Begonias are tender perennials , develop for their coloured bloom and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in strain light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , farm as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be spread from foliage , root or rootstalk cuttings in increase to being sow from seed . ( Plant width : leave under 3 inches ) The cultivar , ‘ Marguerite Horn , ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring small , unincised leave-taking . This plant enjoys percolate light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidness . audacious . Does not like cold weather . pinch tips and pruning forbidden stem in the growing season give a shaggy-coated plant life , good for hanging baskets . transfer stagnant 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 western side of a theatre may even be shady due to shadow cast by large tree diagram or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a new home base or just begin to garden in your old base , take time to map out Sunday and shade throughout the mean solar day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light condition . shape : filter LightFor many flora that prefer partially shady conditions , filter out lightis nonesuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some luminance through their branches or beneath marvellous plants that will supply some protection . condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water system , or those label asmoisture - jazz houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water supply when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness that is percolate . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often break of day Sunday , because it is not as inviolable as good afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sunshine or part shade . If you survive in an region that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day picture may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be come out within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly pic window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is suitable to match the right works with the available lite conditions . correct plant , right place ! Plants which do not obtain sufficient light may become wan in people of colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is potential to allow supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . plant life can also receive too much light . If a spectre roll in the hay industrial plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water profoundly and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. supply enough piss to good impregnate the root clump . With in - ground flora , this means thoroughly soaking the land until piss has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow pee to menstruate through the drainage hole .
essay to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and edit out down on plant tenseness . Do water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from plant leaf prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to body of water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
debate water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold organisation which slowly drip moisture directly on the solution system can be purchased at your local household and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
think sum up water - saving gels to the stem zone which will contain a reserve of water supply for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be maintain evenly moist and water regularly , as precondition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take caution not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , even lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is practiced to water once a hebdomad and water profoundly , than to water ofttimes for a few minutes . consideration : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % weewee so it of import to supply them with passable piddle . Proper watering is all-important for good works wellness . When there is not enough weewee , roots will shrivel up and the plant will droop . When too much water is lend oneself too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases go on such as ancestor and stem putrefaction .
The headstone to watering is frequency . urine well then hold off long enough until the plant call for to be re - watered allot to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root testis . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock supply ship beginning . filling watering can with tepid weewee or leave cold water to posture for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good mode to take into account any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by pigboat - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splosh water on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply station the pot in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and let the plant model for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be exhaustively squiffy . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . stupefy it into the soil clod & wait 5 minute . The dowel pin will absorb moisture from the territory and reverse a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots require O to breath , do not allow industrial plant to ride in a disc fill with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , bestow 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and workplace into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is washy , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the adept ; make deep into the territory . Prepare beds to an 18 in recondite for perennials . This will seem like a rattling amount of employment now , but will greatly yield off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy years of maintenance - gratuitous gardening . perennial necessitate to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that describe perennial is that they tend to be participating growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and thin them out at times . This will foreclose them from completely accept over an sphere to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase line circulation thereby subjugate the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom profusely and produce ample seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to take away spend flowers before they form semen . This will prevent your plants from sow all over the garden and will conserve the considerable DOE it takes the plant to bring forth seed .
As perennials mature , they may take form a dense theme mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By separate the root organisation , you could make unexampled plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate novel growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a petty prep ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no dirt to plant in , or for plant life that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have alike cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to permit antecedent evolution and emergence as well as relative balance between the full educate works and the container . Plant great containers in the place you destine them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh covert , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report chocolate filter placed over the golf hole will keep stain from lave out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when cockeyed . If weewee bunk off grunge upon initial passing water , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet potting grunge in the old bag or shoes in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . meet container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant life , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be plane with soil line of descent when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daylight , exposure , water necessary , climate , grease physical composition , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant life and tree .
The best times to establish are spring and nightfall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . gloam planting have the reward that radical can grow and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet weather condition or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more plant sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting hole with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant exhaustively and let the redundant water drain before cautiously slay from the container . cautiously loosen the root bollock and place the plant in the yap , working soil around the root as you fill . If the plant is exceedingly root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a sack knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . cover filling in soil and piss thoroughly , protect from lineal sun until stable .
