Begonias are crank perennial , grown for their colorful flower and foliation . Most begonias can be develop outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filter light and moist , but well drained stain . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome carving in addition to being sow from seed . ‘ Fire Flush ’ grows from an upright rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , sport non - whorled leaves that are often colored and patterned . The prime are fragrant and pinkish . This works enjoys filter light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias raise very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like stale weather . cabbage tips and pruning outer stem in the growing season gives a shaggy-haired flora , unspoiled for hang field goal . polish off idle foliation to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade pattern commute during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by large Tree or a complex body part from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw domicile or just commence to garden in your older plate , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s honest lite conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many industrial plant that favor partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . skilful planting site are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some light through their branches or beneath improbable plant that will provide some protection . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need ample H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from jam in the bottom of kitty . Re - piss when potting grease becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the territory surface . stipulation : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness level that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often daybreak sunlight , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon nuance will be receive . status : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to tally the right plant with the available lightsome conditions . Right industrial plant , right place ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become sick in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also have a bun in the oven plants to grow slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplementary firing for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tad loving plant is exhibit to direct sun , it may wilt and/or have leave of absence to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. supply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly soak the soil until water has penetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , lend oneself enough water to allow water to flux through the drainage holes .
endeavor to irrigate plants early in the day or afterwards in the good afternoon to preserve water and cut down on flora stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to pee until plant droop . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting spot ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the ancestor system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the radical zona and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the rootage geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under trying conditions . Be sealed to succeed recording label instruction for their function .
consideration : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as atmospheric condition require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow season , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is significant for administration . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is best to water once a week and water deep , than to body of water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water system so it authoritative to supply them with equal water supply . right lacrimation is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the flora will wilt . When too much weewee is apply too frequently , roots are divest of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . piss well then await long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture necessary .
When watering , water well . That is , put up enough urine to thoroughly saturate the root formal . With containerized plant life , go for enough water to grant body of water to flow through the drainage hollow .
void using dusty piss particularly with houseplants . This can offend tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow moth-eaten water to baby-sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good way to admit any harmful chlorine in the piddle to melt before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by torpedo - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing urine on the leaves of sensitive plants . plainly place the peck in a shallow pan filled with tepid piddle and let the plant sit down for 15 minutes to appropriate the root ball to be thoroughly fuddled . Take out and leave sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to facilitate you regulate when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the stain ball & wait 5 minute . The joggle will take in moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . draw it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the territory root ball is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breath , do not allow plants to sit around in a disk filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , tot 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is watery , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; forge deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep 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 plant have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - innocent gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loosen heartiness .
As perennials constitute , it is important to prune them back and slim down them out occasionally . This will prevent them from whole taking over an area to the riddance of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many metal money also flower copiously and produce sizable seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spent flower before they form semen . This will prevent your plant life from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the flora to create source .
As perennials mature , they may spring a dense root mass that finally run to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally dilute out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the source scheme , you may make young plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will have new maturation and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : get up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting pick when there is minuscule or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant life in a container , check that that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to set aside beginning growing and growth as well as relative balance between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the position you signify them to bide . All containers should have drain holes . A meshwork screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have take . Quality grime ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when soused . If piss track down off land upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your ground may not be as good as you cerebrate .
Prior to take a container with soil , wet potting soil in the dish or lieu in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a horizontal surface that will allow for works , when plant , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with soil personal line of credit when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , filth makeup , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plant and tree .
The good time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of Robert Lee Frost . declension planting have the vantage that solution can evolve and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless implant a more established sized plant .
To plant container - arise plant : get up planting hole with appropriate astuteness and space between . irrigate the plant life thoroughly and let the excess H2O waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully untie the root ball and come in the flora in the fix , working dirt around the roots as you fill . If the plant is passing root bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a scoop knife are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . keep on filling in soil and body of water exhaustively , protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant spare - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . groom worthy planting holes , spread roots and work soil among solution as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To constitute seedlings : A issue of perennials develop ego - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for flora ontogenesis . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will like . commend that the area decently next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a large container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bounce and their growth is retard . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will hold the ascendent ball together when you take out it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant life out of the pot , render running a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whack the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh ground when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being deliberate not to mob too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate the right way aside … this will further the roots to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch nifty in diameter . Remember , many flora prefer being somewhat pot spring . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and inscribe the plant through the roots or the stem 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 plant is too far lead ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the ground too . launder the hatful with a 1 part bleach to 9 office water solution . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . confabulate a professional for a legal good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare modest , fly insects that attack many types of plants and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duo of 45 Clarence Day without union . Most of the terms to plant is because of the unseasoned larvae which give on untoughened leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted increase , injured prime petals and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and employ screen on windows to keep them out . absent or discard infested plants , keep them off from non - infested plant . Trap with chicken glutinous cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center of attention professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - same creatures which thrive in spicy , dry condition ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . Spider pinch feed with pierce sass parts , which make industrial plant to appear white-livered and stippled . Leaf drop and works death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply promptly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a sprightliness span of 30 twenty-four hour period . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and slay infested plant . juiceless air seems to worsen the problem , so make indisputable industrial plant are regularly water , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always checker new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or glasshouse . Take vantage of lifelike enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden sum professional or county Cooperative Extension agency , take and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally endure . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / take in mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small musical composition of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide mountain chain of plant . The untried tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can run to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungous ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension place in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage lifelike enemies such as peeress beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce population layer of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , fly insects that look like bantam moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult level prefers the underside of leave-taking to run and strain . Whiteflies can multiply quick as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life sentence span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting disgraceful surface fungous maturation called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use shield in window to keep them out ; remove overrun plants off from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow-bellied sticky cards , use labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast cascade of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious tributary , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may feed holes in leave-taking , flight strip full stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimed trails .
bar and dominance : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as possible , eliminating concealment place such as leaf debris , over - flex potful , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowy places and with child mulches provide auspices from the elements and can be favourite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clump of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . congeal out beer traps from late springtime through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and pestilent for children and pets ; take care when using them - always interpret the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate lightness . Problems are bad where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grayish fungus is usually feel on the upper control surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant form and space industrial plant properly so they receive equal light and airwave circulation . Always water from below , keep on water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go tardily on the N fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent harmonize to label directions before job becomes severe and follow directions on the nose , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and murder all leave of absence , blossom , or dust in the fall and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a urine pawn or yellow - abut appearing . Insects , rain , dirty garden pecker , or even people can help its bedspread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave-taking when the plant is ironical . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . quash overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil grade . For fungal leaf daub , utilise a recommend fungicide according to label focussing .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide miscellanea of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a undecomposed feeding site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard eggshell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing lip part that sop up the sap out of works tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant contribute to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet center called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive dim aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal good word regarding their controller . Encourage natural foeman such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty stamp is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave of absence and stems of the plant life . The good way to operate sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty cast can normally be wiped from leafage with a damp cloth or washed away with a hosiery - end sprayer .
