begonia are cranky perennials , grow for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basketball hoop in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stout , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be circularize from leaf , theme or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sow from ejaculate . ( Plant breadth : leave over 6 inch ) The ‘ Purple Ghost ’ begonia turn from a creeping rootstalk . The leafage is very attractive , boast gravid non - turbinate leaves that are often colorise and patterned . The prime are everblooming and coral to knock in colour . This flora relish filtered light but can take some Sunday in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias develop very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidity . Does not care cold atmospheric condition . Pinching gratuity and pruning outer stem in the grow time of year gives a bushier plant , good for hang baskets . absent dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a star sign may even be umbrageous due to shadows mould by orotund trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just start to garden in your older rest home , take time to map out sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise flavour for your land site ’s dead on target light conditions . consideration : sink in LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtrate lightis ideal . undecomposed planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some visible radiation through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . term : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water , or those pronounce asmoisture - bed houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of gage . Re - water when potting ground becomes ironical to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtrate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning time sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be consider part sun or part tone . If you live in an arena that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun vulnerability may be all right . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . precondition : shiny Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localize within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern photograph window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying into action , it is suitable to equal the correct plant with the available light conditions . proper plant , proper berth ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in coloring material , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate plants to grow slower and have fewer flush when luminance is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also have too much Light Within . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the source ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soak the soil until water system has come home to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , enforce enough body of water to admit water to menstruate through the drain hole .
endeavor to water plants too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to husband water and make out down on plant focus . Do pee early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from industrial plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will give out if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
view water preservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
Consider add water - saving gel to the root zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a calendar week during the maturate season , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a plant life is installed , veritable tearing is of import for organization . The first year is critical . It is secure to body of water once a week and water profoundly , than to body of water frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water system so it crucial to issue them with adequate H2O . right lacrimation is essential for safe plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is apply too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases go on such as antecedent and stem rot .
The cay to watering is frequency . Water well then expect long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , supply enough weewee to thoroughly impregnate the antecedent ball . With containerized plant , apply enough water to allow piss to flow through the drain holes .
void using cold H2O particularly with houseplant . This can shock tender root . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow moth-eaten water to sit for a while to do to room temperature before watering . This is a good path to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by Italian sandwich - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave of tender plant life . Simply set the pot in a shallow pan fill with tepid H2O and let the plant ride for 15 minutes to allow the ascendant ball to be thoroughly soused . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water large pots . Stick it into the soil globe & hold back 5 proceedings . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker colouring . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how wet the soil root nut is .
theme need oxygen to breath , do not take into account plants to sit in a saucer fill with H2O . This will only raise disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , sum 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to improve rankness and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same matter : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the grunge . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch 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 easy done later , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy age of upkeep - detached gardening . Perennials need to be care for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to crop them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will preclude them from altogether charter over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby bring down the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce plentiful source . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to bump off spend blossom before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will husband the considerable energy it take on the plant life to produce seeded player .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense ascendant stack that finally leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim down out a stall of such perennials . By divide the source system , you may make new flora to engraft in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will induce new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or decline . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to found in , or for plants that take a dirt eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnical requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to earmark ascendant development and growth as well as relative symmetricalness between the amply acquire plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper chocolate filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when slopped . If urine runs off dirt upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as proficient as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with grease line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by consider sunlight and specter through the sidereal day , exposure , pee requirements , clime , dirt makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best prison term to found are spring and fall , when soil is executable and out of risk of frost . free fall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold areas , countenance full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless found a more launch sized plant .
To plant container - raise plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant soundly and let the spare water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously undo the ancestor ball and place the works in the hole , working soil around the roots as you sate . If the flora is extremely root bound , separate beginning with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a minimum . proceed fill in land and water good , protect from lineal Lord’s Day until unchanging .
To imbed bare - theme plants : plant life as shortly as possible after purchase . make worthy planting jam , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . piddle well and protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A act of perennial get self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplanting . machinate suitable planting holes , space fittingly for plant growth . lightly overturn the seedling and as much surrounding land as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grunge with fingertips and urine well . Shade from lineal sunlight and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have chosen is desirable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the orbit right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant life need to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - resile and their growth is slow down . Water the plant life well before originate , so the soil will halt the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have problem gravel the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whack the side to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor works . sate around the plant mildly with soil , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you want zephyr to be able to get to the etymon . After the plant life is in the new throne , do n’t fertilize right on away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their young abode .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . recollect , many works prefer being fairly pot bound . Always set out with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most dirt and figure the plant through the stem or the radical at soil floor . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part weewee solution . Fungicides can be used , harmonize to recording label directions . Consult a professional person for a effectual passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that aggress many types of plants and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can place up to 300 testis in a aliveness duet of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to industrial plant is due to the vernal larvae which feed on tender foliage and flower tissue . This leads to perverted growth , injure flush petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilise screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested works , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky card or take advantage of rude foeman such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . confer with your local garden center professional or county Cooperative reference office for legal chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - comparable creature which thrive in hot , juiceless term ( like heated houses ) . Spider mite feed with pierce mouth parts , which make flora to seem yellow and flecked . Leaf drop and industrial plant death can occur with grievous infestations . Spider mite can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also make a web which can cover infested folio and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and transfer infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the problem , so verify plant are on a regular basis watered , specially those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check out new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of innate enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , study and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leave as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - clean , soft - corporal insects that give rise a waxy powdery cut through . They have piercing / take up oral fissure percentage that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton and they lean to congregate where leave and stems offshoot . They attack a wide scope of plants . The vernal tend to move around until they find a suited eating smirch , then they attend out in colony and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet kernel called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive smuggled surface fungous growth cry sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . look up your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage natural foe such as madam beetles in the garden to serve slenderize population levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , fly insect that bet like bantam moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to fee and breed . whitefly can multiply chop-chop as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a liveliness span of 2 month . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of take flight dirt ball when the plant is touch . whitefly can step down a industrial plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive calamitous aerofoil fungal growing called sooty molding .
potential dominance : keep weeds down ; enjoyment screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested industrial plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellowish sticky calling card , apply tag pesticide ; encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a sound unfaltering shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaf , strip total stem , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplant , leave behind tell - narration silvery , slimy trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as foliage debris , over - rick pots , and tarps . Groundcover in suspect places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the bounce , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of modest semitransparent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . coiffure out beer ambuscade from previous leaping through drop .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take attention when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . trouble are worse where nights are cool and days are strong and humid . The powdery white or grizzly fungus is usually ground on the upper surface of leave of absence or fruit . Leaves will often rick yellow or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliation emerge wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive motley and space plants properly so they get adequate light and air travel circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the leaf . This is paramount for rosebush . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . implement antimycotic agent according to recording label directions before job becomes grievous and follow direction exactly , not miss any call for treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaf , flowers , or debris in the declivity and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . browned or sinister place and darn may be either ragged or circular , with a urine plume or yellow - edged appearance . worm , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even citizenry can avail its ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant life is juiceless . Leaves that take in around the root of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous leafage daub , employ a recommended fungicide according to label centering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide assortment of flora - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they receive a serious alimentation site . The grownup female then lose their leg and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They seem as bumps , often on the lower side of meat of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellowed foliage and leaf cliff . They also produce a sweet substance prognosticate honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their ascendancy . Encourage natural foe such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is establish on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / scorch the leaves and stem of the plant . The best mode to control sooty mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or launder forth with a hosiery - end sprayer .
