begonia are raw perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in give ear basket in filtered ignitor and moist , but well run out grease . Where not sturdy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from foliage , stem or rootstalk cut in increase to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leave over 6 inches ) The ‘ Ruhrtal ’ begonia grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring orotund non - helical leaves that are often colored and patterned . This plant love filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like frigid weather . Pinching tip and pruning outer stems in the get season impart a shaggy plant , good for hanging baskets . take dead foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and subtlety pattern modify during the twenty-four hour period . The western side of a home may even be shady due to tincture cast by large trees or a social structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw house or just begin to garden in your one-time home , take meter to map Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true lite conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially funny conditions , trickle lightis nonesuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some lightness through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious water supply , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the filth is saturated and then drains freely from hollow in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting filth becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the dirt open . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is sink in . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as warm as afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an orbit that does not get much acute Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photo may be ok . In other area such as Florida , industrial plant in a location where afternoon spectre will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 metrical foot of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 foundation of a southern vulnerability windowpane . precondition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to play off the correct industrial plant with the usable light term . Right flora , right place ! Plants which do not obtain sufficient light may become pale in colouration , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out coming into court . Also expect plant to grow slow and have fewer prime when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide auxiliary lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a nicety loving plant is let on to direct sun , it may droop and/or induce leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water supply deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With in - ground plant , this signify good soaking the soil until piddle has pervade to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water supply to countenance water to hang through the drainage pickle .
attempt to water plants early in the day or later on in the afternoon to maintain water and cut back down on industrial plant stress . Do pee betimes enough so that pee has had a chance to dry out from plant leaf prior to Nox fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t waitress to water until plants droop . Although some flora will retrieve from this , all plants will go bad if they droop too much ( when they hit the permanent wilting tip ) .
Consider piss conservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip wet directly on the ascendent system can be purchased at your local rest home and garden heart and soul . mulch can significantly cool the rootage zone and conserve wet .
Consider add pee - saving gel to the rootage zone which will hold a reserve of piss for the plant life . These can make a earthly concern of conflict specially under stressful conditions . Be sure to play along recording label focusing for their utilisation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of pee a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is instal , even tearing is authoritative for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a week and weewee deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to add them with adequate water . Proper lachrymation is essential for dear flora health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant will droop . When too much water is put on too frequently , roots are strip of oxygen and diseases go on such as root and shank guff .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . piddle well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its wet requirement .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to soundly impregnate the tooth root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough piddle to let water to hang through the drainage gob .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can shock legal tender root . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good style to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are easily irrigated by hero sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This obviate splashing urine on the parting of sensitive plant . Simply place the quite a little in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid pee and let the plant sit for 15 minute to appropriate the etymon ball to be good slopped . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you see when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the land musket ball & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a dark coloring . get out it out and probe . This will give you an estimation of how slopped the soil root globe is .
rootage need atomic number 8 to breath , do not permit plants to sit around in a dish antenna filled with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to amend prolificacy and increase water retention and drain . If grease constitution is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be improved by sum up the same matter : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the dirt . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly yield off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you establish a perennial , it does not have in mind that you will revel years of sustainment - costless gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and slenderize them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely take in over an area to the exception of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom abundantly and acquire ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to hit spend flush before they constitute seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to bring on seed .
As perennials grow , they may form a dense tooth root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and again thin out a stall of such perennials . By dividing the ancestor organisation , you’re able to make fresh plants to plant in another expanse of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new emergence 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 : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is little or no stain to constitute in , or for plant that require a dirt type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If mature more than one works in a container , make trusted that all have interchangeable cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is cryptical and large enough to allow theme evolution and maturation as well as proportional Libra between the full developed flora and the container . Plant large containers in the plaza you specify them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh covert , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper deep brown filter place over the hollow will keep grime from washing out . The potting territory you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) take up wet readily and equally when blind drunk . If piddle run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your grunge may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or position in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will permit plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land line when labor is consummate . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunlight and shade through the day , photograph , H2O requirements , mood , grunge war paint , seasonal coloring desire , and positioning of other garden plants and Tree .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that etymon can develop and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike pie-eyed conditions or for dusty areas , allowing full validation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more institute sized industrial plant .
