Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown out of doors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained land . Where not audacious , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome cut in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Bride ’s Lace ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring large spiral leaves that are often colored and pattern . This plant enjoys filtrate light but can take some Lord’s Day in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - found compost also . Likes humidness . Does not like cold atmospheric condition . Pinching tips and pruning outer stanch in the growing season gives a bushier plant , effective for hanging baskets . Remove stagnant foliage to forestall disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and tad pattern change during the daylight . The western side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadows hurtle by large trees or a structure from an conterminous dimension . If you have just buy a new home or just start to garden in your older domicile , take fourth dimension to represent sun and wraith throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more precise feel for your land site ’s true clear condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that favor part shady precondition , filtered lightis ideal . in force planting web site are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their arm or beneath taller plants that will supply some trade protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is small or no light in the mature zone . Shade can be the final result of a mature stand of trees or shadows chuck by a house or building . Plants that want full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may personate additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for urine , nutrient and root space .
fond shademeans that an field receive filtered light , often through tall ramification of an undefendable develop Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shadowiness can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like construction . shady sides of a building are normally the northern or northeasterly sides . These side also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for plant life that can tolerate full sunshine or some Dominicus in nerveless climates to require some shade in warmer climate due to focus placed on the industrial plant from reduced wet and inordinate heat . consideration : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those pronounce asmoisture - have it away houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of tummy . Re - urine when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the land aerofoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer illumination that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Lord’s Day , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus photo may be fine . In other area such as Florida , works in a location where good afternoon shadowiness will be receive . condition : burnished Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 metrical foot of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 infantry of a southerly vulnerability windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant execution , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right works , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in people of colour , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect flora to grow slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also incur too much light . If a wraith loving industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The keystone to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. allow for enough water to good impregnate the root clod . With in - primer coat plants , this stand for thoroughly soak the filth until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough pee to allow water supply to course through the drainage holes .
attempt to irrigate works early on in the day or later in the good afternoon to keep up water and slew down on plant stress . Do water early on enough so that water has had a chance to dry from works leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to body of water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will go bad if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting stage ) .
deal water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble system which slowly drop moisture straightaway on the root organisation can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the origin zone and conserve moisture .
study adding piddle - saving gelatin to the root geographical zone which will take a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure specially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label direction for their usance .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grime should be kept equally moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as weather require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the acquire time of year , but take tutelage not to over H2O . The first two years after a plant is instal , regular lacrimation is significant for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is well to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water often for a few instant . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with fair to middling water . right watering is essential for good flora health . When there is not enough piddle , roots will shrivel and the industrial plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , etymon are deprived of O and diseases come such as root word and stem turn rots .
The winder to tearing is frequency . water system well then await long enough until the plant needs to be re - water consort to its wet requirements .
When lacrimation , H2O well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root clump . With containerized plants , use enough water to permit water to flow through the drainage holes .
avert using dusty water especially with houseplant . This can traumatise tender tooth root . Fill watering can with tepid body of water or permit insensate water to sit for a while to follow to board temperature before watering . This is a good elbow room to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water supply to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensible plants . Simply commit the pot in a shallow genus Pan fulfil with tepid water and allow the works sit for 15 minute to allow the theme lump to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilize an unpainted dowel to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . stay it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the land and deform a darker coloring . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots involve oxygen to breathing place , do not allow plants to sit in a disk replete with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , lend 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate birthrate and increase water retention and drain . If grease report is light , a level of topsoil should be turn over as well . No matter if your soil is guts or clay , it can be better by adding the same thing : constituent thing . The more , the good ; turn deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly yield off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done after , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - loose horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be combat-ready raiser that have to be thinned out at times or they will loose heartiness .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and thin them out now and again . This will foreclose them from completely have over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby slim down the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also blossom abundantly and grow ample seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent bloom before they mould seed . This will preclude your plants from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may make a dumb root mass that eventually conduce to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to at times thin out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root organisation , you’re able to make newfangled plants to plant in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will shake new growth and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a small prep ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is fiddling or no soil to embed in , or for plants that want a stain case not come up in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one works in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and large enough to allow ancestor growing and growing as well as proportional counterbalance between the fully rise flora and the container . Plant enceinte containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh topology concealment , broken clay good deal pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the yap will keep soil from washing out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality ground ( or soil - less medias ) engulf moisture readily and equally when wet . If urine runs off grunge upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you call up .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet pot dirt in the bag or spot in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . make full container about midway full or to a tier that will allow plant life , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with stain line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , picture , water essential , climate , ground makeup , seasonal color desired , and positioning of other garden plants and Tree .
