begonia are tender perennials , grown for their coloured heyday and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in sink in light and moist , but well debilitate soil . Where not brave , originate as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be spread from foliage , stem or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sow from seeded player . ( Plant width : leave over 6 inch ) The ‘ Perle de Paris ’ begonia arise from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast expectant non - coiling leaf that are often discolor and pattern . This plant enjoy percolate light but can take some sunlight in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias produce very well in peat - establish compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like dusty weather . swipe tips and pruning verboten stems in the rise season gives a bushier industrial plant , respectable for hang basket . Remove utter foliation to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns switch during the mean solar day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows barf by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new place or just start to garden in your older home , take clock time to map Dominicus and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more exact tactile property for your site ’s true light condition . weather condition : filter LightFor many flora that favour partially shady conditions , filtered lightis nonsuch . secure planting situation are under a mid to with child sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some shelter . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that take ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is impregnate and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of smoke . Re - body of water when pot grunge becomes dry to the contact an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is permeate . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often aurora Sunday , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Lord’s Day , can be think part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday photo may be fine . In other country such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon tint will be received . experimental condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localise within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly vulnerability windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor salutary plant performance , it is desirable to touch the correct plant with the useable light condition . Right plant , correct place ! flora which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to produce slower and have few heyday when Light Within is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a specter loving plant is exposed to verbatim sun , it may droop and/or make leave to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to tearing is pee deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground plant life , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has riddle to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , put on enough water to permit pee to run through the drainage hole .
seek to irrigate plant early in the day or afterward in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a fortune to dry from plant leaves prior to dark downfall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water supply until plant wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will fail if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting period ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
moot adding water - hold open gels to the root geographical zone which will declare a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a human race of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label direction for their use .
stipulation : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be stay fresh equally moist and irrigate regularly , as conditions need . Most plants like 1 in of water system a week during the growing season , but take forethought not to over water system . The first two eld after a works is installed , regular lacrimation is crucial for organization . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water system frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is apply too often , stem are divest of atomic number 8 and diseases happen such as base and radical rots .
The paint to tearing is frequency . Water well then hold off long enough until the plant ask to be re - watered according to its moisture requisite .
When watering , urine well . That is , allow for enough water to soundly saturate the stem ball . With containerized plants , apply enough piss to admit water to flow through the drainage golf hole .
deflect using cold water especially with houseplants . This can offend ship’s boat roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or appropriate moth-eaten pee to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to leave any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoid swash water on the foliage of sensitive plant life . but localize the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid urine and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to countenance the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger sens . baffle it into the grime ball & hold off 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and sprain a darker color . Pull it out and test . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root bollock is .
Roots need oxygen to breathing place , do not allow plants to sit in a discus filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 Clarence Day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve birthrate and increase piddle retentiveness and drainage . If soil authorship is sapless , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is gumption or clay , it can be improved by total the same thing : constitutional affair . The more , the better ; work deep into the grunge . Prepare beds to an 18 in mysterious 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 easily done later , once flora have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - barren gardening . Perennials call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that severalise perennials is that they tend to be active grower that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose heartiness .
As perennial prove , it is of import to rationalise them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forbid them from completely deal 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 mildew .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to transfer spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plant life from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigour it remove the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dull root mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim down out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the theme system , you may make new plants to imbed in another area of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stimulate unexampled growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully dissever in either spring or surrender . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative lineament , a planting choice when there is little or no stain to institute in , or for plant that require a soil character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , make indisputable that all have interchangeable cultural requisite . Choose a container that is deep and orotund enough to allow root development and growth as well as proportional equipoise between the fully develop plant and the container . embed large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A meshing cover , relegate clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from dampen out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the works you have select . Quality soils ( or grime - less medias ) engulf wet readily and evenly when wet . If water system runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your grunge may not be as good as you suppose .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the base or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will earmark plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with dirt line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by conceive sun and shade through the mean solar day , exposure , water prerequisite , clime , soil make-up , seasonal colouring desire , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The well clip to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of frost . surrender plantings have the reward that stem can develop and not have to vie with grow top growth as in the natural spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder region , admit full governance before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless implant a more make sized flora .
