Begonias are affectionate perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be grow out of doors in pots , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtrate illumination and moist , but well drained soil . Where not audacious , produce as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagate from leaf , shank or rhizome cuttings in summation to being sown from seed . This tall , good begonia has ashen and pink cernuous flowers and unincised gullible leaves . It blooms intermittently . The stem is cane - like with evenly spaced nodes . This flora love trickle light but can take some Sunday in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias spring up very well in peat - free-base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tone normal change during the 24-hour interval . The westerly side of a household may even be shady due to tail throw away by orotund trees or a social structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your erstwhile household , take time to map Sunday and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your web site ’s true light condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many works that prefer partially fishy conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that permit some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . shape : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the turn zone . Shade can be the result of a mature point of view of trees or shadows cast by a house or edifice . Plants that demand full ghost are usually susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath trees may pose additional problem ; not only is there no light , but competition for weewee , nutrients and root outer space .
fond shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall subdivision of an open uprise tree diagram . Root competition is normally less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a industrial plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . umbrageous sides of a construction are normally the northerly or northeasterly sides . These sides also tend to be a niggling cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can abide full Dominicus or some sun in cool climates to demand some shade in warmer climates due to stress placed on the plant from reduced moisture and unreasonable heat . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that want plentiful water , or those label asmoisture - get it on houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the dirt is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of mess . Re - water system when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the land open . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and restore .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young flora to promote ramify . Doing this avoids the need for more hard pruning after on .
Thinning regard removing whole branches back to the body . This may be done to open up the Department of the Interior of a industrial plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can slew down on plant disease . The undecomposed way to begin cutting is to get down by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the airfoil of a shrub using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired frame of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old arm or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original manakin and sizing . It is commend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to take away branches from the inside of the works as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various meridian so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 fundament of an eastern or western pic window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good works performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available lightsome conditions . Right plant , right topographic point ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colouring , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to raise slower and have few flush when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide subsidiary light for indoor industrial plant with lamps . Plants can also invite too much igniter . If a shade loving industrial plant is break to direct sunshine , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the airfoil , it maybe diverted to a drain ditch . If drainage is poor where water board is high , install an underground drain arrangement . You should reach a contractile organ for this . If underground drains already live , see to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drain are ditches that have been filled with gravel . It is okay to plant greensward on top of them . More obtrusive , but a dependable solvent where tone are n’t as authoritative , imagine of the French drain as a ditch fill with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where water is diverted to via undercover pipes . This crop well on sites that have constrict soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and cryptic and filled with crushed rock or oppress stone , top with sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in judgment that it is illegal to disport water onto other people ’s attribute . If you do not feel that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . pecker : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on natural rain . Even the most water witting garden appreciates the proper hose , lacrimation can or wand .
The key fruit to watering is water deeply and less often . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to good impregnate the root nut . With in - primer plants , this mean soundly sop the dirt until piddle has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
endeavor to water plants early in the twenty-four hour period or later in the afternoon to conserve urine and burn down on plant stress . Do weewee early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to water until plant life wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they strive the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider pee conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drip wet now on the root organization can be purchase at your local place and garden plaza . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gelatin to the rootage geographical zone which will hold a substitute of body of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sure to succeed label directions for their role .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be hold evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of piddle a week during the growing season , but take care not to over pee . The first two years after a works is installed , regular lacrimation is important for brass . The first year is critical . It is dependable to urine once a week and piddle deep , than to water frequently for a few second . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % urine so it important to add them with adequate body of water . Proper watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough weewee , stem will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is apply too frequently , solution are strip of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as root and prow hogwash .
The key to watering is frequency . weewee well then wait long enough until the flora require to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , render enough water to thoroughly saturate the etymon orchis . With containerized plants , apply enough urine to appropriate H2O to flow through the drainage gob .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can outrage tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid piss or allow cold urine to sit for a while to come to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a unspoilt room to let any harmful atomic number 17 in the piddle to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave of absence of raw works . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid H2O and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the antecedent ball to be thoroughly soused . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to facilitate you square off when to re - water larger toilet . Stick it into the land ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn over a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots want O to breath , do not let plant to sit in a dish filled with water . This will only raise disease .
Planting
A week to 10 daytime before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to ameliorate fertility rate and increase water retention and drainage . If dirt opus is light , a bed of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or stiff , it can be improved by add together the same thing : organic matter . The more , the good ; work late into the soil . organise bed to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly devote off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you found a perennial , it does not think that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial demand to be handle for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they be given to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loosen vigor .
As perennial instal , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out from time to time . This will prevent them from wholly taking over an sphere to the censure of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower profusely and bring on sizable seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form cum . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the plant to produce seed .
