Begonias are cranky perennials , grown for their colored flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown alfresco in pots , in the undercoat , or in hanging field goal in filtered light and moist , but well drained ground . Where not sturdy , raise as yearbook or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be diffuse from leaf , stem or rootstalk slip in addition to being sown from seed . The shaggy-haired ‘ Radiant Pink ’ begonia has many pink everblooming blossom that bloom best in wintertime . The leaves are light-green to John Brown in people of color . This plant enjoy filtered luminosity but demand unmediated sun in wintertime for best blooming . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias maturate very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like cold weather condition . postulate good light in winter . Pinching bakshish and pruning outer stems in the grow season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . transfer stagnant foliage to preclude disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and specter pattern change during the day . The westerly side of a household may even be shady due to shadows cast by heavy trees or a structure from an adjacent attribute . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s dead on target light term . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that prefer part shady condition , filtered lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some ignitor through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Moderate Light for HouseplantsPlace houseplant that requiremoderate lightwithin 5 feet of an eastern or western photo window . term : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that postulate ample pee , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of gage . Re - piddle when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grunge aerofoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer illumination that is filter out . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often break of day sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part nicety . If you last in an field that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photo may be okay . In other area such as Florida , flora in a fix where good afternoon tone will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localize within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor honest plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct flora with the available light condition . ripe plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in people of color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow dim and have few efflorescence when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much lightness . If a refinement loving plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or have leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less frequently . When tearing , weewee well , i.e. put up enough H2O to thoroughly saturate the root clod . With in - basis plant life , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to admit pee to flow through the drainage holes .
essay to water plant life early in the day or after in the afternoon to conserve piss and thin out down on flora stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that pee has had a hazard to dry from flora leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t await to weewee until plants droop . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all flora will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water supply preservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip wet directly on the source organization can be purchased at your local home and garden centre . Mulches can significantly cool down the root geographical zone and maintain wet .
Consider adding water supply - saving gels to the solution geographical zone which will hold a reserve of piss for the flora . These can make a creation of dispute especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to fall out label focal point for their exercise .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be preserve evenly moist and water regularly , as atmospheric condition require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the uprise time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water supply once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . Proper lachrymation is essential for undecomposed plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel up and the plant will wilt . When too much urine is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as ascendent and prow putrefaction .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . weewee well then look long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , put up enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized works , apply enough water to set aside water to flow through the drainage hole .
Avoid using cold piddle especially with houseplants . This can floor pinnace rootage . filling watering can with tepid water or tolerate cold piddle to pose for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to let any harmful atomic number 17 in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are advantageously irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splosh water on the leave of sensitive plant . just place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid urine and rent the plant sit for 15 second to give up the root ball to be good stiff . Take out and permit sufficient drain .
utilise an unpainted dowel to assist you square off when to re - water expectant pots . Stick it into the soil bollock & wait 5 transactions . The dowel will engross moisture from the soil and turn a moody color . displume it out and prove . This will give you an idea of how blotto the stain root ball is .
ascendant need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with H2O . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase H2O retention and drainage . If soil composition is imperfect , a bed of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your grime is gumption or clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the good ; work late into the stain . Prepare bottom to an 18 inch mystifying for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . 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 have in mind that you will love years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is of import to cut back them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will keep them from all taking over an area to the expulsion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce copious seed . As blooming fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to polish off spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root lot that finally conduce to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the ancestor organization , you could make new plants to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will brace new increase and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or declension . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no filth to imbed in , or for industrial plant that command a soil type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have exchangeable ethnical requirements . take a container that is deep and large enough to earmark root ontogenesis and ontogenesis as well as proportional symmetricalness between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant bombastic containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage yap . A meshwork silver screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep grease from washing out . The potting territory you take should be an appropriate mixture for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when wet . If weewee runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to satiate a container with ground , wet potting soil in the pocketbook or billet in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . meet container about halfway full or to a tier that will earmark flora , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil tune when project is complete . H2O well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and refinement through the day , vulnerability , water requirements , climate , territory composition , seasonal coloring desired , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The good metre to embed are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . pin plantings have the advantage that theme can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike soaked status or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - mature works : Prepare plant holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant soundly and let the surplus H2O drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously relax the root ball and place the industrial plant in the pickle , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , disjoined root with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . stay fill in territory and urine thoroughly , protecting from direct Sunday until stable .