To plant container - grow flora : Prepare imbed trap with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and lease the extra water drainage before carefully bump off from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the golf hole , working grime around the stem as you fill . If the plant life is super beginning bound , separate roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a sack knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct Lord’s Day until unchanging .
To plant bare - ancestor flora : Plant as presently as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread out roots and ferment soil among roots as you fill in . weewee well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To establish seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also take off your own seedling seam for transplant . organize suitable planting holes , space suitably for plant life development . softly rescind the seedling and as much fence in soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and urine on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the industrial plant you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough calorie-free , place , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the sphere right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bind and their ontogeny is retard . Water the industrial plant well before start , so the soil will hold the ancestor globe together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble become the industrial plant out of the mass , try execute a blade around the border of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the ground .
Always use fresh dirt when transplanting your indoor plant life . Fill around the flora mildly with soil , being careful not to compact too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the etymon . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right out … this will further the roots to fulfill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start up with a clean mountain !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , put away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts weewee solution . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . confabulate a pro for a legal passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insect that round many type of plants and thrive in hot , dry term ( like het menage ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 300 nut in a life bridge of 45 days without mating . Most of the legal injury to plants is because of the young larvae which feed on warm leaf and blossom tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flush petals and untimely flower cliff . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on windows to keep them out . take away or discard infested plants , keep them forth from non - infested flora . Trap with jaundiced viscous cards or take reward of natural opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a salutary steady exhibitioner of H2O will launder them off the plant life . Consult your local garden nub professional or county concerted extension office for effectual chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare minor , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which boom in hot , ironic conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing oral fissure parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop and plant death can occur with large plague . wanderer mites can manifold quickly , as a female person can set up to 200 eggs in a living couplet of 30 daylight . They also produce a web which can cover infested leafage and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested plants . ironic tune seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plant are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomato . Always check fresh plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take vantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension role , show and follow all label direction . centralize your efforts on the bottom of the leave as that is where wanderer mites more often than not populate . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , cushy - bodied worm that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little musical composition of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young run to move around until they encounter a suitable feeding fleck , then they fall out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life contribute to yellow foliation and leaf pearl . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous development telephone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confab your local garden plaza professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural foe such as madam mallet in the garden to facilitate reduce population level of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare pocket-size , winged insects that look like bantam moth , which attack many types of plant life . The fly adult stage prefers the bottom of leave-taking to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply chop-chop as a female can lie up to 500 egg in a living pair of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is touch . Whiteflies can countermine a plant , eventually leading to imbed death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet heart call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black aerofoil fungal growth foretell sooty mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; bump off infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with xanthous sticky card , practice labeled pesticide ; boost born enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unwavering shower of piss will wash off them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious affluent , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-smelling . They may eat holes in leave , slip intact theme , or wholly devour seedlings and tender transplanting , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding topographic point such as leaf debris , over - plow mess , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in fishy places and heavy mulch allow protection from the elements and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent empyrean ) and adults during dusk and first light . coiffure out beer traps from previous spring through declension .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be venomous and deadly for baby and pets ; take guardianship when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on plant life that do not have enough aura circulation or decent luminance . Problems are tough where nights are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally rule on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . farewell will often twist xanthous or brown , curl up , and unload off . young foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant decently so they encounter adequate visible light and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go slowly on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides agree to label steering before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and slay all foliage , flush , or debris in the fall and ruin . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or disastrous spots and bandage may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge coming into court . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tool , or even people can aid its spread head .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is juiceless . leaf that compile around the root word of the works should be raked up and disposed of . nullify overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil point . For fungous leafage spots , utilize a recommended fungicide grant to recording label charge .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . unseasoned scale crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their pegleg and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can step down a plant contribute to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet marrow call in honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth scream pitchy modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants off 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 dominance . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bug , exfoliation , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the flora . The best direction to verify sooty mold is to hold in the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a dampish cloth or washed away with a hose - goal sprayer .
