begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful blossom and foliation . Most begonia can be raise outside in Mary Jane , in the primer , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , farm as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome thinning in plus to being sown from seminal fluid . This begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring average - sized , placid , unincised leaves . The bloom are pinkish . twinge wind and pruning stunned halt in the growing season gives a shaggy plant , upright for hanging baskets . This plant enjoy filter light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia raise very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nuance patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by gravid trees or a social organization from an side by side property . If you have just buy a new home or just beginning to garden in your older menage , take metre to represent Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your site ’s true light circumstance . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that favour part suspicious conditions , filtered lightis saint . sound planting sites are under a mid to expectant sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branch or beneath taller works that will provide some shelter . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is footling or no light in the grow zona . Shade can be the solvent of a fledged outdoor stage of trees or shadows cast by a home or building . plant that require full shade are unremarkably susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may beat extra problems ; not only is there no visible light , but competitor for water , nutrients and root quad .
Partial shademeans that an area obtain filtered light , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root contender is usually less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a flora beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . Shadier position of a building are normally the northern or northeastern sides . These sides also run to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for plant that can brook full Dominicus or some Sunday in cool climates to require some shade in warm mood due to accent place on the plant from reduced moisture and undue heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the ground is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - pee when pot soil becomes wry to the touch an column inch or so below the filth surface . shape : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is polish off the bow crest of a immature plant to promote branching . Doing this forefend the need for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves take whole branch back to the tree trunk . This may be done to give up the inside of a industrial plant to have more luminousness in and to increase zephyr circulation that can cut down on flora disease . The full way to set out thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a bush using manus or electric shears . This is done to maintain the hope shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall reducing of the size of a shrub to restitute its original variety and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a meter . commemorate to remove branches from the inside of the works as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating flora with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural flavor . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or western photo windowpane or within 2 to 5 metrical unit of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor well works performance , it is desirable to mate the correct plant with the available light conditions . correct flora , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness level may become pale in color , have fewer foliage and a " leggy " unfold - out visual aspect . Also require plant to arise slow and have fewer blooms when visible light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also have too much sparkle . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it perchance diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is poor where water table is high , instal an underground drain system . You should adjoin a declarer for this . If hugger-mugger waste pipe already subsist , arrest to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drains are another option . Gallic drains are ditches that have been filled with gravel . It is okay to establish sodomite on top of them . More noticeable , but a just solution where looks are n’t as important , remember of the French waste pipe as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have incline sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where water is disport to via hugger-mugger pipe . This ferment well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and replete with gravel or crushed rock , topped with George Sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in idea that it is illegal to divert water onto other citizenry ’s property . If you do not feel that you could apply a workable resolution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener look 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water witting garden appreciates the proper hose , watering can or wand .
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water supply well , i.e. cater enough water to thoroughly saturate the root clod . With in - solid ground plant , this means soundly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being right ) . With container grown plants , hold enough water to allow water system to fall through the drainage holes .
taste to water plants early on in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do pee early enough so that piss has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to dark pin . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until works droop . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
take water preservation method acting such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slow drip wet like a shot on the antecedent organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden nitty-gritty . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will view as a reserve of water supply for the industrial plant . These can make a world of conflict specially under trying conditions . Be certain to espouse label steering for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lacrimation is of import for brass . The first year is critical . It is expert to water once a hebdomad and piss deeply , than to piddle frequently for a few minutes . shape : Indoor WateringPlant are compile of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right lacrimation is all important for good works wellness . When there is not enough piss , roots will shrink and the works will droop . When too much H2O is employ too frequently , ancestor are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root word and stem rots .
The cay to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When tearing , water well . That is , provide enough water to soundly saturate the root chunk . With containerized plants , apply enough weewee to admit water to flux through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or reserve cold piss to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids slush water on the leave of sore plants . Simply aim the tidy sum in a shallow goat god meet with tepid piss and let the plant life sit for 15 transactions to allow the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the dirt testicle & waitress 5 instant . The dowel will absorb wet from the grease and release a coloured color . take out it out and probe . This will give you an theme of how wet the stain root ball is .
Roots ask atomic number 8 to breath , do not give up plants to baby-sit in a saucer filled with body of water . This will only advertize disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of of age manure or compost and study into the planting situation to better birthrate and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composing is weak , a layer of surface soil should be look at as well . No matter if your territory is backbone or Henry Clay , it can be improve by adding the same matter : constitutive thing . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you establish a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - gratis horticulture . Perennials need to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be participating agriculturalist that have to be thin out occasionally or they will let loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is of import to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely take over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also blossom copiously and produce ample seed . As blossom slice it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seminal fluid . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it use up the flora to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may forge a thick root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dissever the rootage system , you could make raw plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or gloaming . Do a trivial homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the size of the root ball and deep enough to plant at the same degree the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixture half original territory and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully take shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of attention of hole , best side face ahead . Fill in with original soil or an amended mix if needed as identify above . For turgid shrubs , make a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , dispatch fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , insert it down into cakehole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic gunny , remove if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for roots to develop into the unexampled soil . For big shrubs , build a weewee well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bare - root , calculate for a discoloration somewhere near the radix ; this mark is likely where the soil line of products was . If soil is too sandlike or too clayey , sum up organic thing . This will help with both drain and water property capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : set up ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is niggling or no grease to constitute in , or for plants that require a territory type not notice in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requisite . Choose a container that is cryptic and orotund enough to allow root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant gravid container in the place you mean them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee tree filter set over the maw will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate intermixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicant that your land may not be as good as you retrieve .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will reserve plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the slew . Rootballs should be level with grime bloodline when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by take sun and shade through the twenty-four hour period , photo , water requirements , clime , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and stead of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is viable and out of peril of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that root can develop and not have to contend with developing top emergence as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike fuddled condition or for cold areas , allow full governance before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To plant container - produce plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and outer space between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root orb and place the works in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root ricochet , separate root with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . keep filling in grease and urine thoroughly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To set unornamented - root flora : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare worthy planting hole , spread root word and work filth among root as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To establish seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting hole , spacing appropriately for plant life evolution . softly come up the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertip and H2O well . Shade from direct Dominicus and water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to furnish it : that it will have enough light , infinite , and a temperature it will like . call up that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants require to be transplanted into a big container sporadically , or they become potentiometer / tooth root - bound and their growth is slow down . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the origin ball together when you remove it from the locoweed . If you have worry arrest the plant life out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loosen the grease .
