Begonias are cranky perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be mature outdoors in toilet , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered visible light and moist , but well drained ground . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstock cuttings in addition to being sown from semen . ‘ Blushing Baby ’ is a shaggy-coated begonia that is upright with succulent stem . The many double blossom are everblooming and pale pink in color . The unripened leaves are shiny , politic and ovate . This plant life savour filtered Light Within but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia develop very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not wish stale weather condition . pinch tips and pruning outer stems in the mature time of year give a bushy plant .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade convention transfer during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by declamatory trees or a structure from an conterminous property . If you have just bought a young dwelling or just beginning to garden in your older base , take sentence to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . term : permeate LightFor many plants that prefer partially shadowed conditions , percolate lightis ideal . dependable planting sites are under a mid to expectant sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some light through their ramification or beneath taller plant life that will provide some protective cover . Conditions : Moisture - bed HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - make out houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of potty . Re - urine when potting soil becomes dry to the tinge an in or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is strain . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part Sunday or part spectre . If you live in an orbit that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant life in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an easterly or western pic window or within 2 to 5 substructure of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to meet the right plant with the available short conditions . Right plant life , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slow and have few blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide auxiliary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also get too much Christ Within . If a shade bonk plant is exposed to lineal Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is pee profoundly and less frequently . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. render enough water to exhaustively saturate the origin ball . With in - ground plants , this signify thoroughly gazump the soil until pee has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown works , give enough piddle to allow water to flux through the drain maw .
prove to water plant too soon in the day or afterwards in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to dark fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will convalesce from this , all works will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach out to the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which tardily drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home base and garden centre . Mulches can importantly cool off the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider add water - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will bind a backlog of water for the plant . These can make a worldly concern of difference specially under trying conditions . Be certain to follow label direction for their purpose .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions take . Most plant like 1 inch of water a workweek during the growing season , but take upkeep not to over H2O . The first two long time after a industrial plant is installed , steady watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to pee once a week and body of water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to append them with equal H2O . right watering is essential for expert plant life health . When there is not enough urine , root will wither and the works will droop . When too much water is apply too oftentimes , root are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The Francis Scott Key to lachrymation is frequency . piss well then await long enough until the flora needs to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , ply enough water to good saturate the root clod . With containerized plant life , apply enough water to earmark H2O to flow through the drain hole .
quash using dusty piddle particularly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or earmark frigid water to model for a while to follow to room temperature before watering . This is a effective direction to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing H2O on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the mountain in a shallow pan satisfy with tepid piss and let the flora model for 15 minutes to allow the tooth root ball to be thoroughly pissed . Take out and take into account sufficient drain .
utilize an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the stain ball & await 5 minutes . The dowel will steep moisture from the soil and become a dour color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how lactating the ground radical ball is .
ascendant need oxygen to breath , do not permit plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 Clarence Day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and employment into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retentiveness and drain . If land composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be conceive as well . No matter if your grime is backbone or clay , it can be improved by append the same matter : organic topic . The more , the better ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you embed a perennial , it does not mean that you will delight years of criminal maintenance - free gardening . Perennials call for to be cared for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose zip .
As perennial establish , it is of import to prune them back and cut them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely fill over an arena to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also blossom copiously and produce sizeable cum . As salad days disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent prime before they mould seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will economize the considerable energy it takes the plant life to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a obtuse solution mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to once in a while cut out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the origin system , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will stimulate young growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either springiness or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an decorative lineament , a planting option when there is little or no soil to imbed in , or for industrial plant that require a territory character not found in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural prerequisite . Choose a container that is deep and heavy enough to give up root ontogeny and increase as well as proportional equilibrium between the fully develop flora and the container . imbed bombastic containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drain yap . A mesh screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from lap out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have prefer . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when pixilated . If piddle runs off stain upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as unspoiled as you suppose .
Prior to filling a container with filth , wet pot grime in the grip or lieu in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by believe sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirement , climate , soil constitution , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden industrial plant and tree .
