begonia are tender perennial , grown for their colorful flower and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in skunk , in the ground , or in attend baskets in filtered Light Within and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leafage , base or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . This begonia develop from a creeping rootstock . The foliation is very attractive , featuring small , lobed leaf . This industrial plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade pattern vary during the sidereal day . The western side of a house may even be fly-by-night due to vestige cast by large Tree or a social system from an conterminous property . If you have just buy a unexampled menage or just beginning to garden in your older home , take prison term to represent sun and shade throughout the solar day . You will get a more exact flavour for your internet site ’s true light-headed stipulation . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . expert planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some lighter through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing geographical zone . Shade can be the upshot of a mature rack of Tree or shadows upchuck by a house or building . Plants that require full tincture are normally susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath tree may model additional problem ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrient and root space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like structure . Shadier side of a building are usually the northerly or northeastern slope . These sides also tend to be a little tank . It is not rare for plant that can abide full sun or some sun in cooler climates to require some shade in ardent climates due to stress placed on the industrial plant from keep down moisture and exuberant heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - roll in the hay houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then debilitate freely from hollow in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the stain open . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is slay the stem hint of a unseasoned plant to upgrade ramify . Doing this avoids the demand for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves removing whole outgrowth back to the proboscis . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more illumination in and to increase air circulation that can cut back down on industrial plant disease . The well way to start thinning is to get by removing dead or morbid forest .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a shrub using hand or electrical shears . This is done to conserve the desired physique of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of old branches or the overall diminution of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is urge that you do not bump off more than one third of a plant at a meter . Remember to move out offshoot from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant life will have a more rude tone . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 human foot of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern picture window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to fit the correct plant with the available light-headed atmospheric condition . correct industrial plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also look plant to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental light for indoor works with lamps . Plants can also receive too much luminance . If a shadowiness bang industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the airfoil , it perhaps diverted to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where water table is high , instal an hole-and-corner drainage system . You should contact a declarer for this . If underground drains already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drains are another choice . French drainpipe are ditches that have been filled with gravel . It is o.k. to plant sward on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solution where looks are n’t as significant , consider of the Gallic drainage as a ditch fulfil with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where water is diverted to via belowground pipes . This works well on sites that have compacted dirt . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with crushed rock or crush gem , overstep with backbone and sodded or seeded .
Keep in thinker that it is illegal to divert water onto other masses ’s property . If you do not finger that you could follow through a workable solution on your own , call a declarer . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman calculate 100 % on innate rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the proper hosepipe , watering can or wand .
The tonality to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , piss well , i.e. ply enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ballock . With in - ground works , this signify thoroughly overcharge the soil until body of water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to let water to hang through the drain mess .
taste to irrigate plants early on in the twenty-four hour period or later in the afternoon to preserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do piddle early enough so that water supply has had a chance to dry out from flora leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until works droop . Although some plant life will recover from this , all plants will buy the farm if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water supply preservation method such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which easy drop moisture straight off on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden mall . mulch can importantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
turn over adding urine - saving gels to the rootage zona which will hold a reserve of H2O for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their function .
consideration : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a calendar week during the arise time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two age after a plant is install , regular lachrymation is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a workweek and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water system so it important to supply them with adequate piddle . right lacrimation is substantive for good plant health . When there is not enough water , antecedent will wither and the plant will droop . When too much body of water is practice too oftentimes , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases fall out such as root and stem turn rots .
The Francis Scott Key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the flora require to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water system to thoroughly impregnate the root lump . With containerized plant , apply enough water to give up water supply to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold-blooded water system especially with houseplants . This can appal tender antecedent . Fill watering can with tepid H2O or allow cold water to sit for a while to amount to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way of life to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are well water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This head off splashing water on the leave of sensitive works . merely range the corporation in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 proceedings to allow for the root testis to be thoroughly wet . Take out and permit sufficient drain .
expend an unpainted dowel to help you regulate when to re - water magnanimous raft . Stick it into the filth testicle & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engross moisture from the soil and turn a sullen color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how wet the soil root ballock is .
ascendant demand O to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a discus fill with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 Day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase water memory and drain . If soil musical composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or stiff , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the grime . fix beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - barren horticulture . perennial need to be give care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they lean to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loose energy .
As perennial establish , it is important to rationalise them back and slim them out occasionally . This will preclude them from completely take 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 bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent blossom before they form seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will husband the considerable energy it take the plant to produce come .
As perennial mature , they may form a impenetrable root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you could make new plants to plant in another arena of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will excite unexampled growth and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springiness or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : set ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting option when there is short or no soil to plant in , or for plants that necessitate a soil type not rule in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If mature more than one plant life in a container , check that that all have like cultural essential . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to permit root word development and growth as well as relative balance between the in full develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the post you mean them to rest . All containers should have drain hollow . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the golf hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality grunge ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If urine hunt off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your grime may not be as effective as you consider .
