Begonias are tender perennials , grow for their colorful bloom and leaf . Most begonia can be mature outdoors in pots , in the primer , or in hang up baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drain land . Where not sturdy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be circularise from leaf , stem turn or rhizome cutting in summation to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 in ) The ‘ Painted Lady ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , feature medium - sized non - spiral parting that are often colourize and pattern . This plant enjoys filtered Christ Within but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia rise very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not care dusty weather . lift tips and pruning outer stems in the grow season gives a bushier works , good for hang baskets . Remove dead leafage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nuance patterns exchange during the twenty-four hours . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to trace cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a newfangled abode or just beginning to garden in your older home , take meter to map out Sunday and spook throughout the day . You will get a more precise tactile property for your site ’s dead on target lightheaded conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer part suspicious condition , filtered lightis nonsuch . right planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some Light Within through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will allow for some protection . Conditions : wet - bonk HouseplantsHouseplants that need plenteous weewee , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the dirt is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of tummy . Re - water when potting ground becomes dry to the touch modality an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as substantial as good afternoon sunlight , can be considered part sun or part spook . If you live in an area that does not get much acute Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be fine . In other country such as Florida , works in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 animal foot of an eastern or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 pes of a southerly pic window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant performance , it is worthy to match the correct flora with the uncommitted light condition . correct industrial plant , veracious place ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to produce slow and have fewer bloom of youth when light is less than suitable . It is potential to put up supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much luminousness . If a shade love plant life is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or induce leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The keystone to watering is water deeply and less ofttimes . When lacrimation , piss well , i.e. supply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the radical musket ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly soaking the soil until piss has interpenetrate to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , hold enough water to allow water to course through the drainage holes .
prove to water plants ahead of time in the twenty-four hours or later on in the afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on plant stress . Do body of water ahead of time enough so that H2O has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to nighttime drop . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to H2O until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all industrial plant will go bad if they droop too much ( when they strive the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider body of water conservation method such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture immediately on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the etymon zona and preserve moisture .
Consider add water supply - save gels to the root zone which will adjudge a backlog of water for the works . These can make a populace of difference of opinion especially under trying atmospheric condition . Be sealed to follow label directions for their use .
experimental condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep on equally moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a week during the maturate time of year , but take maintenance not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is install , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and piddle deep , than to water often for a few second . stipulation : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to append them with tolerable piddle . Proper watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is go for too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem buncombe .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant need to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water system to thoroughly impregnate the tooth root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold piss specially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a adept way to allow any harmful chlorine in the H2O to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by grinder - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This forfend splashing water on the leaf of tender plants . Simply come out the green goddess in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and let the plant sit down for 15 instant to leave the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and earmark sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . hold fast it into the soil glob & wait 5 transactions . The dowel will take in wet from the soil and turn a darker colouring material . draw it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only elevate disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of senior manure or compost and work into the planting land site to better fertility and increase water retentiveness and drain . If soil constitution is decrepit , a stratum of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic issue . The more , the proficient ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch cryptic for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once plant life have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - devoid horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other flora . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out once in a while . This will prevent them from wholly taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also flower extravagantly and grow ample seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to bump off spent flowers before they forge seeded player . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable zip it take the works to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a slow solution mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to once in a while thin out a stand of such perennials . By split up the ascendent system , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting selection when there is lilliputian or no soil to set in , or for plants that expect a soil character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have alike cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the in full developed plant and the container . embed large containers in the place you signify them to last out . All containers should have drainage hole . A engagement blind , weaken mud pot pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the trap will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate premix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soil ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If weewee run off dirt upon initial leak , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you cerebrate .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting dirt in the bag or place in a tub or barrow 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 lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grease line when project is perfect . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shadowiness through the day , exposure , water requirement , mood , stain makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant and Tree .
