Begonias are tippy perennial , arise for their colored flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be arise outdoors in corporation , in the ground , or in hanging basketful in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , raise as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in gain to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : impart 6 to 12 inches ) The ‘ Sessoms ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , feature large , smooth , cleft leaves . The flowers are pink and blossom in leap . This industrial plant enjoy filtered lighting but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - free-base compost also . like humidness . dauntless . Does not wish cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year gives a shaggy-haired plant , beneficial for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that Dominicus and tad approach pattern change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be fishy due to shadows barf by turgid Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older family , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your web site ’s truthful light condition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady consideration , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting web site are under a mid to declamatory sized tree that lets some twinkle through their branches or beneath marvellous plant that will allow for some protection . Conditions : wet - roll in the hay HouseplantsHouseplants that require plentiful water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the dirt is saturated and then drains freely from muddle in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil open . atmospheric condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often morning Dominicus , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be consider part sun or part shade . If you hold up in an sphere that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon specter will be find . Conditions : undimmed Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 infantry of an eastern or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 foot of a southern exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right flora with the available light condition . proper plant , right-hand place ! Plants which do not experience sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also look plants to develop boring and have few blooms when spark is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also get too much light . If a refinement loving plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The winder to lacrimation is water system deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. leave enough water to good impregnate the rootage ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the dirt until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to let piddle to flow through the drainage trap .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or after in the afternoon to preserve water and cut down on industrial plant strain . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from flora leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will buy the farm if they droop too much ( when they attain the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider urine preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local habitation and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gel to the source zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of dispute particularly under trying conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their purpose .
consideration : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be continue evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of urine a week during the growing time of year , but take concern not to over water . The first two year after a plant life is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is adept to water once a workweek and water deeply , than to water supply frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with passable water supply . Proper tearing is essential for good works health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much body of water is applied too often , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stalk bunkum .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then hold back long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the ascendant ball . With containerized flora , apply enough body of water to allow urine to flow through the drainage yap .
annul using stale water supply especially with houseplant . This can floor tender root . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold body of water to sit down for a while to come to board temperature before lachrymation . This is a estimable room to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the piddle to vaporize before being used .
Some flora are well water by submarine sandwich - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plant . plainly place the potbelly in a shallow goat god filled with tepid pee and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root clod to be soundly wet . Take out and earmark sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you decide when to re - water orotund pots . adhere it into the soil musket ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engulf wet from the dirt and sprain a sullen color . perpetrate it out and try out . This will give you an theme of how sozzled the soil root ball is .
Roots need O to breath , do not admit plants to sit in a dish filled with water . This will only kick upstairs disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 day before planting , add together 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and study into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water retention and drain . If ground composition is watery , a level of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or the Great Compromiser , it can be ameliorate by summate the same affair : constitutive affair . The more , the good ; run deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not think of that you will enjoy old age of care - complimentary horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that signalize perennials is that they lean to be active growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will relax vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and slim down them out occasionally . This will keep them from all taking over an domain to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase melodic phrase circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent efflorescence before they form seed . This will keep your plant from seeding all over the garden and will husband the considerable vim it takes the plant to bring about seed .
As perennials mature , they may forge a dense root sight that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennials . By separate the root system of rules , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate Modern growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or downslope . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting alternative when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that take a soil case not plant in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have like ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is inscrutable and big enough to allow rootage development and increment as well as relative balance between the amply developed plant and the container . Plant expectant containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , break in clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher coffee tree filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate premix for the plants you have choose . Quality stain ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when sloshed . If water runs off soil upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as skillful as you believe .
Prior to satisfy a container with soil , wet potting grease in the pocketbook or spot in a vat or garden cart so that it is equally moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a floor that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and ghost through the sidereal day , exposure , water requirements , clime , soil makeup , seasonal coloration desire , and position of other garden plants and Tree .
The practiced meter to plant are spring and fall , when dirt is practicable and out of danger of rime . autumn planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike besotted experimental condition or for colder areas , leave full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more establish sized flora .
