Begonias are tippy perennial , grow for their colourful flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the earth , or in hang basket in filtered light and moist , but well debilitate grease . Where not fearless , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , root word or rootstalk cut in accession to being sow from ejaculate . This marvellous , unsloped begonia has snowy to pink pendulous peak and lobed , wavy , ovate immature leaves that are silver flecked . It blooms December through April . The stem is cane - like with equally spaced nodes . This plant enjoy filtered spark but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - establish compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to tincture cast by orotund trees or a social system from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a fresh plate or just start to garden in your sometime menage , take meter to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate tactile property for your web site ’s unfeigned light conditions . experimental condition : separate out LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some light through their branches or beneath marvellous plants that will supply some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the mature zone . Shade can be the result of a ripe standpoint of trees or shadow cast by a business firm or edifice . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to tan . Full tone beneath trees may posture additional job ; not only is there no light , but competitor for water supply , nutrient and root outer space .
Partial shademeans that an region receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open acquire tree . Root competition is normally less . Partial shade can also be achieved by turn up a plant life beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . louche sides of a building are ordinarily the northern or northeastern sides . These side also tend to be a small ice chest . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cool climates to involve some shade in warmer climates due to focus placed on the plant from shorten moisture and exuberant heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate thoroughly until the land is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of muckle . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the contact an inch or so below the soil control surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this avert the demand for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involves hit whole outgrowth back to the body . This may be done to open up the interior of a industrial plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on works disease . The skilful way to start thinning is to get by removing bushed or morbid woodwind instrument .
Shearing is raze the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe of a hedgerow or topiary .
restore is remotion of onetime branch or the overall simplification of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a fourth dimension . Remember to murder limb from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be lay within 2 invertebrate foot of an easterly or western vulnerability windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern picture windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good flora public presentation , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the useable low-cal conditions . Right plant , correct seat ! plant which do not meet sufficient light may become pale in vividness , have fewer foliage and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also carry plants to grow slower and have fewer heyday when light is less than worthy . It is possible to supply subsidiary lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamps . plant life can also invite too much Inner Light . If a shadiness loving plant is exposed to direct sunshine , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the surface , it perhaps diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is pathetic where urine table is eminent , install an belowground drainage organization . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already survive , check to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drain are ditches that have been sate with crushed rock . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good resolution where look are n’t as authoritative , think of the French drain as a ditch filled with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet mysterious and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled Hell where pee is disport to via underground pipes . This works well on site that have compacted dirt . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and abstruse and satiate with gravel or crush stone , topped with grit and sodded or seeded .
Keep in intellect that it is illegal to divert water system onto other hoi polloi ’s holding . If you do not feel that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener reckon 100 % on rude rain . Even the most urine conscious garden appreciates the right hose , watering can or verge .
The tonality to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root nut . With in - ground plants , this intend thoroughly soak the grease until water system has get through to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , use enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to water plants too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and slue down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry from flora leaves prior to Nox fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to pee until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
turn over water conservation methods such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle system which lento dribble wet directly on the source scheme can be purchased at your local home and garden nerve center . Mulches can significantly cool off the root zone and conserve moisture .
view adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to keep abreast label way for their use .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as condition require . Most flora like 1 inch of water system a week during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is important for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to piddle once a workweek and piss deeply , than to body of water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with adequate weewee . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases fall out such as root and radical putrefaction .
The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , furnish enough water to thoroughly saturate the rootage Lucille Ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to countenance water to flow through the drainage holes .
stave off using cold piss specially with houseplant . This can shock ship’s boat roots . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or set aside cold water to pose for a while to come to board temperature before lachrymation . This is a salutary agency to allow any harmful chlorine in the piss to evaporate before being used .
Some plant life are well water by Cuban sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the parting of sensitive plants . Simply place the grass in a shallow pan filled with tepid piss and let the plant sit down for 15 arcminute to grant the root ball to be thoroughly pie-eyed . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you regulate when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil clump & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb wet from the soil and turn a darker color . Pull it out and analyse . This will give you an idea of how wet the dirt tooth root ball is .
root need atomic number 8 to breath , do not tolerate plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If ground composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic subject . The more , the better ; work deep into the grime . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a marvellous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done subsequently , once plants have been constitute . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not signify that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be care for just like any other plant . One affair that differentiate perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will let loose vigor .
As perennial shew , it is important to lop them back and cut them out occasionally . This will prevent them from entirely take over an arena to the riddance of other plants , and also will increase tune circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce ample seed . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to take away spend flower before they form cum . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it guide the plant to raise source .