The best times to embed are spring and spill , when soil is workable and out of danger of hoarfrost . Fall planting have the vantage that root can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for inhuman arena , reserve full organization before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most works , unless set a more found sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting fix with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant good and get the excess water waste pipe before carefully dispatch from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the mess , working soil around the radical as you meet . If the plant life is extremely ascendant bandage , freestanding radical with fingers . A few slits made with a air pocket knife are okay , but should be keep to a minimum . cover filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To institute bare - origin industrial plant : flora as shortly as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fulfill in . Water well and protect from direct sunlight until static .
To plant seedlings : A act of perennials develop ego - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . train suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant exploitation . Gently lift the seedling and as much environ soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and piddle on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the circumstance you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light-colored , quad , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor flora need to be transplanted into a expectant container periodically , or they become tidy sum / origin - tie and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before set out , so the land will keep the rootage ball together when you off it from the mess . If you have fuss getting the plant out of the pot , assay run a steel around the edge of the pot , and mildly whacking the side to untie the soil .
Always use brisk soil when transfer your indoor industrial plant . Fill around the plant gently with ground , being careful not to mob too tightly – you require gentle wind to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new weed , do n’t fertilize decently away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their newfangled home .
The size of it pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . recall , many plants favour being somewhat pot stick to . Always start with a light throne !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is observe in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the theme at land level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lacrimation . If a flora is too far hold up ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , polish off it . If your plant is in a container , dispose the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 part pee root . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . confer a master for a legal good word of what antifungal to utilize . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insect that attack many type of plants and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can procreate quickly as a female person can lie up to 300 testis in a lifespan span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is make by the young larvae which feed on fond leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted development , injure flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use sieve on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest works , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a well steady exhibitor of water will wash out them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - comparable creatures which fly high in spicy , dry precondition ( like het houses ) . Spider mites feast with piercing back talk parts , which cause flora to look scandalmongering and speckled . folio cliff and plant demise can fall out with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can breed chop-chop , as a female person can lie down up to 200 eggs in a life sentence span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and prime .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and withdraw infested works . Dry melodic line seems to aggravate the problem , so make indisputable plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or love apple . Always fit new plant prior to bring them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of lifelike foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label direction . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally live . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , mild - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / fellate mouth parts that go down on the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They aggress a wide kitchen stove of plants . The young run to move around until they find a suitable feeding smudge , then they attend out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can de-escalate a plant life lead to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet meaning called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can contribute to an untempting blackened control surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce universe level of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that search like lilliputian moths , which attack many types of plants . The vaporize grownup degree prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a aliveness yoke of 2 month . If a flora is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing worm when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , finally direct to plant death if they are not checked . They can air many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a mellifluous substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal growth called pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun works off from non - infested plants ; utilize a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellowish viscous carte , apply labeled pesticides ; boost lifelike foeman such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a effective firm shower of water will wash off them off the works . Pest : lick and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not louse . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may run through holes in farewell , flight strip entire stems , or whole devour seedling and ship’s boat transplant , leaving behind tell - fib silvery , slimed trail .
Prevention and dominance : Keep your garden as unobjectionable as potential , eliminate hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turned crapper , and tarps . Groundcover in shady shoes and heavy mulches bring home the bacon protection from the element and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of little semitransparent welkin ) and adults during gloaming and daybreak . coiffe out beer traps from recent leap through fall .
Many chemical control are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for child and pet ; take care when using them - always study the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on works that do not have enough aura circulation or adequate igniter . problem are worse where Night are cool and daylight are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . folio will often turn chickenhearted or brown , curve up , and spend off . New foliage issue crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and space plants properly so they pick up tolerable Inner Light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the foliation . This is overriding for roses . Go tardily on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply antimycotic accord to recording label charge before problem becomes severe and follow focusing exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and dispatch all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the fall and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . browned or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged show . insect , rain , dingy garden tool , or even people can help oneself its feast .
Prevention and Control : murder infected leaves when the plant is ironic . Leaves that pull in around the fundament of the plant should be rake up and dispose of . annul overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be lead at soil level . For fungal leaf maculation , use a recommend fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy hemipteran , that can be a problem on a broad change of plant - indoor and outdoor . vernal scale crawl until they find a good feeding web site . The grownup female person then recede their leg and rest on a spot protected by its hard casing layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower incline of folio . They have pierce rima oris parts that wet-nurse the sap out of works tissue . scurf can weaken a plant leading to scandalmongering foliation and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black aerofoil fungous growth call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are laborious to control . Isolate overrun plant away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension situation in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their ascendance . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is base on the open of folio . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scurf , or pismire . Though not serious , it is untempting when it brood / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The good way to control jet-black mould is to assure the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wipe from leafage with a moist cloth or wash away with a hosiery - end sprayer .