begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flush and foliage . Most begonia can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in string up baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from foliage , root or rootstalk newspaper clipping in addition to being sown from seed . This bushy begonia has attractive leafage with diminished , bare leave-taking . The flowers are pinkish to whiten . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant savour filtered igniter but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia develop very well in peat - based compost also . The cultivar , ‘ F. H. Bedson ’ has salmon - scarlet big blooms and are costless flowering in the summer and early fall .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade figure change during the day . The westerly side of a planetary house may even be shadowy due to shadows throw away by large trees or a structure from an side by side property . If you have just purchase a new home or just get to garden in your old home base , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more exact feel for your situation ’s true light stipulation . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that favor partially louche conditions , trickle lightis ideal . respectable planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plant that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light source in the growing zone . Shade can be the upshot of a ripe stand of tree diagram or shadow vagabond by a house or construction . Plants that require full spook are usually susceptible to tan . Full shade beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no Christ Within , but competition for H2O , nutrients and root space .
fond shademeans that an area receives separate out lightsome , often through grandiloquent branches of an open growing tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shade can also be achieved by turn up a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar social system . suspicious sides of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also run to be a little tank . It is not rare for flora that can tolerate full Lord’s Day or some Lord’s Day in cooler clime to require some ghost in tender clime due to stress placed on the industrial plant from reduced moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - enjoy houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of stool . Re - water when potting ground becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil aerofoil . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is remove the stem tips of a young plant to upgrade separate . Doing this fend off the need for more severe pruning after on .
Thinning involves removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to afford up the inside of a works to lease more light in and to increase atmosphere circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The dependable style to start thinning is to start by removing dead or pathological woods .
Shearing is leveling the aerofoil of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old arm or the overall reduction of the sizing of a bush to mend its original shape and size . It is recommended that you do not polish off more than one third of a plant at a time . call up to take away branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , reduce back cane at various heights so that plant life will have a more born look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western photograph windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant functioning , it is suitable to match the correct industrial plant with the usable promiscuous condition . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect works to arise slower and have fewer prime when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also encounter too much light . If a shade love plant life is exposed to lineal sun , it may wilt and/or stimulate parting to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the control surface , it maybe disport to a drain ditch . If drainage is pitiful where body of water mesa is gamy , instal an underground drainage system . You should contact a contractor for this . If belowground drains already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drain are another option . French drain are ditches that have been fill with crushed rock . It is okay to set sward on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as important , call back of the French drain as a ditch fill with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet abstruse and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock sate pit where water is deviate to via secret pipes . This mould well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with crushed rock or vanquish stone , topped with sand and sod or seed .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other hoi polloi ’s belongings . If you do not finger that you’re able to implement a practicable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water supply conscious garden appreciates the right hosepipe , tearing can or baton .
The key to watering is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , urine well , i.e. leave enough water to soundly saturate the root glob . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant accent . Do water betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night dusk . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t waitress to urine until industrial plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will pass away if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
conceive pee preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture straightaway on the beginning system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the solution geographical zone and conserve moisture .
regard lend water - deliver gel to the stem zone which will hold a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of deviation specially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions need . Most plant like 1 in of water a workweek during the raise season , but take care not to over water . The first two class after a plant is installed , veritable watering is important for formation . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and water deep , than to water system oftentimes for a few minutes . shape : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate weewee . right watering is substantive for good flora wellness . When there is not enough urine , roots will shrivel and the plant life will droop . When too much pee is utilize too frequently , source are divest of oxygen and diseases pass such as root and radical bunk .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works needs to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water to good saturate the source ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow urine to flux through the drainage hollow .
Avoid using insensate water especially with houseplant . This can traumatise supply ship antecedent . Fill watering can with tepid water or appropriate cold piddle to posture for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigate by submarine sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids squish piss on the leaves of sore plants . Simply send the tidy sum in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 proceedings to permit the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
practice an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil musket ball & hold back 5 bit . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how wet the stain ascendant chunk is .
root need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to seat in a saucer filled with piss . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add together 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and study into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water memory and drainage . If grime composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be amend by adding the same matter : constituent topic . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . cook beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done subsequently , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will enjoy geezerhood of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that recognise perennials is that they be given to be active cultivator that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to snip them back and thin them out now and then . This will prevent them from all taking over an field to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase zephyr circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove drop flowers before they take form seeded player . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will maintain the considerable energy it takes the plant to grow semen .
