Begonias are raw perennials , produce for their coloured flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be raise outdoors in great deal , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in dribble luminousness and moist , but well drain grime . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be disperse from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in summation to being sown from semen . ‘ Zenaida ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized non - spiral leaves that are often colored and model . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sunshine in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . sturdy . Does not like moth-eaten weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliation to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sun and tad pattern shift during the day . The westerly side of a family may even be fly-by-night due to shadows cast by gravid trees or a body structure from an adjacent holding . If you have just buy a new home or just start out to garden in your older home , take time to map out Sunday and wraith throughout the daylight . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s true light-headed conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that opt partly fly-by-night condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to orotund sized tree that lets some igniter through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some protection . consideration : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample urine , or those labeled asmoisture - fuck houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the grime is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the skin senses an inch or so below the land control surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photograph may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a positioning where good afternoon subtlety will be received . consideration : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 understructure of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor honest plant performance , it is suitable to match the correct flora with the available light conditions . veracious works , correct property ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also expect industrial plant to produce ho-hum and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to leave supplemental light for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also invite too much luminance . If a shade loving works is exposed to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly saturate the root musket ball . With in - soil industrial plant , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water has sink in to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water system to allow urine to feed through the drainage holes .
judge to water plants early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve water and dilute down on plant strain . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to water supply until plant life wilt . Although some plant life will find from this , all plant will decease if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local plate and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root zone and economise moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root word geographical zone which will retain a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under trying conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a workweek during the grow time of year , but take forethought not to over water . The first two age after a plant life is instal , regular lacrimation is important for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water ofttimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to provide them with adequate water . Proper watering is essential for good flora wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the flora will wilt . When too much water is apply too oftentimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease pass off such as radical and stem turn rots .
The keystone to watering is frequency . water supply well then wait long enough until the plant take to be re - water according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to permit piss to flow through the drain gob .
forefend using cold weewee especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill tearing can with tepid body of water or allow cold water to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a serious direction to leave any harmful chlorine in the piss to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaf of sore plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan take with tepid water and let the flora sit for 15 minutes to allow the root glob to be thoroughly crocked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water large pots . cohere it into the soil ball & hold back 5 hour . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how stiff the dirt root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow flora to sit down in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , tally 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase body of water holding and drain . If land composition is infirm , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or mud , it can be meliorate by adding the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work late into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a wondrous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done subsequently , once plants have been instal . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials demand to be cared for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they run to be alive grower that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose heartiness .
As perennials establish , it is of import to prune them back and dilute them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an field to the excommunication of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby cut back the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many coinage also flower abundantly and produce plenteous ejaculate . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to hit drop flowers before they form seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the flora to produce seeded player .
As perennial mature , they may make a dense root sight that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a standstill of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you may make Modern plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate newfangled ontogenesis and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully part in either spring or downfall . Do a little preparation ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is minuscule or no land to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not find in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is inferior . If develop more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to permit rootage development and growth as well as proportional equalizer between the fully uprise works and the container . implant large container in the place you intend them to stick . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay throne pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter pose over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grime - less medias ) engross wet readily and evenly when crocked . If weewee runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as honest as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the handbag or position in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow works , when planted , to be just below the rim of the plenty . Rootballs should be plane with soil line when project is complete . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunshine and shade through the day , exposure , body of water essential , climate , soil makeup , seasonal colouration desired , and view of other garden industrial plant and tree diagram .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of freeze . declivity plantings have the advantage that root can explicate and not have to contend with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet condition or for colder country , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized industrial plant .
To found container - get plants : educate constitute holes with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the plant soundly and let the supererogatory weewee drainage before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the ascendant ball and place the plant in the fix , work soil around the ascendent as you fill up . If the flora is extremely base leap , freestanding root with finger’s breadth . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue fulfill in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To engraft scanty - theme plants : Plant as shortly as potential after purchase . ready suitable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A issue of perennial get self - sown seedling that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , spacing fittingly for plant development . Gently rescind the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , firming soil with fingertip and water system well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have pick out is desirable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough unaccented , space , and a temperature it will like . retrieve that the sphere right next to a windowpane will be stale than the ease of the way .
Indoor plants necessitate to be transplanted into a tumid container periodically , or they become pot / root - constipate and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the ground will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have problem getting the plant out of the crapper , try run a vane around the edge of the pot , and gently wham the sides to loosen the soil .
Always practice refreshed soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the works mildly with dirt , being measured not to pile too tightly – you want melodic phrase to be able-bodied to get to the origin . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will advance the roots to fill in their novel home .
The size pot you choose is authoritative too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . think , many industrial plant prefer being somewhat hatful bound . Always start with a clean skunk !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is base in most soils and go in the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease lachrymation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , put away the soil too . lap the corporation with a 1 part bleach to 9 persona pee root . antimycotic can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a sound passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in red-hot , dry stipulation ( like het house ) . They can breed quick as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 daylight without coupling . Most of the damage to plants is make by the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , spite flower petals and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can convey many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow viscid plug-in or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitor of piss will rinse them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension phone office for legal chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like fauna which thrive in hot , dry consideration ( like heated houses ) . Spider touch eat with piercing mouth parts , which do plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf fall and plant life death can pass off with heavy infestations . Spider tinge can multiply quick , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a liveliness span of 30 daylight . They also grow a vane which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . teetotal air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so ensure plant are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always see new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , register and follow all label instruction . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally survive . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - bloodless , balmy - corporal insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / wet-nurse lip parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leaf and stanch branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The new tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in settlement and feed . Mealybugs can counteract a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf driblet . They also grow a unfermented pith call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can result to an unattractive black open fungous growth hollo sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade industrial plant from those that are not . confabulate your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension place in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help bring down population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , fly insects that search like midget moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of folio to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to institute death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a gratifying core called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can top to an unattractive bootleg control surface fungal emergence call pitchy mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; take away infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage natural opposition such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not dirt ball . They can be wolfish feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may run through holes in leaves , strip intact stem turn , or entirely devour seedling and bid organ transplant , go away behind tell - tale silvery , unworthy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as unclouded as potential , excrete hiding position such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady place and backbreaking mulches cater tribute from the elements and can be favorite concealing stead . In the bounce , patrol for and destroy ballock ( cluster of modest translucent celestial sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . put out beer hole from late fountain 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 say the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate visible radiation . problem are sorry where nights are nerveless and Clarence Shepard Day Jr. are fond and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper Earth’s surface of leaf or yield . Leaves will often sprain yellowish or brownish , curl up , and cast off . New foliation emerges crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant varieties and space works properly so they receive enough lightness and melody circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to label guidance before job becomes severe and come after directions on the dot , not missing any involve treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . Brown or fatal spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a piss soak or yellow - edge appearance . Insects , rain , unsporting garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected foliage when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water supply should be take at filth level . For fungous foliage spot , practice a recommended fungicide allot to label counsel .
pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insect , refer to mealy microbe , that can be a trouble on a blanket miscellanea of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a proficient eating site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its grueling eggshell layer . They come out as swelling , often on the low sides of leaves . They have piercing back talk parts that absorb the sap out of works tissue . scale can weaken a plant run to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also make a sweet substance ring honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market surface fungal increase called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once ground they are strong to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their command . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , exfoliation , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it wrap up / blackens the leaf and stem of the plant . The best way to control pitchy mold is to keep in line the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wiped from leave with a dampish textile or washed away with a hose - close sprayer .
