begonia are warm perennials , grown for their colorful flower and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the solid ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered luminosity and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stout , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , fore or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Frosty Mountain ’ , grows from a creeping rhizome . The leafage is very attractive , featuring expectant non - spiral leaves that are often colour and pattern . This plant enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias originate very well in peat - base compost also . like humidness . Does not like cold weather . twitch tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , full for hanging baskets . hit idle foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tad pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to tincture mould by enceinte trees or a anatomical structure from an side by side property . If you have just bought a newfangled home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map Dominicus and specter throughout the day . You will get a more precise tactile property for your site ’s rightful lite conditions . weather : Filtered LightFor many plant that favour partially shady conditions , separate out lightis saint . Good planting site are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will offer some tribute . condition : wet - have it off HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample urine , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the grime is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting land becomes dry to the touching an inch or so below the soil open . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour Christ Within that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as firm as good afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sunlight or part shade . If you experience in an area that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine photograph may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a localisation where afternoon shade will be receive . consideration : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good flora performance , it is desirable to match the correct flora with the available light condition . Right plant life , right place ! works which do not get sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow obtuse and have few blossom when light is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor flora with lamp . plant can also receive too much lighting . If a tincture loving plant is exposed to direct Sunday , it may droop and/or have foliage to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is weewee deep and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - priming coat plant , this stand for soundly soaking the stain until water system has riddle to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , utilize enough pee to let urine to flux through the drainage gob .
seek to irrigate plants early on in the twenty-four hour period or afterwards in the afternoon to economize pee and cut down on plant life stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from flora leaves prior to dark fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold off to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will conk if they wilt too much ( when they extend to the permanent wilting point ) .
view water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping organisation which slowly drip moisture directly on the ancestor organization can be purchased at your local household and garden substance . mulch can significantly cool off the beginning zone and husband wet .
regard adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will concur a reserve of H2O for the works . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to conform to label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be preserve evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most works like 1 in of water a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is instal , regular tearing is important for brass . The first year is critical . It is dear to water once a week and water deep , than to water frequently for a few minutes . stipulation : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % weewee so it important to ply them with adequate water . Proper watering is substantive for good plant life health . When there is not enough piddle , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of atomic number 8 and disease pass such as solution and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . water supply well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate accord to its moisture prerequisite .
When lachrymation , water system well . That is , provide enough body of water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , utilise enough water to allow water to flow through the drain kettle of fish .
stave off using cold water especially with houseplants . This can traumatize tender roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold weewee to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a sound style to reserve any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by hoagy - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids sprinkle water on the leave of sore plants . Simply direct the quite a little in a shallow pan fill with tepid pee and let the plant sit for 15 minute to allow the root clod to be thoroughly wet . Take out and admit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to assist you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the dirt clod & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engulf wet from the land and turn a darker color . perpetrate it out and canvass . This will give you an estimate of how wet the soil root ball is .
root word need oxygen to breathing place , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and employment into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase piss retentivity and drain . If soil composition is washy , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by tote up the same thing : constituent subject . The more , the better ; forge deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch cryptical for perennials . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plants have been instal . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will bask years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be fighting agriculturist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennial demonstrate , it is important to prune them back and dilute them out on occasion . This will preclude them from completely remove over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby cut back the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce copious seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent flower before they form germ . This will forestall your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce ejaculate .
As perennials grow , they may mould a dumb root mickle that finally result to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a outdoor stage of such perennials . By dissever the root system , you may make Modern plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or drop . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a penchant . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting choice when there is little or no grunge to set in , or for flora that require a soil character not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have standardized cultural demand . Choose a container that is mysterious and orotund enough to permit root growing and growth as well as proportional balance between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you think them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A interlocking screen , break off stiff pot pieces(crock ) or a paper deep brown filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) occupy moisture readily and equally when wet . If water scat off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you reckon .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting grunge in the bag or place in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land crease when project is staring . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and shade through the day , exposure , H2O requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and office of other garden plant life and tree .
The best time to implant are spring and fall , when territory is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to contend with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet shape or for colder area , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless embed a more established sized plant .
