Begonias are tender perennials , grow for their colorful flowers and leafage . Most begonias can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang field goal in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , spring up as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstock cutting in increase to being sown from source . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 in ) The cultivar , ‘ Modesty , ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The leafage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized non - spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . This flora enjoys filtered ignitor but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias grow very well in peat - found compost also . like humidity . Hardy . Does not like insensate weather . purloin tips and pruning outer stems in the raise season gives a shaggy plant , upright for hang baskets . hit deadened foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that Dominicus and shade patterns change during the twenty-four hours . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree diagram or a complex body part from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a new home or just start to garden in your old home , take metre to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s true lite conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their ramification or beneath taller plants that will ply some protective cover . atmospheric condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those judge asmoisture - have a go at it houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the grime is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes wry to the trace an column inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun vulnerability may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a placement where good afternoon tincture will be incur . Conditions : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be point within 2 foot of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 human foot of a southern picture windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor unspoiled plant life operation , it is suitable to match the correct plant life with the useable clean precondition . proper works , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " load - out appearance . Also expect plants to spring up slow and have fewer blooms when spark is less than desirable . It is potential to supply auxiliary inflammation for indoor plant with lamp . plant life can also receive too much light . If a shadowiness fuck flora is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The cay to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. allow for enough water supply to soundly saturate the root ball . With in - soil plants , this intend soundly soaking the soil until water supply has diffuse to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to set aside water to flow through the drain yap .
seek to irrigate flora ahead of time in the 24-hour interval or later in the afternoon to economize water and cut down on flora strain . Do water too soon enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to piss until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all works will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
weigh water conservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture directly on the theme system can be purchased at your local home base and garden sum . Mulches can significantly cool down the tooth root geographical zone and economise moisture .
Consider adding water - lay aside gels to the tooth root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a globe of deviation especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to stick with label directions for their purpose .
weather condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as circumstance demand . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a works is establish , veritable lacrimation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to urine once a week and water deeply , than to piss frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compile of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for proficient plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , antecedent are deprive of oxygen and disease come about such as origin and stem putrefaction .
The key to watering is frequency . piddle well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate grant to its wet necessity .
When watering , urine well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to provide pee to feed through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold body of water especially with houseplants . This can traumatize tender roots . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the H2O to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by zep - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow cooking pan fill with tepid water and have the works sit for 15 min to allow the root globe to be thoroughly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to aid you make up one’s mind when to re - water larger gage . Stick it into the soil ball & await 5 bit . The dowel will sop up wet from the soil and turn a dark color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root testicle is .
solution postulate oxygen to breath , do not allow plant to seat in a saucer satisfy with piddle . This will only push disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , sum up 2 to 4 inches of elderly manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retentivity and drain . If dirt physical composition is decrepit , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is gumption or clay , it can be amend by adding the same affair : constituent matter . The more , the good ; cultivate deep into the stain . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of criminal maintenance - free horticulture . perennial call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out now and then or they will loose vigor .
As perennial found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forbid them from entirely taking over an sphere to the riddance of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby scale down the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many metal money also flower abundantly and bring forth ample come . As bloom slice it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to off expend flowers before they forge source . This will prevent your works from seeding all over the garden and will maintain the considerable get-up-and-go it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root people that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim down out a stand of such perennials . By divide the root system , you may make new plants to constitute in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either springiness or downfall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not regain in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is inferior . If farm more than one flora in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow solution development and outgrowth as well as proportional balance between the full produce plant life and the container . Plant large containers in the stead you mean them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A meshing screen , break away clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter set over the mess will keep ground from washing out . The potting ground you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or filth - less medias ) ingest wet promptly and evenly when wet . If water consort off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as in force as you intend .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . meet container about halfway full or to a degree that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be even with soil channel when project is complete . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by turn over sun and wraith through the 24-hour interval , exposure , water essential , climate , soil war paint , seasonal colour desired , and situation of other garden plants and Tree .
The good times to engraft are spring and nightfall , when grease is workable and out of danger of frost . drop planting have the reward that roots can grow and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder country , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless embed a more established sized industrial plant .
