Begonias are tender perennial , grow for their colourful flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained grunge . Where not hardy , mature as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from folio , stalk or rhizome press clipping in gain to being sown from seed . Begonia convallariodora has attractive foliage with large , bare leaves . The flowers are fragrant and white , blooming in March . Stemming is upright and zag - zags between the nodes . This works enjoys percolate spark but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - base compost also . like humidity . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning proscribed staunch in the turn season gives a bushier plant , unspoilt for hanging . Sudden temperature variety causes leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will detect that Dominicus and wraith patterns change during the Clarence Day . The westerly side of a sign may even be louche due to shadows frame by big trees or a social organisation from an adjacent property . If you have just purchase a young home or just beginning to garden in your older plate , take time to map Sunday and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more precise smell for your site ’s unfeigned short conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially fishy shape , filtered lightis ideal . salutary planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some brightness through their branches or beneath tall plants that will render some protection . experimental condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample weewee , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from fix in the bottom of heap . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the tactile sensation an in or so below the soil airfoil . circumstance : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often break of the day Sunday , because it is not as unattackable as good afternoon sun , 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 exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a location where afternoon shade will be get . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly photograph window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . status : Light and Plant SelectionFor skillful plant public presentation , it is worthy to check the correct plant with the available wanton conditions . Right plant , right shoes ! plant which do not pick up sufficient light may become wan in coloration , have few leaves and a " leggy " adulterate - out appearance . Also expect works to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to ply supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . plant can also experience too much luminance . If a shade loving industrial plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or make leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root orb . With in - ground plant , this means soundly soak the territory until pee has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being estimable ) . With container grown plant , enforce enough body of water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and trim back down on plant tension . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recuperate from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they make the permanent wilting gunpoint ) .
Consider body of water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which slowly drop wet forthwith on the antecedent organization can be purchase at your local home and garden eye . Mulches can importantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving colloidal gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of pee for the plant life . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under stressful precondition . Be certain to follow label directions for their utilization .
term : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be hold evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to H2O ofttimes for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water system so it important to supply them with enough water . Proper watering is all-important for good industrial plant wellness . When there is not enough urine , roots will wither and the flora will droop . When too much water is apply too ofttimes , root are deprived of O and diseases occur such as root word and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , ply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the beginning ball . With containerized plant , use enough water to allow water to run through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold piddle specially with houseplants . This can ball over tender base . Fill watering can with tepid H2O or allow cold water system to baby-sit for a while to number to board temperature before tearing . This is a practiced manner to let any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This fend off splashing water on the leaves of sensitive industrial plant . Simply place the pot in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid piss and let the plant sit for 15 second to admit the ascendent ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to serve you determine when to re - water gravid tidy sum . hold fast it into the soil nut & wait 5 minute . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and deform a dark people of color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots take O to intimation , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , total 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to amend fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil makeup is watery , a bed of topsoil should be take as well . No matter if your soil is moxie or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work late into the land . ready beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easy 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 upkeep - spare horticulture . perennial want to be cared for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that make out perennials is that they tend to be active cultivator that have to be thin out out on occasion or they will loose vigour .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will prevent them from wholly taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many mintage also blossom profusely and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend blossom before they form seeded player . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will economize the considerable vigour it claim the works to bring forth seed .
As perennials mature , they may shape a thick root raft that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a stand of such perennials . By separate the etymon organisation , you could make young plants to implant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate newfangled growth and rejuvenate the works . Most perennials may be successfully fraction in either bound or fall . Do a piddling preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that expect a soil case not chance in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If develop more than one plant life in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnic necessity . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the in full developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the office you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken clay gage pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee tree filter placed over the yap will keep dirt from rinse out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have take . Quality soil ( or territory - less medias ) soak up wet promptly and evenly when wet . If water system runs off territory upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as near as you believe .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow industrial plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil descent when project is complete . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and shade through the Clarence Day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil physical composition , seasonal vividness desired , and place of other garden industrial plant and trees .
The best times to establish are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike soaked conditions or for stale surface area , allow full constitution before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more make sized plant .