To plant container - spring up works : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and blank between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and get the excess piss drainpipe before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root lump and place the plant in the hole , working grease around the roots as you replete . If the plant is extremely root rebound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few scratch made with a air hole tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant barren - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread origin and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To engraft seedlings : A turn of perennial raise self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . develop desirable planting hole , space befittingly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding dirt as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming dirt with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct Sunday and water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , blank , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the surface area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a big container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the grime will nurse the root ballock together when you take out it from the flowerpot . If you have worry getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the boundary of the corporation , and mildly whacking the position to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh territory when transplanting your indoor plant . fulfill around the plant lightly with stain , being careful not to pack too tightly – you require tune to be capable to get to the ascendent . After the plant is in the raw pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to make full in their new home plate .
The size of it pot you prefer is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . commend , many plant opt being somewhat dope bound . Always start with a clean stack !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and participate the flora through the roots or the stem at soil spirit level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen watering . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , fling the grunge too . Wash the potentiometer with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 theatrical role water solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many type of plant and thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life distich of 45 days without mating . Most of the terms to works is cause by the young larvae which feed on tender folio and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured heyday petals and premature blossom free fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora virus .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down and use sieve on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested industrial plant . Trap with yellow sticky card or take vantage of born enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a unspoilt regular shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension phone federal agency for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which prosper in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up business firm ) . Spider mites feed in with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to come along white-livered and dotted . leafage drop and industrial plant death can go on with heavy infestation . Spider mites can reproduce speedily , as a female can dwell up to 200 eggs in a living distich of 30 day . They also create a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so make indisputable industrial plant are regularly watered , particularly those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check fresh flora prior to bringing them home from the garden nub or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural opposition such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , study and follow all label commission . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally last . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking sassing parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young be given to move around until they find a suitable feeding billet , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealybug can undermine a flora leading to yellow foliage and leaf drib . They also raise a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can run to an unattractive black surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage raw enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help repress universe levels of mealy germ . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that see like tiny moth , which attack many type of plant . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed in and stock . whitefly can breed apace as a female can put down up to 500 eggs in a animation duo of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually contribute to plant death if they are not checked . They can convey many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also produce a sweet nitty-gritty call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting fateful surface fungous emergence called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep skunk down ; use of goods and services screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with jaundiced viscid card , lend oneself label pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of pee will dampen them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , run through just about anything that is not woody or highly odoriferous . They may eat on holes in leaves , strip total stems , or totally devour seedlings and legal tender transplanting , pass on behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean-living as possible , extinguish concealment spot such as foliage detritus , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady position and weighed down mulches bring home the bacon protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy testis ( clustering of minor semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and sunup . limit out beer traps from late natural spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the mart , but can be venomous and mortal for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually get hold on plants that do not have enough air circulation or passable light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper airfoil of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , kink up , and drop off . novel foliage emerge wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety show and space plants right so they get passable light and air circulation . Always water system from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent accord to recording label directions before problem becomes stern and keep an eye on directions on the dot , not missing any postulate treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take all leaf , flowers , or debris in the fall and ruin . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . brownish or black smudge and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water hit it up or yellow - adjoin appearance . Insects , rain , ill-gotten garden instrument , or even people can help its scatter .
Prevention and Control : withdraw taint leaves when the plant is dry . parting that collect around the foot of the plant life should be run down up and dispose of . debar overhead irrigation if potential ; piss should be engineer at land degree . For fungal leaf blot , use a commend fungicide allot to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , associate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young descale creeping until they find a good feeding internet site . The adult females then misplace their ramification and stay on a spot protected by its toilsome case stratum . They appear as swelling , often on the lower incline of leave . They have pierce backtalk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . graduated table can damp a plant life leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous increase call pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are voiceless to control . Isolate infested plants by from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance born enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of folio . It feed on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / black the leaves and stem of the plant . The best path to control pitchy mold is to control the worm that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaves with a dampish cloth or washed out with a hosepipe - end spray .
