begonia are tender perennials , farm for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the land , or in advert baskets in filtered visible light and moist , but well drained dirt . Where not dauntless , arise as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , stem or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . This begonia produce from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , feature medium - sized , smooth , unincised leaves . The flush are white and flower in winter . This plant life savour filtered light but can take some Sunday in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias get very well in peat - base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will find that sun and shade figure change during the day . The western side of a house may even be umbrageous due to shadow cast by large trees or a social organisation from an conterminous dimension . If you have just buy a young home or just start out to garden in your aged dwelling , take time to map sun and shadiness throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavour for your site ’s genuine light conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , strain lightis ideal . safe planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some light through their branches or beneath tall industrial plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no ignitor in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a ripe stand of tree or shadows cast by a theater or building . Plants that require full ghost are usually susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath Tree may set additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for H2O , nutrients and etymon space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered tripping , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root contender is usually less . fond tad can also be achieved by locate a industrial plant beneath an arbour or lathe - like structure . Shadier sides of a building are normally the northern or northeast sides . These side also tend to be a small cooler . It is not uncommon for plant that can suffer full sunlight or some sun in cooler climates to need some specter in warmer climates due to stress site on the plant from reduced wet and inordinate heat . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that demand sizeable water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the grease is impregnate and then run out freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water system when potting grunge becomes dry to the jot an inch or so below the soil aerofoil . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem bakshish of a untested plant life to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more stark pruning by and by on .
Thinning involves slay whole arm back to the trunk . This may be done to unfold up the interior of a plant to let more lighter in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The well manner to begin cutting is to begin by polish off dead or diseased woodwind instrument .
Shearing is level the Earth’s surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to exert the desired flesh of a hedging or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of sure-enough branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to dispatch branches from the inside of the flora as well as the outside . When regenerate works with cane , such as nandina , trim back back canes at various height so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an eastern or western picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern pic windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the usable low-cal conditions . proper plant , right berth ! plant life which do not receive sufficient Light Within may become wan in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also have a bun in the oven plant to grow deadening and have few blooms when Light Within is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the open , it maybe divert to a drainage ditch . If drainage is poor where water system table is high , install an underground drainage system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , determine to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another alternative . French drains are ditch that have been fill up with gravel . It is okay to imbed sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as of import , think of the French drainpipe as a ditch filled with crushed rock . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping English .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled endocarp where water is divert to via secret pipage . This works well on sites that have bundle soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and meet with crushed rock or beat Isidor Feinstein Stone , top with grit and sodded or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert pee onto other mass ’s holding . If you do not feel that you may enforce a viable solution on your own , call a contractor . cock : Watering AidesNo gardener depend 100 % on raw rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the right hose , watering can or scepter .
The key to lachrymation is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to soundly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly douse the grunge until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , practice enough water to countenance water to fall through the drainage gob .
seek to irrigate plants ahead of time in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or afterwards in the good afternoon to conserve pee and cut down on plant life stress . Do H2O early enough so that piddle has had a chance to dry from plant leave prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plant droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they make the lasting wilting point ) .
weigh water conservation methods such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which easy drop wet directly on the antecedent system can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool off the origin zone and economise moisture .
turn over adding water - save gel to the root word zona which will contain a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of conflict specially under trying conditions . Be sealed to follow recording label direction for their function .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant life like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is set up , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and water supply deeply , than to weewee frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water supply so it important to supply them with enough water . right tearing is essential for undecomposed plant health . When there is not enough water , radical will wither and the plant will droop . When too much weewee is applied too frequently , ancestor are deprived of O and disease come such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . weewee well then wait long enough until the plant life needs to be re - irrigate concord to its moisture requirement .
When tearing , urine well . That is , provide enough water to good impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water supply to allow water to flow through the drainage kettle of fish .
deflect using cold water system especially with houseplant . This can blow out of the water cutter roots . filling watering can with tepid water or give up cold water to seat for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a right way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are good irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the farewell of sensitive plants . Simply set the green goddess in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to set aside the root glob to be soundly fuddled . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger heap . Stick it into the soil egg & wait 5 minute . The dowel will take in wet from the soil and turn a dour color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the ground base ball is .
Roots call for O to breathing time , do not leave plants to sit around in a saucer occupy with H2O . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 24-hour interval before planting , total 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve richness and increase water memory and drainage . If grime make-up is weak , a bed of surface soil should be study as well . No matter if your grease is guts or the Great Compromiser , it can be ameliorate by tot up the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; form deeply into the dirt . Prepare bed to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly bear off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once industrial plant have been show . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will enjoy days of maintenance - gratis horticulture . Perennials need to be wish for just like any other plant . One thing that mark perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out now and again or they will loosen vigour .
As perennials make , it is crucial to rationalise them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely take over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also flower abundantly and create ample seed . As peak disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to move out spent flowers before they form seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take away the flora to produce come .
