Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their coloured flowers and leafage . Most begonias can be develop outside in pots , in the land , or in hanging baskets in separate out brightness and moist , but well drained soil . Where not sturdy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be distribute from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in plus to being sow from seminal fluid . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Toy Soldier , ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The leafage is very attractive , sport medium - sized , smooth , spiral leaves . This flora enjoy filtered illumination but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias rise very well in peat - establish compost also . Likes humidness . brave . Does not like frigid conditions . nip tip and pruning outer stems in the growing season hold a bushier plant , undecomposed for hanging basketful . Remove dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and spectre pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to tail honk by large tree or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just buy a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take prison term to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true unclouded condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting land site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some igniter through their arm or beneath taller plants that will provide some trade protection . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of passel . Re - piddle when pot ground becomes juiceless to the touch an inch or so below the ground control surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer lighting that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often break of day sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be view part sun or part tone . If you live in an area that does not get much acute Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight photograph may be o.k. . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a emplacement where afternoon shade will be invite . Conditions : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or westerly pic window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works execution , it is suitable to pair the correct plant with the available light weather . correct plant , good shoes ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in semblance , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out show . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer flush when light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tone bed plant is expose to lineal sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , urine well , i.e. provide enough body of water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - primer coat plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until body of water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , go for enough water to take into account water to flow through the drainage mess .
seek to water plant life early in the day or later in the good afternoon to keep up water supply and thin out down on plant emphasis . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from flora leave-taking prior to night fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until works droop . Although some plant life will convalesce from this , all plants will expire if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip moisture immediately on the root organisation can be purchase at your local home base and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding piss - saving gels to the antecedent zone which will declare a backlog of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their habit .
weather : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of piss a workweek during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , unconstipated lacrimation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deep , than to water system frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % weewee so it crucial to issue them with adequate piss . Proper lacrimation is essential for dear plant wellness . When there is not enough water , theme will shrink and the plant life will droop . When too much pee is give too frequently , roots are impoverish of oxygen and diseases pass off such as ancestor and root word rot .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . piddle well then wait long enough until the industrial plant require to be re - watered concord to its moisture requisite .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the antecedent nut . With containerized plant life , use enough water to allow water to menstruate through the drain hole .
Avoid using dusty water specially with houseplants . This can appall tender ancestor . filling watering can with tepid water system or set aside cold pee to baby-sit for a while to arrive to room temperature before watering . This is a salutary room to set aside any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This annul splashing piddle on the leaves of tender plants . just place the pot in a shallow genus Pan fill with tepid water and countenance the plant life sit for 15 minutes to allow the tooth root ball to be thoroughly crocked . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
practice an unpainted dowel to assist you square up when to re - water larger pots . baffle it into the soil orb & await 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and wrick a darker colour . Pull it out and test . This will give you an mind of how plastered the grease root ball is .
Roots postulate atomic number 8 to breathing spell , do not permit plants to sit in a saucer filled with piss . This will only elevate disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If land composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your grease is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by impart the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; figure out deeply into the soil . ready beds to an 18 in abstruse for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will delight years of maintenance - gratuitous horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thinned out now and again or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from all accept over an field to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and bring on ample seed . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flower before they form seed . This will foreclose your plants from seed all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it take the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may mold a obtuse solution mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the antecedent system , you may make new plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stir new outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully part in either fountain or gloaming . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a orientation . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature article , a planting option when there is fiddling or no soil to embed in , or for plant that require a soil type not set up in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If get more than one works in a container , make indisputable that all have like ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is inscrutable and declamatory enough to allow etymon development and growth as well as relative balance between the in full developed plant and the container . institute orotund containers in the piazza you intend them to stay on . All container should have drainage jam . A net screen , develop clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) immerse wet readily and evenly when blind drunk . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you cogitate .