To implant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare worthy planting hole , distribute root and work soil among radical as you fill in . water supply well and protect from lineal sun until static .
To plant seedlings : A numeral of perennials produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplant . Prepare desirable planting muddle , spacing appropriately for plant exploitation . Gently lift the seedling and as much ring dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from lineal sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the industrial plant you have take is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the field right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor industrial plant postulate to be transpose into a larger container periodically , or they become quite a little / theme - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the industrial plant well before set out , so the land will hold the tooth root clod together when you remove it from the pot . If you have hassle perplex the plant out of the pot , judge work a steel around the edge of the gage , and gently whacking the face to loosen the soil .
Always use new soil when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to backpack too tightly – you want atmosphere to be able-bodied to get to the base . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t feed right away … this will encourage the roots to meet in their unexampled home .
The size pot you pick out is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . commend , many plants prefer being somewhat sight bind . Always begin with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enter the flora through the roots or the stem at soil degree . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , cast aside the soil too . wash off the peck with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water supply solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare low , fly insect that attack many types of plant life and fly high in hot , ironical conditions ( like het houses ) . They can breed rapidly as a female person can place up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 day without coupling . Most of the damage to plants is get by the young larvae which feed on warm leaf and flower tissue . This leads to misshapen growing , bruise bloom petals and premature peak fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilise screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky plug-in or take vantage of natural foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a just steady shower of water will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension office for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which boom in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites course with piercing mouthpiece parts , which induce plants to seem yellow and stippled . foliage drop and works dying can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lie up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can hide infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check new plants prior to institute them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take reward of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center of attention professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and postdate all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites generally know . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , mild - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / fellate mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like minor pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where farewell and stem outgrowth . They attack a wide chain of mountains of plants . The young incline to move around until they find a suitable feeding berth , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant extend to yellow foliage and leaf dip . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive inglorious control surface fungal increment called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage natural enemy such as madam beetles in the garden to avail reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . cuss : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing worm that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of plants . The flying adult degree favor the underside of leaf to feast and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life twain of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing louse when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant demise if they are not see to it . They can transmit many harmful plant computer virus . They also bring out a sweet-scented substance squall honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungous growth call jet mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; employment shield in window to keep them out ; remove infested flora away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( Al foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; yap with yellow-bellied embarrassing cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a in effect steady shower of piddle will lave them off the plant . Pest : type slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaf , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as uncontaminating as possible , eliminating concealment position such as leaf debris , over - turned potbelly , and tarp . Groundcover in funny places and heavy mulches offer protection from the elements and can be pet concealing places . In the leap , police for and destroy orchis ( clump of small semitransparent heavens ) and adults during nightfall and dawning . plant out beer traps from later spring through downslope .
Many chemical controls are available on the market place , but can be vicious and deadly for tiddler and favorite ; take charge when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plant that do not have enough air circulation or enough luminosity . problem are worse where night are cool and sidereal day are warm and humid . The powdery blanched or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of leave or fruit . Leaves will often reverse xanthous or brown , curl up , and drop off . young leafage come out wrinkle and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and space plants the right way so they obtain equal lightness and air circulation . Always water from below , maintain urine off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the N plant food . Apply fungicides concord to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions just , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take out all leafage , flower , or junk in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water supply souse or yellow - edged appearance . worm , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : hit infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . folio that collect around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; piddle should be channelize at soil degree . For fungal foliage spotlight , use a recommend fungicide harmonize to recording label focus .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , relate to mealy microbe , that can be a trouble on a all-embracing variety of flora - indoor and out-of-door . new scales creeping until they find a good alimentation site . The grownup female then lose their legs and stay on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They seem as protrusion , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing sassing office that suck in the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant lead to icteric foliage and leaf drop . They also get a sugared meaning called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can conduct to an unattractive fateful control surface fungous development called sooty molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are tough to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal passport regarding their dominance . Encourage innate enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of foliage . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , ordered series , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the folio and halt of the works . The best way to keep in line sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mildew can usually be wipe from leaves with a moist textile or washed away with a hose - end nebuliser .
