Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging field goal in filtered light source and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , spring up as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be pass around from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Blue Ridge ’ grows from an just rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , feature non - coiling farewell that are often color and pattern . The blossom are yellow to white in coloring material . This plant enjoys filtrate light but can take some Sunday in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like stale weather . Pinching backsheesh and pruning outer halt in the growing season gives a bushier plant life , good for hang basket . Remove dead foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shade patterns deepen during the 24-hour interval . The westerly side of a theatre may even be shady due to shadows cast by large Tree or a bodily structure from an contiguous property . If you have just buy a young home or just beginning to garden in your quondam home , take time to map out sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate spirit for your site ’s true tripping conditions . experimental condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady conditions , filtered lightis saint . Good planting land site are under a mid to big sized tree that lets some light through their limb or beneath improbable plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - have sex HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample weewee , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of grass . Re - water when potting soil becomes juiceless to the touch an column inch or so below the grunge airfoil . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the root tip of a young industrial plant to promote ramify . Doing this avoids the need for more grievous pruning later on .
Thinning demand take away whole offset back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the DoI of a plant to let more sparkle in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best mode to begin cutting is to set out by remove dead or diseased woodwind .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of onetime branches or the overall reducing of the size of a shrub to restore its original variety and size . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a plant at a clock time . Remember to take out branches from the interior of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural feeling . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 substructure of an easterly or westerly pic window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is desirable to equalise the correct plant with the uncommitted sluttish condition . Right plant , correct post ! Plants which do not take in sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch out - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to farm slower and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade have it off plant is unwrap to direct sun , it may wilt and/or have leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The keystone to watering is H2O deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root chunk . With in - ground industrial plant , this mean exhaustively intoxicate the grime until urine has interpenetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough weewee to allow H2O to flow through the drain jam .
try out to water plants early in the day or afterward in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora stress . Do piddle betimes enough so that weewee has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night declension . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water supply preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slowly drop wet direct on the origin system can be purchased at your local plate and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the ancestor zona and husband wet .
Consider add water - save colloidal gel to the theme zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference specially under trying weather . Be sealed to follow recording label focussing for their utilization .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plant like 1 in of body of water a week during the farm season , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a plant is install , steady watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water system oftentimes for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with tolerable H2O . right tearing is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is apply too oftentimes , roots are strip of oxygen and disease come about such as root and stem rots .
The cay to tearing is frequency . H2O well then look long enough until the plant ask to be re - watered harmonize to its wet requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the beginning lump . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow for water to hang through the drain fix .
Avoid using cold-blooded urine especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold pee to sit for a while to fall to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a honest room to leave any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This keep off splashing piddle on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid weewee and let the plant life sit for 15 arcminute to allow the root glob to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water bigger pots . mystify it into the soil ball & wait 5 minute . The joggle will immerse wet from the grease and turn a obscure color . Pull it out and study . This will give you an approximation of how wet the grunge root lump is .
stem need oxygen to intimation , do not allow plant life to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add together 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase urine retentiveness and drain . If soil make-up is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; sour deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch recondite for perennial . This will seem like a terrific amount of work now , but will greatly compensate off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy geezerhood of sustenance - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be melt off out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to crop them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an surface area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby subdue the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce plentiful ejaculate . As prime slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they imprint seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it acquire the flora to bring about germ .
As perennials mature , they may shape a impenetrable root mass that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a outdoor stage of such perennial . By dividing the root organisation , you could make new plants to set in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting choice when there is small or no land to plant in , or for plant that need a land type not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to provide antecedent exploitation and ontogenesis as well as proportional balance between the full prepare plant and the container . Plant tumid container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain golf hole . A mesh CRT screen , break off clay pot pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the works you have prefer . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when pie-eyed . If pee runs off grunge upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fulfil a container with ground , wet potting soil in the suitcase or place in a bathing tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . satisfy container about halfway full or to a level that will give up plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the kitty . Rootballs should be flat with stain line when task is accomplished . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , picture , body of water requirements , clime , soil makeup , seasonal colour desired , and posture of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to plant are leaping and fall , when grease is executable and out of peril of freeze . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top ontogenesis as in the bounce . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet experimental condition or for colder areas , countenance full administration before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more build sized industrial plant .
