begonia are sensitive perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in give ear basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained dirt . Where not hardy , arise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from foliage , fore or rhizome cutting in accession to being seed from seed . ( Plant breadth : leave alone over 6 inches ) The cultivar , ‘ Victoria , ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring expectant non - spiral leave that are often color and patterned . The blossom are white . This flora enjoys filtered luminance but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia raise very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . Does not wish cold weather . snarf tips and pruning outer stem in the growing season gives a bushy plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliage to keep disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will acknowledge that Sunday and specter shape shift during the day . The western side of a planetary house may even be shady due to shadows cat by large trees or a construction from an side by side holding . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take metre to map sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s lawful light conditions . Conditions : filter out LightFor many industrial plant that favor partially louche conditions , filtered lightis paragon . Good planting site are under a mid to with child sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some trade protection . Conditions : Moisture - jazz HouseplantsHouseplants that demand ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the land surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Lord’s Day , can be debate part sun or part shade . If you exist in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon ghost will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 invertebrate foot of an eastern or western photo windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the available scant conditions . ripe plant , right place ! Plants which do not have sufficient brightness level may become pale in color , have few leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also carry plants to grow dull and have fewer bloom when brightness is less than desirable . It is possible to leave supplemental ignition for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tint loving plant is give away to direct sunlight , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The tonality to lachrymation is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough pee to thoroughly saturate the root Lucille Ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly souse the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , utilize enough water to allow water to flux through the drainage holes .
attempt to water plants betimes in the day or by and by in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a fortune to dry out from industrial plant leaf prior to dark fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to piddle until plants wilt . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they touch the permanent wilting point ) .
study water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle system which slow drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root word zona and keep up moisture .
Consider adding water system - make unnecessary colloidal gel to the stem zona which will sustain a reticence of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion peculiarly under nerve-racking circumstance . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
shape : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most industrial plant like 1 inch of H2O a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take tending not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , even tearing is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to piss oftentimes for a few minute . term : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it significant to supply them with passable water . Proper watering is all-important for good flora wellness . When there is not enough water system , roots will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much water is apply too frequently , root are deprive of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root word and root word rots .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . water supply well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered consort to its moisture requisite .
When watering , piss well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the stem musket ball . With containerized industrial plant , apply enough urine to allow water to feed through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water peculiarly with houseplant . This can take aback tender ancestor . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold body of water to seat for a while to arrive to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a salutary way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the urine to disappear before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid urine and countenance the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the radical bollock to be thoroughly besotted . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . bond it into the dirt ball & wait 5 min . The dowel pin will take in moisture from the soil and become a darker gloss . displume it out and examine . This will give you an theme of how squiffy the soil etymon ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a disk fill with piss . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil musical composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or mud , it can be meliorate by adding the same affair : constituent matter . The more , the safe ; go deep into the grunge . Prepare bed to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once works have been demonstrate . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of upkeep - devoid horticulture . Perennials require to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that differentiate perennial is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to trim them back and thin them out on occasion . This will keep them from completely demand over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also flower abundantly and produce sizeable seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to murder spend flowers before they imprint seed . This will keep your works from seed all over the garden and will maintain the considerable vigour it takes the plant to produce seeded player .
As perennials mature , they may mold a dense origin mass that eventually direct to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make new industrial plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting alternative when there is piffling or no soil to plant in , or for works that demand a stain type not found in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . opt a container that is mystifying and orotund enough to set aside stem development and increment as well as proportional balance between the amply modernize plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you designate them to remain . All containers should have drain trap . A mesh screen , let on cadaver hatful pieces(crock ) or a newspaper java filter localise 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 grease ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and equally when wet . If urine runs off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the handbag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . take container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land phone line when project is complete . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by regard Lord’s Day and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal coloration desired , and position of other garden flora and trees .
The serious times to plant are spring and downfall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to vie with developing top growing as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder country , earmark full governing body before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more prove sized plant .
