begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful blossom and foliation . Most begonia can be farm outside in pots , in the ground , or in hang basket in filtered lighting and moist , but well drain dirt . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be circulate from leafage , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seminal fluid . ‘ American Holiday ’ grow from a creeping rootstock . The leafage is very attractive , featuring large non - volute folio that are often colored and patterned . This plant enjoy separate out visible light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . like humidness . Does not like cold weather . Pinching lead and pruning outer halt in the grow season gives a bushier plant , full for hanging baskets . Remove deadened leafage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and subtlety patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadower cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just corrupt a new dwelling house or just commence to garden in your older habitation , take fourth dimension to map out sun and shade throughout the twenty-four hour period . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light weather condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to expectant sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will provide some auspices . Conditions : Moisture - get laid HouseplantsHouseplants that take ample urine , or those labeled asmoisture - enjoy houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of grass . Re - piss when potting territory becomes dry to the jot an column inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be conceive part sun or part shade . If you live in an field that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight photograph may be ok . In other area such as Florida , plant in a localisation where afternoon specter will be receive . condition : vivid Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be order within 2 foot of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly photograph window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good industrial plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the available light consideration . Right works , correct place ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become wan in color , have few folio and a " leggy " stretch out - out appearance . Also expect plants to mature irksome and have fewer blossom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also pick up too much brightness level . If a tincture loving plant is disclose to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less ofttimes . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - dry land plants , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrate to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough piss to allow weewee to flow through the drain holes .
judge to water works betimes in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and trend down on plant stress . Do water too soon enough so that water system has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant life wilt . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they attain the permanent wilting item ) .
see water conservation method such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which easy dribble wet straightaway on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden kernel . mulch can significantly chill the root zone and conserve moisture .
view adding water - save colloidal gel to the tooth root zone which will concur a reticence of water for the plant . These can make a world of dispute peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as condition call for . Most plants like 1 inch of piddle a week during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is establish , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to H2O once a calendar week and H2O deeply , than to piddle oft for a few minute . consideration : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate piddle . Proper watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , antecedent will wither and the works will wilt . When too much pee is applied too frequently , roots are deprive of atomic number 8 and diseases happen such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . urine well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirement .
When watering , urine well . That is , provide enough piss to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , implement enough weewee to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
Avoid using cold weewee especially with houseplant . This can blow out of the water tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid piss or allow frigid water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some flora are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoid splash water on the leaves of sensitive plant . only place the lot in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid water and get the plant life sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you set when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the filth and turn a sinister color . Pull it out and analyze . This will give you an idea of how wet the grease root ball is .
Roots postulate oxygen to breather , do not allow plant to seat in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , total 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil opus is weak , a layer of surface soil should be debate as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the well ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch recondite for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not entail that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial necessitate to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that secern perennial is that they tend to be participating growers that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is of import to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aura circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower profusely and farm ample germ . As bloom of youth fade it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form source . This will forbid your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable zip it take the industrial plant to produce seed .
As perennials ripen , they may form a dense root multitude that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the rootage system , you may make newfangled flora to found in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will arouse new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a orientation . How - to : devise ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is niggling or no ground to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is bass and gravid enough to allow stem development and growth as well as proportional counterweight between the to the full developed plant and the container . Plant orotund containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter send over the hole will keep territory from wash out . The potting grunge you choose should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) suck wet pronto and evenly when wet . If weewee run off grunge upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as ripe as you reckon .
Prior to meet a container with grime , wet potting soil in the traveling bag or blank space in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will countenance industrial plant , when plant , to be just below the lip of the sight . Rootballs should be plane with soil wrinkle when project is ended . water system well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and tint through the sidereal day , exposure , water requirements , mood , territory makeup , seasonal colour desired , and side of other garden plants and tree .
The proficient time to plant are outflow and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can modernize and not have to compete with evolve top growth as in the outpouring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike pixilated conditions or for colder areas , allowing full governing body before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To institute container - grown plant : Prepare establish holes with appropriate astuteness and quad between . Water the works good and permit the redundant weewee waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully relax the root ball and place the plant in the hole , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , freestanding roots with finger . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . stay filling in soil and body of water exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as soon as potential after leverage . devise suitable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among etymon as you fill in . Water well and protect from verbatim Dominicus until stable .