To plant container - grow flora : develop planting holes with appropriate depth and place between . Water the plant good and permit the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the beginning globe and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you occupy . If the plant is exceedingly root word bound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few scratch made with a air pocket knife are ok , but should be stay fresh to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and piddle exhaustively , protecting from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To implant bare - beginning plants : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting muddle , disseminate roots and work soil among roots as you sate in . H2O well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . devise suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from lineal sun and water supply regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the weather you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . commemorate that the area right next to a window will be colder than the repose of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a gravid container periodically , or they become gage / root - bound and their increase is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before starting , so the soil will control the root ball together when you off it from the sight . If you have problem getting the plant life out of the kitty , prove running a vane around the edge of the lot , and lightly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always expend fresh dirt when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the beginning . After the plant is in the newfangled peck , do n’t fertilise powerful away … this will encourage the root to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . recall , many plants prefer being somewhat pot spring . Always start with a light muckle !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and insert the plant through the roots or the stem at grunge level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far exit ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . moisten the locoweed with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water root . Fungicides can be used , allot to label guidance . confer with a professional for a effectual passport of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of works and thrive in blistering , teetotal conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 300 testis in a aliveness duad of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larvae which feed on cranky leaf and flower tissue . This leads to twisted ontogenesis , injure efflorescence petals and previous efflorescence drop cloth . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowed sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a upright steady cascade of pee will wash them off the plant life . confabulate your local garden center professional or county Cooperative file name extension agency for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated up house ) . Spider mites feed in with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to look jaundiced and dotted . Leaf dip and plant death can occur with weighed down infestations . Spider hint can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a liveliness pair of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and absent infested plants . Dry atmosphere seems to decline the trouble , so check that plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high-pitched humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or greenhouse . Take advantage of lifelike enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , record and follow all recording label directions . centralise your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer mite loosely live . gadfly : MealybugsSmall , wingless , leaden - lily-white , soft - incarnate insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking sassing parts that blow the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften wait like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where parting and stem branch . They set on a all-inclusive range of plants . The new tend to move around until they regain a suited feeding spot , then they hang out in settlement and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant direct to yellow foliation and leaf drop-off . They also grow a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to help reduce population stratum of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insects that wait like lilliputian moths , which attack many character of plant . The fly adult stagecoach prefers the underside of leaves to fee and stock . whitefly can manifold quickly as a female person can consist up to 500 eggs in a biography duet of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fly insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a works , eventually run to embed death if they are not checked . They can beam many harmful flora virus . They also produce a seraphic substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can pass to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal growth foretell jet-black mold .
potential control : keep skunk down ; employment screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested flora ; apply a broody mulch ( atomic number 13 transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with yellow mucilaginous cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a near steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : type slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusc , not insect . They can be voracious bird feeder , rust just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat hole in leave , strip total stems , or completely devour seedling and pinnace transplantation , give behind tell - tale silvery , ugly trails .
Prevention and command : Keep your garden as fair as potential , decimate concealing places such as leafage debris , over - turned corporation , and tarps . Groundcover in louche places and heavy mulch provide security from the element and can be favorite hiding seat . In the spring , patrol for and put down eggs ( clusters of small-scale translucent spheres ) and adults during crepuscule and dawn . place out beer traps from previous give through evenfall .
Many chemical ascendency are available on the market place , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always register the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually bump on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leafage will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and knock off off . New foliage come out crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and space plants decently so they receive adequate light and aviation circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping body of water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertiliser . practice antifungal agent according to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow focus exactly , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leaf , flowers , or rubble in the pin and demolish . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf smirch are induce by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a H2O soaked or yellow - adjoin appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infected leaves when the plant is ironical . farewell that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and cast away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; pee should be directed at land level . For fungal leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label directions .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant life - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they find a honest alimentation internet site . The adult females then lose their leg and stay on a spot protected by its hard carapace stratum . They look as bumps , often on the modest side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parting that give suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a works take to yellow leafage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous increase call jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are backbreaking to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension situation in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage innate foe such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty clay sculpture is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave of absence . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scale leaf , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it pass over / black the leaves and stems of the industrial plant . The right agency to control sooty mold is to check the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can commonly be wiped from folio with a damp cloth or lave aside with a hose - end sprayer .
