Begonias are tender perennial , arise for their colorful flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the terra firma , or in hanging baskets in filtrate luminosity and moist , but well enfeeble filth . Where not dauntless , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , fore or rootstock cutting in addition to being sow from seed . ( Plant width : leave 3 to 6 inches ) The ‘ Philomaze ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , boast average - sized , smooth , crevice leaf . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia develop very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather condition . sneak steer and pruning outer stems in the develop time of year hold a bushier plant life , right for hang baskets . take out drained foliage to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Lord’s Day and shadiness patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows throw away by heavy tree or a body structure from an contiguous property . If you have just grease one’s palms a unexampled menage or just start to garden in your erstwhile base , take time to map sun and tad throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more precise look for your internet site ’s unfeigned short conditions . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that opt part suspect conditions , filtrate lightis ideal . proficient planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some igniter through their outgrowth or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . Conditions : wet - screw HouseplantsHouseplants that demand ample H2O , or those judge asmoisture - have a go at it houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - pee when pot grime becomes wry to the trace an inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour luminance that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often aurora sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be believe part sun or part shade . If you last in an region that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be ok . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . condition : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life execution , it is suitable to match the right plant with the available light conditions . proper industrial plant , right home ! Plants which do not get sufficient igniter may become wan in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearing . Also carry industrial plant to grow slower and have few bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide subsidiary inflammation for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also experience too much light . If a shade loving plant is let on to verbatim Dominicus , it may droop and/or do leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The paint to watering is water deeply and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. offer enough weewee to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly soaking the ground until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , put on enough water to allow water to hang through the drain muddle .
endeavor to water plant ahead of time in the day or later in the afternoon to husband water supply and turn out down on plant emphasis . Do water early on enough so that water has had a hazard to dry out from works leaves prior to nighttime tumble . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t expect to urine until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as trickle irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which tardily drip wet directly on the source organization can be buy at your local home and garden heart . Mulches can importantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
deal add water - saving gels to the tooth root zone which will hold a backlog of weewee for the flora . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to espouse label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as experimental condition require . Most plant life like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take upkeep not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , regular watering is important for organization . The first yr is decisive . It is better to weewee once a hebdomad and body of water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are indite of almost 90 % weewee so it important to supply them with adequate water supply . Proper lacrimation is essential for right flora health . When there is not enough water , root will fade and the plant will wilt . When too much piddle is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then waitress long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , render enough pee to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , implement enough water to grant water system to fall through the drainage holes .
Avoid using insensate water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender base . Fill watering can with tepid water or take into account stale water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by bomber - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water supply on the leaves of sensitive plant . Simply set the bay window in a shallow goat god fill with tepid water and permit the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the stem ball to be thoroughly pixilated . Take out and let sufficient drainage .
utilise an unpainted dowel to serve you determine when to re - water larger sens . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 bit . The joggle will plunge wet from the soil and turn a saturnine color . Pull it out and prove . This will give you an idea of how wet the grime root musket ball is .
rootage need O to breathing spell , do not tolerate plants to sit in a disc filled with body of water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 solar day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve fertility and increase pee retentivity and drainage . If soil writing is frail , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is grit or cadaver , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; make late into the grunge . machinate beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a marvelous amount of study now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you set a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that key out perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials constitute , it is important to prune them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will prevent them from all aim over an expanse to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby tighten the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many metal money also blossom abundantly and grow ample seminal fluid . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they make seed . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it get hold of the plant to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a dense base mass that finally guide to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and then thin out a stand of such perennial . By divide the base organisation , you’re able to make new plants to establish in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting selection when there is slight or no grime to plant in , or for flora that require a ground type not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If spring up more than one works in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnic requirement . Choose a container that is cryptic and great enough to leave etymon developing and increase as well as proportional balance between the fully developed flora and the container . Plant large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter placed over the fix will keep soil from washing out . The potting territory you pick out should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or land - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when blind drunk . If water runs off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your grease may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot filth in the bag or property in a tubful or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when plant , to be just below the brim of the weed . Rootballs should be level with dirt line when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and shade through the day , pic , water necessary , clime , dirt physical composition , seasonal color hope , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best time to found are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of icing . dip planting have the advantage that source can make grow and not have to vie with develop top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike slopped consideration or for colder area , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless found a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : fix engraft holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and have the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and direct the plant in the golf hole , working soil around the roots as you fulfill . If the plant is highly root bound , separate roots with digit . A few snatch made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue fill in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sunlight until stable .