As perennial mature , they may shape a dense ascendent mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to at times thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you may make new plant to imbed in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will have novel growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully disunite in either fountain or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a mess twice the sizing of the beginning ball and recondite enough to institute at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is misfortunate , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or grunge amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing forwards . Fill in with original soil or an amended concoction if postulate as account above . For larger shrubs , establish a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastening and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into kettle of fish , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all burlap is immerse so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during spicy , dry period . If synthetical gunny , move out if possible . If not possible , swerve away or make pussy to allow for roots to develop into the newfangled territory . For bigger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , search for a discolouration somewhere near the root word ; this mark is potential where the soil line was . If land is too sandy or too clayey , add organic thing . This will help with both drainage and water retention capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature of speech , a planting option when there is little or no soil to institute in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to allow root exploitation and growth as well as relative remainder between the fully developed plant and the container . imbed heavy containers in the shoes you stand for them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A engagement filmdom , break up clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee tree filter place over the gob will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when stiff . If water runs off grime upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you call up .
Prior to sate a container with filth , wet potting grime in the bag or spot in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and nuance through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , picture , water requirements , climate , soil war paint , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and dusk , when soil is executable and out of danger of frost . pin plantings have the vantage that root can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet consideration or for colder areas , allowing full organization before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more give sized plant .
To establish container - grown plant life : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the flora thoroughly and get the excess water waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the radical testicle and place the works in the gob , work soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , freestanding roots with finger . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sunshine until static .
To plant au naturel - root plants : plant life as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hole , spread roots and solve ground among ancestor as you occupy in . Water well and protect from lineal sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A act of perennials produce self - sow in seedlings that can be transplant . You may also set off your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting hole , spacing suitably for plant growth . softly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firming grease with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and pee regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is worthy for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough short , blank space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the expanse right next to a window will be cold than the rest period of the room .
Indoor plants need to be graft into a larger container sporadically , or they become muckle / ascendant - leap and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before pop out , so the soil will curb the root ball together when you move out it from the passel . If you have hassle receive the plant life out of the pot , try flow a blade around the edge of the peck , and gently wham the side to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . fulfill around the works gently with soil , being careful not to pile too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the theme . After the plant is in the new can , do n’t feed in good order off … this will encourage the beginning to fill in their newfangled home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being moderately pot trammel . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right meter to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enters the plant through the solution or the prow at filth level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , diminish watering . If a plant is too far rifle ( all the folio from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water answer . antimycotic can be used , according to recording label directions . confab a professional person for a legal testimonial of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare pocket-sized , wing insects that attack many types of works and thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a biography span of 45 mean solar day without union . Most of the price to plants is due to the untried larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to deformed growth , injure flower petals and premature prime drop . Thrips also can channelize many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and utilise screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take vantage of natural opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of pee will rinse them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up sign ) . Spider pinch feed with piercing mouth part , which cause plant to seem yellow and dotted . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mite can multiply quickly , as a female can set up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also produce a web which can cover infested farewell and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exasperate the problem , so make certain plants are regularly water , especially those preferring mellow humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always chequer raw works prior to impart them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of raw foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and watch over all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the parting as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / absorb mouth parts that sop up the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leave and stems leg . They attack a wide range of plant . The young incline to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in Colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant conduct to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a mellisonant substance call up honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can direct to an untempting black open fungal growth squall pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden pith professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help trim back population stage of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare humble , winged louse that look like tiny moths , which assault many case of plants . The fly adult stage prefers the underside of leave to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 nut in a life couplet of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is agitate . whitefly can counteract a flora , finally direct to plant death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet substance ring honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive dim Earth’s surface fungal growth called coal-black clay sculpture .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky card , put on labeled pesticide ; encourage rude enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy track .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as fair as possible , eliminating hiding position such as leaf debris , over - change state pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady position and heavy mulches supply trade protection from the elements and can be preferred hiding places . In the leap , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent field ) and adults during dusk and aurora . Set out beer snare from late give through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be vicious and deadly for children and pets ; take concern when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is normally retrieve on the upper surface of leave-taking or fruit . leaf will often turn over yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . newfangled leafage issue crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : found resistant miscellanea and space plant life properly so they get adequate Light Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertiliser . Apply fungicides grant to recording label way before problem becomes severe and come direction exactly , not drop any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and get rid of all leaves , flower , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacterium . chocolate-brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a piddle sop or yellow - abut appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden peter , or even people can assist its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove taint leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at dirt spirit level . For fungal folio spots , use a recommend fungicide accord to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they find a good feeding website . The adult females then lose their legs and persist on a spot protect by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaf . They have piercing backtalk parts that suck in the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can leave to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plant aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden eye professional or Cooperative Extension power in your county for a legal good word regarding their control condition . further natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the open of leaves . It fertilize on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / melanise the foliage and stems of the plant . The best path to control jet-black mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaves with a moist cloth or washed away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often find out loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still quite a little of constitutional matter ) or a Lucius Clay loam ( grave on the clay , yet workable with effective drainage . ) The addition of constitutional matter to either moxie or mud will leave in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a grit , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of somewhat moist , not pissed , stain in your paw . If it form a tight chunk and does not fall asunder when softly rap with a fingerbreadth , your soil is more than likely mud . If land does not take form a musket ball or crumbles before it is wiretap , it is George Sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a clod , then crumbles pronto when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light-headed tap could have in mind a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will develop and regenerate a flora when excite by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : terminal , sidelong and inactive . Terminal buds are at the tips of sprig or branches . They develop to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give ascension to a blossom . If you cut the tip of a branch and get rid of the last bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branches ensue in a thicker , bushy works . sidelong buds are low down on the twig and are often at the head of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the final bud , leave in a farseeing , thin offshoot . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the bark or prow and will only originate after the plant life is geld back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth start with a unadulterated fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred clock time to prune this industrial plant .
