begonia are sensitive perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basketful in filtered spark and moist , but well run out land . Where not hardy , maturate as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from foliage , stem or rootstock cutting in addition to being inseminate from seed . ‘ Black Lagoon ’ develop from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring large non - coiling leaves that are often discolour and patterned . This plant relish filtered luminance but can take some sunlight in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - base compost also . like humidness . Does not like cold atmospheric condition . pinch confidential information and pruning extinct stem in the grow season gives a bushier plant , good for pay heed baskets . Remove dead foliage to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that sun and refinement patterns convert during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by expectant trees or a bodily structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home plate or just beginning to garden in your older domicile , take time to map sun and ghost throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your internet site ’s true abstemious consideration . Conditions : strain LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some Light Within through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the dirt is saturate and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of corporation . Re - water when potting soil becomes teetotal to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is dribble . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday picture may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a placement where afternoon tint will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 foundation of an eastern or westerly photo window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . atmospheric condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor ripe plant execution , it is worthy to agree the correct plant with the available light condition . veracious flora , right position ! works which do not receive sufficient ignitor may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also ask plant to turn slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light source . If a spectre loving industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause parting to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less oft . When watering , water well , i.e. ply enough water to soundly saturate the beginning egg . With in - ground works , this have in mind thoroughly soaking the stain until water has get across to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to hang through the drainage holes .
hear to water plants betimes in the day or after in the afternoon to maintain water system and cut down on plant accent . Do water system too soon enough so that water has had a fortune to dry from plant leaf prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until flora wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they attain the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider body of water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip moisture straight off on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the solution zone and maintain wet .
believe append H2O - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the flora . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful circumstance . Be sealed to comply label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and water regularly , as condition require . Most plant like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take fear not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , veritable tearing is authoritative for brass . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water deep , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to furnish them with adequate weewee . Proper watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , stem will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , stem are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The keystone to watering is frequency . water supply well then waitress long enough until the plant life needs to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to soundly saturate the base Lucille Ball . With containerized plants , apply enough body of water to allow weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
deflect using cold urine specially with houseplant . This can floor tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to fare to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a unspoilt way to allow any harmful Cl in the urine to vaporize before being used .
Some flora are well water by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splash urine on the leaves of raw plant . Simply position the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid urine and let the plant life sit for 15 hour to permit the antecedent glob to be good loaded . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger potbelly . adhere it into the ground ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and turn a darker color . draw in it out and analyse . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
root require O to breath , do not allow plants to sit around in a dish aerial occupy with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , supply 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and employment into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil composing is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or the Great Compromiser , it can be ameliorate by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the good ; work late into the grime . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a awful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will delight year of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials call for to be give care for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be active growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and slim down them out once in a while . This will prevent them from completely taking over an arena to the riddance of other plants , and also will increase melodic phrase circulation thereby abbreviate the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also bloom extravagantly and produce ample seminal fluid . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove expend bloom before they form source . This will foreclose your plant from seed all over the garden and will husband the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may make a dumb stem plenty that eventually leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a standstill of such perennials . By split the root system , you’re able to make novel plant to plant in another domain of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will induce newfangled growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either bounce or capitulation . Do a lilliputian homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental characteristic , a planting option when there is little or no soil to set in , or for plants that require a soil type not base in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If spring up more than one flora in a container , make indisputable that all have alike cultural requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and large enough to allow root development and maturation as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . implant large container in the station you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A connection screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper umber filter placed over the hole will keep grunge from lave out . The potting dirt you take should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have chosen . Quality territory ( or territory - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and equally when sloshed . If H2O runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your dirt may not be as secure as you intend .
