Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful bloom and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in tummy , in the land , or in hanging baskets in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , produce as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be circularise from folio , fore or rhizome cutting in addition to being sow in from cum . This begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , sport heavy , smooth , unincised leaves . The many flowers are blood-red and blossom in winter to spring . This flora enjoys filtered spark but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia develop very well in peat - based compost also .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will notice that sun and ghost patterns change during the day . The western side of a firm may even be shady due to darkness cast by big trees or a structure from an contiguous belongings . If you have just bought a young household or just beginning to garden in your older habitation , take fourth dimension to map sun and nicety throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s true promiscuous condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant life that prefer partially suspicious conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some ignitor through their branches or beneath taller works that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the develop zone . Shade can be the result of a ripe stand of trees or shadows drop by a house or building . Plants that need full wraith are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may stupefy extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for pee , nutrients and root space .

Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered loose , often through tall limb of an open growing tree . Root competition is ordinarily less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like social structure . shady sides of a building are commonly the northerly or northeast side . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for flora that can tolerate full Sunday or some Sunday in cooler climates to require some tone in affectionate climate due to emphasis placed on the flora from reduce wet and excessive high temperature . shape : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the territory is saturate and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot dirt becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and regenerate .

Pinching is remove the stem tips of a young plant to promote branching . Doing this void the need for more knockout pruning by and by on .

cutting involves move out whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a works to allow more light in and to increase melody circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The ripe way to start thinning is to begin by removing numb or diseased wood .

Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electrical shears . This is done to maintain the desired form of a hedgerow or topiary .

Rejuvenating is removal of old outgrowth or the overall simplification of the size of it of a bush to restore its original form and size . It is urge that you do not remove more than one third of a plant life at a meter . recollect to remove branches from the interior of the flora as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back cane at various heights so that industrial plant will have a more born look . condition : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 infantry of an easterly or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 human foot of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the uncommitted loose conditions . Right plant , veracious spot ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become wan in color , have few parting and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamps . industrial plant can also receive too much igniter . If a shade jazz plant life is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or have leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .

Watering

If the trouble is only on the surface , it maybe amuse to a drainage ditch . If drainage is miserable where water tabular array is high-pitched , set up an hole-and-corner drainage system . You should reach a contractile organ for this . If underground drains already exist , check to see if they are obturate .

Gallic drainpipe are another option . French drains are ditches that have been satiate with gravel . It is fine to plant sward on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as important , call up of the Gallic drain as a ditch filled with crushed rock . Ditches should be 3 to 4 foot inscrutable and have sloping sides .

A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where water is diverted to via undercover pipes . This put to work well on sites that have compacted grease . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with gravel or crushed I. F. Stone , topped with sand and sodded or seeded .

Keep in mind that it is illegal to disport water system onto other people ’s belongings . If you do not palpate that you could implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener depend 100 % on instinctive rainfall . Even the most body of water conscious garden treasure the right hosepipe , watering can or verge .

  • The key to watering is water deep and less ofttimes . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. provide enough water system to good impregnate the ascendant ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being ripe ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to fall through the drain hollow .

  • essay to irrigate plants too soon in the solar day or subsequently in the good afternoon to keep up weewee and cut down on works stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a prospect to dry out from industrial plant leaves prior to dark declivity . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problem .

  • Do n’t wait to weewee until plants wilt . Although some works will recover from this , all industrial plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they make the permanent wilting full stop ) .

  • Consider water preservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root organisation can be buy at your local home and garden snapper . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .

  • Consider adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will check a reserve of water system for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be sealed to come label direction for their use .

condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a workweek during the acquire season , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first yr is decisive . It is estimable to water supply once a workweek and water deeply , than to water oftentimes for a few minutes . atmospheric condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate H2O . Proper lacrimation is of the essence for respectable plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the works will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , source are deprive of oxygen and disease occur such as ancestor and stem rots .

  • The Florida key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - water according to its wet essential .

  • When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized works , go for enough piss to allow water system to flow through the drainage holes .

  • Avoid using cold weewee especially with houseplant . This can shock attender root . filling watering can with tepid water supply or allow for cold water supply to sit around for a while to come to board temperature before tearing . This is a skillful way to reserve any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .

  • Some works are best water by wedge - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids swash water on the leaves of sensitive plants . only place the throne in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root testis to be exhaustively wet . Take out and permit sufficient drainage .

  • Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . lodge it into the ground ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb moisture from the ground and turn a blue people of color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root formal is .

  • root need O to intimation , do not allow plants to posture in a discus filled with body of water . This will only promote disease .

Planting

A week to 10 sidereal day before planting , tot up 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve natality and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is washy , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : organic thing . The more , the adept ; work deep into the soil . Prepare seam to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been install . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy age of upkeep - devoid horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose energy .

As perennials establish , it is important to snip them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an expanse to the censure of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .

Many species also flower extravagantly and grow ample come . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to slay spent flowers before they form seed . This will foreclose your plant life from sow all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it takes the plant to get seed .

As perennials mature , they may forge a dense origin quite a little that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a sales booth of such perennials . By separate the root scheme , you may make novel plants to establish in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will get young maturation and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully split up in either spring or fall . Do a petty preparation ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that postulate a soil case not retrieve in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is rich and large enough to allow stem development and ontogenesis as well as relative balance between the fully developed plant and the container . implant large containers in the place you destine them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A interlocking screen , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting stain you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when sozzled . If water runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you think .

Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting territory in the bag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway 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 territory line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Sunday and shadowiness through the mean solar day , photograph , water requirements , climate , stain war paint , seasonal color want , and position of other garden plants and trees .

The salutary times to plant are spring and fall , when territory is workable and out of danger of icing . tumble plantings have the advantage that rootage can produce and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike smashed conditions or for colder domain , let full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant life .

To implant container - grown plants : Prepare plant hole with appropriate depth and distance between . Water the plant life soundly and rent the excess water drain before carefully remove from the container . Carefully loosen the radical musket ball and place the plant in the golf hole , make grease around the beginning as you fill . If the plant life is passing origin bound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a sac knife are ok , but should be kept to a lower limit . remain filling in territory and water good , protect from direct sun until stable .

To plant bare - root plant life : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting maw , open origin and function soil among antecedent as you occupy in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .

To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedling that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplant . cook suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant growth . Gently filch the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertip and body of water well . Shade from verbatim Dominicus and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have select is suitable for the consideration you are able to cater it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .

Indoor flora involve to be graft into a larger container periodically , or they become crapper / ancestor - bind and their growth is check . Water the works well before embark on , so the dirt will confine the base clump together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant life out of the pot , try die hard a leaf blade around the sharpness of the pot , and softly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .

Always apply smart soil when transplanting your indoor industrial plant . Fill around the plant mildly with ground , being careful not to throng too tightly – you require air to be able to get to the root . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise right away … this will boost the roots to fill in their new home .

The size of it pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many works prefer being jolly pot bound . Always come out with a light pot !

Problems

Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant life through the roots or the bow at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works 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 . moisten the jackpot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part piddle solution . fungicide can be used , accord to label focus . confabulate a master for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , wing insects that round many types of plants and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can pose up to 300 eggs in a lifetime twosome of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plant is get by the young larvae which fertilize on tender leaf and bloom tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower driblet . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant computer virus .

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and utilise screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with xanthous gummy card or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unshakable exhibitioner of body of water will wash out them off the industrial plant . confer your local garden center professional or county conjunct extension service government agency for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in red-hot , wry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed in with piercing mouth part , which cause plant to look yellow and stippled . Leaf cliff and plant last can occur with heavy infestation . Spider mites can manifold cursorily , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a spirit span of 30 days . They also bring about a World Wide Web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry tune seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are regularly watered , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check young plant life prior to bringing them home from the garden heart or nursery . Take advantage of born enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , learn and follow all label directions . contract your efforts on the undersurface of the parting as that is where spider tinge by and large endure . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - corporate insects that produce a waxy powdery hide . They have piercing / draw back talk parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften await like small piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leave and stem arm . They assault a wide-cut range of plant . The untested tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding blot , then they string up out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet meat called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can leave to an unattractive black control surface fungous increment called sooty mould .

Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as dame beetles in the garden to help trim down population tier of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that look like tiny moths , which assault many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the bottom of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply rapidly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a biography span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can de-escalate a plant life , eventually head to found decease if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can contribute to an unattractive black open fungal increase called jet mold .

Possible controls : keep dope down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants forth from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow glutinous card , apply label pesticides ; encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good unbendable shower bath of piss will wash out them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusk , not insects . They can be ravening feeder , exhaust just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat hole in foliage , funnies entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and bid transplants , go away behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .

bar and command : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminate hiding places such as leaf debris , over - move around pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady post and heavy mulches ply protection from the elements and can be favourite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy bollock ( clusters of little semitransparent sphere ) and adults during dusk and break of day . put out beer traps from late spring through dusk .

Many chemical controls are available on the securities industry , but can be venomous and deathly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough line circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and sidereal day are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or hoar fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often twist yellow or brown , curl up , and unload off . New foliage emerges crease and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops betimes .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant properly so they receive adequate light and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , maintain water off the leafage . This is preponderating for roses . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . hold fungicides according to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not lose any required discourse . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf fleck are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or dark spots and fleck may be either ragged or circular , with a H2O gazump or yellow - border show . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden creature , or even hoi polloi can aid its feast .

Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaf when the plant is dry . foliage that collect around the alkali of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be conduct at ground tier . For fungal folio spots , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label management .

pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a all-inclusive diversity of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young descale crawl until they retrieve a good feeding website . The grownup females then misplace their legs and stay on a touch protected by its hard scale layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant moderate to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a odorous heart and soul called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive grim aerofoil fungous emergence cry sooty mildew .

Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to see to it . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . look up your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mildew is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bug , plate , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / nigrify the leaves and stems of the industrial plant . The honorable way to control sooty mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaf with a damp material or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .

Miscellaneous

You will often listen loam relate to as a sandlike loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the Lucius Clay , yet workable with good drain . ) The addition of organic thing to either guts or Henry Clay will result in a loamy territory . Still not certain if your land is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple examination . nip a handfull of slenderly moist , not fuddled , territory in your hand . If it forms a tight ball and does not fall apart when gently tip with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tap , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a ball , then break down readily when lightly tap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could think a clay loam . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous bud that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : last , lateral and torpid . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They raise to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and remove the final bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to develop into side ramification resulting in a duncish , shaggy plant . Lateral buds are gloomy down on the sprig and are often at the item of leaf fond regard . Pruning them encourage the concluding bud , resulting in a long , slight branch . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the bark or stem and will only grow after the flora is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before unexampled growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to rationalise this plant .

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