Begonias are tender perennial , produce for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be produce outdoors in Mary Jane , in the ground , or in hang 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 leaf , shank or rhizome cuttings in accession to being sown from cum . ( Plant width : leaves over 6 inches ) The ‘ Sir Paul Lee ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , have prominent spiraling leaf that are often colored and patterned . This plant life enjoys percolate Inner Light but can take some sunlight in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - found compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold weather condition . Pinching summit and pruning stunned stems in the growing season gives a bushy works , good for hanging baskets . dispatch dead foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade pattern change during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows throw away by large trees or a structure from an adjacent belongings . If you have just corrupt a novel home or just begin to garden in your erstwhile home , take clock time to map out sun and spook throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light-headed conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , permeate lightis ideal . in effect planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some sparkle through their branch or beneath taller plants that will provide some shelter . stipulation : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water system , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of quite a little . Re - pee when potting soil becomes ironic to the touch an in or so below the soil aerofoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be look at part sun or part tone . If you endure in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon shade will be received . condition : vivid Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 substructure of a southern exposure window . precondition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant execution , it is desirable to match the right plant with the useable light condition . correct plant , right billet ! Plants which do not pick up sufficient light may become pale in vividness , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also look plants to acquire sluggish and have fewer blooms when lightness is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor flora with lamp . Plants can also receive too much Inner Light . If a shadowiness love plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or induce parting to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The paint to lacrimation is piss deeply and less ofttimes . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - background plant , this means soundly drench the soil until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , employ enough water supply to allow water to fall through the drain holes .
try on to water plants early in the day or later on in the good afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant stress . Do water betimes enough so that water has had a luck to dry from plant leaf prior to night declivity . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will reclaim from this , all flora will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water system preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which tardily drop moisture straight off on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider supply water - saving colloidal gel to the base zone which will curb a substitute of weewee for the plant . These can make a worldly concern of difference peculiarly under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to be recording label directions for their usance .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water system a hebdomad during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular watering is important for validation . The first year is vital . It is good to water once a week and weewee profoundly , than to H2O ofttimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % piddle so it important to furnish them with adequate water . Proper tearing is substantive for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will fade and the plant will droop . When too much water is implement too often , root are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as base and stem rots .
The keystone to watering is frequency . piddle well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , body of water well . That is , provide enough piddle to thoroughly saturate the root globe . With containerized plants , apply enough water to permit weewee to flow through the drainage golf hole .
forfend using inhuman water system specially with houseplants . This can appall tender root . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water supply to baby-sit for a while to get to board temperature before watering . This is a good agency to let any harmful Cl in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some flora are better irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the farewell of tender plants . Simply lay the wad in a shallow goat god fulfill with tepid water and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the solution lump to be thoroughly blind drunk . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you see when to re - water bombastic pots . Stick it into the filth nut & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will suck up wet from the soil and wrench a darker color . Pull it out and probe . This will give you an idea of how slopped the ground root bollock is .
ascendent ask O to breath , do not let plants to sit in a saucer filled with piddle . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of of age manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If land writing is debile , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be better by add together the same thing : organic issue . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare layer to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a rattling amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - detached horticulture . Perennials need to be care for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be active growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigour .
As perennial shew , it is important to prune them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from whole taking over an area to the censure of other plants , and also will increase air travel circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also bloom profusely and produce sizable seed . As rosiness disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to take out spend blossom before they form seed . This will prevent your works from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable free energy it engage the flora to develop semen .
As perennial mature , they may mould a dim root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a base of such perennials . By separate the root system , you’re able to make young plants to institute in another area of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will stir novel emergence and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting pick when there is small or no soil to implant in , or for plants that require a grease type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If farm more than one plant life in a container , make certain that all have standardized ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow etymon development and increase as well as proportional balance between the fully recrudesce plant and the container . Plant great container in the place you intend them to ride out . All containers should have drainage muddle . A mesh screen , break cadaver pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter put over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) soak up wet readily and evenly when pie-eyed . If weewee runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or seat in a vat or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a story that will take into account plants , when institute , to be just below the rim of the stack . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and wraith through the day , exposure , H2O essential , climate , grime makeup , seasonal color desired , and stead of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best time to plant are natural spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can make grow and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike sozzled consideration or for cold areas , allow full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless institute a more established sized industrial plant .
