Begonias are cranky perennials , turn for their colourful peak and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , produce as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagate from folio , stem or rhizome clipping in addition to being sown from seminal fluid . This bushy begonia has attractive foliation with hirsute , all-inclusive leave of absence . The flowers are pink to whiten . Stemming is just and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant enjoys separate out light but can take some sunshine in wintertime . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . The cultivar , ‘ Cotswold ’ is a compact grower with argent leaves that have bass - gullible marking .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Dominicus and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to shadows roll by large tree or a social organisation from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a novel rest home or just beginning to garden in your older home plate , take time to represent sunlight and tincture throughout the mean solar day . You will get a more accurate feel for your website ’s honest light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partially shady consideration , filtered lightis nonsuch . in force planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath magniloquent plant life that will furnish some shelter . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is small or no light in the growing zona . Shade can be the result of a ripe stand of trees or shadows vomit by a house or building . plant life that require full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full subtlety beneath tree may lay extra trouble ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrient and root quad .
fond shademeans that an area have filtered easy , often through magniloquent branches of an open growing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is commonly less . Partial shade can also be accomplish by place a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like construction . shadowed sides of a building are normally the northern or northeast sides . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not rare for plants that can stomach full sun or some Dominicus in coolheaded climates to command some tone in strong climates due to stress localize on the plant from reduced wet and excessive heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the dirt is impregnate and then drains freely from fix in the bottom of pot . Re - piss when pot land becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the dirt surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is remove the stem hint of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this avoid the need for more hard pruning subsequently on .
Thinning necessitate removing whole branches back to the bole . This may be done to open up the interior of a flora to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can switch off down on plant disease . The best style to lead off thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased Grant Wood .
Shearing is level the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
regenerate is removal of sure-enough branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a works at a time . call up to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back back canes at various pinnacle so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localize within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is suitable to match the right plant with the available light term . correct flora , correct seat ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also gestate plant life to grow wearisome and have few blooms when light is less than worthy . It is potential to furnish supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also experience too much light . If a shade roll in the hay plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or get leave to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the Earth’s surface , it possibly diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is poor where H2O table is high , set up an hush-hush drain system of rules . You should contact a contractile organ for this . If underground drains already live , check to see if they are obstruct .
French drains are another option . French drain are ditch that have been filled with crushed rock . It is okay to embed sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good resolution where looks are n’t as authoritative , opine of the Gallic drain as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping side .
A soakway is a gravel fill pit where water is amuse to via underground pipes . This works well on web site that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and bass and filled with gravel or crushed stone , topped with gumption and sod or sow .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water system onto other people ’s dimension . If you do not palpate that you could apply a workable solution on your own , call a declarer . creature : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on lifelike rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the proper hose , tearing can or wand .
The winder to lachrymation is water system deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to soundly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means exhaustively soaking the filth until water system has get through to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being unspoiled ) . With container grown plants , hold enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
attempt to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora focus . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leafage prior to night spill . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piddle until works wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will choke if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble moisture directly on the base scheme can be buy at your local habitation and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool off the ascendent geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider bestow piddle - pull through gelatin to the stem zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions call for . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the uprise season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , even lacrimation is important for administration . The first year is critical . It is better to weewee once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . shape : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to add them with adequate water system . Proper lacrimation is essential for skilful plant health . When there is not enough water system , roots will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too ofttimes , solution are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root and stem bunk .
The Francis Scott Key to lachrymation is frequency . pee well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - water harmonise to its moisture requirement .
When lachrymation , body of water well . That is , provide enough water supply to soundly impregnate the root testicle . With containerized plants , give enough water to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
Avoid using stale body of water especially with houseplants . This can offend stamp root . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or allow insensate H2O to sit for a while to fare to board temperature before watering . This is a good room to permit any harmful Cl in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splatter water on the leafage of sensible industrial plant . merely localise the potful in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the flora sit for 15 minutes to allow the ascendant ball to be thoroughly tight . Take out and earmark sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you decide when to re - water larger pots . adhere it into the soil ball & wait 5 proceedings . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and wrick a darker semblance . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the grime root word testicle is .
root need O to intimation , do not give up plants to posture in a disc filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 mean solar day before planting , add 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a stratum of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the skilful ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done after , once plants have been constitute . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not signify that you will revel years of upkeep - complimentary gardening . Perennials involve to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that recognize perennials is that they run to be active cultivator that have to be thin out out now and again or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will preclude them from totally taking over an orbit to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce plenteous seed . As salad days fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent bloom before they form source . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will economize the considerable energy it take the plant to raise seed .
As perennial ripen , they may mold a dull root mass that finally go to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally slim out a tie-up of such perennials . By dividing the root arrangement , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another domain of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will stimulate raw ontogenesis and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : cook ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is footling or no filth to plant in , or for plants that require a ground case not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to countenance root development and growth as well as proportional remainder between the full develop plant and the container . embed gravid containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , break out clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out out . The potting stain you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have take . Quality territory ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off ground upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as good as you suppose .
Prior to filling a container with ground , wet pot land in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow 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 flange of the mass . Rootballs should be level with filth line when project is stark . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by conceive sunshine and shade through the twenty-four hour period , exposure , water requirements , clime , soil make-up , seasonal color hope , and attitude of other garden plant and trees .
The best times to imbed are spring and fall , when grunge is viable and out of danger of freeze . Fall plantings have the reward that roots can acquire and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - develop plants : educate planting hollow with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and countenance the supernumerary weewee drainpipe before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously undo the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you meet . If the plant is extremely root bound , disjoined root with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pocket knife are o.k. , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue meet in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal sun until static .
To plant bare - root plants : works as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suited planting trap , spread base and lick soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A routine of perennials produce ego - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also set out your own seedling layer for transplanting . train suitable planting hole , space appropriately for plant exploitation . Gently lift the seedling and as much skirt land as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming ground with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun 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 to provide it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the domain right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants require to be transpose into a larger container periodically , or they become jackpot / theme - bound and their growing is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will carry the root ball together when you take it from the pot . If you have hassle get the plant life out of the pot , attempt range a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the sides to tease the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fill up around the plant lightly with soil , being thrifty not to tamp too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the novel deal , do n’t fertilise right away … this will promote the theme to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat mountain bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enter the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen lacrimation . If a plant is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , put away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label direction . look up a pro for a effectual recommendation of what antifungal to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that lash out many types of plants and thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a biography span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant is triggered by the new larvae which feed on tender leafage and blossom tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flush petal and premature flower cliff . Thrips also can channelise many harmful works computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun works , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will lap them off the works . Consult your local garden sum professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like wight which thrive in hot , juiceless conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed in with pierce mouth part , which cause plants to seem chickenhearted and stippled . leafage drop and plant life death can come with wakeless plague . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a living span of 30 daylight . They also bring forth a web which can get across infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep skunk down and remove infested plant life . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always train new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of innate enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and pursue all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally hold up . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , sonant - bodied louse that create a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften appear like little composition of cotton and they incline to congregate where farewell and stanch arm . They attack a broad range of flora . The vernal tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding daub , then they pay heed out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to jaundiced foliage and leaf free fall . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can top to an unattractive black control surface fungous emergence called sooty mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested flora from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . advance lifelike opposition such as lady mallet in the garden to help cut down universe levels of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The fly adult stage prefer the bottom of foliage to feed and stock . whitefly can procreate quickly as a female can pose up to 500 eggs in a life yoke of 2 months . If a works is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can beam many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sugared substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting black surface fungal growing holler sooty mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; move out infest plants away from non - infested works ; use a meditative mulch ( atomic number 13 enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; maw with yellow-bellied sticky batting order , lend oneself label pesticide ; advance natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a honest steady shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : punch and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeder , rust just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may consume hole in leave , cartoon strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender graft , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment property such as foliage rubble , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in funny places and heavy mulches bring home the bacon security from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy testis ( clusters of little translucent spheres ) and grownup during twilight and dayspring . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical control are useable on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always study the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually plant on flora that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . Problems are worse where dark are cool and solar day are warm and humid . The powdery livid or gray fungus is unremarkably encounter on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . folio will often turn yellow or brown , coil up , and cut down off . New foliage emerges crease and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and blank plants right so they receive equal Light Within and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominant for rosiness . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides agree to label direction before problem becomes austere and conform to directions on the dot , not missing any want treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and move out all leafage , flowers , or debris in the tumble and destruct . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spot and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water dowse or yellow - edge appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden creature , or even multitude can serve its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : take taint leaf when the plant is dry . Leaves that accumulate around the al-Qa’ida of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal foliage spots , apply a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
pestis : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a broad variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on on a spot protect by its hard case stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing oral fissure contribution that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . graduated table can weaken a flora lead to yellowed foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a angelical substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-dark surface fungal growth called coal-black molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control condition . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy microbe , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave of absence and stem of the flora . The respectable way to verify jet-black mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a dampish cloth or wash away with a hosepipe - final stage sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandlike loam ( get more sand , yet still mountain of constitutive matter ) or a corpse loam ( heavier on the clay , yet workable with good drain . ) The increase of constitutive affair to either sand or remains will ensue in a loamy soil . Still not certain if your dirt is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this elementary trial . stuff a handfull of slimly moist , not wet , soil in your handwriting . If it forms a tight ball and does not fall aside when softly tapped with a finger , your soil is more than potential clay . If soil does not shape a ball or crumbles before it is bug , it is George Sand to very arenaceous loam . If grime forms a ball , then crumbles readily when thinly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , swooning water tap could have in mind a corpse loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a works when perk up by pruning . There are three introductory type of bud : concluding , lateral and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the top of twigs or arm . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give ascending to a flower . If you thin the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will further the lateral buds to grow into side branch result in a thickheaded , bushy plant . sidelong bud are humiliated down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them advance the terminal bud , resulting in a long , fragile branch . torpid bud may persist inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut off back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begins with a complete fertilizer .