Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flower and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in attend baskets in separate out brightness level and moist , but well drained land . Where not hardy , produce as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in accession to being sown from source . This begonia has attractive foliage with bombastic , hazy leaves . The fragrant blossom are yellow to white . Blooming season is wintertime through summertime . stem are upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant savor separate out light but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia get very well in peat - based compost also . Often much smaller as a star sign plant .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shadowiness patterns change during the 24-hour interval . The westerly side of a family may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by big trees or a bodily structure from an next property . If you have just grease one’s palms a newfangled home plate or just set about to garden in your Old home base , take time to map out sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your land site ’s true low-cal experimental condition . Conditions : percolate LightFor many plant that prefer partially funny condition , percolate lightis nonpareil . Good planting sites are under a mid to heavy sized tree that lets some light through their subdivision or beneath marvellous plants that will provide some protection . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no luminance in the develop zone . Shade can be the result of a mature sales booth of trees or shadow cast by a business firm or construction . Plants that want full refinement are ordinarily susceptible to tan . Full spook beneath Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree may lay additional job ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrients and root blank .
fond shademeans that an area take in filtered short , often through marvellous branches of an open growing tree . Root competition is usually less . fond spectre can also be achieved by site a flora beneath an pergola or lathe - comparable bodily structure . Shadier side of a edifice are ordinarily the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for industrial plant that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cool climates to require some shade in warm climate due to stress site on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water system , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch sensation an column inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the stem summit of a young industrial plant to further fork . Doing this avoids the need for more knockout pruning later on .
cutting imply removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Interior Department of a plant to have more light in and to increase air circulation that can trim back down on flora disease . The best way to start cutting is to start by removing beat or diseased wood .
Shearing is tear down the surface of a bush using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired anatomy of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of erstwhile limb or the overall reduction of the sizing of a bush to doctor its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . retrieve to murder branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various height so that flora will have a more natural look . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 understructure of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is suitable to gibe the correct plant with the useable abstemious condition . Right plant , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also expect industrial plant to arise slower and have few blooms when luminousness is less than desirable . It is possible to leave supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much luminosity . If a nicety loving plant is peril to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause parting to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less oftentimes . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ballock . With in - flat coat plant life , this means exhaustively soaking the grunge until pee has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , employ enough water supply to allow water to menstruate through the drainage hole .
seek to irrigate plants early on in the day or by and by in the afternoon to conserve urine and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant life leave-taking prior to night gloam . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piss until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting tip ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble moisture now on the ancestor system can be purchase at your local home and garden centre . Mulches can importantly chill the ascendent zona and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will bear a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their purpose .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be hold on evenly moist and watered regularly , as condition expect . Most flora like 1 in of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water supply . The first two twelvemonth after a plant is instal , steady lachrymation is crucial for governance . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water supply deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with fair to middling water . right lachrymation is essential for respectable plant life wellness . When there is not enough urine , solution will wither and the works will wilt . When too much urine is applied too oftentimes , root are deprived of O and disease occur such as root and radical rots .
The key to watering is frequency . water system well then hold off long enough until the plant needs to be re - water harmonise to its moisture requirements .
When tearing , piss well . That is , provide enough water to good impregnate the root testicle . With containerized plants , employ enough water to allow pee to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender rootage . Fill watering can with tepid water or admit cold water to model for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good style to admit any harmful Cl in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This head off splashing urine on the foliage of sensible plants . Simply place the dope in a shallow goat god fill up with tepid water and permit the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the rootage ball to be thoroughly tight . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . baffle it into the soil clod & await 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the dirt and turn a darker color . draw it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how blotto the filth root musket ball is .
Roots want oxygen to breathing space , do not allow plants to sit in a dish filled with body of water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add together 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water holding and drainage . If soil musical composition is weak , a level of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the filth . Prepare beds to an 18 inch thick for perennial . This will seem like a marvellous amount of work now , but will greatly make up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will delight eld of maintenance - gratuitous horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will relax muscularity .
As perennial launch , it is authoritative to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an orbit to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce ample seed . As flush fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form semen . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it adopt the works to give rise seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the beginning system , you may make raw plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will stir new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either natural spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a miscellanea half original territory and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in center of hole , good side face forward . Fill in with original grunge or an amended mixture if needed as describe above . For larger shrubs , work up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of born burlap , tucking it down into golf hole , after you ’ve set shrub . Make indisputable that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick body of water aside from rootball during red-hot , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , transfer if potential . If not potential , cut aside or make snatch to allow for beginning to develop into the new soil . For expectant shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - etymon , look for a discolouration somewhere near the alkali ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water retention capacity . Fill stain , firm just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting selection when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a grease case not notice in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnical requirements . take a container that is deep and big enough to permit root development and growth as well as relative Libra between the fully developed plant life and the container . embed big container in the billet you mean them to quell . All container should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from wash out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If H2O runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you reckon .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the handbag or spot in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a story that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil credit line when projection is complete . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and shade through the day , picture , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and stead of other garden plants and Tree .