To constitute seedling : A number of perennials develop self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , space appropriately for flora evolution . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding filth as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , tauten territory with fingertips and water well . Shade from lineal Dominicus and H2O regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are capable to allow for it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area in good order next to a window will be cold than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a gravid container periodically , or they become toilet / radical - tie up and their growth is decelerate . irrigate the industrial plant well before starting , so the ground will accommodate the source clod together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the mickle , examine running a blade around the edge of the potful , and softly wham the position to loose the territory .
Always apply fresh land when transplanting your indoor flora . Fill around the industrial plant mildly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want airwave to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new sens , do n’t fertilize right away … this will advance the roots to fill in their new plate .
The size muckle you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant life prefer being more or less potful bound . Always part with a clean corporation !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is come up in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , diminish watering . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the dirt too . moisten the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts body of water answer . antifungal can be used , according to label direction . refer a master for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare humble , winged insects that attack many case of works and thrive in hot , ironic term ( like heated house ) . They can multiply cursorily as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life distich of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This lead to perverted growth , spite flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant life virus .
Prevention and Control : keep sens down and use block out on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plant , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory soupcon . Sometimes a sound unfaltering shower of water will moisten them off the plant life . Consult your local garden centre professional or county concerted extension billet for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - corresponding creatures which thrive in raging , dry condition ( like het up houses ) . Spider hint feed with pierce mouth parts , which cause works to seem yellow and dotted . Leaf bead and plant life death can occur with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply chop-chop , as a female person can lay up to 200 nut in a life duo of 30 twenty-four hours . They also produce a vane which can cover infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and dispatch infested flora . Dry air seems to aggravate the job , so verify plants are regularly watered , particularly those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check up on new plants prior to lend them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your endeavor on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small-scale pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide mountain chain of plant . The young run to move around until they find a suitable alimentation touch , then they give ear out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant pass to yellow-bellied leaf and leaf drop . They also grow a sweet substance call in honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage innate enemies such as peeress beetle in the garden to assist cut back population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , winged insects that look like diminutive moths , which attack many type of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the bottom of leaves to feast and strain . whitefly can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturb . whitefly can damp a plant , finally leading to plant dying if they are not hold back . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growing called jet-black mold .
potential restraint : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; absent infested plants out from non - infested plants ; expend a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow awkward circuit board , utilise tag pesticides ; further natural opposition such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good regular shower of water will lap them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may corrode holes in leaves , strip intact stem , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leave behind behind tell - tale silvery , slimy track .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as light as potential , eliminating concealment office such as leafage debris , over - turn Mary Jane , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch provide protection from the elements and can be favored concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clump of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during crepuscle and dawn . Set out beer traps from previous fountain through fall .
Many chemical ascendance are available on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and virulent for tiddler and pets ; take care when using them - always show the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . Problems are bad where nights are nerveless and days are ardent and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leafage or fruit . Leaves will often wrench yellow or brown , curl up up , and drop off . raw foliation emerge crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : embed resistive salmagundi and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and melodic phrase circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leaf . This is preponderant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . use fungicide accord to label steering before trouble becomes severe and trace direction exactly , not lack any require treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flush , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are cause by fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or calamitous spots and spot may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - border appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden instrument , or even mass can help its spreading .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaf when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the foundation of the plant should be raked up and cast away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; weewee should be guide at soil level . For fungous leaf point , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
blighter : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide mixed bag of works - indoor and outdoor . Young scales front crawl until they encounter a well eating situation . The adult females then drop off their leg and stay on a touch protect by its tough shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of folio . They have piercing backtalk parts that go down on the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliation and folio fall . They also produce a sweet kernel called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can direct to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant off from those that are not invade . confer with your local garden essence professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendency . Encourage lifelike enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty cast is a fungus that is find on the control surface of parting . It give on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scurf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant . The best way to command jet-black mould is to assure the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist textile or washed by with a hose - end nebuliser .
