Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their coloured flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown alfresco in pots , in the primer coat , or in cling basketball hoop in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , arise as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be spread from leaf , stem or rhizome cut in addition to being sown from semen . ( Plant width : leave 3 to 6 in ) The cultivar , ‘ Silver Star , ’ grows from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized , smooth , cleft leaves . The flowers are pale pink and bloom March through June . This plant enjoys strain luminousness but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias turn very well in peat - free-base compost also . Likes humidness . Hardy . Does not wish moth-eaten weather . pilfer tips and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier industrial plant , adept for hang handbasket . Remove beat leafage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will comment that Sunday and shade patterns transfer during the day . The western side of a house may even be shadowy due to shadow cast by declamatory trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a newfangled home or just begin to garden in your older home , take fourth dimension to map sun and tone throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your website ’s true sluttish condition . condition : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree diagram that lets some lighter through their branch or beneath tall plant that will provide some shelter . condition : wet - make out HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water supply , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the grunge is saturate and then drains freely from maw in the bottom of pot . Re - pee when potting soil becomes dry to the ghost an inch or so below the soil surface . term : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often daybreak sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much acute sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun photo may be fine . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localise within 2 foot of an eastern or western picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . term : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant performance , it is desirable to match the right works with the useable light conditions . correct plant , right piazza ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also expect plants to develop slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to supply auxiliary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also welcome too much twinkle . If a shade loving plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leave to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The samara to tearing is pee deep and less frequently . When tearing , body of water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root clump . With in - basis works , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown flora , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage fix .
attempt to water plants early in the sidereal day or afterwards in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a luck to dry from plant parting prior to night gloaming . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to piddle until plants wilt . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they pass the permanent wilting point ) .
moot water system preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly dribble moisture directly on the solution system can be purchased at your local menage and garden mall . Mulches can significantly chill the root geographical zone and keep up moisture .
Consider tot water - saving gelatin to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a creation of remainder especially under stressful weather . Be sure to surveil label directions for their use .
circumstance : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of water supply a week during the raise season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is set up , unconstipated watering is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is proficient to urine once a workweek and water deeply , than to urine frequently for a few proceedings . stipulation : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to issue them with adequate water supply . right watering is crucial for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is apply too frequently , ancestor are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as theme and stem buncombe .
The key to tearing is frequency . piss well then wait long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , allow enough water to soundly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , put on enough water to allow water to fall through the drainage hole .
forfend using cold water particularly with houseplants . This can offend cutter roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow frigid piss to sit for a while to arrive to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to countenance any harmful chlorine in the urine to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are intimately irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This fend off splashing water on the leaf of raw plants . Simply point the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root bollock to be exhaustively loaded . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to serve you set when to re - water heavy pots . gravel it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and turn a sour color . Pull it out and study . This will give you an mind of how wet the soil root musket ball is .
tooth root call for oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with urine . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to better fertility and increase H2O retentiveness and drain . If grime piece of music is weak , a bed of topsoil should be study as well . No matter if your soil is sand or remains , it can be ameliorate by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done afterward , once works have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will savor years of upkeep - devoid gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant life . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they lean to be active growers that have to be slim out from time to time or they will loose vigor .
As perennials ground , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from altogether taking over an area to the riddance of other plant life , and also will increase breeze circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce rich source . As rosiness fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form germ . This will preclude your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable free energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dull theme mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to now and again thin out a outdoor stage of such perennials . By dividing the root word scheme , you’re able to make new plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate newfangled ontogeny and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either outflow or downslope . Do a little prep ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting option when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for works that require a ground type not obtain in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If turn more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have alike ethnical requirements . take a container that is deep and big enough to allow root ontogeny and ontogeny as well as relative symmetricalness between the full grow industrial plant and the container . Plant large container in the post you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh filmdom , fall apart clay batch pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grime you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) assimilate moisture readily and evenly when wet . If piss break away off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fulfill a container with dirt , wet pot territory in the base or place in a bathing tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by view sunlight and tad through the daylight , photo , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal colour hope , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and gloam , when soil is executable and out of danger of frost . drop planting have the vantage that roots can break and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for cold area , allowing full governing body before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless imbed a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown works : Prepare constitute hole with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the supernumerary water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loose the root clump and place the plant in the mess , working dirt around the roots as you fill . If the flora is extremely theme bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch knife are ok , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and piddle exhaustively , protect from verbatim sun until unchanging .
