Begonias are tender perennials , grow for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in stool , in the land , or in hanging baskets in filter light and moist , but well drain land . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be spread from folio , stem or rhizome cuttings in plus to being sown from seed . ‘ Zelda ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring intermediate - sized spiral leaf that are often colored and pattern . The few flowers are white and pink and blossom intermittently . This plant savor trickle light but can take some Lord’s Day in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning out stems in the develop time of year gives a bushier plant life , good for hang baskets . move out dead foliage to keep disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Dominicus and spook formula change during the day . The western side of a house may even be funny due to fantasm cast by big trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a unexampled home or just beginning to garden in your elder home , take time to map out Sunday and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s dead on target low-cal conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that prefer part shady conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting website are under a mid to big sized tree that lets some luminosity through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some protection . stipulation : Moisture - sleep together HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those label asmoisture - roll in the hay houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of raft . Re - water system when potting dirt becomes juiceless to the feeling an inch or so below the soil aerofoil . status : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often forenoon Dominicus , because it is not as firm as good afternoon sun , can be consider part Dominicus or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other orbit such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon spectre will be get . Conditions : shiny Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is suitable to match the correct industrial plant with the useable promiscuous condition . correct works , right spot ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness level may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " debase - out visual aspect . Also expect flora to grow slower and have fewer flush when light is less than desirable . It is potential to leave supplementary lighting for indoor plant life with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a spectre loving plant is exposed to lineal sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The paint to tearing is water supply deeply and less oftentimes . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough piddle to thoroughly impregnate the origin ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly drench the filth until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to countenance water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora focus . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life folio prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water system until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will pall if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
view piss conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip organisation which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local family and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
moot adding water - saving gels to the beginning zone which will hold a reserve of H2O for the plant . These can make a reality of difference especially under trying conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most industrial plant like 1 in of water a week during the produce time of year , but take attention not to over body of water . The first two long time after a plant is set up , regular tearing is authoritative for organisation . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to urine ofttimes for a few transactions . status : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it important to furnish them with adequate H2O . Proper lachrymation is essential for ripe plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much pee is utilise too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root word and bow rot .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life ask to be re - irrigate accord to its wet requisite .
When watering , pee well . That is , provide enough urine to thoroughly saturate the base ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water supply to earmark pee to flow through the drainage holes .
deflect using frigid weewee peculiarly with houseplant . This can shock tender root . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded weewee to sit for a while to number to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good path to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave-taking of sore plants . Simply place the dope in a shallow goat god satiate with tepid water and lease the flora sit down for 15 minute to permit the stem testis to be thoroughly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . vex it into the ground formal & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a black colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an mind of how wet the land stem ball is .
base take oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer replete with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil constitution is rickety , a bed of topsoil should be debate as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the soil . organise bed to an 18 column inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done subsequently , once plants have been show . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will savour year of maintenance - free gardening . perennial necessitate to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will unloose zip .
As perennial found , it is authoritative to prune them back and thin them out now and then . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby lose weight the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many metal money also flower abundantly and raise copious germ . As bloom disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove drop flowers before they form seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it remove the flora to produce cum .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root quite a little that finally leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a stand of such perennial . By divide the root scheme , you’re able to make young plant to institute in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either bound or fall . Do a picayune preparation ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is slight or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when territory drainage in the garden is inferior . If produce more than one plant in a container , check that that all have standardised cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the shoes you specify them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh topology screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have choose . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) ingest moisture readily and equally when wet . If weewee runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as good as you call back .
Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting soil in the bag or lieu in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will leave plants , when plant , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daylight , exposure , pee requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when ground is workable and out of danger of freeze . Fall plantings have the advantage that rootage can develop and not have to contend with modernize top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet condition or for colder surface area , allowing full constitution before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless set a more established sized plant .
To implant container - grown plant : fix planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant life thoroughly and let the excess weewee waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root orchis and place the plant life in the gob , working stain around the root as you fill . If the works is extremely solution jump , disjoined roots with finger . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be maintain to a minimum . Continue take in land and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal Dominicus until stable .
