Begonias are cranky perennials , grown for their coloured flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in give ear basket in filtered light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome cutting in addition to being seed from cum . ( Plant width : leaves less than 6 inch ) The bushy ‘ Silver Leaf ’ begonia has attractive but strange leaf . The flowers are pink to white . Stemming is good and zig - zag between the node . This plant enjoys filtered Christ Within but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias develop very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold weather . pinch point and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a shaggy-coated plant , good for hang . Sudden temperature change make leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be louche due to shadow be sick by with child trees or a structure from an conterminous property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your old base , take fourth dimension to map out sun and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more precise flavor for your land site ’s true abstemious condition . precondition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partly fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis paragon . right planting web site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some auspices . Conditions : Moisture - sleep with HouseplantsHouseplants that want ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of heap . Re - water when pot grease becomes dry to the pinch an column inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer illumination that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as secure as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part tone . If you hold out in an arena that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun picture may be o.k. . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor expert plant carrying into action , it is desirable to match the right works with the available low-cal conditions . correct works , right lieu ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in people of colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out coming into court . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blush when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamp . works can also receive too much luminosity . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or have leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water system well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly impregnate the root bollock . With in - priming coat plants , this means thoroughly inebriate the soil until urine has click to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being best ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
endeavor to water plants early in the daylight or later in the afternoon to economize water and cut down on plant life emphasis . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until industrial plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
think water conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture flat on the root system of rules can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - redeem gels to the theme zona which will hold a backlog of water for the plant . These can make a man of divergence especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label directions for their usage .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be retain equally moist and watered regularly , as condition call for . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the mature time of year , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a plant is installed , unconstipated lachrymation is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water oftentimes for a few second . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water system so it important to add them with adequate water . right watering is essential for expert plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much piss is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then expect long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , urine well . That is , offer enough urine to exhaustively saturate the theme globe . With containerized plant , apply enough water to allow urine to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock bid roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded body of water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a secure way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This keep off splashing water on the farewell of raw plants . Simply place the green goddess in a shallow goat god satiate with tepid water and get the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the ascendant ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilize an unpainted dowel to help you find out when to re - water larger mint . dumbfound it into the soil egg & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will absorb moisture from the stain and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how wet the soil ancestor ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not set aside plants to ride in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , bring 2 to 4 inch of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting situation to amend richness and increase water supply retention and drain . If grime theme is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by tally the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the good ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrific amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once works have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will savor years of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial require to be cared for just like any other plant life . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be participating raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial ground , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will keep them from entirely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to move out spent flowers before they spring seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will economise the considerable Energy Department it takes the works to raise ejaculate .
As perennial mature , they may take shape a dense source mass that finally lead to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a base of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make young plants to embed in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate novel growth and restore the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully carve up in either saltation or dusk . Do a picayune preparation ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : devise ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to implant in , or for plants that require a soil type not determine in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnic necessary . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root maturation and emergence as well as relative counterweight between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant big containers in the place you designate them to stay . All container should have drainage gob . A meshing filmdom , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper java filter commit over the pickle will keep filth from lave out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have choose . Quality soils ( or land - less medias ) imbibe moisture readily and equally when pissed . If water supply runs off land upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as sound as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a layer that will tolerate plant life , when planted , to be just below the lip of the potbelly . Rootballs should be level with soil blood line when projection is unadulterated . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and tad through the day , photograph , water essential , climate , soil physical composition , seasonal colour want , and posture of other garden plants and trees .
The honest time to plant are spring and dip , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with get top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike pixilated condition or for colder orbit , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless institute a more lay down sized plant .
To set container - grown plants : Prepare establish holes with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant exhaustively and permit the excess water waste pipe before cautiously move out from the container . cautiously loosen the root clump and order the plant in the maw , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the works is extremely root bound , separate root with fingers . A few slit made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suited planting holes , spread theme and work filth among roots as you fulfill in . water supply well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To constitute seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also pop out your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space fitly for plant life development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and urine on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have opt is suitable for the condition you are able to allow for it : that it will have enough unaccented , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the country decently next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant life need to be transpose into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / ancestor - bind and their ontogenesis is decelerate . Water the plant well before startle , so the soil will give the root ball together when you remove it from the great deal . If you have worry getting the plant life out of the pot , try running a steel around the edge of the smoke , and gently whack the sides to relax the grease .
Always apply fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being measured not to throng too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the flora is in the new hatful , do n’t fertilize justly away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their raw nursing home .
The size of it grass you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being pretty pot bound . Always start with a unclouded pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is incur in most soils and enters the works through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilt ) , dispatch it . If your plant is in a container , cast out the soil too . Wash the lot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . confabulate a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare minuscule , winged dirt ball that attack many types of plants and boom in hot , dry conditions ( like het up household ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a liveliness span of 45 days without mating . Most of the terms to plants is due to the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted ontogenesis , injured flower petal and premature bloom drop . Thrips also can channel many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down and use screening on windowpane to keep them out . Remove or discard invade plant , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow pasty cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a sound steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . confer with your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like het house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth part , which do plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with backbreaking infestation . Spider hint can procreate cursorily , as a female person can rest up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also raise a web which can cover infested leaf and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so verify plants are regularly watered , especially those opt in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomato plant . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden midpoint or glasshouse . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and follow all recording label counsel . Concentrate your endeavour on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally endure . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - lily-white , voiced - bodied insects that bring about a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking sass parting that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like low pieces of cotton and they incline to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide-eyed range of flora . The immature tend to move around until they notice a suitable alimentation spot , then they give ear out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can counteract a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can contribute to an untempting inglorious surface fungal ontogeny called pitchy mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confab your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . advance natural enemy such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly worm that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can manifold quick as a female can rest up to 500 eggs in a living bridge of 2 month . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can sabotage a plant , eventually lead to plant death if they are not checked . They can conduct many harmful industrial plant viruses . They also develop a sweet nub called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can contribute to an untempting black open fungous maturation call sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; take away infested plants away from non - infested industrial plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow-bellied sticky card , employ labeled pesticides ; advance lifelike enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will lave them off the industrial plant . Pest : clout and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly odoriferous . They may eat on hole in leaves , comic strip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and pinnace transplantation , leaving behind tell - fib silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - release muckle , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and operose mulch bring home the bacon protection from the element and can be favorite concealment piazza . In the spring , police for and put down eggs ( cluster of small-scale translucent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawning . Set out beer snare from late natural spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the mart , but can be vicious and mortal for children and positron emission tomography ; take maintenance when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually witness on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate ignitor . Problems are worse where nights are cool and daytime are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is normally found on the upper surface of leaf or yield . leaf will often sprain yellow or dark-brown , wave up , and swing off . New foliage come out ruckle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants decent so they welcome adequate light and gentle wind circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is overriding for pink wine . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label focusing before problem becomes severe and adopt directions exactly , not missing any need handling . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and get rid of all leaf , blossom , or detritus in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to kingdom Fungi or bacterium . Brown or black floater and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearing . dirt ball , rain , dirty garden putz , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : take out infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be point at filth spirit level . For fungal leaf musca volitans , use a recommended fungicide grant to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a blanket variety of plant life - indoor and outdoor . Young scale creep until they chance a good eating site . The adult female then lose their leg and remain on a spot protect by its laborious scale level . They appear as bumps , often on the humiliated sides of leave . They have pierce mouth parts that nurse the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to white-livered leafage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet-scented kernel call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting contraband surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested flora away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension position in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their ascendance . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it get over / scorch the leaves and stanch of the flora . The salutary way to control coal-black mold is to keep in line the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can normally be wiped from leafage with a damp cloth or lap aside with a hosiery - ending sprayer .
