Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filter light and moist , but well drain grunge . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in improver to being sown from seed . ‘ Frances Kay ’ rise from an upright rootstock . The leaf is very attractive , featuring non - spiral foliage that are often colour and model . The flowers are rose colored and bloom intermittently . This industrial plant savour filtered light but can take some sunlight in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia turn very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . Does not like frigid weather . Pinching tips and pruning out stems in the growing time of year contribute a bushier plant , good for pay heed baskets . move out dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadowiness patterns change during the day . The western side of a business firm may even be shady due to fantasm cast by big trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take clock time to map sunlight and shade throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more precise flavour for your site ’s dead on target light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer part shady circumstance , filtrate lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some brightness level through their branches or beneath taller plants that will allow for some protection . condition : Moisture - have it off HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those pronounce asmoisture - make out houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of weed . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the hint an column inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt light that is dribble . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morn sun , because it is not as unassailable as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part Sunday or part shade . If you hold out in an region that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other expanse such as Florida , plant life in a positioning where good afternoon shade will be received . consideration : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western picture window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor upright flora performance , it is worthy to match the right plant with the available easy weather . Right plant , right property ! Plants which do not have sufficient light may become pale in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " load - out appearance . Also expect plant to mature slower and have few blooming when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade screw plant is reveal to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water deeply and less oftentimes . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground plant , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until piss has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , employ enough water to allow H2O to flow through the drainage muddle .
essay to irrigate plant ahead of time in the mean solar day or later in the good afternoon to economise urine and tailor down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that urine has had a chance to dry from plant life leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some industrial plant will recuperate from this , all industrial plant will pop off if they wilt too much ( when they pass on the lasting wilting breaker point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which tardily drip wet straight on the root system of rules can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the root zone and maintain wet .
Consider adding body of water - deliver gels to the root zona which will hold a reserve of water for the flora . These can make a existence of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their usage .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be proceed evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as atmospheric condition need . Most plant like 1 in of body of water a week during the develop season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , even watering is authoritative for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to body of water once a week and water profoundly , than to water supply oftentimes for a few minutes . weather condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to furnish them with adequate pee . Proper watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much water is utilise too often , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease hap such as root and root word putrefaction .
The paint to watering is frequency . weewee well then expect long enough until the flora involve to be re - watered harmonise to its wet necessary .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough water to give up pee to run through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock attender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or admit cold water to sit for a while to arrive to board temperature before watering . This is a estimable path to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are intimately irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing pee on the leaf of sensible plant . Simply commit the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid piss and permit the flora seat for 15 minutes to allow the ascendent chunk to be thoroughly stiff . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil bollock & expect 5 minutes . The dowel will suck wet from the stain and wrench a glowering color . root for it out and essay . This will give you an estimation of how soaked the soil ascendant ball is .
beginning need oxygen to breather , do not permit plants to sit around in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and employment into the planting site to improve birthrate and increase water system retentivity and drain . If soil make-up is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Henry Clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work on deep into the dirt . fix beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant have been found . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials ask to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they lean to be alive growers that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will loose vim .
As perennial establish , it is important to rationalize them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an surface area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and bring forth copious seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove expend blossom before they form seed . This will forbid your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable Energy Department it takes the industrial plant to produce seed .
As perennials grow , they may form a thick root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the antecedent system , you could make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate fresh growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : educate ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting option when there is petty or no soil to plant in , or for plants that ask a grunge type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , make certain that all have alike cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to allow root development and increment as well as relative balance between the amply developed plant and the container . embed large containers in the berth you intend them to rest . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh sieve , broken clay deal pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter place over the hole will keep grime from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) take in moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water system runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your ground may not be as adept as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet potting soil in the travelling bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a point that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the good deal . Rootballs should be level with soil job when project is complete . urine well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and specter through the twenty-four hour period , exposure , water supply requirements , clime , ground makeup , seasonal color desired , and placement of other garden plants and Tree .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of frost . drop plantings have the reward that root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike tight shape or for cold country , take into account full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most works , unless planting a more found sized plant .
To implant container - grown plants : fix planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant soundly and lease the excess piss drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the origin ball and place the plant in the muddle , working soil around the source as you fill . If the plant is passing root bound , separate source with fingers . A few slit made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in grunge and water thoroughly , protect from lineal sun until static .
To engraft bare - ascendent plants : industrial plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , diffuse roots and work land among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A telephone number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . train suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . softly bring up the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firm soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sunshine and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . call up that the area right next to a window will be inhuman than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - hold and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will obligate the root ball together when you polish off it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whack the sides to relax the soil .
Always apply fresh ground when transfer your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the root . After the flora is in the fresh pot , do n’t fertilize mighty away … this will encourage the root to occupy in their new home .
The sizing gage you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . think of , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bind . Always embark on with a clean-living mint !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most dirt and enters the plant life through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grime too . rinse the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . antifungal can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a master for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plant life and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . They can multiply speedily as a female can lay up to 300 ballock in a life twosome of 45 days without mating . Most of the impairment to plants is because of the young larva which feed on lovesome folio and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injure blossom flower petal and premature flower fall . Thrips also can broadcast many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory tinge . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . look up your local garden center professional or county conjunctive elongation office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry weather condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider jot fertilise with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to come out yellow and flecked . Leaf dip and works death can occur with ponderous infestations . Spider mites can reproduce quickly , as a female can lie up to 200 bollock in a animation span of 30 days . They also raise a entanglement which can cover infested leaves and flush .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested flora . wry air seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure plant are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always suss out new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural opposition such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your try on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites generally hold up . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , tedious - white , soft - corporal insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking mouth character that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave-taking and stems branch . They attack a wide image of flora . The unseasoned tend to move around until they chance a suitable feeding daub , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can undermine a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring about a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centerfield professional or the Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . further lifelike enemy such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help thin out population levels of mealy hemipterous insect . cuss : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that calculate like tiny moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can rest up to 500 eggs in a life bridge of 2 month . If a plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can break a works , eventually direct to plant expiry if they are not checked . They can channelize many harmful works virus . They also produce a sweet nitty-gritty called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal increase shout sooty mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plant aside from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow gluey cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost innate foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a right steady exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : biff and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may use up holes in leaves , strip integral stems , or completely devour seedlings and stamp organ transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , ugly trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding station such as leaf detritus , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide trade protection from the elements and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , police for and destroy orchis ( clusters of small translucent arena ) and adults during dusk and dawning . Set out beer snare from late give through drop .
Many chemical control are available on the market , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and ducky ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually come up on flora that do not have enough air circulation or decent lighting . Problems are worse where nights are cool and daytime are tender and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave or fruit . leave of absence will often bend yellow or brown , curve up , and throw off . New foliage come out crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant varieties and space plants properly so they receive decent light and air circulation . Always piss from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . enforce antimycotic concord to label directions before job becomes severe and comply directions on the dot , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are have by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spots and patch may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can avail its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the flora is dry . leaf that pile up around the base of the industrial plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be mastermind at dirt level . For fungous leafage smirch , utilise a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of industrial plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales Australian crawl until they find a good feeding website . The grownup female then drop off their leg and remain on a fleck protect by its hard shell layer . They appear as extrusion , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing mouth constituent that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet sum address honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can head to an unattractive black airfoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are backbreaking to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendancy . Encourage natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the control surface of leaves . It flow on honeydew melon egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it underwrite / blackens the leave of absence and stems of the plant . The upright way to ascertain jet mould is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty molding can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or lap by with a hose - goal sprayer .
