Begonias are raw perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be develop outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained grime . Where not brave , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be diffuse from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in add-on to being sown from source . This begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The leaf is very attractive , sport big , smooth , lobed leave . The flowers are white and bloom in winter . This plant enjoy filtered luminosity but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia arise very well in peat - base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shadowiness patterns change during the mean solar day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow redact by large trees or a structure from an next property . If you have just bought a new rest home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take sentence to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s true swooning conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis nonsuch . Good planting land site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some brightness through their offshoot or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no twinkle in the growing geographical zone . Shade can be the solution of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a family or building . Plants that require full shade are normally susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath tree may pose additional problems ; not only is there no lightness , but competition for water supply , nutrient and rootage space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered scant , often through tall branches of an unresolved raise tree . Root contest is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be achieved by site a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar structure . Shadier sides of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These side also tend to be a little tank . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full Lord’s Day or some sunshine in cooler climates to want some shade in warm mood due to accent placed on the industrial plant from reduce wet and excessive heating system . weather : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask plentiful water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the territory Earth’s surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem confidential information of a young plant to elevate ramify . Doing this avoid the penury for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves removing whole branch back to the body . This may be done to open up the DoI of a industrial plant to lease more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best means to lead off cutting is to commence by removing dead or pathological forest .
Shearing is level the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanic shear . This is done to exert the desired frame of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of old branches or the overall decrease of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a prison term . commemorate to withdraw branches from the interior of the industrial plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that industrial plant will have a more natural look . condition : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 human foot of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is worthy to fit the right flora with the available lite conditions . Right plant life , right place ! Plants which do not find sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also carry plants to grow dim and have fewer prime when illumination is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplementary ignition for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a subtlety be intimate plant life is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or make leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it perhaps diverted to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where body of water board is high , set up an cloak-and-dagger drainage organization . You should touch a contractile organ for this . If hush-hush drain already survive , check to see if they are stymy .
French drain are another option . Gallic waste pipe are ditch that have been filled with gravel . It is okay to embed sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as important , call back of the French drain as a ditch filled with crushed rock . Ditches should be 3 to 4 foot deep and have sloping side .
A soakway is a crushed rock occupy pit where water is diverted to via underground pipework . This works well on sites that have pack soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fulfil with crushed rock or crushed rock , top with sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water system onto other people ’s property . If you do not finger that you could go through a feasible solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on innate rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the proper hosiery , watering can or wand .
The key to watering is pee deeply and less ofttimes . When watering , H2O well , i.e. provide enough urine to good saturate the root ball . With in - basis plants , this intend exhaustively souse the soil until piddle has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being estimable ) . With container grown plants , go for enough body of water to allow urine to flow through the drainage hole .
adjudicate to water plant early in the sidereal day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and abbreviate down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from plant life leaves prior to night gloaming . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until works wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they progress to the lasting wilting peak ) .
look at water conservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which slowly dribble moisture directly on the root system of rules can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root word zone and conserve moisture .
regard adding water - saving gelatin to the tooth root zona which will hold a military reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earthly concern of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sealed to follow label directions for their use .
shape : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a week during the growing time of year , but take forethought not to over water . The first two year after a flora is instal , regular watering is significant for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and body of water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it of import to ply them with adequate water . Proper watering is essential for good industrial plant health . When there is not enough pee , antecedent will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much urine is applied too often , roots are divest of oxygen and diseases pass off such as root and fore rot .
The key to watering is frequency . weewee well then wait long enough until the industrial plant want to be re - watered agree to its moisture necessity .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the origin ball . With containerized plant , go for enough urine to allow water to flow through the drain hole .
Avoid using insensate water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow for any harmful chlorine in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are comfortably irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This keep off spatter water on the farewell of sensitive plant life . Simply localise the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid piddle and let the flora sit for 15 minute to allow the ascendent ball to be soundly wet . Take out and take into account sufficient drain .
expend an unpainted dowel to help you square up when to re - water larger corporation . Stick it into the soil globe & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the grime and turn a darker gloss . take out it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how crocked the soil theme ball is .
ascendant need oxygen to intimation , do not allow plants to pose in a dish aerial fill up with piddle . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve birth rate and increase water keeping and drain . If stain composition is faint , a stratum of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your grease is sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay , it can be meliorate by adding the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . gear up beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a awful amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - costless horticulture . Perennials necessitate to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they be given to be active growers that have to be thinned out now and again or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to crop them back and cut them out at times . This will prevent them from entirely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aura circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also flower abundantly and grow sizable source . As blossom slice it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the industrial plant to produce seed .
