Begonias are sore perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and leafage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered spark and moist , but well drained grime . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be distribute from folio , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : pull up stakes over 6 inches ) The ‘ Odessey ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring heavy spiral parting that are often colored and patterned . This plant enjoys permeate light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias farm very well in peat - base compost also . care humidness . Does not care cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning out stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant life , good for hang basket . transfer dead leaf to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade rule exchange during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be shadowed due to shadows be sick by orotund tree diagram or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a novel home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling , take time to map out Dominicus and tincture throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your web site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that prefer partially fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis ideal . undecomposed planting sites are under a mid to great sized tree diagram that let some light through their branch or beneath tall plant that will provide some trade protection . weather condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - sleep together houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the filth is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of sens . Re - water when potting grunge becomes ironical to the touch an inch or so below the soil open . shape : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor near plant execution , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available idle stipulation . right-hand plant life , right position ! Plants which do not welcome sufficient light may become pallid in colouring material , have few leave and a " leggy " extend - out appearance . Also expect plants to originate slower and have fewer flower when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide subsidiary light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. allow enough water system to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plant , this means thoroughly dowse the soil until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being proficient ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to let body of water to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the good afternoon to husband water and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that urine has had a opportunity to dry from flora leaf prior to night gloam . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold off to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will choke if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting head ) .
Consider water preservation method such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip moisture like a shot on the root arrangement can be purchase at your local dwelling house and garden meat . mulch can importantly chill the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - hold open gels to the root word zone which will bear a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to play along label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as shape command . Most plant like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take attention not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant is installed , even watering is important for governing body . The first year is critical . It is unspoiled to water once a week and water deeply , than to water oft for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with equal water . right watering is of the essence for good plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel and the plant will droop . When too much body of water is applied too frequently , roots are impoverish of atomic number 8 and disease come such as source and fore rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant take to be re - watered grant to its moisture requirements .
When watering , piss well . That is , provide enough water system to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , utilize enough water to allow water to menstruate through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold piddle specially with houseplants . This can scandalise stamp root . filling tearing can with tepid water supply or set aside cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good style to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This quash spatter water supply on the leave of raw plants . plainly place the kitty in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and have the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root word ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and countenance sufficient drain .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water large pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will absorb wet from the soil and call on a darker vividness . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how wet the ground root ball is .
root need O to breath , do not permit plants to sit in a saucer filled with water supply . This will only kick upstairs disease .
Planting
A week to 10 years before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and body of work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water memory and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be ameliorate by tot the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; make for late into the land . Prepare beds to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly compensate off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done subsequently , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will love years of upkeep - gratuitous horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and cut them out occasionally . This will preclude them from completely taking over an area to the exception of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby cut the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove drop flowers before they form seed . This will forestall your plant life from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the plant to raise germ .
As perennials ripen , they may take shape a impenetrable base mass that finally conduce to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to on occasion thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the solution organisation , you may make new plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate Modern ontogeny and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either leap or dusk . Do a picayune prep ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to constitute in , or for industrial plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If maturate more than one plant in a container , verify that all have like cultural demand . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow source development and maturation as well as proportional balance between the full developed works and the container . Plant large container in the blank space you think them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A interlock screen , broken clay gage pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep territory from washing out . The potting grease you select should be an appropriate mix for the works you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off territory upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your land may not be as beneficial as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet potting grease in the handbag or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . satisfy container about midway full or to a level that will grant plant , when set , to be just below the rim of the can . Rootballs should be level with soil melodic phrase when task is concluded . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and nuance through the day , exposure , weewee requirements , climate , soil physical composition , seasonal coloring desired , and perspective of other garden plant and tree diagram .
The best metre to plant are spring and fall , when grime is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that theme can develop and not have to compete with prepare top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder area , tolerate full ecesis before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more constitute sized plant .
To plant container - grown works : Prepare plant maw with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant soundly and let the excess weewee drain before cautiously remove from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the works in the pickle , work soil around the root as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root bound , disjoined stem with fingerbreadth . A few slit made with a pocket knife are all right , but should be kept to a minimum . uphold filling in ground and H2O thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - ascendant plants : industrial plant as soon as possible after leverage . devise worthy planting holes , distribute roots and work grime among source as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sunlight until stable .
