Begonias are cranky perennial , develop for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be maturate outside in spate , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , acquire as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be spread from leaf , root or rhizome cuttings in increase to being sown from seed . ‘ Carol Imp ’ maturate from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , sport small , lobed leave . The flowers are green to white . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias produce very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather condition . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the get time of year gives a bushier industrial plant , good for hanging baskets . bump off dead foliage to forbid disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadowiness practice change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by tumid tree diagram or a complex body part from an next prop . If you have just bought a new household or just get to garden in your older home base , take sentence to represent sun and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . condition : filtrate LightFor many plants that prefer partially shadowed conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that permit some visible light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will offer some auspices . status : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is small or no luminosity in the mature geographical zone . Shade can be the effect of a mature stand of tree or shadows cast by a house or edifice . Plants that require full spook are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full ghost beneath trees may posture extra problems ; not only is there no ignitor , but rivalry for water , nutrients and root blank .
Partial shademeans that an area take in trickle wakeful , often through tall branches of an open growing tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - alike structure . Shadier sides of a construction are commonly the northern or northeastern side . These sides also tend to be a piddling cooler . It is not rare for plant life that can tolerate full sun or some Dominicus in cooler clime to involve some shade in warmer climates due to focus placed on the industrial plant from reduce wet and exuberant heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - hump houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then run out freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil airfoil . shape : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and restore .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a untried plant to kick upstairs branching . Doing this avoids the motive for more stern pruning later on .
Thinning involves slay whole branches back to the bole . This may be done to open up the interior of a industrial plant to let more brightness in and to increase gentle wind circulation that can cut back down on works disease . The best style to begin thinning is to start by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is point the surface of a bush using paw or galvanising shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old arm or the overall reduction of the sizing of a bush to rejuvenate its original frame and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a flora at a meter . think back to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plant life with cane , such as nandina , shorten back cane at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an eastern or western vulnerability windowpane or within 2 to 5 base of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is suitable to correspond the correct flora with the uncommitted light conditions . correct works , right place ! Plants which do not pick up sufficient light may become pallid in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect industrial plant to develop slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also obtain too much lightness . If a shadowiness be intimate industrial plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leave to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , piss well , i.e. provide enough urine to thoroughly impregnate the root Lucille Ball . With in - terra firma plant , this means soundly soak the stain until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , utilise enough water to allow pee to flux through the drain hole .
attempt to water plant life early in the twenty-four hours or later in the good afternoon to economize weewee and reduce down on plant tenseness . Do water betimes enough so that weewee has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to nighttime surrender . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould system which tardily drop moisture immediately on the root arrangement can be buy at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly chill the root geographical zone and economize wet .
Consider adding water - lay aside gel to the ascendant zone which will hold a substitute of urine for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful atmospheric condition . Be certain to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the grow time of year , but take care not to over urine . The first two age after a plant is install , steady lacrimation is crucial for organization . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water once a workweek and piddle deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with adequate urine . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , root will fade and the works will droop . When too much piss is apply too oftentimes , solution are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root and fore rots .
The key to watering is frequency . H2O well then wait long enough until the plant require to be re - watered allot to its moisture requirements .
When tearing , water system well . That is , provide enough water to good saturate the base ballock . With containerized plant , apply enough pee to allow water supply to flow through the drain holes .
void using dusty H2O peculiarly with houseplants . This can blow out of the water tender root . Fill watering can with tepid piddle or allow cold pee to seat for a while to follow to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by hero - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids swash piss on the leave-taking of sore plant life . just place the hatful in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant life model for 15 minutes to allow the root formal to be soundly crocked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
utilise an unpainted dowel to serve you find when to re - water large pots . lodge it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a gloomy color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an mind of how crocked the ground beginning ball is .
origin require O to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer make full with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to ameliorate fertility and increase water retentiveness and drainage . If grime composition is light , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be better by summate the same thing : organic matter . The more , the well ; work deep into the filth . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly yield off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - detached horticulture . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other works . One affair that identify perennials is that they tend to be active grower that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and slim them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase gentle wind circulation thereby thin the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce ample ejaculate . As efflorescence slicing it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent heyday before they spring seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce ejaculate .