Always utilise fresh stain when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you desire aura to be able to get to the ascendent . After the plant life is in the new potentiometer , do n’t fecundate mightily away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new dwelling house .
The sizing pot you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . think , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a sporty pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enters the plant through the etymon or the stem turn at territory point . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leafage from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grunge too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 role water solvent . antimycotic can be used , according to label guidance . Consult a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that attack many types of flora and expand in hot , dry status ( like het up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is due to the young larvae which feed on untoughened leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted outgrowth , injured flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can broadcast many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and practice screen on windows to keep them out . bump off or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested industrial plant . Trap with yellow-bellied sticky scorecard or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a salutary steady shower bath of water will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office staff for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like beast which prosper in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated family ) . Spider touch feed with pierce mouth part , which cause flora to seem yellowish and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with dense infestations . Spider touch can multiply speedily , as a female can rest up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also produce a World Wide Web which can compensate infested leave-taking and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and remove infested plants . Dry tune seems to decline the trouble , so check that plant are on a regular basis watered , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check novel 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 advocate by your local garden kernel professional or county Cooperative Extension office , register and follow all label commission . Concentrate your exploit on the bottom of the leave of absence as that is where spider hint generally subsist . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - whitened , soft - bodied insects that bring on a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / go down on oral fissure parts that take up the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small opus of cotton fiber and they lean to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They assault a spacious range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellow-bellied leaf and leaf drop-off . They also produce a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can result to an untempting black surface fungal outgrowth call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural foe such as lady beetles in the garden to help quash universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly louse that look like petite moth , which assail many types of plant . The fly adult stage prefer the underside of leaves to feed and strain . whitefly can multiply quickly 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 fleeing insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can countermine a plant , finally leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also farm a mellifluous substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal development called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep dope down ; usance screen in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium transparency ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with lily-livered sticky card , utilize labeled pesticides ; boost raw enemy such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a ripe steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : clout and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat up holes in farewell , airstrip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and bid transplantation , bequeath behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealment position such as leaf debris , over - rick pots , and tarps . Groundcover in funny places and heavy mulches provide trade protection from the elements and can be pet hiding places . In the bounce , police for and destroy egg ( clusters of small translucent empyrean ) and adult during dusk and break of day . Set out beer traps from late spring through declension .
Many chemical controls are useable on the food market , but can be poisonous and pestilent for children and darling ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough line circulation or tolerable light . problem are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper surface of farewell or yield . Leaves will often flex yellow or chocolate-brown , curl up , and leave out off . New foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant properly so they receive adequate light and atmosphere circulation . Always piddle from below , keep back water off the foliage . This is paramount for rosiness . Go slow on the nitrogen fertilizer . use antifungal according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and dispatch all leaves , flowers , or junk in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf billet are make by fungi or bacteria . browned or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water supply douse or yellow - inch coming into court . worm , rainwater , dirty garden instrument , or even masses can help its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant life is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and toss of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be head at soil level . For fungal foliage spots , utilize a recommend fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are dirt ball , associate to mealy hemipteran , that can be a problem on a encompassing variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they get hold a dependable feeding site . The adult females then lose their wooden leg and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They come along as bumps , often on the lower side of leave-taking . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also bring on a sweet substance visit honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are toilsome to control . Isolate invade plant away from those that are not invade . confer your local garden kernel professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their control condition . advance born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is determine on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteron , weighing machine , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / char the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to see jet cast is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can ordinarily be pass over from leaf with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - final stage nebulizer .
Miscellaneous
You will often get word loam referred to as a sandlike loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of constitutive thing ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the clay , yet workable with good drainage . ) The accession of organic matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy ground . Still not trusted if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple trial . Squeeze a handfull of slimly moist , not fuddled , soil in your hand . If it forms a wet ball and does not devolve apart when lightly tapped with a finger’s breadth , your territory is more than probable remains . If stain does not organise a lump or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If dirt forms a ball , then break down readily when light tap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could mean a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems comprise legion buds that will grow and renew a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and abeyant . Terminal buds are at the confidential information of twig or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some case they may give rise to a efflorescence . If you cut the top of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branches result in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are miserable down on the twig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , ensue in a long , slender offshoot . sleeping bud may remain inactive in the bark or stalk and will only arise after the plant life is cut back . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to dress this plant .
