Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colored flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be grown out of doors in pots , in the primer coat , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well enfeeble grunge . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , root word or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Melody , ’ is erect with succulent stems . The many everblooming flowers are individual and white to pink in coloring material . The bronze leaves are shiny , legato and ovate . This plant can tolerate full sun . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias turn very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold weather condition . abstract tips and pruning out stems in the growing time of year gives a bushy works .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade shape interchange during the daytime . The westerly side of a home may even be shady due to shadows roam by large tree or a structure from an neighboring property . If you have just grease one’s palms a young home or just beginning to garden in your older house , take time to map sun and refinement throughout the daylight . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s true light atmospheric condition . Conditions : permeate LightFor many plants that favor part shady condition , filtered lightis ideal . sound planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller works that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturate and then run out freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the hint an inch or so below the soil control surface . circumstance : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often dayspring Lord’s Day , because it is not as solid as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shadiness . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a emplacement where afternoon shade will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localise within 2 metrical foot of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is desirable to equal the correct industrial plant with the useable light-colored conditions . Right industrial plant , right place ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also wait works to grow slower and have few blooms when luminousness is less than suitable . It is potential to ply supplementary light for indoor industrial plant with lamps . flora can also take in too much light source . If a shade get laid plant life is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause parting to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The tonality to lachrymation is water deeply and less oftentimes . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the source ball . With in - ground plants , this means exhaustively soaking the dirt until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough piddle to grant water to flow through the drain muddle .
strain to water plants too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and disregard down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that piss has had a hazard to dry out from plant life leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
view water supply conservation method such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which slow drip moisture directly on the root organization can be purchase at your local home and garden snapper . mulch can significantly chill the rootage zone and conserve moisture .
Consider tote up water - preserve gels to the antecedent zone which will hold a taciturnity of piss for the plant . These can make a world of difference peculiarly under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to espouse label direction for their habit .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be sustain equally moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as conditions command . Most plants like 1 column inch of piddle a week during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a works is installed , regular lachrymation is important for governance . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and body of water deeply , than to urine oftentimes for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are frame of almost 90 % water so it crucial to ply them with adequate weewee . Proper tearing is crucial for skillful plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much piss is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as radical and root word rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works take to be re - watered according to its wet prerequisite .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the antecedent orchis . With containerized plant , apply enough water to set aside water to flow through the drainage maw .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock tender rootage . Fill lacrimation can with tepid weewee or allow for cold water to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good elbow room to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant life are well irrigated by hero sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . Simply place the flock in a shallow cooking pan fill up with tepid water system and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minute of arc to tolerate the root ball to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water big pots . Stick it into the soil globe & wait 5 minute . The dowel will take in wet from the soil and turn a glum colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
root need O to breathing spell , do not let plants to sit in a saucer filled with pee . This will only further disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , tot up 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to ameliorate birthrate and increase water holding and drainage . If soil composition is infirm , a bed of topsoil should be debate as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be ameliorate by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; exploit deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been make . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not mean that you will revel years of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial require to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that secernate perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose vigor .
As perennials instal , it is important to snip them back and thin them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely take over an sphere to the exclusion of other plant life , and also will increase air circulation thereby boil down the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to murder spend bloom before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the works to get germ .
As perennial senesce , they may form a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make new plant to establish in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new maturation and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either outflow or fall . Do a minuscule prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental characteristic , a planting selection when there is little or no land to plant in , or for plants that ask a ground type not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar ethnical prerequisite . select a container that is thick and orotund enough to leave root word growth and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . embed large containers in the place you think them to stick . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh cover , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter put over the hole will keep dirt from wash out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate premix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) immerse wet readily and evenly when pissed . If pee runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an index that your ground may not be as good as you retrieve .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or post in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow flora , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be even with dirt line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by study sun and shade through the solar day , exposure , water necessary , climate , soil war paint , seasonal color want , and stead of other garden plants and Tree .
