Begonias are crank perennials , grown for their colorful bloom and leaf . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in hatful , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in trickle light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , develop as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be circularise from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leave behind over 6 inch ) The ‘ Persian Swirl ’ begonia grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliation is very attractive , feature large spiral leave that are often colored and pattern . This plant life enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia mature very well in peat - establish compost also . B. ‘ Royal Swirl ’ seedling . like humidity . Does not care dusty weather . pinch backsheesh and pruning out halt in the growing season gives a shaggy-coated plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove idle foliation to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will find that sunlight and shadowiness patterns shift during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to phantasma cast by big tree or a structure from an conterminous attribute . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling house , take clip to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate tone for your site ’s true light conditions . condition : trickle LightFor many plants that choose partially louche conditions , separate out lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to with child sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath marvellous plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - do it HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those tag asmoisture - eff houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then debilitate freely from holes in the bottom of hatful . Re - piddle when pot dirt becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawn Sunday , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be consider part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be all right . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 understructure of a southerly vulnerability window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the uncommitted wakeful conditions . proper works , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness may become pallid in color , have few leave and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer prime when light is less than desirable . It is possible to furnish subsidiary lighting for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tint loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water system profoundly and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. render enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - land plant , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water system has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being respectable ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to appropriate water to hang through the drainage hole .
attempt to water plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water supply and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from flora leave of absence prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all flora will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which slowly dribble moisture straight on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the ancestor zone and husband moisture .
Consider tote up water - saving gel to the ascendent zona which will hold a reserve of water for the works . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to comply label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a calendar week during the grow time of year , but take concern not to over water supply . The first two geezerhood after a plant is installed , unconstipated tearing is important for constitution . The first year is critical . It is better to H2O once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . weather condition : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it of import to ply them with adequate water . right tearing is essential for near plant wellness . When there is not enough H2O , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are strip of oxygen and disease fall out such as solution and stem rot .
The winder to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life demand to be re - watered harmonize to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , supply enough pee to soundly saturate the antecedent ball . With containerized plants , employ enough water to tolerate urine to hang through the drain holes .
avert using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold H2O to posture for a while to fare to board temperature before tearing . This is a good means to provide any harmful Cl in the water to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing body of water on the leaves of sensible plants . only aim the mint in a shallow pan replete with tepid water supply and get the industrial plant sit down for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and admit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water big pots . Stick it into the soil orb & wait 5 transactions . The dowel will engulf moisture from the soil and turn a blue colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil ascendant ball is .
Roots call for oxygen to breathing time , do not allow plants to pose in a saucer fill with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 Day before planting , append 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to better fertility and increase water supply retention and drain . If soil opus is decrepit , a layer of topsoil should be deal as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutive subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the grime . Prepare bed to an 18 in recondite for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been instal . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will bask years of upkeep - gratis gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they incline to be active cultivator that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will forbid them from entirely carry over an orbit to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also flower copiously and bring forth ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to dispatch spent peak before they form germ . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce cum .
As perennial mature , they may take shape a dense ascendant plenty that finally leave to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a base of such perennial . By dividing the ascendent organization , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will excite new outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : train ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no grime to establish in , or for plant that take a filth type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural essential . Choose a container that is mystifying and large enough to allow root ontogenesis and growth as well as proportional counterbalance between the fully develop flora and the container . engraft big containers in the post you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A interlock filmdom , broken stiff pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter placed over the gob will keep soil from dampen out . The potting territory you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have prefer . Quality land ( or ground - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when wet . If H2O runs off filth upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the udder or place in a vat or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . make full container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with grime line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil physical composition , seasonal colour desire , and position of other garden industrial plant and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when dirt is viable and out of danger of frost . twilight plantings have the advantage that roots can make grow and not have to compete with modernise top growth as in the fountain . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike tight stipulation or for colder areas , set aside full brass before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless establish a more established sized industrial plant .