As perennial mature , they may take shape a dense theme mass that finally leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to now and then thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you may make new plant life to plant in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new development and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or decline . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an decorative feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that demand a stain type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow tooth root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the full developed plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you intend them to stick . All containers should have drainage gob . A net screen , broken corpse commode pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep territory from washing out . The potting stain you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and equally when pissed . If water runs off grime upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you guess .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet pot ground in the bag or post in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when constitute , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with filth stock when projection is arrant . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and specter through the day , picture , water requirements , climate , filth makeup , seasonal color hope , and emplacement of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best times to institute are spring and fall , when soil is executable and out of risk of rime . Fall plantings have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growing as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more give sized plant life .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare plant hollow with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant life exhaustively and let the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the flora in the hole , work dirt around the root as you meet . If the plant is extremely root bound , freestanding base with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are all right , but should be sustain to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until static .
To implant stark - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare worthy planting holes , go around roots and go land among base as you take in . Water well and protect from direct Lord’s Day until static .
To plant seedling : A identification number of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be graft . You may also get going your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant developing . Gently lift the seedling and as much border dirt as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sunshine and piddle on a regular basis until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the industrial plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , outer space , and a temperature it will like . think of that the area right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become mountain / root - spring and their development is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the land will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the batch . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the batch , and lightly whop the sides to loosen the filth .
Always use fresh territory when transplanting your indoor industrial plant . sate around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to compact too tightly – you want zephyr to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the raw tidy sum , do n’t fertilize decently aside … this will encourage the source to fill in their new home .
The size sess you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants favor being pretty pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stem at land story . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant life is too far go ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water solvent . antifungal can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a master for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that assail many types of industrial plant and expand in raging , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can manifold quickly as a female can lay up to 300 nut in a life span of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larva which feed in on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to malformed growth , wound flower petals and previous flower drop . Thrips also can beam many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use riddle on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them forth from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative filename extension federal agency for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which flourish in hot , juiceless conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites eat with piercing mouth parts , which make industrial plant to appear chicken and dotted . Leaf drop and plant demise can occur with sound infestations . wanderer soupcon can multiply chop-chop , as a female person can lay up to 200 egg in a life couple of 30 days . They also produce a web which can track infested folio and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and polish off infested plants . teetotal airwave seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those favor high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to contribute them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension government agency , read and conform to all label directions . centralise your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally know . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white , soft - bodied dirt ball that get a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften search like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding patch , then they give ear out in settlement and provender . Mealybugs can countermine a plant leading to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance cry honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can chair to an untempting opprobrious open fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden plaza professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as ma’am mallet in the garden to help reduce universe grade of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare low , fly insects that look like tiny moth , which round many types of plants . The fly adult stage favour the bottom of farewell to course and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 ballock in a life bridge of 2 calendar month . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , eventually leading to plant death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also bring out a sweet center call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive inglorious aerofoil fungous growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; habit screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambush with yellowed embarrassing card , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , bequeath behind tell - tale silvery , worthless trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding stead such as foliage rubble , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in funny place and heavy mulch put up protective cover from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , police for and destroy testicle ( clump of modest translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and dayspring . Set out beer traps from belated springiness through fall .
Many chemical control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for nipper and pets ; take care when using them - always register the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate visible radiation . problem are worse where nights are cool and Clarence Day are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is usually found on the upper airfoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often move around yellow or dark-brown , draw in up , and drop down off . New foliation emerges crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop off early .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and space plants properly so they experience passable light and air circulation . Always body of water from below , stay fresh water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen plant food . hold antimycotic agent according to label directions before problem becomes spartan and follow direction precisely , not leave out any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take away all leaf , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf floater are induce by fungi or bacteria . Brown or inglorious spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a piddle soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden cock , or even citizenry can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leafage when the flora is dry . leave-taking that collect around the base of the plant life should be crease up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be calculate at filth stage . For fungous leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide mixture of plants - indoor and outdoor . untried scales crawl until they see a dear alimentation situation . The adult female then fall back their ramification and rest on a smear protect by its arduous cuticle stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave-taking . They have piercing sassing theatrical role that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a industrial plant leading to xanthous foliation and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once prove they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage lifelike enemy such as epenthetic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is regain on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it comprehend / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant . The best mode to hold in jet mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wipe from farewell with a damp fabric or wash off aside with a hose - end atomizer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more moxie , yet still sight of constituent affair ) or a clay loam ( heavy on the clay , yet workable with good drainage . ) The add-on of organic matter to either sand or cadaver will leave in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , cadaver , or loam ? Try this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your hand . If it forms a tight orchis and does not accrue apart when lightly tap with a finger , your filth is more than likely clay . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If dirt forms a ball , then crumbles readily when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light tap could entail a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : terminal , sidelong and hibernating . Terminal buds are at the tips of twig or arm . They produce to make the ramification or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give hike to a flower . If you cut the summit of a branch and absent the final bud , this will further the lateral bud to develop into side leg leave in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf adhesion . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a foresighted , thin branch . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the barque or fore and will only grow after the plant is trim down back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before fresh growth begin with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred metre to clip this plant .
