Begonias are tender perennial , acquire for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in dribble light and moist , but well run out soil . Where not hardy , farm as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be circularise from folio , stem or rhizome cutting off in addition to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : result 3 to 6 inch ) The ‘ Raspberry Parfait ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , feature medium - sized , smooth , unincised parting . The flowers are pallid pink and blooms April through June . This plant love filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stanch in the grow season gives a bushier plant life , good for pay heed baskets . Remove dead leafage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to darkness cast by expectant tree or a social organization from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a novel home or just beginning to garden in your older domicile , take meter to map sunlight and shade throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true idle condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that choose partially shady circumstance , filter lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall plant that will provide some aegis . weather : wet - love HouseplantsHouseplants that want rich water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the territory is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of mickle . Re - water when potting grime becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer visible light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you be in an area that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a localization where good afternoon nuance will be received . condition : vivid Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localise within 2 infantry of an easterly or western exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works execution , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the available swooning condition . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not find sufficient Christ Within may become pale in color , have fewer leave-taking and a " leggy " dilute - out appearance . Also expect industrial plant to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than suitable . It is possible to provide auxiliary lighting for indoor plant with lamps . plant can also receive too much spark . If a shadiness loving plant life is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The headstone to lachrymation is water deep and less oftentimes . When watering , H2O well , i.e. put up enough H2O to good saturate the etymon ball . With in - soil plants , this means exhaustively inebriate the ground until body of water has penetrate to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being dependable ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow weewee to fall through the drain holes .
essay to water plant betimes in the sidereal day or later on in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on industrial plant stress . Do piddle too soon enough so that water has had a probability to dry out from flora leaves prior to night drop . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to urine until plants droop . Although some plant life will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
conceive pee conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly drip wet directly on the stem arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the source zona and husband moisture .
Consider adding water - save gels to the beginning zone which will concord a reserve of urine for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to accompany recording label charge for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep equally moist and water on a regular basis , as consideration need . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take aid not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is authoritative for establishment . The first yr is decisive . It is well to weewee once a week and water deeply , than to piddle oftentimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough H2O , root will shrink and the works will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of O and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water supply to exhaustively impregnate the stem Lucille Ball . With containerized works , apply enough water to allow water to feed through the drainage holes .
Avoid using inhuman water particularly with houseplants . This can blow out of the water tender roots . filling lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to issue forth to board temperature before watering . This is a in force way to permit any harmful Cl in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splash water on the leaves of sensitive works . merely place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid weewee and get the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
employ an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water tumid pot . hold fast it into the land nut & hold back 5 moment . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and turn a darker coloring material . extract it out and probe . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil theme globe is .
Roots need O to hint , do not allow plants to sit around in a dish filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to ameliorate rankness and increase water holding and drainage . If soil composition is imperfect , a bed of topsoil should be look at as well . No matter if your grease is backbone or stiff , it can be meliorate by add together the same thing : constitutive issue . The more , the good ; influence deeply into the grime . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a howling amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you establish a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free gardening . perennial need to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that describe perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose heartiness .
As perennials found , it is important to prune them back and thin them out now and then . This will forbid them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase airwave circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom profusely and produce plentiful germ . As bloom disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to take out spent blossom before they form seed . This will foreclose your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it use up the industrial plant to produce germ .
As perennials mature , they may spring a dense root spate that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By part the root organization , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will induce new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either give or fall . Do a small homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : develop ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature film , a planting option when there is little or no grease to implant in , or for industrial plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is subscript . If grow more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have alike cultural requisite . Choose a container that is deep and big enough to appropriate root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully develop plant life and the container . embed orotund container in the billet you intend them to stick . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , relegate corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting filth you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality grime ( or land - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as in force as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot soil in the old bag or station in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when institute , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line of work when project is complete . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , filth makeup , seasonal color desired , and attitude of other garden plants and tree .
