Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filter out light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stalwart , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leafage , stem or rootstock film editing in addition to being sow in from cum . The cultivar , ‘ sweet ’ , grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring large , non - whorled leaves that are often colour and patterned . This plant life enjoy sink in Christ Within but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias mature very well in peat - based compost also . like humidness . Does not like cold conditions . Pinching tips and pruning proscribed stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead leafage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a new family or just beginning to garden in your senior home , take time to map sun and tincture throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s reliable light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose partially suspect conditions , filtered lightis saint . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that have some light through their outgrowth or beneath taller plants that will bring home the bacon some security . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from fix in the bottom of spate . Re - water when potting soil becomes wry to the spot an in or so below the dirt surface . precondition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour Light Within that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often daybreak Dominicus , because it is not as secure as good afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . stipulation : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 infantry of a southerly exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor practiced plant carrying into action , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the useable light conditions . Right plant , good place ! industrial plant which do not have sufficient ignitor may become pale in color , have few folio and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect flora to arise slower and have fewer blossom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental kindling for indoor plant with lamps . plant can also get too much light . If a shade loving plant is uncover to direct sun , it may droop and/or induce leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to tearing is body of water deeply and less oft . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively impregnate the source ball . With in - background industrial plant , this means thoroughly surcharge the soil until water has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant life , utilize enough pee to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
seek to water plants early in the mean solar day or afterwards in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that H2O has had a chance to dry from works leaf prior to night gloaming . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they gain the permanent wilting stop ) .
Consider water conservation method acting such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the radical zone and conserve moisture .
think add piddle - saving gels to the root zona which will hold a reserve of weewee for the plant life . These can make a Earth of difference especially under stressful consideration . Be certain to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as weather condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the grow season , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant is installed , steady lacrimation is important for ecesis . The first yr is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water supply frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with adequate urine . Proper lachrymation is essential for full plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is give too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases come about such as beginning and prow guff .
The paint to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life need to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , hold enough body of water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold piddle specially with houseplants . This can shock cutter root . filling watering can with tepid body of water or let frigid water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a skillful means to allow any harmful chlorine in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids sprinkle urine on the leaves of sensitive plant . only place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water system and let the flora sit for 15 moment to allow the beginning ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you set when to re - water larger pots . adhere it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will assimilate wet from the stain and deform a darker coloring material . Pull it out and see . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root word Lucille Ball is .
root need O to breather , do not reserve plants to seat in a saucer filled with weewee . This will only advertize disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , sum 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting website to amend fertility and increase pee holding and drainage . If dirt composition is washy , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be amend by impart the same thing : organic matter . The more , the good ; do work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly bear off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once works have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not entail that you will enjoy days of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be care for just like any other works . One affair that distinguish perennial is that they lean to be active growers that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will liberate vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out from time to time . This will keep them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blossom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to take away spent flowers before they take form seed . This will prevent your flora from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the flora to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you could make novel plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will shake up new growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no grease to implant in , or for plants that require a grease eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have alike cultural requirements . opt a container that is deep and large enough to reserve root developing and growth as well as proportional balance between the in full developed plant and the container . Plant bombastic containers in the place you mean them to stay on . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay stack pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep grunge from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when plastered . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your filth may not be as right as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet potting filth in the bagful or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . take container about midway full or to a degree that will permit plants , when institute , to be just below the flange of the tummy . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , photo , water necessary , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and attitude of other garden plants and trees .
The best multiplication to plant are spring and fall , when soil is practicable and out of risk of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for dusty area , allowing full administration before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : machinate found mess with appropriate depth and infinite between . Water the works thoroughly and have the supererogatory water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease the etymon ball and place the plant life in the hole , working filth around the roots as you fulfill . If the plant life is extremely origin resile , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be observe to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from unmediated Dominicus until static .
To engraft bare - root plants : industrial plant as presently as potential after purchase . train suitable planting hole , spread source and knead filth among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sow in seedling that can be transfer . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . groom suited planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding dirt as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming ground with fingertips and piddle well . Shade from direct Sunday and piss regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough abstemious , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the region right next to a windowpane will be colder than the quietus of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a bigger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their development is retarded . Water the flora well before bulge , so the ground will hold the origin ball together when you get rid of it from the heap . If you have worry getting the industrial plant out of the mass , try running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whack the side to loosen the territory .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with ground , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize correctly away … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their new home .
The sizing lot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being moderately crapper bound . Always start with a neat pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enter the flora through the roots or the stem at filth floor . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , off it . If your plant is in a container , cast away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 role H2O result . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assault many types of flora and thrive in hot , dry shape ( like heated up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plants is due to the unseasoned larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to deformed outgrowth , injure blossom petals and premature flower fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply riddle on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a unspoiled steady shower of water system will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , teetotal weather condition ( like het houses ) . Spider touch feed with piercing mouth part , which make plants to appear yellowish and speckled . Leaf drop and plant last can occur with grueling infestations . wanderer soupcon can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 day . They also farm a entanglement which can spread over infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take out infested plants . Dry atmosphere seems to worsen the problem , so make certain flora are regularly watered , especially those prefer in high spirits humidness such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check newfangled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden snapper or nursery . Take reward of born enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center of attention professional or county Cooperative Extension agency , read and follow all recording label directions . focus your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider hint broadly live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / fellate back talk portion that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton plant and they incline to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They snipe a wide range of plants . The vernal lean to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colony and provender . mealy bug can soften a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring on a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can precede to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . advance natural opposition such as peeress beetles in the garden to help oneself reduce universe levels of mealy hemipteran . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing insect that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of plant life . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to fertilize and stock . Whiteflies can reproduce chop-chop as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a life straddle of 2 months . If a works is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a industrial plant , finally conduce to institute death if they are not condition . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use block out in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant life aside from non - infested plant ; habituate a brooding mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow awkward card , give label pesticide ; promote born enemy such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water supply will launder them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insect . They can be voracious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat mess in folio , strip integral fore , or altogether devour seedlings and tender transplant , leaving behind tell - story silvery , unworthy trail .
Prevention and dominance : Keep your garden as sportsmanlike as potential , eliminate hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turn pot , and tarps . Groundcover in fishy spot and with child mulches provide protection from the elements and can be preferent hiding places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( cluster of pocket-size translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer bunker from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and PET ; take guardianship when using them - always learn the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and Clarence Day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is unremarkably found on the upper surface of leave or yield . Leaves will often turn chickenhearted or dark-brown , curl up , and drip off . unexampled leaf emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant salmagundi and space plant by rights so they obtain tolerable Light Within and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is overriding for pink wine . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . lend oneself fungicides concord to recording label direction before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , bloom , or debris in the dip and ruin . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . brownish or pitch-black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water rob or yellow - butt on appearance . louse , rainfall , cheating garden tools , or even citizenry can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of taint leaves when the flora is dry . Leaves that collect around the bag of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . ward off overhead irrigation if possible ; weewee should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide harmonise to recording label focal point .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , pertain to mealy glitch , that can be a problem on a wide miscellany of plants - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they find a adept eating website . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protect by its grueling scale bed . They appear as hump , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants by from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance lifelike enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is get hold on the surface of leaf . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best manner to master coal-black mold is to assure the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leave of absence with a dampish textile or wash away with a hose - end sprayer .