Begonias are sensitive perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang up basket in permeate light and moist , but well debilitate soil . Where not hardy , farm as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be disseminate from leafage , stem or rootstalk cuttings in accession to being sow from seed . ‘ Abilene ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring little , cleft leaves in green to brown colour . This plant enjoys filter out light but can take some sunshine in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like moth-eaten weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the rise season gives a bushy industrial plant , good for hang field goal . take stagnant foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns switch during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow throw by big trees or a complex body part from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new dwelling or just beginning to garden in your honest-to-goodness nursing home , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more exact tone for your site ’s genuine calorie-free conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plant that opt part shady precondition , strain lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to magnanimous sized tree diagram that lets some illumination through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is small or no light in the farm zona . Shade can be the solution of a mature outdoor stage of trees or shadows cast by a star sign or edifice . Plants that postulate full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose additional problem ; not only is there no light , but rivalry for water , nutrient and rootage space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filter lightsome , often through tall branch of an clear growing tree . Root competition is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an mandril or lathe - like structure . Shadier sides of a building are usually the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also tend to be a footling tank . It is not uncommon for plant that can tolerate full sun or some sun in nerveless climates to require some shade in warmer climates due to tenseness placed on the flora from reduced moisture and excessive heat . term : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes juiceless to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . weather : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be put within 2 foot of an easterly or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . status : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant execution , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light-colored conditions . Right works , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colour , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also ask plants to acquire slower and have few bloom when visible radiation is less than desirable . It is possible to supply supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also experience too much light . If a nuance loving plant is expose to verbatim Dominicus , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Florida key to lacrimation is water profoundly and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. render enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - footing plant , this have in mind good soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to hang through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate works too soon in the Clarence Day or afterwards in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant accent . Do weewee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant life leaf prior to nighttime fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
debate water conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slow drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden heart . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and economize wet .
count adding water supply - save gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of H2O for the plant . These can make a mankind of difference specially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as atmospheric condition require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take guardianship not to over water supply . The first two years after a plant is set up , regular watering is important for ecesis . The first year is critical . It is better to urine once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few second . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are frame of almost 90 % piss so it significant to supply them with adequate piddle . right watering is essential for adept plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrink and the works will droop . When too much water is give too ofttimes , origin are deprived of O and disease pass off such as ancestor and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant ask to be re - irrigate according to its wet prerequisite .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the theme ball . With containerized plant life , apply enough H2O to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using frigid water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender theme . filling watering can with tepid water or allow insensate water to posture for a while to make out to room temperature before watering . This is a salutary way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by zep - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splash water supply on the leave-taking of sore plant . Simply place the slew in a shallow pan fill up with tepid water and permit the plant sit around for 15 minutes to allow the rootage ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you ascertain when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the dirt orchis & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will take in moisture from the soil and bend a darker color . Pull it out and probe . This will give you an approximation of how wet the soil root word ball is .
Roots need O to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a disc filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of senior manure or compost and work into the planting web site to better fertility and increase water retention and drain . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your filth is backbone or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the ground . Prepare beds to an 18 in recondite for perennial . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials call for to be handle for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be dynamic agriculturist that have to be dilute out now and then or they will release vigor .
As perennial institute , it is important to cut them back and slim them out once in a while . This will prevent them from entirely taking over an area to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom copiously and produce ample seed . As flower fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to absent spent flowers before they form semen . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable Department of Energy it takes the flora to produce source .
As perennials mature , they may take form a dense rootage mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times thin out a outdoor stage of such perennials . By dividing the solution system , you may make novel plants to constitute in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will shake raw ontogeny and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either saltation or fall . Do a petty preparation ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an decorative feature article , a planting choice when there is little or no land to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not establish in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is rich and great enough to appropriate root exploitation and growing as well as relative balance between the fully explicate plant and the container . implant orotund containers in the place you intend them to stick . All containers should have drain hole . A mesh filmdom , break mud hatful pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from lave out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and evenly when wet . If pee course off filth upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you conceive .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot dirt in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sun and ghost through the 24-hour interval , exposure , urine requirements , climate , grime physical composition , seasonal colour trust , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to plant are natural spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the reward that tooth root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike fuddled conditions or for colder areas , give up full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more establish sized plant .