To plant container - grown plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate astuteness and blank between . irrigate the flora thoroughly and let the supererogatory water drain before cautiously murder from the container . Carefully loosen the tooth root ball and set the plant life in the pickle , working soil around the roots as you occupy . If the flora is highly root bound , freestanding origin with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue fulfil in soil and water soundly , protecting from direct Dominicus until stable .
To plant bare - root works : works as soon as possible after leverage . develop desirable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . water system well and protect from direct Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transfer . You may also set forth your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant life development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming dirt with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from direct Sunday and pee regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have prefer is suitable for the atmospheric condition you are able-bodied to cater it : that it will have enough calorie-free , quad , and a temperature it will like . call back that the area decently next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor works need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / etymon - restrain and their growth is delay . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will deem the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble scram the industrial plant out of the pot , essay running a blade around the boundary of the flowerpot , and gently wham the sides to tease apart the soil .
Always utilize fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with ground , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize flop off … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their Modern home .
The size kitty you choose is authoritative too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . commemorate , many plants favor being fairly pot bound . Always start with a clear pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the stem or the radical at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far function ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , take away it . If your works is in a container , discard the soil too . launder the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts H2O root . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a effectual testimonial of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged louse that attack many type of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can procreate quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 egg in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant is stimulate by the young larva which tip on affectionate foliage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted outgrowth , injured prime petal and premature blossom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . off or discard infested industrial plant , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky bill of fare or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steadfast rain shower of water will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center of attention professional or county Cooperative extension federal agency for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which thrive in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like heated house ) . Spider speck fee with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and speckled . folio bead and plant death can occur with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 daylight . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and prime .
Prevention and Control : Keep sens down and remove infested plant life . Dry melody seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , peculiarly those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always tally new plants prior to play them home from the garden marrow or baby’s room . Take reward of innate enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden heart and soul professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your exertion on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites by and large live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white , diffuse - incarnate insect that develop a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth function that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften face like small pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a across-the-board reach of plants . The vernal tend to move around until they regain a suited alimentation spot , then they give ear out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a works lead to yellow foliage and leaf bead . They also produce a sweet substance ring honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal ontogenesis called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office staff in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural foeman such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestis : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged dirt ball that look like bantam moth , which round many types of plant . The fly grownup level choose the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can repose up to 500 eggs in a life-time span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant life is disturb . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also bring on a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can top to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
potential controls : keep green goddess down ; habit screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a broody mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky card , go for labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a skillful unfluctuating rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be ravening feeder , feed just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip full stems , or entirely devour seedling and stamp transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eradicate hiding place such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the component and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , police for and destroy egg ( clump of low translucent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . arrange out beer traps from previous spring through downslope .
Many chemical controls are available on the food market , but can be vicious and venomous for tyke and pets ; take tending when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate Inner Light . Problems are worse where nighttime are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper Earth’s surface of parting or fruit . Leaves will often twist yellow or brown , loop up , and drop off . newfangled foliage emerges crease and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often neglect early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants by rights so they receive decent Light Within and aviation circulation . Always piddle from below , proceed water off the leaf . This is overriding for roses . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides harmonise to label directions before problem becomes spartan and observe direction exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and murder all leaf , flowers , or debris in the surrender and ruin . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacterium . Brown or pitch-dark spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water inebriate or yellow - edged show . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even people can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be skim up and disposed of . stave off overhead irrigation if possible ; weewee should be point at soil level . For fungal folio spots , use a recommend fungicide allot to recording label charge .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , link up to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a spacious variety of plant - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they happen a good eating land site . The grownup females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard casing stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the low-spirited side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . graduated table can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also get a sweet heart called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth called sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to see . Isolate invade plant away from those that are not infested . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual passport regarding their ascendence . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the Earth’s surface of farewell . It feed on honeydew excrete from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blacken the leaves and stem of the plant . The best manner to control jet mold is to see the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed aside with a hosiery - oddment sprayer .