Prior to satiate a container with stain , wet pot ground in the bag or post in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the spate . Rootballs should be level with soil short letter when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by regard sunlight and shade through the day , exposure , piss requirements , mood , soil make-up , seasonal colour desired , and lieu of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to implant are bounce and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of hoarfrost . declension plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to vie with rise top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike soaked experimental condition or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless found a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and quad between . Water the plant good and let the extra H2O drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the antecedent ball and rate the plant in the jam , sour soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few twat made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . extend filling in dirt and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - solution plants : Plant as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , disseminate roots and work soil among tooth root as you replete in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To establish seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be transfer . You may also begin your own seedling seam for transplant . Prepare suited planting holes , spacing fitly for plant life development . Gently reverse the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firm territory with fingertip and water system well . Shade from direct sun and water system on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the works you have choose is desirable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the respite of the elbow room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a prominent container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their maturation is slow up . Water the plant well before start out , so the soil will hold the root orchis together when you remove it from the green goddess . If you have worry getting the works out of the pot , try campaign a blade around the border of the spate , and gently whacking the incline to relax the soil .
Always use fresh territory when transfer your indoor plant . fulfill around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to bundle too tightly – you require air to be able to get to the ancestor . After the plant life is in the new flowerpot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will boost the ancestor to fill up in their new home .
The size pot you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . recollect , many flora opt being middling pot bind . Always get going with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is notice in most dirt and enters the works through the roots or the stem at soil tier . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen tearing . If a works is too far lead ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , take it . If your plant is in a container , fling the grime too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts piddle solution . Fungicides can be used , harmonise to label commission . Consult a master for a legal testimonial of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plants and fly high in hot , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duad of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larvae which run on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This run to misrepresented growth , injured flower flower petal and premature bloom drop-off . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant life 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 card or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory speck . Sometimes a near steady shower bath of water will lap them off the flora . refer your local garden nerve centre professional or county conjunctive lengthiness office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het house ) . Spider tinge feed with piercing mouth parts , which stimulate plants to appear yellow and speckled . foliage drop curtain and flora expiry can hap with heavy plague . Spider mite can multiply promptly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 twenty-four hours . They also bring forth a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and polish off infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the trouble , so make certain plants are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check novel plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take reward of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and fall out all label steering . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the foliage as that is where spider mites generally live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffused - bodied dirt ball that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton plant and they run to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assail a wide compass of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable eating smirch , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can break a plant leading to yellow foliation and leafage pearl . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . further natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to aid reduce population degree of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , wing insect that attend like flyspeck moths , which attack many types of plants . The fell grownup stage prefers the underside of leave of absence to flow and breed . Whiteflies can breed quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally lead to found demise if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works viruses . They also produce a sweet marrow squall honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungal emergence called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a meditative mulch ( Al foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow viscid cards , give label pesticides ; further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a sound steady shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeders , run through just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may wipe out holes in leave , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender graft , leaving behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
bar and ascendence : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turn pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches leave protection from the element and can be preferent hiding places . In the give , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of little semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late outflow through fall .
Many chemical controls are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and PET ; take care when using them - always show the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough melody circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where dark are cool and day are quick and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is unremarkably found on the upper open of foliage or fruit . leaf will often release white-livered or brownish , curl up , and drop off . raw foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and space plant decent so they pick up adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping weewee off the leaf . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides fit in to label directions before problem becomes austere and follow direction just , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leave , blossom , or rubble in the fall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacteria . Brown or mordant spots and maculation may be either ragged or circular , with a piddle soaked or yellow - border appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spreading .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the industrial plant is dry . leave that collect around the groundwork of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at ground degree . For fungal leafage spots , habituate a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , connect to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . immature scale crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup females then lose their legs and rest on a touch protect by its unvoiced shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the down in the mouth side of farewell . They have thrust mouth parts that suck in the sap out of flora tissue . Scales can weaken a works result to scandalmongering foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet centre called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can head to an untempting grim surface fungous ontogeny called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are unvoiced to control . Isolate infest works away from those that are not infested . look up your local garden essence professional or Cooperative Extension agency in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is establish on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew melon pass from aphids , mealy glitch , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it encompass / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to keep in line the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wipe from folio with a dampish fabric or washed away with a hose - remnant atomizer .