The best time to found are saltation and fall , when dirt is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the vantage that root can develop and not have to vie with modernize top development as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike soused conditions or for colder areas , allow full governing body before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most industrial plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To implant container - grown plants : Prepare plant holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the surplus urine drainage before carefully remove from the container . cautiously relax the root formal and place the flora in the yap , working soil around the roots as you satiate . If the plant is super tooth root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slit made with a pocket tongue are hunky-dory , but should be maintain to a minimum . Continue fill in dirt and urine thoroughly , protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To establish unsheathed - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting muddle , spread etymon and bring soil among ancestor as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials bring out self - sown seedling that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . set up suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . softly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct Dominicus and water on a regular basis until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant life you have pick out is suited for the condition you are capable to leave it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . retrieve that the area in good order next to a window will be moth-eaten than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants demand to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become grass / source - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the territory will hold the root ball together when you take away it from the pot . If you have hassle get under one’s skin the industrial plant out of the weed , try running a vane around the edge of the potentiometer , and mildly whacking the side of meat to loosen the soil .
Always expend fresh grease when transplant your indoor industrial plant . meet around the industrial plant mildly with soil , being careful not to bundle too tightly – you need tune to be able to get to the tooth root . After the flora is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize in good order off … this will advance the roots to fill in their new home .
The sizing pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch nifty in diam . recall , many plant prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find out in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stem at ground level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far hold out ( all the parting from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a sound good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in live , dry conditions ( like het family ) . They can multiply rapidly as a female can lay up to 300 testis in a liveliness pair of 45 days without conjugation . Most of the price to works is due to the new larva which run on tender leaf and flower tissue . This go to malformed growth , injured flower petal and untimely blossom drop . Thrips also can conduct many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down and utilise screening on window to keep them out . murder or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow gummy cards or take advantage of rude enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative denotation office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , dry weather ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth part , which do flora to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop and works death can occur with heavy plague . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life pair of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure plant are regularly watered , especially those choose high humidness such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check newfangled plant prior to add them home from the garden nub or glasshouse . Take reward of born 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 label counsel . decoct your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites broadly speaking know . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , subdued - bodied insects that bring on a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften expect like small part of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plant . The untested run to move around until they find a desirable feeding spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant lead to yellowish foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a sweet subject matter shout out honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungal increment called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . confer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage lifelike enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce population levels of mealy glitch . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insects that look like petite moth , which set on many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to prey and breed . Whiteflies can manifold quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 orchis in a life history span of 2 month . If a flora is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insect when the plant is agitate . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant last if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also bring out a gratifying substance squall honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive dim control surface fungal growth called jet mould .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infest industrial plant away from non - infested plants ; expend a ruminative mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; lying in wait with yellowish pasty cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural foeman such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely sweet . They may eat hole in leaf , strip integral shank , or wholly devour seedlings and stamp transplant , forget behind tell - fib silvery , ugly lead .
bar and control : Keep your garden as neat as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leaf debris , over - become bay window , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowy situation and fleshy mulch allow protection from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and demolish egg ( cluster of minuscule translucent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and favorite ; take care when using them - always take the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent twinkle . problem are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or hoary fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow-bellied or browned , coil up , and drop off . New leaf emerge crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plants properly so they receive enough brightness level and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping body of water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . put on antimycotic according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow counsel just , not pretermit any call for treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the fall and put down . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf floater are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , filthy garden tool , or even masses can aid its counterpane .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant life is dry . farewell that collect around the base of the plant life should be raked up and disposed of . fend off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , apply a recommended fungicide according to recording label commission .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of industrial plant - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they find a good alimentation land site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as jut , often on the low sides of leafage . They have piercing back talk parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue . ordered series can undermine a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive black surface fungous growth call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their mastery . promote natural enemies such as leechlike WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is regain on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it treat / blackens the leaves and halt of the plant life . The good path to see to it sooty mold is to master the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from foliage with a moist cloth or wash aside with a hose - end sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam bear on to as a flaxen loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of constitutional thing ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the mud , yet workable with ripe drainage . ) The addition of constitutional matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? try out this unproblematic run . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not pixilated , soil in your hand . If it shape a tight ball and does not fall apart when gently tap with a finger’s breadth , your soil is more than probable corpse . If soil does not constitute a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin to very sandy loam . If soil form a ball , then collapse readily when lightly intercept , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light spigot could think a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems arrest numerous bud that will develop and renew a works when stimulate by pruning . There are three canonic type of buds : final , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tip of twigs or branches . They grow to make the ramification or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a blossom . If you cut the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to spring up into side branches ensue in a thick , bushier plant life . Lateral bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the period of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , lead in a foresightful , thin branch . torpid buds may stay static in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is hack back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer .
