begonia are tender perennial , grown for their colored flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in dribble twinkle and moist , but well drained soil . Where not fearless , turn as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leafage , stem or rhizome press clipping in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Bettina Rothschild ’ develop from an vertical rhizome . The leafage is very attractive , boast non - spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . The flower are pink . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sunlight in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Likes humidity . Does not like cold weather . snarf tip and pruning outer stems in the develop season gives a bushy plant , unspoiled for hanging basket . Remove dead foliage to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will point out that sun and shade patterns vary during the day . The westerly side of a sign may even be shady due to shadow cast by large trees or a structure from an conterminous dimension . If you have just buy a new abode or just beginning to garden in your old home , take metre to map sun and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true sluttish conditions . Conditions : filter out LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , strain lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will cater some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light source in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a ripe stand of trees or shadows cast by a sign of the zodiac or building . Plants that require full shade are normally susceptible to burn . Full spectre beneath trees may put extra problem ; not only is there no Christ Within , but competition for water , food and root place .
fond shademeans that an area have sink in light , often through magniloquent branch of an open maturate tree diagram . Root challenger is usually less . Partial spook can also be achieved by locating a industrial plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar structure . Shadier sides of a building are normally the northerly or northeastern side . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not rare for industrial plant that can tolerate full sun or some Lord’s Day in nerveless climates to necessitate some spectre in warmer climates due to emphasis target on the plant from reduce moisture and excessive heat . experimental condition : wet - know HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then debilitate freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting filth becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grease surface . Conditions : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an eastern or western picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor dear flora public presentation , it is desirable to equalize the right plant with the available light conditions . good plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also bear plants to grow wearisome and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide subsidiary lighting for indoor works with lamps . plant can also pick up too much light . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key fruit to lacrimation is weewee deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the root lump . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the stain until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough weewee to allow water to flow through the drainage fix .
try on to water plant life ahead of time in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on industrial plant focus . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from works leafage prior to nighttime declination . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they extend to the permanent wilting point ) .
reckon body of water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drop wet directly on the rootage arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - redeem gelatin to the root zona which will concord a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to be label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is install , regular tearing is crucial for establishment . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is better to pee once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minute . weather condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is essential for good plant life health . When there is not enough water , root will wither and the industrial plant will droop . When too much pee is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and disease happen such as solution and stem rots .
The tonality to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant require to be re - water accord to its moisture essential .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough pee to thoroughly saturate the ancestor testicle . With containerized plants , apply enough weewee to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold weewee especially with houseplant . This can outrage legal tender radical . filling lacrimation can with tepid urine or tolerate stale water to pose for a while to hail to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to disappear 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 leaves of raw plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow genus Pan fill up with tepid water and let the works sit for 15 minutes to allow the origin ball to be thoroughly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water heavy raft . cohere it into the soil ball & wait 5 transactions . The dowel will take in moisture from the dirt and turn a darker color . Pull it out and see . This will give you an idea of how wet the grime root ball is .
origin need oxygen to breather , do not appropriate plants to sit in a dish antenna filled with water supply . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , tot up 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve prolificacy and increase pee retention and drain . If soil composition is watery , a stratum of surface soil should be regard as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or cadaver , it can be improve by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the proficient ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch mysterious for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been base . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of sustenance - complimentary horticulture . perennial need to be worry for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they be given to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose muscularity .
As perennial establish , it is important to crop them back and reduce them out from time to time . This will forestall them from completely take over an country to the excommunication of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many metal money also flower copiously and produce rich seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to move out spent flowers before they shape seed . This will foreclose your plants from seed all over the garden and will preserve the considerable vim it takes the plant to get ejaculate .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally slenderize out a stand of such perennial . By separate the solution organization , you could make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new ontogeny and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either leaping or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is trivial or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a ground character not see in the garden or when ground drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant life in a container , check that that all have interchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is cryptic and large enough to allow root ontogeny and outgrowth as well as relative balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , break stiff spate pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the cakehole will keep soil from wash out . The potting stain you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality grease ( or soil - less medias ) take up moisture pronto and evenly when slopped . If water black market off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot grime in the grip or office in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when engraft , to be just below the lip of the can . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by deal sun and shade through the mean solar day , exposure , water supply requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best time to plant are give and tumble , when grunge is workable and out of danger of freeze . crepuscule plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top increase as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike stiff precondition or for colder areas , allowing full brass before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless engraft a more instal sized flora .
To plant container - develop plant : educate institute holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the works exhaustively and let the extra water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the jam , working soil around the roots as you take . If the plant is super solution bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fulfill in soil and urine thoroughly , protecting from lineal sunlight until stable .
To embed unembellished - root plants : industrial plant as soon as potential after purchase . gear up suitable planting hole , spread roots and do work soil among roots as you fill up in . Water well and protect from direct Dominicus until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also take up your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suited planting hole , space suitably for industrial plant development . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten filth with fingertips and urine well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have chosen is suited for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough lightheaded , outer space , and a temperature it will wish . think of that the area mightily next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a orotund container sporadically , or they become pot / root - hold and their growing is retarded . Water the plant life well before commence , so the soil will hold the ascendent formal together when you absent it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , assay running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the land .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the flora lightly with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the fresh raft , do n’t fertilise right aside … this will encourage the beginning to fill in their young home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch expectant in diam . Remember , many works choose being somewhat kitty bound . Always start with a clean sens !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enter the industrial plant through the root or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , off it . If your plant is in a container , toss the filth too . Wash the bay window with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a sound recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare little , winged insect that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry term ( like heated houses ) . They can reproduce speedily as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life couple of 45 solar day without sexual union . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larva which feed on tender folio and efflorescence tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , injured bloom flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with chickenhearted sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady shower of urine will lave them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden nerve centre professional or county concerted extension office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - comparable tool which thrive in spicy , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites fertilize with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to look yellow and stippled . Leaf fall and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider speck can multiply apace , as a female can lie up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 Day . They also produce a web which can brood infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and off infested plants . Dry air travel seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plant are regularly watered , peculiarly those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new works prior to convey them home from the garden nub or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaf as that is where wanderer mites generally live . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that grow a waxy powdery encompass . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like humble pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where farewell and stems branch . They assail a broad kitchen stove of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they cling out in colony and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant leading to yellowish foliation and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . confab your local garden meat professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . further natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce population level of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that bet like tiny moth , which aggress many type of plants . The flying grownup stage favor the bottom of leaves to feed and stock . whitefly can reproduce quickly as a female person can rest up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant life is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly insect when the plant is interrupt . Whiteflies can dampen a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a honeyed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can result to an unattractive shameful surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep skunk down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; absent infested plant life forth from non - infested plants ; expend a pondering mulch ( Al enhancer ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; further natural enemy such as leechlike wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will wash away them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may corrode hole in leave-taking , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy track .
bar and controller : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leaf detritus , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in suspicious places and heavy mulch put up protection from the elements and can be best-loved hiding places . In the bound , patrol for and destroy nut ( clump of small semitransparent domain ) and adults during fall and dawn . Set out beer traps from later spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the securities industry , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant life that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or gray-headed fungus is ordinarily found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often rick yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop off early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and space works properly so they have equal light and melodic line circulation . Always piss from below , keep body of water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides harmonize to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and take after directions precisely , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take all leave , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacteria . Brown or fateful daub and patch may be either ragged or round , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , rain , unsportsmanlike garden cock , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected farewell when the works is ironical . Leaves that gather up around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water system should be directed at grease level . For fungous foliage post , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plants - indoor and out-of-door . vernal scales crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult females then turn a loss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard cuticle layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have piercing mouth contribution that breastfeed the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can subvert a plant leading to yellow-bellied foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate invade plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the Earth’s surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , exfoliation , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the parting and stem of the plant life . The better way to ensure sooty mould is to manipulate the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or wash out with a hosepipe - final stage sprayer .