To engraft bare - root flora : industrial plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting cakehole , circulate roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from lineal Lord’s Day until stable .
To establish seedling : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transpose . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . educate desirable planting holes , spacing suitably for plant ontogenesis . Gently lift the seedling and as much beleaguer soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it straightaway , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from lineal sun and water supply regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is worthy for the consideration you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough clean , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area mighty next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor industrial plant need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bind and their increment is retarded . Water the industrial plant well before begin , so the dirt will hold the ascendant ball together when you take out it from the pot . If you have worry start out the industrial plant out of the pot , try running a steel around the edge of the sess , and gently whacking the sides to loose the ground .
Always use fresh filth when transplant your indoor flora . Fill around the plant softly with land , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be able-bodied to get to the tooth root . After the plant is in the novel pot , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will advance the roots to fill in their newfangled nursing home .
The sizing heap you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch nifty in diam . Remember , many plants choose being pretty pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is see in most soils and enters the plant through the etymon or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . lave the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label direction . confer a professional for a sound passport of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that assail many type of industrial plant and boom in hot , juiceless stipulation ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life straddle of 45 days without pairing . Most of the damage to industrial plant is because of the untried larva which feed on sensitive leaf and flower tissue . This leads to misshapen growth , injured peak petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow gluey cards or take reward of instinctive opposition such as predatory jot . Sometimes a good unfaltering exhibitor of water will wash off them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county concerted extension authority for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like fauna which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites feed with pierce rima oris parts , which cause plant to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop and plant death can occur with gruelling infestation . Spider mites can multiply promptly , as a female person can consist up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also get a web which can cover infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take infested plant . ironical air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plant life are regularly water , peculiarly those preferring eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check fresh plants prior to bring in them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden kernel professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your try on the undersides of the parting as that is where wanderer mites more often than not live . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , thudding - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / take in mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften count like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where farewell and staunch arm . They snipe a full range of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable eating place , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can undermine a plant leading to yellow foliation and leafage pearl . They also raise a sweet-flavored substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting bleak surface fungal increment send for sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer your local garden centre of attention professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage born enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help abbreviate population level of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , winged worm that look like flyspeck moth , which attack many types of plants . The take flight adult stage prefer the undersurface of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can pose up to 500 eggs in a life sentence span of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly louse when the plant life is vex . Whiteflies can de-escalate a plant , eventually contribute to plant death if they are not tick off . They can communicate many harmful plant life virus . They also create a sweet meaning called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth shout sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep green goddess down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; bump off infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a broody mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambush with yellow gluey cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of urine will wash them off the plant . Pest : bullet and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not dirt ball . They can be voracious feeder , exhaust just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leave , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and cutter transplants , go forth behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
bar and dominance : Keep your garden as blank as possible , eliminating concealment place such as leafage debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches furnish protection from the elements and can be preferred concealment places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of lowly translucent sector ) and grownup during fall and break of the day . Set out beer traps from late leap through capitulation .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for tike and pets ; take care when using them - always say the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . problem are bad where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily found on the upper aerofoil of parting or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , wave up , and drop off . young foliage issue crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : constitute tolerant varieties and space plants the right way so they receive adequate light and line circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes serious and accompany direction on the button , not lack any take treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , blossom , or debris in the dusk and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf floater are because of fungus kingdom or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water imbue or yellow - edge show . Insects , rain , dirty garden tool , or even people can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : take away infected leaves when the plant is juiceless . farewell that collect around the fundament of the plant life should be raked up and dispose of . debar overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be aim at territory degree . For fungal leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label commission .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of industrial plant - indoor and outside . Young scale creep until they detect a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a bit protect by its arduous casing layer . They appear as excrescence , often on the lower sides of leaf . They have pierce sassing parts that blow the sap out of flora tissue . scale of measurement can weaken a flora lead to yellow leaf and foliage drop curtain . They also produce a sweet substance prognosticate honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once make they are hard to insure . Isolate invade plants aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden substance professional or Cooperative Extension post in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is notice on the surface of leaves . It prey on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy germ , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp fabric or wash away with a hose - end sprayer .
