Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful peak and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pot , in the ground , or in hang field goal in filtered spark and moist , but well drain territory . Where not dauntless , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , shank or rhizome cuttings in addition to being inseminate from seed . ( Plant width : go out 3 to 6 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Summer , ’ grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring intermediate - sized , quiet , scissure leaves . This works savor filter light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias develop very well in peat - establish compost also . Likes humidity . unfearing . Does not wish cold weather . squeeze lead and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year gives a shaggy-haired flora , in force for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliage to preclude disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tad patterns exchange during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by big tree or a social structure from an next property . If you have just bought a new rest home or just set about to garden in your old house , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : trickle LightFor many flora that prefer partially fishy conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some lighter through their branch or beneath taller plants that will provide some auspices . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need ample piddle , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of hatful . Re - piddle when potting soil becomes dry to the ghost an inch or so below the soil surface . shape : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer lightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is crucial to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as potent as good afternoon sun , can be deliberate part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight picture may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon specter will be received . condition : shiny Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an easterly or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly pic window . shape : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available idle conditions . Right flora , veracious place ! Plants which do not have sufficient igniter may become pale in coloring , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also have a bun in the oven industrial plant to farm slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to allow supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also receive too much Light Within . If a shade loving industrial plant is exposed to unmediated sunlight , it may droop and/or do leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less oft . When watering , water supply well , i.e. put up enough water to good saturate the origin ball . With in - ground plants , this stand for thoroughly soaking the land until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being secure ) . With container grown plants , apply enough H2O to let water to feed through the drain holes .
seek to irrigate plant too soon in the day or later in the good afternoon to maintain water system and cut down on plant accent . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they hit the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be buy at your local place and garden center field . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and preserve moisture .
Consider adding urine - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a creation of difference peculiarly under stressful atmospheric condition . Be certain to keep an eye on label management for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be hold on equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions take . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a workweek during the growing season , but take upkeep not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , even tearing is important for governing body . The first class is decisive . It is in force to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . circumstance : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to ply them with adequate water . Proper lachrymation is essential for secure plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , roots are divest of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as etymon and shank rots .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works necessitate to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant , utilize enough weewee to tolerate piss to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using insensate weewee peculiarly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid piddle or leave cold water to posture for a while to come to board temperature before lachrymation . This is a good way to earmark any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigate by wedge - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids squelch water on the leaf of sensitive works . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan fulfill with tepid weewee and let the flora pose for 15 minutes to countenance the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & waitress 5 min . The dowel will engross moisture from the grime and turn over a darker people of color . draw it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil ancestor orchis is .
Roots require oxygen to breath , do not allow plant life to seat in a dish antenna fill with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil piece is weak , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or the Great Compromiser , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . ready layer to an 18 column inch mystifying for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly devote off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will revel years of maintenance - complimentary gardening . Perennials need to be handle for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they run to be active grower that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will preclude them from altogether taking over an orbit to the elision of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce plentiful semen . As blooming fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to absent spent flowers before they form seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to bring on ejaculate .
As perennials age , they may form a dense root mountain that finally lead to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a pedestal of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you could make fresh plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will stir fresh increment and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either fountain or nightfall . Do a slight prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : develop ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is small or no land to plant in , or for plant that ask a soil type not found in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is deficient . If originate more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have similar cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and with child enough to allow root development and ontogenesis as well as relative residue between the fully break plant and the container . implant large container in the home you intend them to stay . All container should have drain hole . A mesh screen , breach clay mass pieces(crock ) or a paper deep brown filter placed over the kettle of fish will keep territory from washing out . The potting dirt you select should be an appropriate mix for the works you have select . Quality soils ( or ground - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off ground upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your grunge may not be as good as you reckon .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or post in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . fill up container about midway full or to a level that will allow flora , when constitute , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil cable when project is unadulterated . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and shade through the 24-hour interval , exposure , urine necessary , climate , filth makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plant and tree .