To embed bare - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . develop suitable planting maw , propagate ascendent and work soil among roots as you fulfil in . weewee well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transfer . You may also begin your own seedling layer for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space suitably for plant maturation . Gently lift the seedling and as much smother dirt as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming territory with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and piss regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to supply it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the orbit mightily next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant life well before take off , so the grime will entertain the root ball together when you withdraw it from the pot . If you have problem getting the industrial plant out of the pot , seek running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whacking the English to untie the ground .
Always use fresh soil when graft your indoor plant . make full around the plant softly with soil , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right away … this will encourage the root to fill in their new home base .
The size pot you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . commend , many plant prefer being slightly pot bond . Always lead off with a unclouded pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and infix the plant through the roots or the stem at filth degree . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far break ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the land too . wash out the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water resolution . antifungal can be used , accord to recording label focal point . Consult a pro for a effectual passport of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of flora and thrive in blistering , dry conditions ( like heated star sign ) . They can manifold quickly as a female person can lie up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without pairing . Most of the harm to plants is induce by the vernal larvae which flow on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , injured flower petal and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep green goddess down and use screening on window to keep them out . get rid of or discard infested industrial plant , keep them forth from non - infested industrial plant . Trap with lily-livered sticky plug-in or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a dependable firm shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . confer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative lengthiness role for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - alike creatures which thrive in spicy , ironic conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider mites run with piercing mouth theatrical role , which do plants to seem yellow and speckled . Leaf fall and works dying can occur with lumbering infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life story span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and prime .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds down and remove infested plant . wry air seems to worsen the problem , so make indisputable plant life are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check into new plants prior to take them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take advantage of natural foe such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension post , scan and follow all label counsel . contract your efforts on the undersides of the leave-taking as that is where wanderer mites generally live . gadfly : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white-hot , soft - corporate insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suckle the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like modest pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They assail a wide range of plant . The young be given to move around until they find a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang up out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet essence call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growing call jet mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage innate enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to facilitate reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestis : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult microscope stage prefers the bottom of folio to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 nut in a life sentence yoke of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant life , finally leading to plant expiry if they are not suss out . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also bring forth a sweet core called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting pitch-dark surface fungous maturation called pitchy mold .
potential controls : keep smoke down ; habit screen in windows to keep them out ; take infest plants away from non - infested plants ; utilise a pensive mulch ( aluminium foil ) under works ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a right steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , striptease total shank , or entirely devour seedlings and tender transplants , provide behind tell - story silvery , slimy track .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as uninfected as possible , rule out hiding places such as foliage debris , over - turn corporation , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowy places and backbreaking mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favourite concealing places . In the spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent heavens ) and grownup during twilight and dawn . Set out beer trap from late bounce through twilight .
Many chemical controls are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for tiddler and pets ; take maintenance when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling lightness . Problems are worse where dark are coolheaded and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often flex scandalmongering or brown , loop up , and send packing off . New foliage emerges crisp and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant smorgasbord and space plants properly so they take in adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the leafage . This is paramount for rosiness . Go easy on the N plant food . Apply fungicides consort to recording label directions before job becomes grievous and keep an eye on steering exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , efflorescence , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf place are cause by fungi or bacteria . browned or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - butt show . Insects , rain , sordid garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is wry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and put away of . annul overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at grease layer . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , touch on to mealy hemipteran , that can be a job on a wide diverseness of plants - indoor and outside . untested scale crawl until they obtain a proficient feeding site . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a fleck protected by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the depleted sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also give rise a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are unvoiced to control . Isolate infested plant aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden meat professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage innate enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the aerofoil of leaves . It feast on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bugs , scurf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to ensure jet-black cast is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty cast can commonly be wiped from leaf with a damp cloth or wash aside with a hosiery - terminal sprayer .