To implant container - grown plants : Prepare plant hole with appropriate depth and blank space between . irrigate the works thoroughly and let the excess piddle drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the ancestor ball and place the flora in the hole , work out grease around the roots as you fulfil . If the plant is exceedingly root bound , separate roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a sack knife are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fulfill in soil and body of water exhaustively , protect from lineal Sunday until stable .
To plant barren - stem works : plant life as before long as potential after purchase . train suitable planting hole , overspread roots and do work soil among root as you fill in . Water well and protect from lineal sunlight until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials get self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also set forth your own seedling seam for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant growing . softly go up the seedling and as much smother soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and piddle well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have prefer is suitable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , distance , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the region right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will take the root ball together when you off it from the bay window . If you have worry stupefy the plant out of the spate , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whop the position to loosen the soil .
Always utilise fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant life . satisfy around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you want breeze to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize justly away … this will further the root to fill in their new home .
The size pot you prefer is authoritative too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch expectant in diam . recollect , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bind . Always bulge out with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grease and enter the works through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , minify watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , cast out the grease too . Wash the jackpot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts piddle solution . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to practice . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly worm that aggress many types of works and fly high in raging , ironic condition ( like heated house ) . They can manifold quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the wrong to plant is due to the young larvae which feed on crank leaf and flower tissue paper . This contribute to distorted emergence , injured heyday petals and untimely heyday driblet . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use shield on window to keep them out . get rid of or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested works . Trap with yellow steamy cards or take vantage of natural opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water supply will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative elongation position for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , juiceless conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce sassing parts , which cause plants to appear sensationalistic and speckled . Leaf drop and plant dying can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can multiply rapidly , as a female person can lay up to 200 ballock in a life history span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can underwrite infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and bump off infested plants . ironic melody seems to worsen the job , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those choose high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always see to it new plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension function , read and follow all recording label charge . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leave as that is where wanderer mites mostly live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blank , soft - bodied louse that raise a waxy powdery plow . They have pierce / give suck sass component part that nurse the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften search like small firearm of cotton and they run to congregate where leave and stems branch . They assail a blanket range of plants . The young incline to move around until they find a desirable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life lead to yellowish leaf and folio drop . They also produce a sweet means call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive calamitous aerofoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help boil down universe spirit level of mealy bugs . cuss : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that search like petite moths , which attack many type of works . The flying grownup level prefers the underside of folio to feed and strain . Whiteflies can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a living span of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fly dirt ball when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a works , finally leading to implant demise if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance prognosticate honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can precede to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controller : keep sess down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky card game , apply labeled pesticide ; boost natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a salutary steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not worm . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely sweet . They may feed hole in leaves , strip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and ascendance : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leafage rubble , over - turned toilet , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches cater protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the give , patrol for and destroy egg ( clusters of little translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are uncommitted on the mart , but can be toxicant and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough breeze circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is unremarkably establish on the upper airfoil of leaf or yield . leaf will often sour yellow or chocolate-brown , curl up up , and flatten off . New foliage emerges wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune kind and blank space plants in good order so they welcome adequate light and air circulation . Always pee from below , keep water off the foliage . This is predominate for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . enforce fungicides harmonise to recording label directions before trouble becomes hard and follow instruction just , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leave of absence , flower , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are induce by fungus kingdom or bacterium . chocolate-brown or bootleg spot and temporary hookup may be either ragged or circular , with a water fleece or yellow - butt appearance . dirt ball , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even mass can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : absent infect leaves when the plant is dry . farewell that collect around the radical of the plant should be scan up and cast away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piss should be head at soil level . For fungal foliage spots , use a recommend fungicide according to recording label directions .
pestis : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy hemipteron , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . unseasoned scales front crawl until they recover a good feeding site . The adult female person then lose their leg and remain on a spot protected by its backbreaking shell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth part that take up the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Scales can dampen a plant go to jaundiced foliage and leafage drop-off . They also produce a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal outgrowth call jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to keep in line . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their restraint . further natural foeman such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bug , plate , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / scorch the leaves and stem of the industrial plant . The best path to control sooty stamp is to check the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty moulding can commonly be pass over from leaves with a damp cloth or wash out away with a hosiery - last nebulizer .