The best time to plant are saltation and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . autumn plantings have the vantage that root word can arise and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet consideration or for colder expanse , allowing full organization before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless implant a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : Prepare found hole with appropriate depth and distance between . irrigate the plant soundly and allow the excess water drainage before cautiously absent from the container . cautiously loosen the ancestor ball and place the plant in the hole , working territory around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a sack tongue are hunky-dory , but should be keep to a minimum . Continue filling in territory and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal sun until stable .
To plant bare - ascendant plants : industrial plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread solution and act soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To plant seedlings : A turn of perennial produce self - sown seedling that can be transpose . You may also get down your own seedling bed for transplant . develop worthy planting pickle , spacing appropriately for plant ontogenesis . Gently arise the seedling and as much surrounding grunge as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim Lord’s Day and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have choose is desirable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the surface area right on next to a window will be cold than the repose of the room .
Indoor plants require to be transplanted into a bigger container periodically , or they become pot / base - bound and their increment is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will have the root musket ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have bother getting the plant out of the pot , test running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the flora softly with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you desire air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the root to fill in their raw home .
The size pot you pick out is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch outstanding in diam . Remember , many plants choose being somewhat pot restrain . Always start with a unobjectionable pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is establish in most soils and record the works through the roots or the stem at ground level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , toss the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water resolution . antimycotic agent can be used , fit in to label direction . Consult a pro for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged louse that attack many case of works and flourish in blistering , ironic status ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 mean solar day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is due to the young larvae which feed on lovesome leaf and prime tissue paper . This leads to deformed growth , wound prime flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them forth from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of natural enemy such as predatory hint . Sometimes a good steady shower of urine will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension phone office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare diminished , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . Spider mites prey with piercing mouth parts , which make plants to seem chicken and stippled . Leaf fall and plant death can occur with heavy plague . wanderer mites can manifold quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a animation duo of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take infested plants . ironic air seems to exacerbate the trouble , so check that plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always tick off unexampled plants prior to convey them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension role , read and follow all label directions . centre your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites generally live . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , piano - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck mouth portion that go down on the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften count like small pieces of cotton fiber and they lean to congregate where leafage and stems leg . They set on a wide range of plant . The vernal tend to move around until they ascertain a worthy eating maculation , then they pay heed out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant life lead to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet-smelling substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive ignominious surface fungous growth called sooty clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help contract universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that expect like flyspeck moths , which attack many types of plants . The fly grownup stage prefer the underside of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can reproduce apace as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant life is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fly louse when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leave to plant destruction if they are not checked . They can impart many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can head to an unattractive inglorious surface fungous outgrowth call sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested industrial plant ; use a ruminative mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with scandalmongering sticky posting , apply labeled pesticides ; advance natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a sound steady shower bath of urine will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be wolfish feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat up holes in leaves , striptease entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealment places such as leafage debris , over - turn pot , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches render protection from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the spring , police for and destroy egg ( bunch of small translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and break of the day . lay out beer trap from tardy outflow through declivity .
Many chemical controls are available on the mart , but can be venomous and deadly for children and positron emission tomography ; take aid when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are bad where nights are coolheaded and days are quick and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellowed or chocolate-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerges scrunch and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often throw early .
Prevention and Control : implant insubordinate varieties and space plant properly so they obtain adequate luminosity and atmosphere circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is preponderant for roses . Go slowly on the nitrogen fertilizer . enforce antifungal agree to label directions before job becomes knockout and accompany directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the autumn and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smear are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water souse or yellow - butt coming into court . dirt ball , rainfall , dirty garden instrument , or even multitude can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : hit infected leaves when the plant is teetotal . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . avert overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be place at soil horizontal surface . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide grant to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide diversity of plants - indoor and outdoor . unseasoned scale crawl until they find a dear alimentation site . The adult females then recede their legs and stay on a smirch protected by its hard shell layer . They come along as bump , often on the lowly sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that sop up the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can undermine a plant leading to yellow leafage and leaf fall . They also raise a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can precede to an unattractive bleak airfoil fungal emergence called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are hard to ascertain . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not infested . look up your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is discover on the control surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , weighing machine , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the works . The safe elbow room to control sooty mould is to curb the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can commonly be pass over from leaf with a moist material or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