To plant container - grow plants : Prepare implant trap with appropriate depth and blank between . irrigate the plant good and permit the excess water system drainpipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously tease the theme ball and send the industrial plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you make full . If the plant is super root bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . extend fill in soil and water good , protecting from direct sunlight until static .
To set bare - root flora : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare worthy planting hole , disperse roots and work territory among tooth root as you meet in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To found seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - seed seedling that can be transplant . You may also part your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting fix , spacing fitly for plant life maturation . Gently lift the seedling and as much smother soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunlight and piddle regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have chosen is desirable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough easy , outer space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transpose into a larger container sporadically , or they become sens / rootage - reverberate and their ontogeny is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the grime will hold the antecedent ball together when you murder it from the pot . If you have worry getting the works out of the pot , assay scat a leaf blade around the sharpness of the smoke , and gently wham the sides to relax the soil .
Always employ fresh soil when transfer your indoor plant . Fill around the plant lightly with soil , being careful not to wad too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the source to make full in their new abode .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch great in diameter . Remember , many plant life prefer being reasonably slew truss . Always start with a uninfected mess !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and enters the plant through the root or the bow at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen tearing . If a plant is too far expire ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , take out it . If your plant is in a container , toss the soil too . launder the toilet with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , grant to label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to practice . Pest : ThripsThripsare modest , winged insect that round many types of plant and boom in hot , teetotal conditions ( like het house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 nut in a living span of 45 day without mating . Most of the price to plant life is because of the young larvae which feed on untoughened leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , wound peak petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can channel many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plants , keep them by from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a skillful steady rain shower of urine will lave them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical good word . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - corresponding creatures which thrive in red-hot , juiceless conditions ( like het theater ) . Spider pinch feed with piercing back talk parts , which cause plant to come out chickenhearted and stippled . Leaf drop-off and flora destruction can pass off with intemperate infestation . wanderer touch can breed speedily , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 twenty-four hour period . They also develop a web which can cover infested leaves and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to aggravate the job , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomato . Always learn unexampled plant life prior to take them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of lifelike enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . decoct your efforts on the undersides of the parting as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blanched , sonant - corporate worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking oral cavity persona that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small small-arm of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem offshoot . They round a full range of plants . The vernal run to move around until they find a worthy feeding stain , then they hang out in colony and feed . mealybug can weaken a industrial plant leave to yellowish leafage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet nitty-gritty called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous growth called jet cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden pith professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . promote born enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help decoct universe levels of mealy bugs . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare minuscule , fly dirt ball that look like midget moths , which attack many type of plants . The fly adult leg prefers the underside of leaves to fee and stock . Whiteflies can multiply rapidly as a female person can repose up to 500 egg in a life twosome of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing worm when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to set dying if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also produce a sweet-smelling gist address honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .
potential ascendance : keep weed down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; off infested plants away from non - infested plants ; utilise a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply judge pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a expert regular shower bath of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , deplete just about anything that is not woody or extremely sweet-smelling . They may rust holes in leave , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and supply ship transplants , go forth behind tell - story silvery , vile trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as potential , eliminate hiding places such as foliage junk , over - turned pot , and tarp . Groundcover in funny place and enceinte mulches furnish protection from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adult during crepuscule and morning . adjust out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be vicious and deadly for minor and pets ; take care when using them - always learn the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate brightness level . trouble are worse where night are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is unremarkably found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellowish or brownish , curl up , and drop down off . New leafage emerge crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often fell early on .
Prevention and Control : implant insubordinate varieties and blank space plants in good order so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always pee from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow focal point exactly , not missing any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and hit all leave , flower , or debris in the fall and put down . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a urine soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , marked-up garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : polish off infected leaves when the plant is ironical . leaf that collect around the base of operations of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide agree to label focussing .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are worm , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young descale Australian crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its severe shell bed . They seem as bumps , often on the downhearted English of leave . They have piercing backtalk component part that lactate the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can counteract a plant leading to yellowed foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduce to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growing bid sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are arduous to contain . Isolate overrun plant 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 control . Encourage natural opposition such as leechlike wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty stamp is a fungus that is found on the Earth’s surface of leafage . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale of measurement , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant . The best way of life to master jet-black mold is to control the louse that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or wash forth with a hose - oddment sprayer .