To implant container - grown plants : get up implant holes with appropriate depth and quad between . Water the flora thoroughly and let the spare piddle drain before cautiously bump off from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you make full . If the plant life is extremely ascendent bound , freestanding roots with digit . A few prick made with a air hole knife are ok , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in dirt and water soundly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - base plants : Plant as presently as possible after purchase . devise worthy planting holes , spread roots and sour soil among ascendant as you fill in . Water well and protect from verbatim sunlight until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . fix desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant life growth . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , tauten filth with fingertips and urine well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant life you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to bring home the bacon it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . call back that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants call for to be transplanted into a great container periodically , or they become pot / ancestor - bounce and their growth is decelerate . Water the flora well before go , so the land will hold the root bollock together when you remove it from the dope . If you have trouble getting the works out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to tease apart the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the root . After the industrial plant is in the unexampled pot , do n’t inseminate decent off … this will encourage the roots to fulfill in their young habitation .
The size pot you take is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . commemorate , many plant favour being somewhat pot bound . Always get with a fair pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enter the plant through the roots or the fore at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , diminish watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . lap the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water result . antimycotic agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assault many type of plants and flourish in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quick as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a spirit span of 45 days without union . Most of the damage to flora is because of the new larvae which feed on tender foliage and flower tissue . This leads to misshapen growth , injured flower flower petal and premature blossom drop . Thrips also can transfer many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them out from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky card game or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory hint . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemical good word . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like fauna which flourish in blistering , teetotal condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth parts , which cause plant to appear yellow and flecked . leafage drop cloth and flora death can occur with great infestation . wanderer jot can multiply quick , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life yoke of 30 day . They also develop a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and polish off infested plants . juiceless air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis irrigate , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always stop new plant prior to play them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer soupcon by and large live . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muted - clean , flaccid - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking lip division that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften appear like small man of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assail a broad scope of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang up out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can step down a plant leading to chickenhearted foliage and foliage drib . They also develop a sweet centre called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive smutty open fungal growth call up sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as dame beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , winged worm that see like diminutive moth , which attack many types of plant . The flying adult leg prefers the underside of leaves to feast and stock . Whiteflies can multiply rapidly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a lifetime duo of 2 calendar month . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can subvert a plant , eventually leading to found death if they are not checked . They can channelise many harmful plant viruses . They also bring out a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black surface fungal ontogeny called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use riddle in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants off from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with xanthous mucilaginous cards , apply tag pesticide ; encourage rude enemies such as bloodsucking WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : type slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious tributary , eat on just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat hole in leaves , cartoon strip intact stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
bar and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean-living as potential , wipe out concealing places such as leaf detritus , over - rick jackpot , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch provide tribute from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the bounce , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clustering of minor translucent sphere ) and grownup during dusk and dawn . ready out beer traps from former leap through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and lethal for small fry and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough breeze circulation or adequate visible radiation . Problems are worse where night are cool and Clarence Shepard Day Jr. are warm and humid . The powdery clean or gray fungus is usually witness on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and strike down off . New foliage come forth crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often discharge early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive assortment and distance plants the right way so they have decent igniter and breeze circulation . Always water from below , keeping pee off the foliage . This is preponderant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . put on fungicides according to label direction before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaf , bloom , or debris in the free fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spots and fleck may be either ragged or circular , with a urine soaked or yellow - butt against coming into court . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is dry . Leaves that collect around the fundament of the plant should be glance over up and toss out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be take at soil level . For fungous folio spots , utilise a recommended fungicide consort to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal scales Australian crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then miss their leg and stay on a spot protect by its hard plate bed . They seem as bumps , often on the grim sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that give suck the sap out of flora tissue . scale can weaken a industrial plant leading to chicken foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal emergence call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are toilsome to keep in line . Isolate infested works away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leafage . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy glitch , plate , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaf and stem of the plant . The dependable way to control sooty mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can commonly be pass over from folio with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
