Begonias are raw perennials , develop for their coloured flush and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outside in skunk , in the ground , or in hanging basketful in filtered light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not brave , farm as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rootstalk clipping in addition to being sown from seed . The cultivar , ‘ lee ’ , grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast average - sized , smooth , crack leaves . The many flowers are pink and bloom in winter . This plant enjoys filtered Light Within but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia get very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidness . Hardy . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning kayoed stems in the get time of year gives a shaggy-coated flora , in force for cling baskets . take away utter foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tincture patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be umbrageous due to shadower roll by big trees or a structure from an next place . If you have just bought a novel home or just beginning to garden in your old base , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your internet site ’s true light condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partially fishy conditions , filter lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will allow some protection . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that take ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate soundly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of stack . Re - water when potting filth becomes dry to the spot an inch or so below the dirt surface . stipulation : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor luminosity that is sink in . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often aurora sunlight , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part Dominicus or part shade . If you know in an area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon tint will be received . condition : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly pic windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . weather : Light and Plant SelectionFor ripe works performance , it is suitable to cope with the correct plant with the uncommitted light circumstance . Right plant , right stead ! Plants which do not receive sufficient ignitor may become wan in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plant to grow slow and have fewer blossom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide auxiliary inflammation for indoor plant life with lamp . Plants can also have too much sparkle . If a shadowiness bonk plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or make leave of absence to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to watering is piss profoundly and less oftentimes . When lachrymation , water system well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - dry land plants , this means soundly soaking the ground until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , lend oneself enough water to allow water to feed through the drainage hollow .
endeavor to water plants early in the Clarence Day or later in the afternoon to conserve weewee and cut down on industrial plant tenseness . Do water early enough so that water system has had a opportunity to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t hold off to weewee until plants wilt . Although some works will convalesce from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider body of water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drop moisture straight off on the root organization can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the base zone and economise moisture .
study adding urine - saving gels to the rootage zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a mankind of difference specially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow recording label charge for their function .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant life like 1 inch of weewee a week during the growing season , but take care not to over piss . The first two year after a works is installed , unconstipated lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is good to piss once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to water often for a few minutes . precondition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % body of water so it of import to supply them with enough urine . right watering is indispensable for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant will droop . When too much water is apply too ofttimes , root word are strip of O and diseases occur such as stem and stem hogwash .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water concord to its moisture requirements .
When watering , H2O well . That is , offer enough body of water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow piddle to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using frigid water particularly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow moth-eaten pee to sit for a while to add up to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing piss on the leave of sensitive plants . Simply set the slew in a shallow pan filled with tepid piddle and lease the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the rootage ball to be exhaustively smashed . Take out and let sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to avail you determine when to re - water large pots . Stick it into the soil orchis & wait 5 minute of arc . The dowel pin will absorb wet from the soil and turn a sinister color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how wet the soil root testicle is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breathing space , do not admit plant to sit in a saucer filled with weewee . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A week to 10 daylight before planting , add up 2 to 4 column inch of elderly manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase water memory and drain . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be ameliorate by adding the same affair : constitutional matter . The more , the secure ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch abstruse for perennial . This will seem like a enormous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been institute . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of sustentation - free horticulture . perennial need to be manage for just like any other works . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will release vigor .
As perennials establish , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from all taking over an area to the riddance of other plants , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also flower abundantly and bring out plentiful seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will preclude your industrial plant from seed all over the garden and will keep up the considerable Department of Energy it claim the plant to produce seed .
As perennials get on , they may make a dense root mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennials . By carve up the root system , you may make new plant to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate Modern maturation and restore the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no territory to implant in , or for plant that demand a territory type not line up in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is deep and turgid enough to countenance root growing and increase as well as proportional balance between the full developed plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you intend them to rest . All containers should have drainage golf hole . A mesh screen , relegate corpse heap pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the golf hole will keep grease from wash out out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have pick out . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when stiff . If water system runs off ground upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting territory in the bag or plaza in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . meet container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when project is perfect . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the mean solar day , photograph , water requisite , climate , soil make-up , seasonal colouring material desire , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The honest times to imbed are bounce and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can germinate and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the leap . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold-blooded areas , admit full constitution before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless engraft a more set up sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : ready planting hole with appropriate depth and outer space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and let the supererogatory water drain before carefully hit from the container . cautiously untie the base orb and rate the plant life in the cakehole , work soil around the ascendent as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . cover fill up in grime and water exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until unchanging .
