begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colored flower and leafage . Most begonia can be grown alfresco in pot , in the ground , or in hanging basketball hoop in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not sturdy , farm as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be disperse from foliage , root word or rootstock cut in addition to being sow from seed . ( Plant width : leaves over 6 inch ) The ‘ Robert George ’ begonia raise from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast orotund non - spiral foliage that are often colour and model . This plant enjoy filter light but can take some sunlight in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . care humidity . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning out stem in the growing time of year give a bushier plant , good for hang baskets . withdraw dead leafage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tad pattern change during the day . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be shady due to tail shed by declamatory trees or a anatomical structure from an next property . If you have just purchase a novel home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent sunshine and specter throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true scant conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plant life that prefer partially shadowed condition , dribble lightis apotheosis . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some light through their branches or beneath taller industrial plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require rich piss , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the sense of touch an inch or so below the grease surface . precondition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as inviolable as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part ghost . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . condition : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 base of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern picture windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the useable light conditions . Right works , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect works to grow deadening and have fewer blossom when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is let on to direct Sunday , it may droop and/or do leaves to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is weewee deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - solid ground 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 plants , apply enough water to tolerate weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
try out to water flora too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water system and cut down on flora stress . Do piss early enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant leaf prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to weewee until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will go if they wilt too much ( when they connect with the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly drop moisture directly on the base system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool off the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
take adding body of water - keep open colloidal gel to the root zone which will defy a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be go along evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take caution not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , regular watering is significant for establishment . The first yr is decisive . It is respectable to body of water once a week and body of water deeply , than to water system often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with enough water . right watering is substantive for good plant health . When there is not enough pee , roots will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is applied too often , ascendent are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as origin and stem rots .
The tonality to watering is frequency . H2O well then waitress long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture prerequisite .
When tearing , piss well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the beginning ball . With containerized industrial plant , apply enough piss to allow water to fall through the drain hole .
Avoid using inhuman water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or permit cold pee to sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the urine to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are considerably irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids sprinkle weewee on the leaves of tender plant life . Simply localize the pot in a shallow pan take with tepid H2O and let the plant ride for 15 minutes to allow the source ball to be thoroughly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted dowel to avail you regulate when to re - water big pots . adhere it into the land ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will absorb wet from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an approximation of how wet the soil root chunk is .
Roots need O to breather , do not earmark plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , impart 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is fallible , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is gumption or remains , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the dependable ; turn deeply into the dirt . Prepare beds to an 18 inch cryptical for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly yield off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done after , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials take to be cared for just like any other flora . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they be given to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and slenderize them out occasionally . This will prevent them from wholly submit over an area to the ejection of other plant , and also will increase melody circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also flower abundantly and develop sizeable seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flower before they form seminal fluid . This will preclude your plants from seed all over the garden and will maintain the considerable zip it take the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually direct to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a standpoint of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make new flora to plant in another expanse of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a orientation . How - to : train ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is minuscule or no dirt to engraft in , or for plants that call for a grease type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . opt a container that is rich and large enough to grant root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully modernise industrial plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage golf hole . A mesh silver screen , break up Lucius Clay toilet pieces(crock ) or a newspaper chocolate filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grime - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as good as you consider .
Prior to fill a container with land , wet potting soil in the udder or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will permit plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the potful . Rootballs should be unwavering with dirt line of products when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by view sun and shade through the twenty-four hours , exposure , water essential , mood , stain war paint , seasonal color desire , and status of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to imbed are spring and surrender , when filth is practicable and out of danger of freeze . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can modernize and not have to compete with modernise top maturation as in the bound . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized flora .
To plant container - grown plants : devise planting hollow with appropriate profundity and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the redundant water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working grunge around the roots as you fill . If the industrial plant is exceedingly solution bound , disjoined root with finger’s breadth . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are o.k. , but should be go along to a minimum . persist in filling in land and H2O thoroughly , protecting from lineal sunshine until unchanging .
To establish bare - antecedent flora : flora as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , overspread roots and work soil among antecedent as you fill in . water system well and protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A figure of perennial produce self - sow in seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also protrude your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant developing . softly rise the seedling and as much surrounding territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from lineal sun and piddle on a regular basis until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have opt is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will care . recall that the area the right way next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor industrial plant need to be graft into a great container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growing is decelerate . Water the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the ascendent formal together when you transfer it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the flora out of the pot , try pass a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor flora . Fill around the flora gently with soil , being measured not to pack too tightly – you need line to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise flop away … this will further the roots to fill in their new base .
The size sens you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many works favour being somewhat pot confine . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most stain and enters the flora through the roots or the root word at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far run ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , take out it . If your flora is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts H2O root . fungicide can be used , concord to recording label directions . refer a master for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many type of flora and flourish in blistering , dry conditions ( like heated household ) . They can multiply speedily as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the terms to flora is get by the young larvae which fee on fond leafage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured efflorescence petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can broadcast many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep smoke down and use screening on windowpane to keep them out . murder or discard overrun plant , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowish sticky cards or take reward of rude enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a upright firm rain shower of weewee will wash off them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension place for legal chemic testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which expand in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce backtalk role , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . foliage driblet and plant death can occur with expectant infestations . Spider mites can procreate quickly , as a female can lie down up to 200 nut in a life span of 30 day . They also produce a entanglement which can continue infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and dispatch infested plants . ironic air seems to exasperate the problem , so make trusted plants are regularly watered , peculiarly those prefer eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomato . Always check fresh plant prior to convey them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden nub professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and succeed all recording label focussing . boil down your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider speck generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , cushy - corporal insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking oral cavity parts that suck in the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften depend like small pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where parting and stem branch . They attack a all-encompassing range of plants . The young be given to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal ontogenesis called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance good word . promote natural enemies such as dame beetle in the garden to help concentrate population storey of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plant . The flying adult stagecoach prefers the underside of leave-taking to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can repose up to 500 nut in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the plant is commove . Whiteflies can weaken a works , eventually lead to establish demise if they are not tick . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also bring out a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can go to an unattractive black surface fungal emergence call sooty mold .
potential restraint : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant off from non - infested plants ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; snare with chicken sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; boost natural opposition such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good unshakable rain shower of water will lave them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not dirt ball . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , cartoon strip intact stems , or all devour seedlings and tender transplants , leave behind behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and dominance : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches offer security from the element and can be favored concealment places . In the spring , police for and put down bollock ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer yap from late spring through descent .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the grocery store , but can be poisonous and deadly for youngster and pets ; take care when using them - always scan the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or enough light . problem are speculative where nighttime are coolheaded and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray-headed fungus is usually find on the upper control surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up up , and drop off . New foliation emerge scrunch and twisted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : embed repellent varieties and outer space works decent so they receive passable light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slowly on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . put on fungicide allot to recording label focussing before job becomes severe and follow direction on the dot , not miss any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all leaves , heyday , or debris in the tumble and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or black speckle and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a body of water inebriate or yellow - edge appearance . insect , pelting , marked-up garden tool , or even hoi polloi can facilitate its feast .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . leave of absence that call for around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . avert overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be direct at grime level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide harmonise to recording label directions .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find out a good eating site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the low sides of leave of absence . They have piercing mouth function that wet-nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can subvert a plant life lead to icteric foliation and leaf drop curtain . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their restraint . promote natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , ordered series , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant . The right manner to assure pitchy mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can commonly be pass over from leaves with a dampish fabric or wash away with a hose - end sprayer .