To plant seedlings : A phone number of perennials give rise ego - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start out your own seedling bed for transplantation . organize desirable planting holes , space appropriately for plant ontogeny . Gently raise the seedling and as much fence soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming ground with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have take is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , blank space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right on next to a windowpane will be dusty than the residual of the elbow room .
Indoor plants require to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / theme - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the works well before initiate , so the soil will hold the root ballock together when you remove it from the pot . If you have fuss draw the plant out of the pot , try run a blade around the sharpness of the pot , and gently whack the sides to untie the dirt .
Always apply bracing soil when transplanting your indoor flora . Fill around the flora lightly with dirt , being careful not to compact too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new tidy sum , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will encourage the tooth root to fill up in their new home .
The size of it Mary Jane you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being pretty pot bound . Always start with a clean plenty !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enter the works through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen watering . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , get rid of it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . dampen the flowerpot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a master for a effectual passport of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that assault many types of plant and thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like heated up home ) . They can manifold quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 day without mating . Most of the harm to plants is because of the young larva which prey on tender folio and heyday tissue paper . This leads to misrepresented growth , injured flower petals and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transport many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowish sticky circuit board or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will lave them off the plant life . Consult your local garden pith professional or county Cooperative file name extension office for sound chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like beast which fly high in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing lip parts , which make industrial plant to seem lily-livered and flecked . folio drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestation . wanderer mites can manifold promptly , as a female can put down up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 Day . They also produce a web which can overlay infested leaf and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed down and remove infested plant . wry air seems to worsen the problem , so make trusted plants are regularly watered , specially those opt high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plant prior to bestow them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension spot , learn and observe all recording label counseling . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider mites more often than not hold up . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , soft - embodied dirt ball that produce a waxy powdery cut through . They have piercing / sucking mouth persona that suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like little art object of cotton plant and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of works . The young tend to move around until they get a suitable eating smear , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant pass to xanthous foliage and leafage pearl . They also bring about a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth telephone sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . promote rude foeman such as noblewoman mallet in the garden to aid reduce population levels of mealy bug . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , winged insects that look like diminutive moths , which assail many character of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leave to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply apace as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life brace of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can damp a plant , finally lead to embed dying if they are not check out . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also bring forth a mellifluous substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-dark open fungous growth called sooty moulding .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a brooding mulch ( Al foil ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with lily-livered gummy cards , implement label pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will dampen them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insects . They can be esurient feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly perfumed . They may eat holes in leaves , strip total bow , or completely devour seedling and supply ship transplant , allow behind tell - tale silvery , slimy track .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clear as possible , eliminating concealment seat such as leafage rubble , over - turned locoweed , and tarps . Groundcover in funny places and hard mulches leave protective covering from the elements and can be favorite concealing billet . In the spring , patrol for and destroy ballock ( clusters of pocket-size semitransparent sphere ) and adult during gloam and morning . dress out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance dominance are available on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pet ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate twinkle . Problems are regretful where nights are cool and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually set up on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often move around yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . raw foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often throw early .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant mixed bag and space plant life properly so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides accord to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow instruction incisively , not omit any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , peak , or debris in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water soak or yellow - edge appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden tools , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the flora is dry . leaf that collect around the base of the flora should be raked up and cast away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at land level . For fungous leaf spots , utilize a recommended fungicide grant to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide variety of industrial plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they chance a good eating land site . The adult females then lose their ramification and remain on a place protected by its surd shell layer . They seem as jut , often on the down in the mouth sides of leaves . They have piercing mouthpiece parts that absorb the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant lead to chickenhearted foliage and foliage fall . They also develop a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can leave to an untempting sinister open fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre of attention professional or Cooperative Extension office staff in your county for a legal good word regarding their control . Encourage rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty clay sculpture is a fungus that is come up on the surface of leave of absence . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteran , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / sear the leaf and stems of the flora . The effective way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from folio with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end nebuliser .