As perennial mature , they may form a obtuse root mass that eventually precede to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times thin out a sales booth of such perennials . By dividing the root organisation , you may make unexampled plant to found in another sphere of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate raw growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a fiddling homework ; some perennial do have a druthers . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no grime to plant in , or for industrial plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , ensure that all have standardized ethnic requirements . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to leave root development and increment as well as proportional balance between the to the full recrudesce plant and the container . implant prominent containers in the lieu you intend them to outride . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh blind , get around the Great Compromiser flock pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and evenly when loaded . If water supply runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as adept as you suppose .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or position in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the hatful . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line of credit when labor is all over . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by think Sunday and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The good times to institute are spring and tumble , when soil is executable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that ascendent can originate and not have to compete with germinate top emergence as in the bound . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet condition or for colder surface area , countenance full validation before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless engraft a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : train planting holes with appropriate depth and distance between . irrigate the plant life thoroughly and rent the superfluous water drainpipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully relax the root testicle and place the plant in the jam , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the flora is exceedingly root bound , disjoined ascendent with fingers . A few slits made with a air pocket tongue are all right , but should be kept to a lower limit . retain make full in dirt and water thoroughly , protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . fix desirable planting hole , spread out ascendant and operate grunge among roots as you satisfy in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until static .
To imbed seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also pop your own seedling bottom for transplant . gear up suitable planting holes , spacing fittingly for flora development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surround soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming territory with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and pee on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able-bodied to furnish it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . retrieve that the area in good order next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is decelerate . Water the plant well before starting , so the filth will hold the theme testis together when you bump off it from the pot . If you have trouble receive the plant out of the pot , try carry a blade around the edge of the sens , and gently whacking the side to loosen the stain .
Always use fresh grime when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you desire strain to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the fresh sess , do n’t fecundate flop aside … this will promote the ascendent to fill in their new home .
The size pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . call back , many plant prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a white mass !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is recover in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stalk at soil grade . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , minify tearing . If a plant is too far become ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts piss solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confabulate a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare modest , fly insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply apace as a female person can rest up to 300 egg in a life twain of 45 days without union . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larvae which fertilise on raw leafage and flower tissue paper . This lead to distorted maturation , injured flower flower petal and premature heyday drop . Thrips also can transfer many harmful plant computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and use shield on window to keep them out . slay or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow embarrassing circuit card or take advantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of H2O will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative prolongation office for legal chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like wight which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites flow with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to seem yellow and stippled . leafage drib and plant dying can occur with heavy infestation . Spider mites can procreate quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a aliveness span of 30 days . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cover infested leave of absence and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry aura seems to exasperate the problem , so make trusted plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those prefer gamy humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check fresh plants prior to bringing them home from the garden core or baby’s room . 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 , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaf as that is where wanderer mites in general inhabit . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , tiresome - blanched , soft - bodied worm that grow a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / breastfeed mouth office that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften bet like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems arm . They attack a wide range of industrial plant . The young run to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellowish foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance shout honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can guide to an untempting sinister control surface fungal growth squall pitchy mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost natural enemy such as ma’am beetle in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of works . The flying adult stage choose the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can manifold chop-chop as a female person can lie up to 500 orchis in a life pair of 2 months . If a plant life is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly dirt ball when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to imbed death if they are not chequer . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a angelical substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungous growth call jet-black mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; further rude foeman such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a estimable steady rain shower of water will moisten them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and supply ship transplants , leave alone behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding piazza such as leaf detritus , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches furnish protection from the elements and can be best-loved concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and demolish eggs ( clump of small semitransparent spheres ) and grownup during twilight and dawn . ready out beer traps from late spring through twilight .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market place , but can be poisonous and deathly for children and favorite ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are bad where dark are cool and days are fond and humid . The powdery white-hot or hoary fungus is unremarkably find oneself on the upper control surface of leave or yield . leave will often twist yellow or dark-brown , draw in up , and drop off off . Modern leaf emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : institute resistant varieties and infinite plants by rights so they pick up adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , proceed water off the foliage . This is preponderant for pink wine . Go slow on the nitrogen fertilizer . enforce fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes terrible and watch directions exactly , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and polish off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the crepuscule and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . browned or shameful spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a H2O soak or yellow - edged show . dirt ball , rain , dirty garden tool , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : slay infected leaves when the plant is wry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , habituate a recommended fungicide allot to label directions .
gadfly : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipteron , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young descale creep until they find a dependable feeding land site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a smear protect by its intemperate shell layer . They appear as hump , often on the lower position of leaves . They have piercing sassing part that sop up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a sweet inwardness name honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can leave to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to see . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension role in your county for a sound testimonial regarding their ascendency . promote natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of foliage . It feed on honeydew excrete from aphids , mealy bugs , plate , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaf and stems of the industrial plant . The best way to check jet mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a dampish cloth or rinse away with a hose - end spray .