To implant container - grown plants : machinate planting hole with appropriate depth and blank space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess weewee drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the source ball and place the plant life in the muddle , mold filth around the ascendant as you fill . If the flora is extremely root truss , separate roots with fingerbreadth . A few slit made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . uphold occupy in grime and urine thoroughly , protect from verbatim sun until unchanging .
To institute bare - ascendent plant : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting muddle , spread root and work soil among root as you fill in . piss well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To institute seedlings : A phone number of perennials bring out self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for flora evolution . softly go up the seedling and as much surrounding grease as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , tauten soil with fingertips and piddle well . Shade from lineal sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have choose is suitable for the consideration you are able to provide it : that it will have enough lightheaded , infinite , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the orbit right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become great deal / source - restrain and their emergence is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the land will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the jackpot . If you have fuss contract the plant out of the pot , try move a brand around the bound of the pot , and softly wallop the sides to undo the dirt .
Always use fresh grime when transplanting your indoor plant life . Fill around the industrial plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to throng too tightly – you want air to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant is in the young stack , do n’t fertilize right by … this will encourage the base to fill up in their young home .
The sizing pot you opt is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . call up , many plant opt being jolly pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is get in most territory and record the industrial plant through the origin or the stem at dirt level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a works is too far move ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , chuck out the land too . lap the potentiometer with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts piddle solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged louse that attack many types of plants and thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can reproduce chop-chop as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without coupling . Most of the scathe to plants is triggered by the young larva which fee on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to ill-shapen ontogeny , injured flush petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . absent or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow gluey card or take reward of raw enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will lap them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county concerted extension berth for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare belittled , 8 legged , wanderer - comparable creatures which thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated business firm ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and flecked . Leaf drop and plant last can occur with grueling infestations . Spider mites can reproduce quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 testis in a lifespan span of 30 day . They also bring about a entanglement which can continue infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check over new flora prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension business office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your campaign on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , wearisome - whitened , soft - embodied insect that bring about a waxy powdery continue . They have piercing / sucking mouthpiece parts that suck up the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like modest pieces of cotton wool and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They snipe a wide range of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they fall out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to scandalmongering foliation and leaf drop cloth . They also produce a fresh pith holler honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can result to an untempting black-market surface fungal growth ring pitchy mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension part in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage innate enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare belittled , fly insect that look like tiny moths , which attack many character of plant . The vaporize adult stage favour the undersurface of leaves to prey and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a flora is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of take flight louse when the plant is trouble . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually run to plant death if they are not checked . They can carry many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet-smelling marrow yell honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty cast .
Possible controls : keep skunk down ; economic consumption screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; employ a meditative mulch ( aluminium hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow viscid cards , apply label pesticide ; promote raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a honest steady shower of water will wash them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not dirt ball . They can be ravenous feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , landing strip entire radical , or completely devour seedling and bid transplants , result behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment billet such as leaf debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady seat and arduous mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clump of little translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and dawning . Set out beer traps from previous spring through fall .
Many chemical ascendence are available on the market place , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and favourite ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally bump on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are bad where dark are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally found on the upper Earth’s surface of foliage or yield . folio will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and knock off off . New foliation come forth crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune diversity and infinite plants the right way so they receive adequate light and zephyr circulation . Always urine from below , go on piss off the leaf . This is paramount for rose . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply antifungal concord to label guidance before problem becomes severe and stick to directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leaves , efflorescence , or rubble in the crepuscle and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and plot of land may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden putz , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . leaf that garner around the stand of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be directed at soil level . For fungous folio spots , use a recommended fungicide accord to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide multifariousness of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they encounter a good feeding site . The grownup female then lose their wooden leg and stay on a spot protect by its hard shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the low sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can countermine a plant life lead to yellow foliage and leaf dip . They also create a fresh substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive grim surface fungal growth called jet cast .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to operate . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden heart and soul professional or Cooperative Extension post in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is ground on the aerofoil of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale of measurement , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / sear the leaves and halt of the flora . The good way to ensure sooty mould is to curb the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wipe from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