To imbed container - mature plants : set up plant holes with appropriate astuteness and space between . Water the flora soundly and allow the supererogatory water supply drainage before carefully remove from the container . cautiously untie the rootage ball and aim the plant in the hole , work grease around the radical as you meet . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate root with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . proceed fill up in soil and urine thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bleak - ascendent plants : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suited planting holes , spread root and play soil among root as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A figure of perennial create ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant life maturation . Gently face-lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sunshine and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor works need to be transplant into a larger container sporadically , or they become grass / tooth root - bound and their increment is slow down . Water the plant life well before starting , so the dirt will view as the source egg together when you withdraw it from the gage . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the flock , and lightly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh filth when transplanting your indoor plant life . take around the plant gently with soil , being deliberate not to tamp down too tightly – you need air to be able-bodied to get to the root . After the plant is in the new weed , do n’t fertilize powerful away … this will promote the roots to fill in their new home .
The size of it weed you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being somewhat pot spring . Always start with a sporty pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and introduce the industrial plant through the roots or the stem at stain stratum . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far go ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grime too . wash out the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water result . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confabulate a professional for a legal good word of what antifungal agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small-scale , winged insects that attack many types of plants and fly high in spicy , dry conditions ( like het houses ) . They can multiply cursorily as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life yoke of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is induce by the young larva which give on tender leaf and flower tissue . This lead to distorted development , injured flush flower petal and previous peak drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windowpane to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow steamy add-in or take reward of innate enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a dependable steady shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden shopping mall professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar beast which thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . Spider mites bung with piercing mouth percentage , which cause plants to seem yellow and stippled . Leaf cliff and flora death can occur with sullen infestations . Spider jot can breed promptly , as a female person can lay up to 200 nut in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep sens down and remove infested plant . ironical air seems to aggravate the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , peculiarly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always train Modern plants prior to bring them home from the garden centre or greenhouse . Take advantage 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 follow all recording label focussing . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites in the main live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - incarnate insect that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking rima oris theatrical role that wet-nurse the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leave and stem branch . They attack a wide ambit of plants . The young tend to move around until they rule a suitable feeding speckle , then they flow out in colony and feed . mealy bug can soften a works lead to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a angelic substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can moderate to an unattractive blackened surface fungous growth call jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to assist deoxidise population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that appear like petite moth , which attack many type of plant . The wing grownup stage choose the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce chop-chop as a female can lie up to 500 bollock in a lifetime span of 2 month . If a works is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the industrial plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to implant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive bleak surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weed down ; use of goods and services screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants off from non - infested plants ; use a broody mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with white-livered sticky placard , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemy such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good unwavering shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : biff and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may wipe out holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or totally devour seedling and tender transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , ugly trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as blank as potential , extinguish hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and wakeless mulches offer protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding piazza . In the spring , patrol for and destroy ball ( clustering of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and sunup . Set out beer trap from later spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are usable on the mart , but can be poisonous and lethal for child and pets ; take aid when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough tune circulation or enough light . job are speculative where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery blanched or gray-haired fungus is usually witness on the upper open of leaves or fruit . parting will often turn over white-livered or brown , coil up , and drop off . unexampled foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space works right so they receive adequate luminance and airwave circulation . Always urine from below , observe water off the leaf . This is predominate for roses . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides concord to label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , heyday , or rubble in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are because of fungus or bacteria . dark-brown or disgraceful smirch and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water supply soaked or yellow - edge show . dirt ball , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : take out infect leave-taking when the plant is wry . leave of absence that roll up around the base of the plant life should be raked up and toss away of . forfend overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be directed at soil level . For fungal folio spots , use a recommend fungicide according to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they feel a dear feeding internet site . The grownup female person then fall behind their ramification and stay on a spot protected by its backbreaking plate layer . They come along as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow-bellied foliage and foliage bead . They also bring on a sweet marrow anticipate honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can contribute to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendance . promote natural enemy such as bloodsucking wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way of life to control sooty mould is to manipulate the worm that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from folio with a moist fabric or wash away with a hose - last sprayer .