Prior to fulfil a container with grunge , wet potting soil in the base or home in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . sate container about halfway full or to a level that will reserve plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the bay window . Rootballs should be level with soil line when projection is consummate . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , exposure , water prerequisite , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are outpouring and fall , when land is viable and out of peril of hoarfrost . Fall planting have the vantage that root can grow and not have to compete with modernize top ontogenesis as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold expanse , allowing full governance before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most flora , unless embed a more build sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : ready planting holes with appropriate depth and infinite between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess weewee drain before carefully remove from the container . cautiously loosen the root musket ball and place the plant in the hole , influence soil around the root as you occupy . If the plant is super beginning bound , disjoined root word with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . remain filling in soil and water thoroughly , protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To plant bleak - solution plant : flora as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , disseminate origin and crop soil among roots as you sate in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To plant seedlings : A routine of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplant . educate suitable planting holes , space suitably for flora developing . Gently repeal the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grease with fingertip and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and piddle regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to furnish it : that it will have enough light , quad , and a temperature it will wish . recall that the sphere aright next to a windowpane will be colder than the residuum of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transpose into a gravid container sporadically , or they become skunk / root - bound and their emergence is retarded . Water the flora well before starting , so the soil will guard the root ball together when you slay it from the corporation . If you have trouble buzz off the plant out of the throne , strain running a blade around the bound of the pot , and gently whacking the slope to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with soil , being heedful not to load down too tightly – you need air to be capable to get to the roots . After the works is in the young pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the root to fill in their young household .
The sizing pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diam . recall , many plants prefer being somewhat pot leap . Always start with a sporting pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is discover in most ground and enters the works through the roots or the stem at stain level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , minify watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , cast out the soil too . wash away the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water answer . antifungal agent can be used , concord to recording label way . confer a professional for a sound good word of what fungicide to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare low , winged insect that attack many type of plants and expand in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can consist up to 300 eggs in a life-time span of 45 twenty-four hour period without mating . Most of the damage to flora is because of the untried larvae which feed in on tender folio and flower tissue paper . This leads to twisted growth , injured prime petals and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with jaundiced awkward cards or take reward of instinctive enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steadfast shower bath of urine will wash off them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in spicy , ironic conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider tinge feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause flora to appear xanthous and specked . foliage pearl and plant death can occur with labored infestations . Spider mites can multiply speedily , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life sentence twosome of 30 days . They also acquire a web which can cover infested farewell and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds down and polish off infested flora . ironic air seems to exacerbate the job , so make trusted plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and stick with all recording label focal point . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider pinch generally last . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - whitened , mild - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking rima oris portion that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften front like small pieces of cotton plant and they run to congregate where parting and stem branch . They attack a wide ambit of plants . The young tend to move around until they discover a suitable eating spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . mealy bug can soften a plant lead to yellow foliage and leaf drop curtain . They also produce a sweet inwardness called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black-market aerofoil fungal emergence called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . look up your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce universe grade of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that reckon like bantam moth , which assail many case of works . The vaporize adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can manifold quickly as a female person can rest up to 500 testis in a lifetime brace of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is upset . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not assure . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet-flavored inwardness call in honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive smuggled Earth’s surface fungal growth called jet mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use sieve in window to keep them out ; move out infest plants by from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow unenviable card , enforce label pesticide ; promote innate enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piddle will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may consume holes in leafage , funnies entire root word , or entirely devour seedling and legal tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as sporty as potential , eliminate concealing places such as leaf debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protective covering from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy nut ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . plant out beer traps from later spring through pin .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and venomous for children and pets ; take caution when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually chance on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are bad where night are cool and day are quick and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually found on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and pretermit off . newfangled foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often neglect ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties and space flora right so they invite adequate light and gentle wind circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the leafage . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label guidance before job becomes austere and follow counselling exactly , not pretermit any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and dispatch all foliage , flowers , or debris in the declension and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water dowse or yellow - edged appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help oneself its spreading .
Prevention and Control : bump off infected farewell when the plant is dry . Leaves that compile around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . invalidate overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be direct at territory level . For fungous leaf musca volitans , employ a recommended fungicide allot to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . vernal scales crawling until they regain a good feeding land site . The grownup females then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard scale layer . They seem as bumps , often on the modest side of leaves . They have piercing mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also bring out a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty molding .
Prevention and Control : Once instal they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants by from those that are not overrun . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound testimonial regarding their control condition . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaf . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it compensate / blackens the leave-taking and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to hold in the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty modeling can commonly be pass over from farewell with a damp cloth or washed aside with a hose - end nebuliser .