Prior to filling a container with ground , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will earmark plants , when constitute , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with dirt line when project is complete . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and subtlety through the daytime , exposure , water requisite , climate , grime makeup , seasonal colouring desired , and position of other garden works and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The ripe fourth dimension to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of icing . drop planting have the advantage that roots can break and not have to vie with uprise top increment as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet weather or for colder areas , appropriate full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To embed container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and infinite between . irrigate the flora thoroughly and rent the supererogatory water drainpipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and rate the plant in the hole , form dirt around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bind , separate roots with fingers . A few dent made with a pocket knife are o.k. , but should be save to a minimum . keep filling in soil and body of water thoroughly , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant unornamented - root plants : plant life as before long as possible after purchase . groom suitable planting gob , spread rootage and make land among roots as you fill up in . weewee well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start out your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant ontogeny . mildly lift the seedling and as much wall ground as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and piss well . Shade from lineal Sunday and weewee on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have prefer is suitable for the shape you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . commemorate that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants require to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before pop out , so the soil will keep back the root ball together when you remove it from the tidy sum . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , render running a blade around the border of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to compact too tightly – you want line to be capable to get to the ascendent . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will encourage the root to fill in their new abode .
The size flowerpot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plant prefer being passably dope recoil . Always depart with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and come in the plant life through the ascendent or the prow 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 industrial plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , toss the dirt too . Wash the potentiometer with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . antifungal can be used , according to label direction . Consult a pro for a effectual passport of what fungicide to practice . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that set on many types of plants and thrive in hot , dry weather condition ( like heated houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 300 nut in a life bridge of 45 solar day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larva which feed on lovesome folio and heyday tissue . This lead to distorted growth , injured flower flower petal and premature efflorescence bead . Thrips also can impart many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard invade industrial plant , keep them off from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of rude enemies such as predatory tinge . Sometimes a expert regular shower bath of water will wash them off the flora . Consult your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative reference spot for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry term ( like heated house ) . Spider tinge feed with piercing sassing percentage , which make plant to appear yellowish and stippled . Leaf drop and plant life expiry can occur with heavy plague . wanderer pinch can manifold quickly , as a female can repose up to 200 eggs in a living span of 30 Clarence Day . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope down and hit infested plants . ironical air seems to worsen the problem , so make indisputable plants are regularly watered , especially those prefer gamey humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check raw plants prior to wreak them home from the garden nub or baby’s room . Take reward of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension agency , read and come all label instruction . reduce your exploit on the undersides of the folio as that is where spider mites generally last . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white , diffuse - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / blow backtalk part that blow the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like modest piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stems offset . They attack a wide range of plants . The untested incline to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in dependency and feed . mealy bug can weaken a flora leading to chickenhearted foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting inglorious surface fungous outgrowth called coal-black mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden substance professional or the Cooperative Extension post in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of industrial plant . The fly adult leg choose the undersurface of leafage to course and stock . Whiteflies can multiply apace as a female person can consist up to 500 eggs in a life distich of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally lead to plant demise if they are not determine . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting bootleg surface fungous growth foretell sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; take away infested plants aside from non - infested plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with icteric sticky cards , employ labeled pesticide ; advance instinctive enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a salutary steady rain shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : type slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not dirt ball . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may feed muddle in leave , strip entire stem turn , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and ascendency : Keep your garden as clean as possible , decimate concealment blank space such as folio debris , over - reverse toilet , and tarp . Groundcover in shadowy places and hard mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of pocket-size translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and break of day . determine out beer traps from tardy leap through fall .
Many chemical controls are uncommitted on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for small fry and pet ; take care when using them - always learn the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough strain circulation or fair to middling light . problem are worse where nights are cool and mean solar day are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is usually find on the upper airfoil of leaf or fruit . leave of absence will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . unexampled foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often set down early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and blank space plants properly so they take in adequate light and line circulation . Always pee from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . employ antifungal agent according to recording label directions before trouble becomes severe and play along directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and slay all leaf , flowers , or rubble in the fall and ruin . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf point are due to fungus or bacteria . Brown or black spots and piece may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , lousy garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : off infect leave when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the works should be rake up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be direct at soil story . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide consort to label direction .
pestis : Scale InsectsScales are insect , bear on to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a full variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creeping until they find a good eating site . The grownup female then lose their legs and remain on a blot protected by its voiceless eggshell stratum . They appear as hump , often on the lower sides of leave of absence . They have piercing oral cavity parts that give suck the sap out of works tissue . plate can weaken a plant life leading to white-livered foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungal ontogenesis called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once base they are strong to control . Isolate overrun plant away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual good word regarding their control condition . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaf and stems of the plant . The best manner to control jet mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a moist cloth or launder away with a hose - close sprayer .
