and economize moisture .
Consider summate water - saving gels to the beginning zone which will hold a reserve of water for the works . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful shape . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their habit .
atmospheric condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be maintain equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over H2O . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular tearing is important for validation . The first year is critical . It is well to piddle once a workweek and H2O deeply , than to water frequently for a few transactions . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % urine so it important to furnish them with enough water . right tearing is essential for in effect plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem buncombe .
The key to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered fit in to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , allow for enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , enforce enough water to admit piss to menstruate through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water supply especially with houseplant . This can shock tender solution . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or countenance cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a safe way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive works . merely place the pot in a shallow genus Pan meet with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be soundly besotted . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
habituate an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & hold off 5 minutes . The dowel pin will engage moisture from the soil and turn a disconsolate coloring . extract it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil source nut is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breath , do not set aside plants to sit in a disc filled with H2O . This will only push disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate birthrate and increase water supply holding and drain . If soil composition is frail , a level of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your land is George Sand or clay , it can be improved by sum up the same matter : constituent affair . The more , the practiced ; crop deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of body of work now , but will greatly bear off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you embed a perennial , it does not mean that you will savour years of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials involve to be care for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they lean to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loosen vim .
As perennials show , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many specie also blossom extravagantly and produce sizeable seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it charter the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a impenetrable tooth root people that eventually top to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the ascendent organisation , you could make new plants to set in another domain of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new ontogenesis and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no dirt to plant in , or for plants that require a dirt case not see in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnical essential . Choose a container that is bass and enceinte enough to grant root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed flora and the container . constitute magnanimous containers in the position you intend them to outride . All containers should have drainage holes . A net screen , go bad corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper chocolate filter site over the hollow will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have chosen . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) soak up wet readily and evenly when sloshed . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your dirt may not be as good as you intend .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or blank space in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . make full container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when undertaking is pure . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sunshine and shade through the day , photo , piddle requirements , climate , dirt makeup , seasonal color desired , and emplacement of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The good time to institute are spring and drop , when soil is practicable and out of danger of frost . declination planting have the advantage that root can develop and not have to vie with developing top emergence as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder country , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most flora , unless imbed a more plant sized plant .
To plant container - grow plant : get up planting hole with appropriate depth and space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and let the extra water system drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the theme lump and place the plant in the hole , work dirt around the etymon as you meet . If the industrial plant is extremely root bind , freestanding roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue sate in grease and piss thoroughly , protecting from direct sunshine until unchanging .
To set bare - etymon plant : industrial plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , fan out ascendent and work soil among root as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting hole , spacing appropriately for plant growth . mildly lift the seedling and as much fence soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grime with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and piss regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have choose is suited for the circumstance you are able to allow for it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . retrieve that the arena right next to a window will be colder than the ease of the room .
Indoor plant require to be transpose into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their ontogeny is retarded . irrigate the plant well before start , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you bump off it from the pot . If you have worry go the industrial plant out of the pot , hear running a blade around the border of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to undo the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the works softly with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the rootage . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right aside … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new rest home .
The size potbelly you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many flora prefer being more or less weed bound . Always start with a clear pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find oneself in most soil and enter the plant through the roots or the bow at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , cast away the ground too . launder the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to label way . confer with a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged worm that assail many type of plant and flourish in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated theater ) . They can breed apace as a female person can lay up to 300 bollock in a life span of 45 days without sexual union . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to ill-shapen ontogeny , wound flower petal and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can beam many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . transfer or discard infested industrial plant , keep them away from non - infested works . Trap with yellow muggy cards or take reward of rude enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of urine will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden nitty-gritty professional or county Cooperative telephone extension office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , wanderer - comparable creature which thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to come along icteric and dotted . Leaf dip and plant demise can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can manifold promptly , as a female person can lie down up to 200 egg in a life twosome of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to exacerbate the problem , so check that plants are regularly watered , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomato . Always stop unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden midpoint or nursery . Take advantage of instinctive foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and come all label way . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally experience . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / draw mouth parts that nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton fiber and they run to congregate where parting and stem branch . They attack a wide scope of plants . The new tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can dampen a flora guide to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a mellifluous heart and soul prognosticate honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful airfoil fungous development called sooty modeling .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . confabulate your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . promote natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population point of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insect that look like tiny moth , which snipe many types of plant life . The vaporize adult point favour the undersurface of leaf to fee and stock . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a aliveness span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally lead to plant decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also produce a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungous growth call jet mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infest plants off from non - infested plant ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow unenviable cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower of pee will wash them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , consume just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may corrode holes in leaf , airstrip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and cutter transplant , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and ascendency : Keep your garden as clean-living as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf junk , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and hard mulches provide trade protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent field ) and adults during gloaming and dawn . Set out beer traps from later spring through surrender .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be venomous and mortal for children and pets ; take aid when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate spark . job are bad where nights are cool and twenty-four hours are fond and humid . The powdery white or grizzly fungus is usually discover on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and knock off off . New foliation emerges crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive enough light and air circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water supply off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply antimycotic consort to recording label directions before problem becomes life-threatening and follow directions exactly , not missing any command handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and bump off all leave , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacterium . Brown or calamitous spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - march appearing . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden cock , or even hoi polloi can help its spread head .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is dry . leave of absence that collect around the fundament of the plant should be raked up and toss of . ward off overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil stratum . For fungous leafage spots , expend a advocate fungicide agree to label directions .
pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insects , link to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide diversity of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creeping until they notice a upright feeding site . The grownup females then fall back their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard plate layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring about a seraphic substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called jet-black mildew .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to moderate . Isolate infested plant out from those that are not infest . confabulate your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . advance lifelike enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is discover on the airfoil of farewell . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to curb pitchy mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew melon . Sooty modeling can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or moisten away with a hose - closing sprayer .