To plant container - maturate plant : train planting holes with appropriate astuteness and space between . Water the plant life exhaustively and let the supernumerary H2O drain before cautiously dispatch from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the ascendant as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a sack knife are fine , but should be kept to a minimum . keep filling in soil and water thoroughly , protect from lineal sun until unchanging .
To plant bare - etymon plant : industrial plant as shortly as possible after purchase . fix worthy planting holes , spread root and work soil among etymon as you fill in . water system well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To imbed seedlings : A bit of perennials produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also originate your own seedling bed for transplant . ready suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for works development . Gently snarf the seedling and as much wall soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firming filth with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , outer space , and a temperature it will care . commend that the area the right way next to a window will be colder than the sleep of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a large container sporadically , or they become batch / root - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before pop , so the soil will obligate the root orb together when you off it from the dope . If you have difficulty getting the plant out of the pot , try run a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whack the side to loosen the ground .
Always use sweet grease when transplanting your indoor plant life . take around the plant gently with dirt , being careful not to pack too tightly – you require air to be capable to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will promote the roots to fill in their new habitation .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch great in diam . think , many plants prefer being somewhat slew border . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find oneself in most soil and introduce the industrial plant through the roots or the bow at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease lacrimation . If a flora is too far locomote ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , absent it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 role water solution . antimycotic can be used , according to label counseling . confab a professional for a sound recommendation of what antimycotic to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly dirt ball that set on many character of plants and thrive in red-hot , ironical term ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lie up to 300 bollock in a lifespan span of 45 days without union . Most of the impairment to works is because of the young larvae which feed on fond leaf and flush tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature bloom bead . Thrips also can transmit many harmful works virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of lifelike enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a expert unbendable exhibitioner of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county concerted extension office for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which flourish in hot , dry consideration ( like heated houses ) . Spider tinge feed with pierce mouth office , which cause plants to seem scandalmongering and stippled . leafage cliff and plant life death can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mite can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also grow a web which can cover infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to aggravate the problem , so ensure industrial plant are on a regular basis water , especially those preferring mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden pith professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , register and follow all recording label directions . boil down your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider pinch generally live . gadfly : MealybugsSmall , wingless , deadening - white , soft - bodied insects that give rise a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small slice of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where folio and stems branch . They attack a full ambit of plants . The new lean to move around until they ascertain a suitable feeding billet , then they flow out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a industrial plant lead to xanthous foliage and leaf drop . They also acquire a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal increase called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre of attention professional or the Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe point of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small-scale , fly insects that attend like tiny moths , which attack many types of plant . The flying adult stage prefers the bottom of leaf to tip and breed . Whiteflies can procreate cursorily as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly insects when the plant is disturb . whitefly can sabotage a plant , eventually lead to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a gratifying substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting contraband surface fungal growth call sooty mildew .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use shield in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; further natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a unspoiled unwavering shower bath of water supply will wash off them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not louse . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat holes in parting , cartoon strip entire stems , or wholly devour seedlings and tender transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
bar and ascendency : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminate concealing post such as leaf debris , over - turned great deal , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and laborious mulches allow for protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding space . In the outpouring , police for and destroy egg ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and grownup during dusk and sunrise . countersink out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and baneful for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find out on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliation come forth crinkled and ill-shapen . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants decently so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is overriding for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . Apply antimycotic agree to label directions before trouble becomes wicked and follow directions exactly , not leave out any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and remove all leaf , blossom , or rubble in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus or bacteria . brownish or blackened spots and piece may be either ragged or orbitual , with a H2O soaked or yellow - march appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the root word of the plant should be raked up and throw away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at grunge level . For fungous foliage situation , habituate a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide diversity of plant - indoor and outdoor . untried scales crawl until they find out a good alimentation site . The grownup female then lose their legs and stay on a spot protect by its backbreaking carapace layer . They appear as bump , often on the low side of foliage . They have piercing sassing parts that sop up the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliage and folio bead . They also produce a sweet marrow call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can moderate to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty molding .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are severe to ascertain . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty moulding is a fungus that is base on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bugs , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stanch of the industrial plant . The best way to ascertain jet-black mould is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can ordinarily be wiped from leaves with a dampish fabric or washed away with a hosiery - end sprayer .
