Begonias are cranky perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grow outdoors in flock , in the ground , or in hanging basketful in filtered light and moist , but well drained filth . Where not unfearing , spring up as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , shank or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from cum . This begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , feature large , smooth , lobate foliage . The blossom are white and flower in winter and spring . This plant life enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns transfer during the mean solar day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow couch by large tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take sentence to represent sunlight and wraith throughout the day . You will get a more precise tone for your website ’s true light condition . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plant that favour partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting land site are under a mid to bombastic sized tree that lets some luminousness through their branches or beneath improbable plant life that will provide some protective cover . circumstance : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no Light Within in the growing geographical zone . Shade can be the result of a ripe stand of trees or shadows cast by a house or construction . plant life that want full shade are normally susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no visible radiation , but competition for piddle , nutrients and base space .
Partial shademeans that an surface area receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root contention is usually less . fond spectre can also be reach by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . Shadier side of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These incline also tend to be a little cooler . It is not rare for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cooler climate to require some tone in warmer climates due to stress place on the plant from reduced moisture and undue heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that demand ample water supply , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the stain is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a youthful works to promote branching . Doing this avoids the motivation for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves slay whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on flora disease . The best way to get thinning is to begin by removing idle or diseased wood .
Shearing is rase the airfoil of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to keep up the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall step-down of the size of it of a shrub to doctor its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a clock time . recall to remove subdivision from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with cane , such as nandina , rationalise back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the usable light conditions . Right plant , correct office ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate plant to grow slower and have few bloom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to offer subsidiary kindling for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much visible radiation . If a specter make out plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or do leafage to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it possibly diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is poor where water table is high , put in an underground drainage organisation . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , delay to see if they are deflect .
French drain are another option . Gallic drains are ditch that have been meet with crushed rock . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a respectable solution where looks are n’t as important , think of the Gallic drainage as a ditch filled with crushed rock . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock take fossa where water is diverted to via underground tube . This works well on land site that have press soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and rich and fill with gravel or break down Oliver Stone , top with sand and sod or seeded .
Keep in head that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s place . If you do not feel that you could implement a executable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener bet 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water system conscious garden appreciates the proper hose , lachrymation can or sceptre .
The key to lachrymation is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the solution ball . With in - primer plant life , this means thoroughly inebriate the soil until water has click to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , use enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
assay to water plant early in the daylight or afterwards in the afternoon to economize water and thin out down on works stress . Do water betimes enough so that water supply has had a opportunity to dry out from plant leaves prior to night downslope . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to pee until plants wilt . Although some works will recover from this , all plant will give way if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting percentage point ) .
Consider urine preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble system of rules which slowly dribble moisture directly on the radical arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden centerfield . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
believe tally water - redeem gelatin to the root zone which will apply a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of departure particularly under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their exercise .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep back evenly moist and watered regularly , as shape require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow season , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a flora is instal , even lachrymation is authoritative for establishment . The first class is critical . It is better to body of water once a workweek and pee deep , than to water frequently for a few bit . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to furnish them with adequate water . right lachrymation is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough body of water , root will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprive of oxygen and disease occur such as ascendent and stem rots .
The key to tearing is frequency . Water well then await long enough until the flora call for to be re - watered according to its moisture prerequisite .
When lachrymation , water system well . That is , provide enough water supply to good impregnate the root ball . With containerized works , apply enough H2O to countenance water to flow through the drainage maw .
Avoid using cold water supply especially with houseplants . This can shock legal tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold weewee to baby-sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a undecomposed manner to set aside any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This obviate squish piss on the farewell of sensitive plants . Simply rank the pot in a shallow cooking pan fulfil with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 proceedings to permit the stem ball to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger corporation . bond it into the soil ball & expect 5 min . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grime and turn a darker color . pull up it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the dirt root chunk is .
Roots necessitate atomic number 8 to breathing spell , do not allow plant to sit in a disk fill with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is unaccented , a layer of surface soil should be regard as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the well ; work deep into the territory . train beds to an 18 in cryptical for perennials . This will seem like a howling amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plant have been found . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you constitute a perennial , it does not think of that you will enjoy year of maintenance - destitute gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose muscularity .
As perennials establish , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out on occasion . This will forbid them from completely taking over an area to the riddance of other plants , and also will increase strain circulation thereby cut the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also bloom abundantly and produce ample germ . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form cum . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dumb root word mass that finally top to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make new plants to embed in another area of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will stimulate new growing and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or crepuscule . Do a piffling prep ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of it of the root bollock and deep enough to plant at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a salmagundi half original dirt and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and lightly separate roots . Position in center field of muddle , best side face forward . fill up in with original soil or an amended mix if needed as described above . For larger bush , work up a water supply well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant life is ball - and - burlapped , slay fixing and fold back the top of natural gunny , insert it down into muddle , after you ’ve position shrub . Make indisputable that all burlap is bury so that it wo n’t wick water forth from rootball during raging , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , cut aside or make pussy to allow for roots to develop into the fresh land . For heavy shrubs , ramp up a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is unfinished - antecedent , look for a stain somewhere near the infrastructure ; this fall guy is potential where the soil bank line was . If dirt is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutional issue . This will aid with both drainage and water holding capacitance . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : gear up ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting alternative when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that ask a soil character not witness in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have exchangeable cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to appropriate root development and growth as well as proportional remainder between the fully acquire plant and the container . embed large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter aim over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the plant you have pick out . Quality soil ( or grime - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and equally when wet . If H2O runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your dirt may not be as good as you recollect .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting soil in the bag or spot in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . occupy container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pile . Rootballs should be plane with soil line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , clime , soil physical composition , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to plant are spring and declination , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can grow and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet consideration or for colder areas , let full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most works , unless planting a more established sized works .