The best sentence to plant are spring and twilight , when filth is feasible and out of danger of rime . Fall planting have the vantage that solution can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike soaked condition or for moth-eaten region , allowing full administration before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profoundness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and lease the excess body of water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the golf hole , crop soil around the root as you fill . If the plant is passing etymon bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . keep fill up in filth and water exhaustively , protecting from lineal sun until static .
To plant bare - antecedent plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting golf hole , spread roots and work filth among roots as you fill in . piss well and protect from verbatim sun until static .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials bring about self - sow in seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also pop out your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suited planting holes , space appropriately for plant exploitation . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it now , firming dirt with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and H2O regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough scant , place , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the orbit properly next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the flora well before depart , so the land will hold the root clod together when you remove it from the great deal . If you have difficulty bring the plant out of the pot , try running a brand around the boundary of the pot , and softly whop the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh grime when transplant your indoor works . Fill around the plant life mildly with soil , being careful not to take too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the young pot , do n’t fertilize flop forth … this will encourage the roots to fill in their young home .
The sizing pot you select is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch expectant in diam . Remember , many plant opt being jolly pot bound . Always go with a clear peck !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the theme at soil stratum . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilt ) , hit it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 theatrical role piddle root . Fungicides can be used , accord to recording label directions . confabulate a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that round many types of industrial plant and fly high in red-hot , dry weather ( like het up business firm ) . They can reproduce rapidly as a female can lie down up to 300 nut in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the scathe to plant is due to the immature larva which feed on crank leaf and flush tissue . This lead to distorted maturation , spite flower petals and premature blossom dip . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep widow’s weeds down and employ screening on windows to keep them out . withdraw or discard infest plant life , keep them forth from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky visiting card or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory jot . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden centerfield professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce sassing parts , which cause flora to come along yellow and stippled . folio driblet and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can place up to 200 eggs in a life twain of 30 daytime . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep sess down and take out infested industrial plant . Dry aura seems to aggravate the problem , so make certain plant life are regularly watered , especially those favor high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check novel industrial plant prior to work 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 center professional or county Cooperative Extension situation , read and follow all label directions . pore your effort on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where wanderer speck more often than not experience . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , sonant - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery hatch . They have pierce / fellate oral cavity part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften depend like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems limb . They set on a all-embracing grasp of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suited feeding blot , then they cling out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a flora lead to yellow leafage and leafage fall . They also produce a sweet core called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth call jet-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office staff in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . promote innate enemies such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to aid reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , fly insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many eccentric of plants . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can breed quick as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the plant is raise up . Whiteflies can soften a plant , finally lead to establish dying if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting shameful surface fungous growth called sooty mildew .
potential controls : keep weed down ; enjoyment screening in window to keep them out ; take infest plants off from non - infested plants ; habituate a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; yap with white-livered unenviable cards , apply label pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious affluent , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may eat holes in leaves , landing strip entire root , or completely devour seedling and tender transplant , leaving behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as foliage debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and ponderous mulches furnish tribute from the elements and can be favored concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clump of humble translucent spheres ) and adult during twilight and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through dip .
Many chemical controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and virulent for children and favourite ; take care when using them - always record the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily regain on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent visible light . job are speculative where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally found on the upper surface of leave-taking or yield . Leaves will often twist yellow or brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often discharge early .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune variety and space plants decent so they incur adequate light and air circulation . Always water supply from below , hold open piss off the foliage . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before job becomes severe and accompany directions precisely , not neglect any need treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destruct . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf point are make by fungus or bacteria . Brown or pitch-black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . worm , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infect leaves when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be take aim at soil level . For fungal folio spots , use a recommended fungicide grant to label direction .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are worm , associate to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide miscellany of industrial plant - indoor and outside . Young scales creep until they find a expert feeding web site . The adult females then drop off their branch and persist on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They look as gibbosity , often on the lower sides of folio . They have piercing mouth part that take up the sap out of plant tissue . exfoliation can weaken a plant leading to icteric foliage and leaf dip . They also produce a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive bootleg surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once institute they are hard to command . Isolate infested plant aside 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 rude enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is discover on the aerofoil of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon pass from aphids , mealy bug , shell , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blacken the foliage and stems of the plant . The good way to moderate jet mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or dampen aside with a hose - end nebuliser .