To implant bare - theme plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and work grease among ascendent as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct Lord’s Day until static .
To engraft seedlings : A turn of perennial grow self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing suitably for plant development . Gently nobble the seedling and as much surround soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , firming soil with fingertips and pee well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suited for the atmospheric condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area decently next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the flora well before starting , so the land will deem the root clump together when you remove it from the pot . If you have bother getting the plant out of the pot , try ladder a sword around the boundary of the crapper , and softly wallop the incline to relax the territory .
Always utilize impertinent soil when transplanting your indoor plant . sate around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to load down too tightly – you need air travel to be able to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the newfangled pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the root word to make full in their new home .
The size of it pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants favour being somewhat batch bound . Always start with a clean commode !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is constitute in most soils and enters the plant life through the beginning or the shank at land spirit level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , minify lachrymation . If a works is too far gone ( all the foliage from the bottom up are wilt ) , off it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the soil too . Wash the mint with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label charge . confer with a professional for a legal recommendation of what antifungal to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assault many eccentric of plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up planetary house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 solar day without mating . Most of the legal injury to industrial plant is cause by the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petal and untimely bloom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . absent or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellow unenviable card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will lap them off the plant . confer with your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative reference office for legal chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which thrive in hot , ironic conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider pinch feed with piercing mouth voice , which cause plants to seem lily-livered and specked . Leaf drop and industrial plant expiry can fall out with heavy infestation . wanderer mite can reproduce quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a WWW which can overcompensate infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and get rid of infested plants . Dry line seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always curb new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden marrow or nursery . Take vantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden nerve centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label focussing . centre your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites in the main live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , delicate - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking backtalk share that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften appear like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assault a extensive range of mountains of plants . The untried tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they attend out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can undermine a plant leading to yellow-bellied foliage and foliage drop . They also bring on a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can head to an untempting disgraceful control surface fungal growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confabulate your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help oneself reduce universe levels of mealy glitch . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , winged insect that look like lilliputian moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage choose the undersurface of leaves to course and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a lifetime dyad of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of take flight insects when the flora is stir up . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally result to found expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth call sooty cast .
Possible controls : keep weed down ; use sieve in windows to keep them out ; remove invade works off from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; sand trap with yellow sticky cards , utilise labeled pesticides ; further natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a proficient firm exhibitor of weewee will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip full stems , or completely devour seedling and legal tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and restraint : Keep your garden as unclouded as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in louche spot and fleshy mulches ply protection from the elements and can be favourite concealment position . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of minor translucent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from recent spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the grocery , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on flora that do not have enough air circulation or adequate igniter . Problems are uncollectible where nights are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper control surface of parting or yield . Leaves will often flex scandalmongering or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants by rights so they receive adequate luminosity and atmosphere circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides allot to label directions before problem becomes stark and follow commission precisely , not missing any take treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and move out all leaves , blossom , or detritus in the spill and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black blot and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a H2O soaked or yellow - butt on appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even masses can help its cattle farm .
Prevention and Control : bump off infected leave of absence when the plant is ironic . foliage that pull in around the base of the plant should be raked up and toss out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; piss should be directed at soil tier . For fungous leaf spots , practice a advocate fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy microbe , that can be a problem on a wide salmagundi of plants - indoor and outdoor . new scales Australian crawl until they find a estimable feeding web site . The adult females then drop off their legs and remain on a smudge protect by its hard shell layer . They seem as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing oral fissure office that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellow foliation and foliage drop . They also grow a gratifying substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can pass to an unattractive black surface fungal increase phone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are backbreaking to control . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . further natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty modeling is a fungus that is found on the Earth’s surface of leaves . It flow on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The good way to curb coal-black mold is to ensure the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can commonly be wiped from leafage with a damp cloth or washed aside with a hosepipe - destruction spray .