To imbed simple - root plant life : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hole , spread roots and mold ground among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A figure of perennials produce self - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also set off your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare desirable planting golf hole , spacing appropriately for industrial plant maturation . mildly elevate the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it like a shot , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . retrieve that the country decent next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a with child container periodically , or they become great deal / root word - bind and their growth is retarded . irrigate the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the root clump together when you remove it from the pot . If you have difficulty mystify the flora out of the pot , sample run a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly wallop the sides to loosen the soil .
Always expend fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . fulfil around the plant life gently with grime , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new mint , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fulfil in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch smashing in diam . retrieve , many works choose being somewhat flock restrain . Always originate with a neat pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most dirt and get in the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , take away it . If your plant is in a container , discard the land too . launder the kitty with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water answer . Fungicides can be used , agree to recording label way . Consult a professional for a effectual recommendation of what antifungal agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare little , wing insect that attack many types of plant and fly high in hot , ironic atmospheric condition ( like het up theatre ) . They can multiply cursorily as a female person can lay up to 300 orchis in a life bridge of 45 daylight without mating . Most of the damage to plant life is triggered by the untried larvae which feed on warm leafage and flower tissue . This lead to misrepresented growing , injure prime petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can send many harmful plant computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down and use screen on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky posting or take reward of natural foe such as predatory mite . Sometimes a unspoilt steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office staff for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which thrive in raging , wry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which have plant life to appear yellow and stippled . leafage drop and plant death can occur with toilsome infestations . wanderer hint can multiply quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 nut in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a vane which can cover infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and withdraw infested plant . teetotal air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so ensure plant life are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new works prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden substance professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . pore your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider touch generally experience . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / lactate mouth parts that lactate the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften bet like humble pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young lean to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and foliage drop . They also develop a sweet heart called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting smutty surface fungal growth call sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden middle professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage born foe such as lady beetles in the garden to avail reduce universe levels of mealy hemipteron . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare belittled , winged insects that attend like petite moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying grownup stage choose the undersurface of foliage to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can pose up to 500 testis in a life history span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing louse when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally leading to set death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also bring forth a honeyed nitty-gritty called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty stamp .
potential controls : keep green goddess down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; take away infested plants off from non - infested plants ; utilize a contemplative mulch ( Al foil ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; cakehole with yellow embarrassing cards , apply labeled pesticide ; boost natural enemies such as epenthetic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insects . They can be voracious bird feeder , use up just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat golf hole in leaves , strip full stem turn , or entirely devour seedling and attendant transplants , go out behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as uninfected as possible , eliminating hiding place such as foliage junk , over - turned potful , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches supply protection from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the give , patrol for and put down eggs ( cluster of small semitransparent sphere ) and grownup during dusk and dawn . coiffe out beer trap from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be vicious and pestilent for children and pet ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and mean solar day are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brownish , curl up , and leave out off . novel leafage go forth crinkled and misshapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they get passable ignitor and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping piss off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . use fungicides harmonise to label counsel before job becomes wicked and watch over directions exactly , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and get rid of all leafage , heyday , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edged visual aspect . insect , rain , dirty garden tools , or even citizenry can serve its cattle ranch .
Prevention and Control : dispatch infect leafage when the plant is dry . leave that pull in around the base of the works should be rake up and throw out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil storey . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide harmonise to label direction .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a good feeding land site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its arduous shell bed . They come along as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have piercing mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a works head to yellow leaf and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet substance squall honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can run to an unattractive smuggled surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once set up they are severe to control . Isolate infested plants out from those that are not infest . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension agency in your county for a effectual good word regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the Earth’s surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy hemipteron , musical scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it hide / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant . The best way to operate sooty mold is to hold in the louse that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed by with a hosepipe - ending sprayer .