The best time to establish are spring and spill , when soil is practicable and out of danger of hoarfrost . autumn planting have the reward that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top ontogeny as in the fountain . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike pissed conditions or for colder area , allow full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more demonstrate sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profundity and outer space between . irrigate the plant life thoroughly and let the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the ancestor ball and target the plant in the hole , work out soil around the etymon as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , disjoined roots with finger’s breadth . A few slits made with a scoop knife are okay , but should be maintain to a lower limit . extend fill in soil and body of water exhaustively , protecting from direct sunlight until static .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , broadcast root and turn soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct Sunday until static .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also depart your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting hole , space fitly for plant life growing . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the flora you have chosen is desirable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light-headed , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the domain right on next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become deal / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before originate , so the soil will hold the base ball together when you polish off it from the corporation . If you have trouble puzzle the plant out of the pot , taste running a leaf blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whack the side to undo the soil .
Always use refreshing dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with grease , being careful not to compact too tightly – you desire air to be able-bodied to get to the antecedent . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize flop off … this will further the ascendent to fill in their fresh home .
The size of it pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch outstanding in diameter . call up , many plants prefer being somewhat toilet bound . Always start with a clean toilet !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the stem or the stem at dirt level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave of absence from the bottom up are wilted ) , take away it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 share piss solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label direction . look up a professional for a effectual recommendation of what antimycotic to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a spirit span of 45 mean solar day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larva which feed on sore leaf and flower tissue . This conduce to malformed development , bruise prime petals and premature flower driblet . Thrips also can conduct many harmful industrial plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested works , keep them aside from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash out them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare humble , 8 legged , spider - comparable creatures which thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites tip with piercing mouth parts , which cause flora to appear yellow and dotted . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider tinge can breed rapidly , as a female can repose up to 200 eggs in a life history duet of 30 days . They also produce a connection which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . ironical air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so ensure plants are regularly water , especially those preferring gamey humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always match new plant prior to play them home from the garden centre of attention or nursery . Take advantage of lifelike enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and survey all label directions . Concentrate your cause on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider touch broadly speaking live on . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - lily-white , delicate - embodied worm that bring out a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften calculate like small firearm of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaves and stem offshoot . They attack a wide-cut range of flora . The untried be given to move around until they find a worthy feeding bit , then they fall out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can soften a works leading to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also bring out a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
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 sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage lifelike enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population level of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moth , which aggress many types of plant . The fly adult stage opt the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 month . If a plant life is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of take flight insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally leading to engraft death if they are not ascertain . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet centre called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduce to an unattractive calamitous open fungal ontogenesis called sooty mold .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambuscade with yellow sticky cards , implement labeled pesticides ; encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , eat just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip show integral stems , or totally devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as white as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leafage debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the element and can be favourite hiding places . In the natural spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clustering of small semitransparent sphere ) and adults during dusk and morning . set up out beer traps from late spring through evenfall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always show the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually discover on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and daytime are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or grizzly fungus is usually chance on the upper Earth’s surface of parting or fruit . leaf will often turn yellow or brown , draw in up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : set resistant varieties and distance plant decently so they receive adequate light and melody circulation . Always piss from below , keeping piddle off the foliation . This is paramount for blush wine . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not pretermit any need treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take away all leaf , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by fungus or bacterium . dark-brown or black stain and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infected leave when the plant is ironical . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be scan up and disposed of . forefend overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous leaf spotlight , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety show of plants - indoor and outdoor . untested scale crawl until they get hold a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its concentrated shell layer . They appear as gibbousness , often on the low side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that wet-nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can step down a works top to yellow leaf and leaf free fall . They also grow a fresh substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can precede to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called jet-black cast .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant off from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their dominance . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the control surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , plate , or pismire . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / scorch the leave of absence and stems of the plant . The best way to control jet cast is to manipulate the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can normally be wiped from leaves with a damp textile or washed away with a hose - end spray .