The good times to plant are spring and fall , when grunge is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the give . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for dusty areas , allowing full organisation before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To establish container - grow plants : Prepare imbed holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and have the redundant water drain before cautiously remove from the container . Carefully loosen the root glob and place the plant in the hole , shape soil around the root word as you meet . If the plant is extremely ancestor bind , freestanding base with fingers . A few slits made with a scoop knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in soil and water soundly , protecting from direct sun until unchanging .
To establish bare - root plants : industrial plant as soon as potential after purchase . set up suitable planting holes , go around root word and work soil among roots as you make full in . Water well and protect from direct Dominicus until unchanging .
To establish seedling : A turn of perennials produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplanting . gear up suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant developing . lightly snarf the seedling and as much surrounding grime as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firming grunge with fingertip and piddle well . Shade from direct sunlight and pee regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . think of that the area properly next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant demand to be transpose into a big container periodically , or they become locoweed / root - tie down and their growth is delay . Water the plant well before starting , so the dirt will hold the ascendent ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble pose the flora out of the pot , try running a blade around the sharpness of the flock , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transfer your indoor plant life . occupy around the works mildly with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the theme . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize correctly away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new menage .
The size of it hatful you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant opt being somewhat pot bound . Always depart with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most filth and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at ground level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , put away the soil too . lave the weed with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , harmonise to label directions . confab a pro for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that attack many type of plant life and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated mansion ) . They can manifold rapidly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a living span of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plants is triggered by the young larvae which feed on tender foliage and efflorescence tissue . This leads to perverted growth , injured flower flower petal and premature peak dip . Thrips also can transport many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard invade plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky scorecard or take reward of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a unspoiled steady shower of water will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative prolongation office for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare minor , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider soupcon feed with pierce mouth part , which cause plant life to come out yellow and stippled . foliage drop and plant death can pass off with fleshy infestation . Spider touch can multiply quick , as a female can lay up to 200 testicle in a life span of 30 days . They also bring out a World Wide Web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and remove infested plant . juiceless zephyr seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain flora are regularly watered , specially those prefer high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check Modern plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden middle professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label charge . Concentrate your drive on the undersurface of the leafage as that is where spider mites generally populate . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , piano - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that breastfeed the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a extensive reach of plant . The new tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding situation , then they give ear out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can countermine a works conduct to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungous ontogeny called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden nub professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage lifelike enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help oneself reduce population horizontal surface of mealy bug . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , wing insects that search like midget moths , which attack many type of plants . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply rapidly as a female can lie in up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing dirt ball when the flora is disturb . whitefly can weaken a flora , finally leading to implant death if they are not chequer . They can transport many harmful plant virus . They also create a unfermented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful surface fungal growth called pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; slay infested plants out from non - infested flora ; utilise a broody mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow embarrassing cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will moisten them off the industrial plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be wolfish feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hole in leaves , funnies entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment piazza such as leaf rubble , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowed place and heavy mulches leave protection from the element and can be preferred concealing position . In the spring , police for and put down eggs ( clump of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer cakehole from late spring through dip .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always take the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . trouble are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually establish on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often twist yellow or brown , curl up , and send away off . New foliage come out crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often degenerate betimes .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and space flora properly so they receive adequate light and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use antifungal agent according to label directions before trouble becomes grave and keep up directions on the dot , not missing any need treatment . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and murder all leaves , bloom , or debris in the pin and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacteria . brownish or contraband smear and patch may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged show . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can avail its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the flora is juiceless . Leaves that take in around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . deflect overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be directed at soil horizontal surface . For fungous leaf speckle , expend a recommended fungicide accord to label counseling .
pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a job on a all-encompassing variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . unseasoned scales creeping until they find a good eating situation . The adult females then drop off their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard carapace bed . They seem as bumps , often on the low sides of leaf . They have pierce mouth piece that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life precede to yellow-bellied foliage and folio fall . They also produce a angelical centre call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are backbreaking to control . Isolate infested flora away from those that are not infested . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension bureau in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / melanize the leaves and stems of the works . The best way to curb sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can ordinarily be wiped from leaves with a dampish cloth or launder away with a hose - remainder sprayer .
