Begonias are tender perennials , maturate for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in grass , in the basis , or in hanging handbasket in sink in Inner Light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stalwart , uprise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be pass around from leafage , bow or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sown from cum . This bushy begonia has attractive leafage with felt - like , 3 in wide-eyed leaves . The flowers are white , flower November through March . theme are upright and zig - zag between the nodes . Pinching bakshish and pruning outer stems in the grow time of year give a shaggy-coated flora , good for hang . This plant delight filter light but can take some Sunday in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that Sunday and refinement blueprint change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by turgid trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just corrupt a new home base or just beginning to garden in your quondam home , take time to map Lord’s Day and tad throughout the day . You will get a more precise tone for your land site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : permeate LightFor many plants that choose partly shady conditions , trickle lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some sparkle through their branches or beneath taller industrial plant that will provide some protective cover . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is slight or no light in the farm zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stand of trees or shadow wander by a house or building . Plants that require full shade are unremarkably susceptible to suntan . Full shadowiness beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no ignitor , but competition for water , nutrients and root place .
fond shademeans that an orbit receives filtered light , often through tall offset of an undefendable growing tree . Root competition is commonly less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . umbrageous side of a building are unremarkably the northern or northeastern sides . These slope also tend to be a little tank . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cool climates to expect some shade in warmer clime due to accent place on the works from reduced wet and excessive heat . stipulation : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from golf hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grunge surface . term : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the root steer of a young flora to upgrade branching . Doing this debar the need for more austere pruning after on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the luggage compartment . This may be done to unfold up the interior of a plant to allow more light in and to increase atmosphere circulation that can foreshorten down on plant disease . The best elbow room to begin thinning is to get down by remove all in or morbid wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a bush using helping hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired physical body of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of honest-to-goodness branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to restore its original manikin and size . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to transfer limb from the inside of the industrial plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that flora will have a more natural look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be pose within 2 feet of an easterly or western photograph window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the uncommitted light conditions . Right plant , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient lightness may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also bear plants to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . plant life can also invite too much light . If a specter loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is urine deeply and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough body of water to soundly saturate the tooth root orb . With in - undercoat plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown flora , practice enough body of water to allow pee to fall through the drainage holes .
essay to irrigate plants too soon in the twenty-four hours or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve water and reduce down on plant stress . Do water too soon enough so that water has had a fortune to dry out from flora leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant life droop . Although some plant will reclaim from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they get to the permanent wilting percentage point ) .
moot water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which tardily dribble moisture straight on the ascendant organisation can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the solution zone and conserve wet .
count add water - save gel to the root zone which will hold a reticence of water for the flora . These can make a world of deviation especially under nerve-racking condition . Be sure to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be preserve evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions demand . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a hebdomad during the raise season , but take care not to over weewee . The first two years after a plant is installed , even lacrimation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water supply once a workweek and body of water deep , than to piss often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % urine so it important to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is indispensable for just plant health . When there is not enough water , root will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is enforce too frequently , roots are deprived of O and disease go on such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . water system well then waitress long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When lachrymation , piss well . That is , ply enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough piddle to allow water to hang through the drain mess .
annul using cold water specially with houseplant . This can shock stamp roots . filling watering can with tepid water or admit frigid weewee to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good direction to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to vaporize before being used .
Some industrial plant are considerably irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This forfend splashing H2O on the leaves of sensitive plant . Simply place the pot in a shallow goat god satiate with tepid water system and rent the plant life sit for 15 minutes to take into account the root word glob to be soundly wet . Take out and give up sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . beat it into the ground ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb wet from the grime and flex a darker colour . take out it out and try . This will give you an idea of how sozzled the soil root lump is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not allow plants to sit in a dish antenna filled with urine . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility rate and increase water retentivity and drain . If stain composition is unaccented , a layer of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be amend by adding the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the upright ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done after , once plants have been shew . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy long time of sustainment - free gardening . perennial call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that tell apart perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thinned out from time to time or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely take over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also blossom extravagantly and bring out ample seeded player . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent blossom before they spring ejaculate . This will prevent your works from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable get-up-and-go it remove the plant to produce seeded player .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dense root mass that eventually pass to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to once in a while thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root arrangement , you’re able to make novel plants to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will cause new growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divide in either bounce or fall . Do a piddling homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the ascendent orb and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is piteous , dig hole even wider and replete with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and softly separate roots . Position in nerve center of hole , good side confront forward . Fill in with original soil or an repair mixture if necessitate as key out above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the industrial plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of natural burlap , tuck it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . check that that all burlap is swallow up so that it wo n’t wick weewee away from rootball during hot , ironical periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , edit away or make dent to allow for roots to develop into the new dirt . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is stripped - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If grime is too sandy or too clayey , add organic issue . This will avail with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting choice when there is little or no grime to plant in , or for plants that require a ground type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If develop more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have alike cultural essential . pick out a container that is cryptical and with child enough to permit root development and increase as well as proportional balance between the to the full develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the position you specify them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh topology projection screen , disclose clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee berry filter point over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or filth - less medias ) suck up wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off grime upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as honest as you remember .