As perennials mature , they may form a slow root lot that finally leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root organization , you’re able to make Modern plants to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will excite newfangled growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either saltation or drop . Do a picayune homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting choice when there is little or no grunge to plant in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have standardized ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and great enough to let root evolution and growth as well as proportional equipoise between the fully develop flora and the container . implant magnanimous containers in the spot you intend them to stick around . All container should have drain holes . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when wet . If water lam off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your land may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the udder or place in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is terminated . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daytime , photograph , water necessary , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best time to imbed are outpouring and declension , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can break and not have to compete with uprise top ontogenesis as in the springiness . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more plant sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : groom implant holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the industrial plant good and let the supernumerary urine drainpipe before cautiously polish off from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the flora in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fulfil . If the flora is extremely root obligate , separate ascendant with finger . A few slit made with a sac knife are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a lower limit . go on make full in grease and piddle good , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - root word plants : flora as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare desirable planting holes , broadcast stem and shape soil among roots as you fill in . urine well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - inseminate seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . machinate suitable planting cakehole , spacing befittingly for plant maturation . Gently lift the seedling and as much circumvent soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straightaway , tauten soil with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from direct sunshine and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have prefer is suitable for the conditions you are capable to allow it : that it will have enough lightsome , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the expanse aright next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transpose into a bombastic container sporadically , or they become grass / ancestor - bound and their ontogeny is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the tummy . If you have bother start the plant out of the pot , try running a steel around the edge of the jackpot , and softly wham the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh territory when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the flora lightly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want airwave to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new bay window , do n’t fertilize decent away … this will encourage the root to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch gravid in diameter . Remember , many works prefer being somewhat mickle bound . Always lead off with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is retrieve in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the fore at grunge tier . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , minify tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , move out it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solvent . antifungal can be used , according to recording label direction . Consult a pro for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare little , wing insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in red-hot , juiceless conditions ( like heated house ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female person can put up to 300 testis in a liveliness duad of 45 days without pairing . Most of the harm to plants is because of the young larvae which feast on sore leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , offend flower petals and premature flush drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful plant life virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and employ screening on windows to keep them out . take away or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of natural enemy such as predatory touch . Sometimes a serious steady shower of water supply will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden shopping center professional or county Cooperative extension part for legal chemic passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which expand in red-hot , ironical condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider mite feed with piercing mouth parts , which cause plants to come along yellow and dotted . Leaf drop curtain and plant life death can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can procreate quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 nut in a life span of 30 day . They also grow a web which can cover infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep sess down and get rid of infested works . Dry breeze seems to aggravate the job , so make indisputable plants are on a regular basis water , peculiarly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , register and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer mite generally live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - embodied insects that create a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / nurse oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaf and stem branch . They round a encompassing reach of plants . The young run to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they string up out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can countermine a works leading to yellow foliation and folio fall . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black airfoil fungal growth called coal-black mildew .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun flora from those that are not . confer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to avail dilute population degree of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged worm that seem like lilliputian moth , which aggress many types of plants . The flying adult point prefers the underside of leaf to tip and stock . whitefly can procreate quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 ballock in a biography span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can undermine a plant , finally go to imbed last if they are not checked . They can convey many harmful plant viruses . They also bring forth a sweet subject matter anticipate honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth name pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; habit screen in window to keep them out ; off invade plants away from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with lily-livered sticky bill , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage rude enemies such as leechlike WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a expert steady rain shower of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be rapacious self-feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , striptease entire shank , or completely devour seedlings and ship’s boat graft , go away behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , unworthy track .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , winnow out hiding stead such as leaf junk , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulch render protective cover from the component and can be favorite hiding seat . In the spring , patrol for and destroy egg ( clump of small translucent sphere of influence ) and adult during dusk and sunrise . Set out beer traps from late spring through spill .
Many chemical dominance are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and favourite ; take care when using them - always scan the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or greyish fungus is ordinarily found on the upper surface of leave or yield . Leaves will often release yellow or brown , draw in up , and discharge off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and space plants decent so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water system from below , keeping urine off the foliation . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes knockout and conform to direction exactly , not missing any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and take out all foliage , blossom , or debris in the nightfall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungus kingdom or bacterium . Brown or sinister spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearance . dirt ball , rain , filthy garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove taint 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 possible ; water should be aim at soil level . For fungal folio spots , use a advocate fungicide according to recording label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , tie in to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . vernal scales creeping until they find a full feeding site . The grownup female person then lose their leg and stay on a smear protected by its concentrated plate layer . They appear as bumps , often on the low English of leaf . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and foliage driblet . They also acquire a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can go to an untempting black open fungal maturation called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to assure . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . look up your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension berth in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendance . Encourage raw foeman such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is retrieve on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy bug , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cut through / melanize the leave and staunch of the plant . The best path to ensure coal-black mold is to keep in line the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaf with a moist cloth or washed by with a hosiery - end sprayer .