To plant container - grown plant life : cook plant holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess body of water waste pipe before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ballock and place the plant in the trap , working soil around the roots as you satiate . If the plant is extremely tooth root obligate , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air hole knife are fine , but should be kept to a minimum . uphold fill in soil and water soundly , protect from lineal sun until stable .
To engraft bare - source plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . develop desirable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you satisfy in . Water well and protect from direct Lord’s Day until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A phone number of perennials bring out ego - sow seedling that can be transfer . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . mildly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten territory with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from verbatim sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have prefer is suitable for the conditions you are able to furnish it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the sphere right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their increment is retard . irrigate the plant life well before start , so the filth will hold the root testis together when you remove it from the pot . If you have bother getting the plant out of the pot , essay running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently wallop the slope to loosen the dirt .
Always use refreshing grime when transplant your indoor works . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you want melodic phrase to be able to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the raw pot , do n’t fertilize flop off … this will encourage the root to satiate in their new house .
The sizing tummy you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . recall , many plants favour being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and enters the plant through the beginning or the stem at land level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave of absence from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , toss the soil too . moisten the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water system solvent . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged dirt ball that assault many types of plants and thrive in hot , ironical condition ( like het houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 300 ballock in a life pair of 45 mean solar day without conjugation . Most of the damage to plants is stimulate by the untested larva which eat on tender leafage and flower tissue paper . This moderate to distorted growth , spite blossom petals and premature bloom drop . 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 overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with jaundiced sticky cards or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . confabulate your local garden heart professional or county Cooperative elongation office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-size , 8 legged , spider - like animate being which thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites fertilize with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to come along yellow and stippled . foliage drop and plant death can occur with heavy plague . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also create a web which can cover infested leafage and flush .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take away infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or nursery . Take reward of natural enemy 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 . centralize your efforts on the undersides of the folio as that is where wanderer soupcon generally survive . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muffled - white , gentle - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover up . They have thrust / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften face like belittled pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaves and stem offset . They attack a wide range of industrial plant . The unseasoned tend to move around until they find a suitable eating smirch , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can soften a flora leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also grow a sweet marrow call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dark control surface fungous growth called sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden snapper professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage lifelike enemies such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help concentrate population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insect that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefer the undersurface of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant life is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually lead to plant death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful works computer virus . They also get a sweet substance promise honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can take to an untempting pitch-dark surface fungal growth telephone sooty mold .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a broody mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; hole with yellow-bellied mucilaginous cards , apply mark pesticide ; encourage natural enemy such as epenthetic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a serious steady shower of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , use up just about anything that is not woody or highly odoriferous . They may use up holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or whole devour seedlings and attender transplants , leaving behind tell - taradiddle silvery , wretched lead .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealment place such as leaf detritus , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch render protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding space . In the spring , police for and put down eggs ( clump of little semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer bunker from recent bound through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for minor and deary ; take care when using them - always interpret the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or equal luminousness . trouble are worse where nights are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn over white-livered or brown , coil up , and deteriorate off . New foliation egress crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be shadow and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and blank works in good order so they receive adequate light and airwave circulation . Always weewee from below , keep back water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes severe and comply focussing precisely , not lose any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus or bacterium . Brown or inglorious spots and spot may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearance . worm , rainwater , contaminating garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leaf when the flora is dry . Leaves that accumulate around the base of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be point at soil level . For fungal leaf blot , use a recommend fungicide accord to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . youthful scale Australian crawl until they receive a upright feeding site . The grownup females then lose their ramification and stay on a spot protected by its hard case layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a fresh substance foretell honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an unattractive blackened surface fungous increment called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are operose to see . Isolate infest plant aside from those that are not infest . confer with your local garden sum professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage instinctive foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the aerofoil of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it brood / nigrify the leaf and stems of the plant . The best way to see to it pitchy mold is to see the insect that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist fabric or washed off with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