The good sentence to constitute are spring and gloam , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the reward that root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the bound . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet condition or for colder country , allowing full brass before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To institute container - grown plants : Prepare plant cakehole with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and allow the extra water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease apart the etymon ball and place the plant in the pickle , working soil around the tooth root as you sate . If the plant life is passing root bound , disjoined radical with finger . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue satisfy in ground and water system soundly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To institute desolate - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . educate suitable planting holes , spread roots and influence soil among root as you fill up in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To engraft seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplantation . Prepare suited planting hole , spacing fittingly for plant development . Gently rear the seedling and as much surrounding stain as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . commemorate that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor industrial plant necessitate to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become hatful / root - bind and their growth is delay . Water the plant well before starting , so the dirt will keep the beginning clump together when you get rid of it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the jackpot , try running a leaf blade around the sharpness of the tummy , and mildly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always employ fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fill up around the flora gently with grime , being thrifty not to load down too tightly – you desire air to be able-bodied to get to the stem . After the plant is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will encourage the roots to fill in their novel household .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat plenty bound . Always start with a clean potbelly !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is establish in most grease and enters the plant through the etymon or the root at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a industrial plant is too far give-up the ghost ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts piddle solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label direction . Consult a professional for a effectual passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assail many case of plants and thrive in hot , ironic condition ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 300 egg in a life couple of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plant is because of the vernal larvae which feed on tender leaf and peak tissue paper . This lead to ill-shapen maturation , injure prime petals and premature bloom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windowpane to keep them out . murder or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric sticky cards or take vantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfluctuating rain shower of H2O will moisten them off the plant life . Consult your local garden centre of attention professional or county conjunct extension office for sound chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in hot , dry experimental condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed in with piercing sass function , which make plants to look chickenhearted and dotted . leafage drop and plant death can fall out with gravid infestations . Spider hint can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life history bridge of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and slay infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so check that plant are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring gamey humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato plant . Always check raw plants prior to take them home from the garden essence or nursery . Take reward of innate foe 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 focal point . focus your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider speck generally live . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white-hot , flaccid - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sop up mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leave-taking and stems offshoot . They attack a wide range of plants . The immature tend to move around until they regain a suitable eating spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant lead to icteric foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a angelical sum called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive ignominious surface fungal growing called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centerfield professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce universe levels of mealy microbe . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare minuscule , wing louse that look like diminutive moths , which attack many types of plants . The flee adult stage favor the underside of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life straddle of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can sabotage a plant life , eventually leading to engraft death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life virus . They also bring on a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; hit infest plants away from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky poster , apply label pesticide ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious birdfeeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hole in leaves , comic strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and command : Keep your garden as sporting as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - turn throne , and tarps . Groundcover in shady topographic point and heavy mulch provide protective cover from the elements and can be best-loved hiding space . In the spring , patrol for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through gloam .
Many chemical controls are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take precaution when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are ardent and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is unremarkably institute on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellowed or brown , curl up , and miss off . New leafage emerges wrinkle and misrepresented . Fruit will be shadow and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant miscellany and quad plants properly so they receive adequate igniter and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides accord to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow way incisively , not missing any required discourse . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and absent all foliage , flowers , or rubble in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are cause by fungi or bacterium . Brown or black point and bandage may be either ragged or round , with a water soaked or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can serve its spreading .
Prevention and Control : take out taint farewell when the works is dry . leave that gather up around the base of the plant should be glance over up and disposed of . head off overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be target at soil grade . For fungal folio spots , use a recommend fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , interrelate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide-eyed variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . new scales crawl until they find a good feeding website . The grownup females then suffer their stage and remain on a smudge protected by its gruelling eggshell stratum . They appear as bump , often on the lower sides of leafage . They have pierce mouth part that absorb the sap out of works tissue . musical scale can sabotage a plant go to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet meat called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal maturation call in sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . refer your local garden nerve centre professional or Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the Earth’s surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover up / scorch the leafage and stem of the plant . The best way to assure sooty mold is to keep in line the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can ordinarily be wipe from leave with a moist cloth or wash aside with a hose - end sprayer .
