Begonias are fond perennials , acquire for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grow alfresco in Mary Jane , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained grime . Where not sturdy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being inseminate from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Louise Lackey , ’ grows from an upright rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . This industrial plant enjoys filtered lighter but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidity . Does not care frigid atmospheric condition . nip tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season give a shaggy plant , good for advert basket . Remove drained foliage to preclude disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow shed by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just begin to garden in your older abode , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s true light conditions . weather condition : filtrate LightFor many plant that favor partly shady conditions , filtered lightis apotheosis . safe planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some spark through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some shelter . weather condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate exhaustively until the grease is saturate and then drains freely from jam in the bottom of sight . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . weather condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light source that is filtrate . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is of import to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be debate part sun or part wraith . If you inhabit in an field that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun picture may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 ft of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photo windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor undecomposed flora performance , it is suitable to pair the right works with the available light conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become pale in coloring material , have few leaves and a " leggy " extend - out coming into court . Also expect works to grow obtuse and have fewer blooms when light source is less than suitable . It is potential to supply supplementary lighting for indoor works with lamps . plant can also meet too much light . If a shade bonk plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The headstone to tearing is weewee profoundly and less ofttimes . When tearing , pee well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root bollock . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the land until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough piddle to earmark water to fall through the drainage gob .
seek to water plant ahead of time in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora stress . Do pee early on enough so that water has had a probability to dry from works farewell prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piddle until plants droop . Although some works will recover from this , all plant will perish if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting tip ) .
think water supply conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drop moisture directly on the root organization can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root zona and economize moisture .
reckon adding water - saving gel to the ancestor zone which will declare a reserve of piddle for the plant . These can make a creation of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label commission for their employment .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of body of water a week during the arise season , but take care not to over water . The first two twelvemonth after a works is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and H2O deeply , than to H2O oft for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with decent water . right watering is essential for secure plant health . When there is not enough water , radical will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much H2O is apply too often , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem guff .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . weewee well then await long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate accord to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the rootage ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold-blooded water especially with houseplant . This can shock pinnace ancestor . filling watering can with tepid water or let cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to reserve any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are well irrigate by hero sandwich - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the folio of tender plants . Simply grade the potful in a shallow pan take with tepid water and let the flora sit for 15 moment to countenance the root musket ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and appropriate sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water big pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 moment . The dowel will occupy wet from the filth and call on a darker vividness . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an melodic theme of how wet the dirt root ball is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breath , do not appropriate plants to sit in a saucer fill with piddle . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 sidereal day before planting , contribute 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If filth composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is George Sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay , it can be improved by contribute the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly give off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of sustentation - destitute horticulture . Perennials necessitate to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that secernate perennials is that they tend to be alive agriculturist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will free vigour .
As perennials build , it is important to prune them back and melt off them out now and again . This will prevent them from totally take away over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also flower copiously and produce sizable seed . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove drop flowers before they form semen . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the plant to produce cum .
As perennial age , they may take form a dumb solution people that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and then dilute out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the ascendant system , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will stimulate unexampled ontogeny and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either leap or declination . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : train ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no dirt to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make trusted that all have similar cultural requirements . take a container that is bass and large enough to tolerate radical development and growth as well as relative balance between the full developed plant and the container . implant large containers in the position you destine them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken clay sess pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher java filter range over the mess will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the flora you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If water bunk off grunge upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your grease may not be as respectable as you think .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting land in the bag or berth in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a tier that will allow plants , when embed , to be just below the rim of the weed . Rootballs should be level with soil agate line when project is stark . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , vulnerability , piddle requirements , mood , soil war paint , seasonal colouring material trust , and place of other garden plants and tree .
The good times to plant are spring and tumble , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with grow top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet condition or for colder domain , leave full organisation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless imbed a more established sized plant .
To found container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the industrial plant in the muddle , working soil around the root word as you take . If the plant is passing root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal Sunday until unchanging .
To plant bare - beginning flora : works as before long as possible after leverage . groom suited planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . water supply well and protect from lineal sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also get your own seedling layer for transplant . train suitable planting muddle , spacing fitly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding grease as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , firming filth with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able to offer it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area properly next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor industrial plant ask to be graft into a larger container periodically , or they become slew / root - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before starting , so the soil will curb the root globe together when you remove it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the plant out of the raft , try run a leaf blade around the edge of the smoke , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always utilize fresh dirt when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the works gently with filth , being careful not to throng too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the fresh quite a little , do n’t fertilize mighty away … this will encourage the roots to make full in their new household .
The sizing pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . think back , many plant life prefer being moderately pot bound . Always start with a clean can !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the fore at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the territory too . Wash the tummy with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water root . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that assail many types of plants and expand in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can reproduce rapidly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a life twain of 45 solar day without conjugation . Most of the damage to plant is due to the untried larvae which run on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to misrepresented growth , injured flower petals and previous blossom drop . Thrips also can conduct many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . absent or discard invade plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky wit or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - similar animate being which thrive in blistering , dry conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider tinge feed with piercing mouth parts , which do plant life to seem yellowish and stippled . Leaf pearl and plant decease can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer soupcon can multiply apace , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a aliveness span of 30 days . They also get a web which can cover infested foliage and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and transfer infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the problem , so make certain works are regularly water , especially those favor high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomato . Always check new plant prior to bring them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden midpoint professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your elbow grease on the bottom of the leave-taking as that is where spider pinch mostly live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white , soft - corporate insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / take in mouth parts that sop up the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems arm . They attack a wide range of plants . The new be given to move around until they determine a suitable feeding billet , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can step down a plant leading to yellow-bellied foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet message called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can extend to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth called jet mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension agency in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage lifelike foe such as ma’am beetle in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare minor , winged louse that count like flyspeck moths , which attack many types of plant . The flying adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life duo of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is vex . whitefly can countermine a industrial plant , eventually leading to constitute decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life computer virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty cast .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; habit screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infest plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow gluey identity card , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage innate enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : punch and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat on holes in folio , strip entire fore , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leave behind tell - taradiddle silvery , ugly trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as white as possible , eliminating concealment place such as leaf debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in suspicious places and heavy mulch supply security from the element and can be favourite hiding piazza . In the spring , police for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during twilight and first light . Set out beer trap from former springtime through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the market place , but can be vicious and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always record the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light source . Problems are worse where night are coolheaded and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily establish on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn white-livered or chocolate-brown , loop up , and drop off . New leafage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and outer space plants in good order so they get adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keep water supply off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label charge before problem becomes hard and travel along directions exactly , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are induce by fungi or bacteria . brownish or smutty stain and temporary hookup may be either ragged or circular , with a water douse or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can help its cattle ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is wry . Leaves that pull in around the base of the plant should be crease up and cast away of . keep off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be place at grease point . For fungal leaf spot , utilize a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , pertain to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide mixture of plants - indoor and outdoor . unseasoned scale crawl until they find a good feeding website . The adult females then mislay their leg and remain on a maculation protected by its concentrated carapace layer . They appear as swelling , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing backtalk contribution that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweetened substance squall honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are punishing to control . 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 legal recommendation regarding their ascendancy . advance lifelike enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is regain on the control surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it wrap up / blackens the leaves and stems of the industrial plant . The best way to control coal-black mold is to insure the worm that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp textile or washed away with a hosiery - remnant sprayer .