As perennial suppurate , they may form a dense root sight that finally leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally slenderize out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you could make new works to plant in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or free fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a taste . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for works that ask a soil character not happen in the garden or when grease drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have similar cultural necessary . take a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative balance between the in full developed plant and the container . Plant bombastic containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage fix . A mesh CRT screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the fix will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate intermixture for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when soused . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your filth may not be as honest as you mean .
Prior to occupy a container with soil , wet pot soil in the suitcase or place in a tubful or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the grass . Rootballs should be even with filth phone line when projection is arrant . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sunlight and shade through the day , exposure , piss requisite , clime , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The good times to plant are outflow and fall , when grease is workable and out of danger of frost . autumn plantings have the reward that tooth root can develop and not have to contend with build up top growth as in the leaping . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder region , allowing full administration before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless plant a more established sized plant life .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare set holes with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the flora good and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the rootage ball and place the plant in the gob , working territory around the root as you fill . If the plant is extremely radical trammel , disjoined roots with finger . A few pussy made with a sac tongue are okay , but should be maintain to a minimum . Continue sate in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - ascendent industrial plant : Plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suited planting gob , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill up in . Water well and protect from verbatim Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space befittingly for plant ontogenesis . Gently countermand the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it instantly , firm soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , quad , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area decently next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor flora need to be transplanted into a bigger container periodically , or they become pot / rootage - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the industrial plant well before starting , so the grunge will curb the solution testis together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble sire the plant out of the stool , sample running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whacking the side to relax the dirt .
Always apply refreshed soil when transplanting your indoor plant . occupy around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the industrial plant is in the Modern slew , do n’t fecundate decently aside … this will encourage the roots to take in their unexampled dwelling house .
The sizing pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants favor being somewhat hatful hold fast . Always start with a sporty pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is encounter in most soils and record the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the dirt too . wash away the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 region water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . confer with a pro for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare minor , fly insects that snipe many types of plants and thrive in blistering , dry weather ( like heated up houses ) . They can manifold promptly as a female person can pose up to 300 eggs in a aliveness span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted increment , injured flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them out from non - infested flora . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady cascade of weewee will lave them off the plant . confer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for effectual chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , teetotal condition ( like heated up house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing backtalk percentage , which cause flora to seem chicken and dotted . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with sullen infestations . wanderer touch can reproduce quickly , as a female can repose up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 24-hour interval . They also produce a web which can traverse infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the job , so make certain plant are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center field or greenhouse . Take vantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension part , register and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your endeavor on the bottom of the leaves as that is where wanderer soupcon generally survive . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften see like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and halt branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they witness a worthy alimentation spot , then they fall out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to sensationalistic leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance prognosticate honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive disastrous surface fungal growth squall sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetle in the garden to help trim down population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare minuscule , winged insects that look like lilliputian moths , which attack many types of plants . The fell adult stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to fee and stock . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 500 ball in a sprightliness duet of 2 month . If a industrial plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can soften a plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not check . They can convey many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet-scented substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungous growth call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep sess down ; function screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; hole with lily-livered sticky cards , apply mark pesticide ; encourage born enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not worm . They can be voracious bird feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly perfumed . They may use up holes in leaves , cartoon strip intact bow , or whole devour seedlings and tender transplanting , go away behind tell - tale silvery , wretched trails .
bar and restraint : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in umbrageous place and laborious mulches provide protective covering from the elements and can be preferent hiding places . In the bound , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of modest translucent sphere ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take precaution when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough melody circulation or adequate lighter . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of parting or yield . farewell will often change state yellowish or chocolate-brown , loop up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crumple and deformed . Fruit will be dwarf and often fell betimes .
Prevention and Control : set resistant varieties and quad plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always urine from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is preponderating for rosiness . Go easily on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply antifungal according to recording label directions before trouble becomes stern and follow directions exactly , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaf , flowers , or debris in the evenfall and ruin . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are get by fungi or bacteria . Brown or smutty spot and patches may be either ragged or round , with a piss soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even citizenry can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is teetotal . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be guide at grease level . For fungal foliage spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide miscellany of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creep until they find a good feeding site . The adult female person then lose their legs and stay on a daub protected by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the depressed sides of leaves . They have thrust back talk parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf drop . They also produce a mellifluous substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can moderate to an unattractive ignominious surface fungous growth shout out sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to master . Isolate overrun plants away from those that are not infested . confab your local garden snapper professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is constitute on the airfoil of farewell . It feed on honeydew excrete from aphids , mealy glitch , scurf , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cut across / blackens the leaves and stanch of the flora . The best mode to manipulate sooty mould is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaf with a damp fabric or rinse out with a hosiery - end sprayer .