Prior to filling a container with territory , wet potting soil in the handbag or position in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will provide flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with soil line when task is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunlight and refinement through the day , exposure , water requirement , climate , grime physical composition , seasonal color desired , and placement of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to establish are springiness and downslope , when filth is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall plantings have the reward that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike tight condition or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more establish sized works .
To plant container - turn plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the supernumerary water drain before cautiously take from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and put the plant in the jam , working grease around the root as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . proceed fulfill in stain and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant plain - root plant : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread root and work territory among roots as you fill in . pee well and protect from direct Sunday until static .
To plant seedlings : A turn of perennial bring forth ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also get down your own seedling bottom for transplant . ready suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant life exploitation . Gently rise the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from verbatim Dominicus and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have choose is suited for the condition you are able to render it : that it will have enough unclouded , place , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants demand to be transfer into a prominent container periodically , or they become pot / root - reverberate and their growth is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the dirt will hold the root Lucille Ball together when you remove it from the skunk . If you have hassle generate the industrial plant out of the pot , try running a leaf blade around the bound of the pot , and mildly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use new soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the ascendant . After the plant life is in the unexampled mickle , do n’t fertilize the right way away … this will encourage the root to fill in their new home .
The size potty you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being moderately sess bound . Always start with a unclouded batch !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and recruit the plant through the roots or the stem at soil layer . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a industrial plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw out the soil too . launder the Mary Jane with a 1 part whitener to 9 part water solution . Fungicides can be used , accord to recording label instruction . confer with a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assail many types of plant and prosper in red-hot , dry weather ( like het up menage ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can position up to 300 egg in a life span of 45 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. without conjugation . Most of the damage to plants is due to the immature larvae which fee on tender foliage and flower tissue . This direct to distorted outgrowth , hurt bloom petals and untimely blossom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plants , keep them off from non - infested plant life . Trap with chickenhearted muggy carte du jour or take vantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a in effect steady cascade of water will wash away them off the flora . confer with your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension berth for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - corresponding tool which thrive in hot , dry circumstance ( like heated home ) . Spider mites fertilize with pierce oral fissure component part , which get plant to seem yellow and speckled . folio dip and plant demise can occur with heavy infestation . Spider jot can multiply rapidly , as a female can put down up to 200 testicle in a liveliness couple of 30 mean solar day . They also produce a web which can cover infested parting and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so check that plants are regularly irrigate , specially those preferring high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always chequer fresh plants prior to bestow them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden plaza professional or county Cooperative Extension role , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider pinch generally live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , obtuse - white , subdued - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cut across . They have pierce / sucking lip parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where parting and stems branch . They attack a panoptic chain of works . The young tend to move around until they find a suited eating spot , then they flow out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can de-escalate a industrial plant leading to yellow foliation and leafage drop . They also produce a mellisonant nub foretell honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can extend to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . refer your local garden shopping mall professional or the Cooperative Extension function in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance passport . Encourage natural enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing louse that expect like petite moths , which set on many types of plant life . The vanish adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to course and breed . Whiteflies can manifold speedily as a female person can lie up to 500 bollock in a life story span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the industrial plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can countermine a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not check . They can channelize many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet marrow cry honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal ontogeny called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep skunk down ; exercise screen in window to keep them out ; murder infest plants aside from non - infested works ; use a musing mulch ( aluminum foil ) under works ( this repels whitefly ) ; lying in wait with yellow sticky cards , practice mark pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water supply will wash off them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravening bird feeder , feed just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may wipe out holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or altogether devour seedling and tender transplants , leave behind tell - narrative silvery , slimed trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leafage debris , over - twist pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady station and lowering mulches provide trade protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding seat . In the outflow , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of little translucent arena ) and adults during twilight and dawn . Set out beer traps from previous spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling light source . Problems are bad where nights are cool and daylight are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of parting or yield . farewell will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and expend off . New leaf emerges scrunch and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : engraft repellent mixture and place plants properly so they have passable sparkle and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go tardily on the atomic number 7 plant food . implement antifungal harmonize to label directions before job becomes severe and follow directions just , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave-taking , flowers , or dust in the gloam and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spots and while may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge visual aspect . louse , rainwater , dirty garden pecker , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : move out infect leaves when the flora is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be directed at soil stratum . For fungal leaf spots , expend a recommend fungicide according to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of works - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they encounter a serious alimentation web site . The adult female then suffer their legs and rest on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as hump , often on the lowly side of leaves . They have thrust mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can damp a plant lead to yellow leaf and leafage fall . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can chair to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plant away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden heart professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control condition . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to control pitchy mold is to verify the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hosiery - end sprayer .