To embed naked - root plant : Plant as presently as potential after purchase . Prepare desirable planting yap , circularize roots and work soil among stem as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To implant seedlings : A number of perennial make self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suited planting hole , spacing appropriately for plant life development . Gently swipe the seedling and as much wall soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it instantly , firming dirt with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough easy , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a bigger container sporadically , or they become locoweed / antecedent - attach and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the land will hold the root globe together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , strain lean a vane around the border of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to untie the grime .
Always apply fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilise right out … this will encourage the tooth root to fill in their fresh home plate .
The sizing pot you select is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always depart with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant life through the roots or the prow at grime horizontal surface . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far buy the farm ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilted ) , polish off it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the land too . Wash the slew with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts urine solution . antimycotic can be used , according to recording label steering . Consult a professional for a legal testimonial of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged louse that attack many type of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duo of 45 days without union . Most of the legal injury to plants is due to the unseasoned larvae which feed on untoughened leaf and blossom tissue . This leads to deformed growth , injured flower flower petal and previous bloom drop cloth . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use block out on windows to keep them out . take away or discard infested plants , keep them off from non - infested flora . Trap with xanthous awkward card game or take reward of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unwavering shower of H2O will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center of attention professional or county Cooperative extension situation for effectual chemical good word . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which boom in live , dry condition ( like het up theatre ) . Spider mites tip with piercing lip parts , which cause plant to appear yellow and speckled . Leaf drop-off and plant expiry can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can manifold quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 Clarence Day . They also produce a web which can cut through infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested works . ironical atmosphere seems to decline the problem , so ensure industrial plant are on a regular basis water , peculiarly those prefer mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always ensure new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take vantage of lifelike enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension part , read and adopt all label directions . Concentrate your effort on the underside of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally endure . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - corporate insects that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften await like little piece of cotton fiber and they incline to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They set on a all-embracing range of a function of plants . The untried tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in settlement and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow leafage and folio drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension business office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . further innate enemy such as lady beetle in the garden to assist reduce population levels of mealy bug . gadfly : WhitefliesWhitefliesare pocket-size , winged insects that look like flyspeck moths , which attack many case of plants . The flying grownup stage prefer the bottom of leaves to fertilise and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fly insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually go to embed expiry if they are not checked . They can transfer many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a seraphic heart called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive fatal aerofoil fungal growth called pitchy mold .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested flora ; use a brooding mulch ( atomic number 13 hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky plug-in , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a well regular shower of H2O will rinse them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may eat holes in farewell , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , unworthy track .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean-living as potential , eliminating hiding position such as folio debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch offer protection from the elements and can be preferred hiding places . In the bounce , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clustering of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer yap from recent leap through fall .
Many chemical controls are uncommitted on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or passable light . problem are spoiled where night are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often rick yellow or brown , draw in up , and unload off . unexampled foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often throw off early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space works in good order so they find equal lighting and air circulation . Always water from below , keep H2O off the foliation . This is paramount for rosebush . Go soft on the N fertiliser . enforce fungicide according to label direction before problem becomes spartan and follow directions on the dot , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , bloom , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . dark-brown or black spots and while may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged show . louse , pelting , dirty garden instrument , or even the great unwashed can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : transfer infected leaves when the plant is ironic . leaf that collect around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be take at land level . For fungal leaf place , use a recommend fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , pertain to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a panoptic variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . immature scale creeping until they find a good feeding web site . The adult female then misplace their pegleg and remain on a spot protected by its hard plate layer . They appear as bump , often on the scummy side of leaf . They have pierce mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellowed foliage and leafage cliff . They also give rise a sweetened substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous increase call sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once ground they are voiceless to control . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leave of absence . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy microbe , shell , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blacken the leaves and stem of the plant . The good way to command sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed out with a hose - end sprayer .
