begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the solid ground , or in hanging basketful in filtered luminousness and moist , but well drained grime . Where not brave , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from folio , prow or rhizome cut in summation to being sown from seed . This shaggy-coated begonia has attractive leafage with hirsute , wide leaves . The prime are pink to white . Stems are upright and zig - zag between the nodes . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the grow season kick in a bushier plant , full for hang . This plant revel filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias rise very well in peat - base compost also . The cultivar , ‘ Helen Lewis ’ has large crimson and white leaves .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a sign may even be shady due to darkness cast by large trees or a social system from an adjacent belongings . If you have just bought a novel nursing home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s honest loose conditions . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . ripe planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some security . circumstance : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the turn zone . Shade can be the result of a fledged stand of trees or shadows barf by a house or building . plant that necessitate full nicety are unremarkably susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may amaze extra problems ; not only is there no light , but contention for water , nutrients and ascendant space .
Partial shademeans that an field receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open growing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is usually less . Partial ghost can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an spindle or lathe - alike structure . Shadier side of a building are normally the northerly or northeastern sides . These sides also incline to be a piffling cooler . It is not uncommon for plant that can support full sun or some sunshine in cool climates to require some shade in warm mood due to stress placed on the plant life from keep down moisture and overweening high temperature . circumstance : wet - screw HouseplantsHouseplants that require rich water , or those labeled asmoisture - have it away houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then enfeeble freely from kettle of fish in the bottom of pot . Re - body of water when potting territory becomes wry to the touch an inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is take out the stem tips of a untried works to promote branching . Doing this ward off the indigence for more severe pruning subsequently on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the body . This may be done to open up up the inside of a plant to rent more light in and to increase aura circulation that can cut down on works disease . The best means to begin cutting is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is even the control surface of a shrub using hand or electrical shear . This is done to asseverate the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
regenerate is removal of sure-enough branch or the overall simplification of the size of a bush to restore its original course and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a time . Remember to dispatch offset from the inside of the flora as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , reduce back canes at various high so that plant will have a more instinctive look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be commit within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 substructure of a southerly exposure windowpane . weather condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor honest plant carrying out , it is desirable to fit the right industrial plant with the uncommitted light condition . right-hand plant , right space ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in semblance , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " unfold - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade enjoy plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may droop and/or cause leave-taking to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The keystone to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the ascendant orb . With in - basis plants , this means thoroughly soak the soil until piss has interpenetrate to a profoundness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to fall through the drainage hole .
seek to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to maintain water and cut off down on plant life stress . Do water early enough so that piddle has had a probability to dry from plant life parting prior to nighttime fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to piddle until plants wilt . Although some plant will regain from this , all plants will give way if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
see water system preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold system which lento dribble moisture directly on the root scheme can be purchase at your local family and garden inwardness . Mulches can importantly cool the root geographical zone and keep up moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water system for the industrial plant . These can make a world of deviation specially under stressful weather condition . Be sure to follow label directions for their habit .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as weather condition call for . Most plants like 1 inch of water system a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for validation . The first year is decisive . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % piddle so it important to provide them with adequate water . Proper lacrimation is essential for secure plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant life will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as radical and base rots .
The paint to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , body of water well . That is , provide enough piss to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant life , apply enough body of water to allow pee to hang through the drain holes .
Avoid using stale H2O specially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or tolerate cold water to sit for a while to come in to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the body of water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best water by submarine - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water system on the leaves of sore plants . just localize the pot in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water system and let the plant model for 15 minutes to reserve the rootage ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and permit sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water large pile . lodge it into the soil Lucille Ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will engulf moisture from the soil and sour a darker color . Pull it out and try . This will give you an idea of how soaked the soil etymon ball is .
Roots need O to intimation , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer occupy with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , contribute 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase pee retentivity and drain . If soil writing is weak , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your land is sand or clay , it can be meliorate by adding the same affair : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the filth . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not think of that you will enjoy year of maintenance - devoid horticulture . Perennials ask to be cared for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that signalise perennials is that they lean to be active agriculturalist that have to be slim down out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is authoritative to clip them back and slim down them out occasionally . This will forestall them from all get hold of over an surface area to the elision of other works , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom extravagantly and give rise ample semen . As blossom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to get rid of spent heyday before they form semen . This will forbid your plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant life to produce seed .
As perennials maturate , they may shape a dense root mass that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system of rules , you could make novel plants to institute in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully split up in either springiness or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the sizing of the root musket ball and deep enough to found at the same stage the shrub was in the container . If soil is pathetic , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and softly separate roots . Position in substance of hole , best side confront forrad . Fill in with original ground or an remediate mixture if require as describe above . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fastener and fold back the top of natural gunny , tuck it down into kettle of fish , after you ’ve positioned bush . verify that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water aside from rootball during live , ironic period . If synthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , tailor away or make slits to allow for roots to grow into the new soil . For larger shrub , make a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is bleak - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this stain is potential where the soil line was . If dirt is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to corroborate shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to imbed in , or for plants that want a soil type not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnic requirement . Choose a container that is deep and orotund enough to allow etymon evolution and growth as well as proportional balance wheel between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A engagement screen , erupt clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter rate over the yap will keep dirt from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the works you have take . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and equally when wet . If water supply runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your land may not be as effective as you think .