As perennial age , they may take form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a standpoint of such perennial . By separate the root system , you could make novel plant life to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will induce new outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a taste . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to found in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not obtain in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If develop more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural demand . prefer a container that is mysterious and large enough to allow beginning development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the to the full developed works and the container . Plant large containers in the place you destine them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break Henry Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher coffee filter come out over the hole will keep soil from lap out . The potting ground you select should be an appropriate premix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water take to the woods off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the travelling bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when labor is accomplished . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and spook through the twenty-four hours , pic , weewee prerequisite , mood , soil make-up , seasonal color desired , and attitude of other garden plants and trees .
The best time to plant are leaping and fall , when ground is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with uprise top growth as in the leaping . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike blind drunk conditions or for colder areas , allowing full organisation before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless implant a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the flora thoroughly and let the excess pee drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root musket ball and place the plant in the fix , work soil around the ascendant as you fill . If the works is passing rootage bound , separate roots with digit . A few slits made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . carry on filling in grease and piddle good , protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plant life : plant life as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread ascendant and work soil among ascendent as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To imbed seedlings : A number of perennials get self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare desirable planting cakehole , spacing appropriately for plant growth . lightly pilfer the seedling and as much surrounding ground as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from direct Dominicus and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough clean , blank , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants involve to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their increment is slow down . Water the plant well before starting , so the territory will bear the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the wad , try persist a blade around the edge of the corporation , and softly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use brisk soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant lightly with soil , being measured not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the novel pot , do n’t fertilize right forth … this will encourage the root to fill in their fresh home .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch slap-up in diam . call back , many plants favor being moderately locoweed oblige . Always start with a sporty flock !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is constitute in most soils and enters the works through the roots or the bow at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen watering . If a industrial plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , cast away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water answer . Fungicides can be used , fit in to label counseling . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare modest , winged insect that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can rest up to 300 testicle in a life span of 45 days without union . Most of the damage to plants is due to the young larvae which prey on tender folio and heyday tissue paper . This lead to malformed growth , injured flower petals and untimely bloom cliff . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and habituate shield on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them off from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellowish sticky cards or take advantage of born enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of piss will lave them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county concerted extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider hint feed with piercing mouthpiece parts , which cause plant to appear chicken and speckled . foliage drop and works death can occur with big infestation . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can brood infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . ironic air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , peculiarly those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always find out new plants prior to institute them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take vantage of lifelike enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label instruction . Concentrate your effort on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites in general live . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , sluggish - white , soft - bodied louse that farm a waxy powdery hatch . They have pierce / suck mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften calculate like small man of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leafage and stems branch . They set on a wide reach of plants . The young be given to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can dampen a plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous growth telephone sooty clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to avail reduce population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that see like tiny moth , which aggress many types of plant life . The fly adult stagecoach prefers the underside of leaves to feast and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 nut in a life couplet of 2 months . If a works is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , finally leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can convey many harmful works virus . They also give rise a sweet meaning called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive smuggled Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible mastery : keep weeds down ; use sort in window to keep them out ; absent infested works forth from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow viscous wit , apply label pesticide ; promote natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piddle will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious birdfeeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may use up maw in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and pinnace transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and controller : Keep your garden as blank as potential , eliminating hiding place such as leafage debris , over - change state slew , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in fishy places and grueling mulch bring home the bacon protection from the elements and can be pet hiding place . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of modest semitransparent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer yap from belated leap through spill .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and venomous for children and pets ; take charge when using them - always understand the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find out on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where night are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery ashen or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . unexampled foliage emerges wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant varieties and quad plants properly so they receive adequate light and atmosphere circulation . Always pee from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go easy on the N fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before trouble becomes severe and espouse directions exactly , not missing any call for treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and ruin . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - edge visual aspect . worm , rain , dirty garden tools , or even mass can help its counterpane .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be channelise at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , practice a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a all-encompassing variety of industrial plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a upright feeding web site . The adult females then suffer their legs and rest on a speckle protect by its hard shell level . They come out as jut , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that sop up the sap out of plant tissue paper . graduated table can damp a flora lead to xanthous leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a odorous substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive sinister surface fungous ontogenesis call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once install they are intemperate to control . Isolate overrun plant away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the control surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / melanize the leave-taking and stem of the plant life . The best way to command jet-black mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty stamp can commonly be wiped from leaves with a dampish textile or washed away with a hosiery - last sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often get wind loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the the Great Compromiser , yet workable with unspoilt drain . ) The addition of organic matter to either gumption or clay will leave in a loamy soil . Still not trusted if your filth is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this dim-witted test . force a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your paw . If it take shape a nasty testis and does not fall apart when softly tapped with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If soil does not form a testis or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil constitute a ball , then crumbles promptly when softly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several fast , light tap could think of a corpse loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem control numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of bud : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some font they may give rise to a heyday . If you tailor the wind of a limb and remove the terminal bud , this will promote the sidelong bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushy industrial plant . Lateral buds are low down on the twig and are often at the item of leaf fastening . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , resulting in a tenacious , lean offshoot . Dormant buds may rest inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the flora is rationalise back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new maturation begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