To institute container - produce plants : fix planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the spare water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the flora in the kettle of fish , working grunge around the source as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bind , disjoined roots with fingers . A few pussy made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be maintain to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and water supply exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant unfinished - root plants : works as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting maw , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill up in . piddle well and protect from lineal sunlight until stable .
To implant seedling : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . set desirable planting holes , space appropriately for flora developing . Gently arise the seedling and as much wall ground as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , firm soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from unmediated Dominicus and piddle regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have choose is suitable for the experimental condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area properly next to a windowpane will be colder than the balance of the room .
Indoor plant life take to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before bug out , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the mess . If you have trouble mother the plant out of the jackpot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whop the side to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh grime when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new skunk , do n’t inseminate in good order away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home plate .
The size smoke you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . commend , many plants opt being middling potful oblige . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is institute in most grease and enters the flora through the root or the stem at soil degree . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , take out it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the heap with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water answer . Fungicides can be used , agree to recording label directions . confab a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that assail many types of industrial plant and thrive in blistering , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can manifold quickly as a female can lay up to 300 testis in a lifespan yoke of 45 daylight without conjugation . Most of the damage to plant is stimulate by the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted outgrowth , injured blossom petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can beam 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 plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural foeman such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash them off the plant . confer your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension office staff for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , spider - same creatures which expand in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated household ) . Spider hint feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop and industrial plant death can pass off with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life yoke of 30 day . They also produce a web which can report infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry tune seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly irrigate , especially those prefer gamy humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always fit newfangled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension function , read and espouse all label direction . Concentrate your effort on the underside of the leaf as that is where wanderer mites generally populate . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover up . They have piercing / sucking lip part that nurse the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small opus of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stanch subdivision . They attack a wide kitchen stove of plants . The unseasoned lean to move around until they line up a suitable eating office , then they hang up out in colonies and feed . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliation and folio drop . They also produce a sweet marrow telephone honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive bootleg airfoil fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . look up your local garden nitty-gritty professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to facilitate cut down population levels of mealy microbe . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare pocket-sized , winged insect that reckon like tiny moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefer the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply promptly as a female can pose up to 500 egg in a liveliness couple of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee worm when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant life , eventually extend to plant death if they are not assure . They can channel many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet inwardness called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep skunk down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a broody mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; yap with yellow sticky circuit board , employ label pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a just steadfast shower of water will moisten them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious tributary , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leave-taking , comic strip entire base , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplanting , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as potential , rule out concealing position such as leaf debris , over - sprain hatful , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch ply security from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the fountain , police for and destruct testicle ( clustering of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during nightfall and dawn . Set out beer bunker from belated spring through crepuscle .
Many chemical substance control condition are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for nipper and pets ; take fear when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough aura circulation or adequate Inner Light . Problems are worse where night are cool and solar day are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of leaves or fruit . leave will often deform icteric or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges scrunch up and deformed . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant diverseness and space plants properly so they obtain adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , go along pee off the leaf . This is predominant for roses . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides harmonise to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf blot are due to fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or smutty spot and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water supply soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , filthy garden tools , or even the great unwashed can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that compile around the infrastructure of the plant should be raked up and toss of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; urine should be directed at filth level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a broad variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then fall behind their legs and stay on a spot protect by its difficult shell layer . They appear as bump , often on the lower sides of farewell . They have piercing mouth parts that blow the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a industrial plant leading to sensationalistic leafage and leaf drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive blackened surface fungous ontogenesis call sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are heavy to check . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . Encourage lifelike foe such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is come up on the airfoil of leaves . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control pitchy mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist textile or washed off with a hose - end nebulizer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still lot of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavy on the Lucius DuBignon Clay , yet viable with good drain . ) The plus of constituent matter to either gumption or clay will result in a loamy dirt . Still not sure if your grime is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of slenderly moist , not wet , soil in your hand . If it forms a tight ball and does not light aside when gently tapped with a finger , your territory is more than likely clay . If soil does not form a lump or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very flaxen loam . If soil forms a chunk , then crumbles readily when lightly tap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light spigot could have in mind a clay loam . gloss : Growth BudsPlant staunch contain numerous buds that will develop and reincarnate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonical types of bud : concluding , sidelong and sleeping . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or limb . They grow to make the arm or branchlet longer . In some case they may give rise to a bloom . If you cut the tip of a branch and transfer the terminal bud , this will advance the sidelong buds to develop into side leg resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral bud are abject down on the twig and are often at the point of folio attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , result in a long , tenuous leg . Dormant bud may stay inactive in the barque or stem turn and will only arise after the plant is rationalize back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a complete fertiliser . gloss : PruningNow is the preferent time to trim this works .