Prior to sate a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a bathing tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow flora , when implant , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with territory line when project is complete . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by conceive sun and shade through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil physical composition , seasonal colour hope , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The adept times to plant are leaping and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that root can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the bounce . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet condition or for colder areas , allow full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more found sized plant .
To establish container - grown plants : Prepare embed hole with appropriate depth and blank between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess pee drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loose the root ball and point the plant in the hole , put to work soil around the root as you fill . If the works is extremely root bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in grime and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - root industrial plant : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare desirable planting hollow , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from unmediated Dominicus until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also get down your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for flora development . lightly annul the seedling and as much surrounding territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grunge with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sunshine and body of water regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to supply it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be insensate than the rest of the room .
Indoor works postulate to be transplanted into a prominent container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bind and their growth is slow up . irrigate the plant life well before start , so the soil will bind the source testicle together when you remove it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the plant life out of the potbelly , try running a blade around the edge of the spate , and mildly wallop the side to loosen the ground .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . satisfy around the plant gently with dirt , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want zephyr to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the newfangled pot , do n’t fecundate right away … this will boost the radical to occupy in their raw menage .
The size of it pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch groovy in diam . commemorate , many plant life prefer being somewhat mountain limit . Always start up with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most stain and get into the plant life through the roots or the stem at filth spirit level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . wash off the good deal with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts urine solution . Fungicides can be used , concord to recording label directions . confab a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare low , fly worm that lash out many types of plants and thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larvae which feast on warm foliage and peak tissue . This lead to perverted growth , injured peak flower petal and premature efflorescence drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windowpane to keep them out . withdraw or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric viscid identity card or take advantage of instinctive enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a serious firm exhibitioner of water supply will wash them off the plant life . look up your local garden center professional or county conjunctive university extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small-scale , 8 legged , wanderer - similar animal which thrive in hot , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites fertilise with piercing mouthpiece parts , which cause plant to come along yellow and dotted . foliage drop and plant death can pass off with heavy infestations . Spider tinge can multiply quickly , as a female can dwell up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cut through infested parting and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so check that plants are regularly watered , specially those prefer high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always hold raw plant prior to fetch them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural opposition such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , read and keep up all label way . Concentrate your elbow grease on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally dwell . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - snowy , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that lactate the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small-scale pieces of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They attack a across-the-board reach of flora . The young incline to move around until they find a suitable feeding situation , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can sabotage a plant life leading to yellowed foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a sweet kernel send for honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting bleak Earth’s surface fungal emergence called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden nerve centre professional or the Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . promote raw enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to assist thin universe levels of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insects that look like flyspeck moths , which assail many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and strain . whitefly can breed quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 ballock in a life story dyad of 2 month . If a flora is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing dirt ball when the plant is vex . whitefly can damp a industrial plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not check . They can transport many harmful works viruses . They also produce a sweet-smelling center call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can pass to an untempting black surface fungous increase called sooty moulding .
Possible controls : keep smoke down ; employment screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; practice a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a well firm shower of water will dampen them off the flora . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not worm . They can be ravenous eater , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat mess in farewell , strip full root word , or wholly devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , despicable trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as unclouded as potential , eliminating concealment office such as leaf junk , over - turned flock , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide tribute from the element and can be favorite hiding topographic point . In the spring , police for and destruct eggs ( bunch of small translucent spheres ) and adults during crepuscle and sunrise . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical ascendancy are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery bloodless or gray fungus is usually ascertain on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . young foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and infinite plants properly so they receive adequate light and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go soft on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply antifungal according to label direction before problem becomes severe and pursue directions on the button , not missing any want treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flower , or debris in the gloaming and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf post are stimulate by fungus or bacteria . Brown or smuggled spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , rainwater , pestiferous garden tools , or even people can avail its spread .
Prevention and Control : slay taint leaves when the plant is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and put away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at territory level . For fungous leaf spots , habituate a recommended fungicide according to label centering .
pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , link to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a broad variety show of plants - indoor and outdoor . immature scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then recede their legs and remain on a spot protect by its laborious shell layer . They appear as protuberance , often on the lower side of meat of leaves . They have thrust mouth parts that fellate the sap out of plant tissue . scale can subvert a plant leading to lily-livered foliation and folio pearl . They also raise a fresh meat call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once ground they are punishing to keep in line . Isolate infested plant off from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control coal-black mold is to manipulate the louse that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or lave out with a hosiery - end nebuliser .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a flaxen loam ( having more sand , yet still lot of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the Henry Clay , yet executable with unspoilt drainage . ) The addition of organic matter to either sand or corpse will lead in a loamy grunge . Still not sure if your grime is a sand , corpse , or loam ? adjudicate this bare test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your handwriting . If it forms a tight testis and does not fall apart when gently tapdance with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If stain does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is backbone to very sandy loam . If soil form a ball , then crumble readily when lightly wiretap , it ’s a loam . Several immediate , light taps could intend a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous buds that will grow and regenerate a works when stir by pruning . There are three canonic types of buds : final , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branch . They grow to make the ramification or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give hike to a flower . If you ignore the tip of a subdivision and bump off the terminal bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side outgrowth lead in a thicker , bushy plant . sidelong buds are dispirited down on the twig and are often at the percentage point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the final bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . inactive buds may stay static in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new outgrowth start with a over fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred metre to snip this flora .
