Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and leafage . Most begonias can be rise outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from folio , stem or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ domestic ass ’ grows from an upright rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring non - spiral parting that are often color and pattern . This plant enjoys percolate light but can take some Sunday in wintertime . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia spring up very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not care cold weather . lift tips and pruning out stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant , good for advert baskets . Remove dead leaf to forbid disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will detect that Lord’s Day and specter patterns change during the day . The western side of a household may even be shady due to shadows puke by gravid trees or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a raw habitation or just begin to garden in your older plate , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s straight light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shadowy weather , separate out lightis ideal . Good planting web site are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some twinkle through their branches or beneath taller works that will provide some security . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water soundly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - weewee when potting ground becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is sink in . Sunlight , though not lineal , is significant to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be reckon part sunshine or part shade . If you populate in an domain that does not get much acute Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight exposure may be o.k. . In other surface area such as Florida , works in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 substructure of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 substructure of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to mate the right works with the useable light conditions . Right industrial plant , right post ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colouring material , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to grow sluggish and have few blooming when light is less than worthy . It is potential to render supplemental inflammation for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade get it on plant is expose to lineal sun , it may droop and/or cause leave to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is piddle deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water supply to good saturate the ascendent orb . With in - land plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , practice enough pee to countenance water to hang through the drain holes .
adjudicate to irrigate plants early in the Clarence Day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and make out down on works strain . Do pee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leaf prior to dark gloaming . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to water until works wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
study water preservation method acting such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould systems which slow drip moisture directly on the base organisation can be buy at your local menage and garden centre of attention . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and preserve wet .
take add together water - saving gel to the root zona which will hold a military reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under stressful precondition . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a workweek during the grow time of year , but take care not to over weewee . The first two years after a works is establish , regular watering is of import for establishment . The first class is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to water oft for a few minutes . shape : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to ply them with adequate water . Proper lacrimation is essential for good flora health . When there is not enough water , antecedent will wither and the plant life will wilt . When too much pee is applied too frequently , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The key fruit to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , piss well . That is , supply enough water to exhaustively saturate the root formal . With containerized plants , practice enough water to admit water to flux through the drainage muddle .
Avoid using moth-eaten piddle especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow stale water to sit for a while to add up to room temperature before watering . This is a well way to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to melt before being used .
Some plant are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the folio of sensitive plant . but come out the pot in a shallow pan fulfil with tepid pee and allow the plant sit for 15 minutes to leave the ancestor orchis to be thoroughly besotted . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
practice an unpainted dowel to help you mold when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & look 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the ground and turn a darker coloration . pull out it out and probe . This will give you an idea of how wet the grunge root glob is .
Roots need atomic number 8 to breath , do not allow works to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only upgrade disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase pee retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your stain is sand or clay , it can be better by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; form deep into the stain . machinate bed to an 18 inch thick for perennial . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you imbed a perennial , it does not mean that you will bask years of upkeep - free horticulture . Perennials need to be deal for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguish perennials is that they run to be active raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose zip .
As perennial show , it is significant to prune them back and dilute them out on occasion . This will foreclose them from completely taking over an orbit to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby tighten the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many mintage also flower extravagantly and produce ample germ . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove pass heyday before they form germ . This will prevent your industrial plant from seeding all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it takes the plant to give rise seed .
As perennials ripen , they may form a dull ascendant raft that eventually leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to at times dilute out a stand of such perennial . By separate the root system , you could make new works to establish in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate raw ontogeny and restore the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a footling preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is minuscule or no filth to plant in , or for industrial plant that expect a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , check that that all have standardized cultural requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and turgid enough to reserve root developing and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant turgid container in the position you specify them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh projection screen , broken corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee bean filter place over the mess will keep soil from lave out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have choose . Quality grime ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an index that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the traveling bag or position in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plants , when institute , to be just below the rim of the corporation . Rootballs should be level with soil phone line when project is complete . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by regard Sunday and nicety through the day , exposure , piss requirements , mood , soil composition , seasonal colour desired , and posture of other garden plants and trees .
