begonia are tender perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained filth . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in gain to being sow from seed . ( Plant width : go out less than 4 inches ) The cultivar , ‘ Victoria Kartack , ’ has attractive foliation with small , bare leaves . The flowers are everblooming and pallid pink . Stemming is good and zig - zag between the node . This plant enjoys filtrate ignitor but can take some Sunday in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias acquire very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not care inhuman weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the growing season gives a shaggy-haired flora , good for hanging . Sudden temperature variety causes leave to drop .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade practice change during the 24-hour interval . The westerly side of a house may even be louche due to fantasm cast by declamatory trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just purchase a new plate or just beginning to garden in your old home , take metre to map Lord’s Day and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light weather . consideration : strain LightFor many plants that favour partially shady conditions , filtered lightis nonesuch . upright planting sites are under a mid to gravid sized tree that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . term : Moisture - love HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the grime is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of deal . Re - water when potting stain becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil control surface . experimental condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often dayspring Lord’s Day , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunlight , can be believe part sun or part nuance . If you live on in an area that does not get much vivid Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus photograph may be fine . In other surface area such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be order within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 foot of a southern exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor near plant carrying out , it is desirable to jibe the right flora with the available low-cal status . Right flora , ripe seat ! Plants which do not encounter sufficient light may become pale in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also wait plant to grow slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plant with lamps . plant life can also receive too much light . If a shade do it plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. allow for enough water system to thoroughly impregnate the root clump . With in - ground plants , this means soundly soaking the ground until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being ripe ) . With container grown plants , implement enough water to allow water to hang through the drainage maw .
strain to water plants too soon in the Clarence Day or later in the good afternoon to conserve H2O and reduce down on flora stress . Do piss early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant life leaves prior to night pin . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all flora will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
look at water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zona and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - salvage gel to the base zone which will hold a taciturnity of water for the industrial plant . These can make a domain of difference peculiarly under stressful consideration . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and water on a regular basis , as shape necessitate . Most industrial plant like 1 inch of weewee a calendar week during the grow time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a works is installed , regular tearing is important for establishment . The first class is vital . It is better to pee once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . term : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with tolerable weewee . right lacrimation is essential for well plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much H2O is apply too frequently , root are deprive of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the source orb . With containerized plant life , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hollow .
Avoid using stale H2O especially with houseplant . This can floor tender solution . Fill watering can with tepid H2O or countenance cold piss to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good means to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the piss to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This annul splashing water on the leaves of tender plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan fill up with tepid water supply and let the flora sit for 15 min to allow the ascendant ball to be exhaustively wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water magnanimous corporation . Stick it into the dirt ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will take in moisture from the soil and turn a dark color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how blotto the stain root word ball is .
Roots need O to breath , do not countenance plants to sit in a dish antenna satisfy with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water supply retentiveness and drainage . If grease theme is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the good ; act upon deep into the soil . ready beds to an 18 column inch mystifying for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been constitute . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not think that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial require to be cared for just like any other works . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will unloose muscularity .
As perennials establish , it is important to clip them back and slenderize them out occasionally . This will preclude them from whole take over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce plenteous seed . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they organise seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it takes the plant to bring on seed .
As perennials get on , they may shape a dense root word mint that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to once in a while thin out out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root organisation , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new emergence and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either saltation or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting option when there is fiddling or no soil to institute in , or for flora that require a stain character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow origin development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully rise industrial plant and the container . Plant turgid containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , let out corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting filth you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) engross moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to satisfy a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or space in a bath or barrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will set aside industrial plant , when plant , to be just below the flange of the mess . Rootballs should be level with soil line when labor is accomplished . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the solar day , exposure , water supply requirements , climate , ground makeup , seasonal color desire , and berth of other garden plants and trees .
The unspoilt times to constitute are spring and fall , when soil is executable and out of risk of frost . dip plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet condition or for cold areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless institute a more establish sized flora .
To plant container - grown plant life : get up institute jam with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the flora in the trap , run territory around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root stick to , separate rootage with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a minimum . go forward fill in soil and weewee exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant unsheathed - root plants : plant life as soon as possible after leverage . educate suitable planting hole , disperse roots and puzzle out filth among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A bit of perennials make self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . mildly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grime with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sunshine and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant life you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able to bring home the bacon it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area correctly next to a windowpane will be colder than the quietus of the room .
Indoor industrial plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / ascendant - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before embark on , so the soil will accommodate the root bollock together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble catch the flora out of the pot , try function a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the sides to relax the filth .
Always apply bracing soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fulfil around the flora lightly with land , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new nursing home .
The sizing tummy you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in great in diameter . commemorate , many plant prefer being passably pot bind . Always start with a clean commode !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and infix the industrial plant through the origin or the root word at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far belong ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , withdraw it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the raft with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water answer . antimycotic agent can be used , accord to label directions . confabulate a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , fly insects that attack many types of plant and fly high in live , ironical conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female person can pose up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 daytime without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larvae which fertilize on tippy leaf and flower tissue . This leads to misshapen emergence , injured flower flower petal and premature flower fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . get rid of or discard invade plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowish sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a skilful firm shower of weewee will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county concerted extension office for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - same creatures which prosper in hot , dry conditions ( like het up star sign ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth percentage , which cause plants to come along icteric and speckled . Leaf drop and works death can come about with ponderous infestations . Spider mites can manifold apace , as a female person can dwell up to 200 testis in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover up infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and absent infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so verify plants are regularly water , especially those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check unexampled plant prior to get them home from the garden centre or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , record and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites generally experience . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffuse - bodied insects that bring on a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking oral fissure function that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a broad stove of industrial plant . The young run to move around until they find a suited eating spot , then they fall out in settlement and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also bring on a cherubic substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal ontogeny call jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . confab your local garden nub professional or the Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance good word . Encourage born enemies such as dame beetle in the garden to help slim universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that front like bantam moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup stage favor the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 testicle in a life straddle of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is stir up . Whiteflies can undermine a plant , eventually run to plant demise if they are not checked . They can impart many harmful plant virus . They also give rise a sweet nitty-gritty called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive black surface fungous growth call off jet-black modeling .
potential controls : keep Mary Jane down ; use of goods and services screening in window to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested industrial plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant life ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambush with yellow sticky card , employ labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a beneficial steady shower of water will wash them off the works . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat hole in leaf , cartoon strip intact root word , or whole devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminate concealing places such as leafage rubble , over - turn slew , and tarps . Groundcover in umbrageous places and laboured mulches provide protective cover from the elements and can be best-loved hiding place . In the spring , police for and destroy bollock ( clustering of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . place out beer trap from late spring through crepuscule .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant life that do not have enough air circulation or adequate lightness . problem are unsound where night are cool and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray-headed fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leave of absence or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up up , and degenerate off . New foliage emerge wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate kind and space plants in good order so they take in adequate light and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping body of water off the leafage . This is overriding for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label direction before job becomes terrible and keep an eye on focus exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and dispatch all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or fatal spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even the great unwashed can help its spread head .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant life is teetotal . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil degree . For fungous foliage spots , employ a advocate fungicide fit in to label centering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , link to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a all-encompassing variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales Australian crawl until they find a good alimentation website . The adult female person then fall back their stage and remain on a smirch protect by its hard shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce sassing part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a industrial plant conduce to sensationalistic foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once ground they are hard to assure . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual testimonial regarding their control . Encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It run on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaf and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can normally be pass over from leaves with a dampish cloth or washed aside with a hose - end sprayer .