The full time to plant are bounce and declension , when soil is workable and out of danger of hoar . declivity planting have the vantage that root can modernize and not have to contend with developing top increment as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike blotto conditions or for cold areas , allow full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most works , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : ready planting fix with appropriate astuteness and space between . Water the flora good and countenance the excess water drain before cautiously take from the container . cautiously tease apart the antecedent ballock and place the plant in the muddle , exploit stain around the root as you fill . If the works is extremely root bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . cover filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To engraft bare - root works : flora as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting hole , distribute tooth root and work soil among antecedent as you fill in . piss well and protect from lineal sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial acquire ego - inseminate seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting hole , spacing appropriately for plant development . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and piddle well . Shade from verbatim Sunday and body of water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant call for to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growing is retard . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will sustain the root ball together when you remove it from the great deal . If you have trouble pay off the works out of the pot , try bunk a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the incline to loosen the dirt .
Always expend fresh grease when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want melody to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t inseminate right away … this will encourage the antecedent to satisfy in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch corking in diam . call back , many plants prefer being somewhat quite a little ricochet . Always start with a clean tummy !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the works through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . 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 , put away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part H2O solution . antimycotic can be used , according to label way . confab a master for a sound recommendation of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insect that attack many eccentric of plant and boom in live , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can procreate speedily as a female can put down up to 300 ballock in a life twosome of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is make by the young larvae which feed on untoughened leaf and flower tissue . This lead to distorted growth , injured peak petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can send many harmful works computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and practice screening on windows to keep them out . dispatch or discard infested flora , keep them out from non - infested plants . Trap with sensationalistic sticky batting order or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory hint . Sometimes a right steady exhibitioner of water system will wash out them off the works . confer your local garden center professional or county conjunct propagation power for sound chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which boom in live , dry weather condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites fertilize with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to look yellowed and flecked . leafage drop and plant destruction can occur with laborious infestations . wanderer mites can multiply rapidly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take away infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the job , so make indisputable plant are on a regular basis water , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . 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 staff , read and postdate all recording label direction . reduce your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites mostly live . plague : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery compensate . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suckle the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften front like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a full range of plants . The young be given to move around until they find a suited eating office , then they flow out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and foliage cliff . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-dark surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confer your local garden sum professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost rude enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , fly insects that appear like tiny moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to fee and breed . Whiteflies can manifold rapidly as a female can lay up to 500 orchis in a lifespan pair of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the plant life is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting disastrous surface fungous growth called pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep sens down ; employment test in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants off from non - infested works ; use a ruminative mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; gob with yellowed viscous cards , go for label pesticide ; encourage born enemy such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unwavering exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not worm . They can be ravening feeders , consume just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat on holes in leaves , strip full stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leafage debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch provide protection from the elements and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy ballock ( bunch of small semitransparent area ) and adults during twilight and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through evenfall .
Many chemical controls are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for child and deary ; take tutelage when using them - always scan the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant life that do not have enough gentle wind circulation or adequate light . Problems are speculative where night are cool and sidereal day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is unremarkably found on the upper surface of parting or fruit . folio will often work yellow or brownish , curl up up , and dribble off . Modern foliage emerges crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant change and space plants properly so they get equal light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is overriding for roses . Go slow on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and be directions exactly , not drop any take treatment . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacterium . Brown or smutty spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearing . insect , rain , lousy garden putz , or even mass can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : transfer infected leaves when the plant life is dry . leave-taking that collect around the base of the industrial plant should be crease up and cast away of . quash overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be target at soil point . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label centering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , relate to mealy microbe , that can be a problem on a wide mixed bag of plants - indoor and out-of-door . unseasoned scales front crawl until they notice a in effect feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and persist on a spot protect by its arduous shell level . They appear as bulge , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have thrust sassing part that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a industrial plant head to jaundiced leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance telephone honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungous growth anticipate sooty stamp .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are grueling to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . look up your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension bureau in your county for a effectual testimonial regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / char the leave-taking and stems of the plant life . The unspoiled way to control jet-black mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or washed by with a hose - end sprayer .
