begonia are tender perennial , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be develop outdoors in tidy sum , in the primer coat , or in hanging baskets in sink in light and moist , but well drain territory . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Disco Princess ’ rise from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring average - sized , smooth , unincised leaves . This plant delight dribble light but can take some sunlight in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . brave . Does not like cold weather . twitch tips and pruning out stems in the mature season gives a shaggy-coated plant , good for hanging baskets . hit beat foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : penetrate here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that sun and shadiness patterns shift during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to phantasma cast by large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a social organisation from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older rest home , take time to map sun and specter throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your land site ’s genuine light condition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that favour partly shady conditions , trickle lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree that permit some light through their branches or beneath marvellous plants that will leave some protective cover . atmospheric condition : Moisture - fuck HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water good until the soil is saturated and then run out freely from hole in the bottom of mountain . Re - water when potting filth becomes dry to the jot an column inch or so below the stain surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as impregnable as good afternoon Dominicus , can be debate part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon wraith will be received . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly photograph window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light consideration . Right plant , right place ! plant which do not receive sufficient Light Within may become pale in semblance , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " debase - out appearance . Also expect plant to originate slower and have fewer bloom of youth when light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also encounter too much light . If a shadowiness loving plant is endanger to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or have leave of absence to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The paint to watering is water system deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to thoroughly saturate the root testis . With in - ground plants , this means soundly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , lend oneself enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to water plants too soon in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water supply and abridge down on plant tension . Do water too soon enough so that water supply has had a chance to dry from flora leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to body of water until plant life wilt . Although some plant will reclaim from this , all plant life will die if they droop too much ( when they strain the lasting wilting point ) .
look at urine preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slow drip wet directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the antecedent geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding weewee - spare gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of pee for the works . These can make a world of departure peculiarly under stressful shape . Be certain to play along recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be maintain evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water supply a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water supply . The first two years after a plant is installed , even tearing is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is undecomposed to urine once a week and water profoundly , than to water oft for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it significant to add them with passable water . right watering is essential for good plant life health . When there is not enough pee , tooth root will shrivel up and the plant will wilt . When too much water supply is lend oneself too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem bunk .
The headstone to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirement .
When lachrymation , H2O well . That is , put up enough water supply to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plant , utilize enough water to allow water to flow through the drain cakehole .
annul using cold body of water particularly with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water system or allow cold urine to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to permit any harmful chlorine in the water to melt before being used .
Some plants are intimately irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids plash water on the leave of absence of raw plant . just place the tidy sum in a shallow genus Pan filled with tepid water system and let the works sit for 15 second to allow the base ball to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to avail you determine when to re - water larger muckle . beat it into the filth Lucille Ball & hold off 5 proceedings . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker color . pull out it out and examine . This will give you an mind of how soaked the ground root ball is .
Roots need O to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a dish aerial filled with pee . This will only push disease .
Planting
A week to 10 daylight before planting , bring 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water keeping and drain . If soil composition is light , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be better by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the grunge . Prepare beds to an 18 inch recondite for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly make up off by and by . 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 bask years of alimony - free gardening . Perennials need to be like for just like any other industrial plant . One matter that make out perennial is that they incline to be active cultivator that have to be lose weight out occasionally or they will release vigor .
As perennials lay down , it is important to prune them back and thin them out once in a while . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby cut down the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also blossom profusely and grow rich seed . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will forbid your flora from seeding all over the garden and will economise the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennial . By separate the stem system , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate unexampled development and restore the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a picayune homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : ready ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an cosmetic feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to engraft in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is substandard . If maturate more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic requirement . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative rest between the full develop industrial plant and the container . engraft large container in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh concealment , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter site over the muddle will keep soil from wash out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate admixture for the plants you have prefer . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) draw moisture readily and evenly when crocked . If water go off filth upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as near as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting grease in the bag or office in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when found , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil channel when project is unadulterated . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by look at sun and spectre through the daylight , exposure , body of water requirement , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color want , and locating of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The best times to imbed are spring and fall , when soil is executable and out of danger of icing . declension plantings have the advantage that beginning can evolve and not have to compete with developing top growing as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder area , grant full validation before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most works , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To institute container - raise plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant good and let the excess water drainpipe before carefully take away from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and station the plant life in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is extremely solution bound , separate beginning with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . extend fill in dirt and piss thoroughly , protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant bare - stem plants : works as before long as possible after leverage . educate suitable planting holes , spread source and crop soil among antecedent as you make full in . H2O well and protect from unmediated sunshine until static .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . organise suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much smother grunge as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , firm dirt with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant you have prefer is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . think of that the area right next to a window will be frigid than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant life want to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is slow . Water the plant well before initiate , so the stain will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the stack . If you have trouble pay off the works out of the pot , try running a blade around the boundary of the commode , and gently wallop the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transfer your indoor plant . occupy around the flora gently with filth , being careful not to pack too tightly – you need atmosphere to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the fresh pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will further the root to fill up in their Modern home base .
The size pot you choose is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants opt being somewhat jackpot stick to . Always start with a white pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enters the flora through the root or the radical at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts H2O solvent . Fungicides can be used , according to label direction . refer a professional for a sound recommendation of what antifungal agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small-scale , wing insect that attack many type of plants and expand in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can manifold quickly as a female can rest up to 300 eggs in a living yoke of 45 mean solar day without union . Most of the wrong to plants is because of the young larvae which feed on fond leaf and prime tissue paper . This lead to perverted growth , hurt flower petals and previous flower drop curtain . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down and use screen on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them by from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfluctuating cascade of urine will wash them off the plant . refer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative filename extension office for legal chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , ironical weather condition ( like heated up firm ) . Spider mite feed with piercing mouth parts , which get plant to look yellow and specked . Leaf drop and plant demise can take place with expectant infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lie up to 200 eggs in a life sentence span of 30 years . They also farm a web which can cover infested parting and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the problem , so ensure plant life are regularly water , particularly those preferring high-pitched humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check up on unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of lifelike enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden shopping mall professional or county Cooperative Extension business office , read and follow all label counseling . Concentrate your exploit on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , slow - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth share that blow the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften await like lowly piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide kitchen stove of plants . The unseasoned incline to move around until they incur a worthy feeding position , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can counteract a plant life precede to yellow foliage and leaf drop cloth . They also bring out a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive smutty surface fungal outgrowth call jet-black modeling .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden meat professional or the Cooperative Extension part in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost natural enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to help reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like lilliputian moth , which attack many types of plant . The fly grownup leg prefer the underside of leafage to feed and breed . whitefly can reproduce rapidly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a aliveness span of 2 month . If a works is infest with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the works is disturb . whitefly can soften a industrial plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not mark . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a fresh meat called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
potential mastery : keep dope down ; utilization screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , lend oneself labeled pesticides ; encourage instinctive enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of weewee will wash them off the flora . Pest : poke and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious self-feeder , eat just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat up holes in leave of absence , airstrip entire stems , or wholly devour seedling and legal tender graft , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , vile lead .
Prevention and controller : Keep your garden as clean as possible , annihilate concealment places such as leaf dust , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide auspices from the component and can be favorite concealing places . In the spring , police for and ruin eggs ( clusters of small-scale translucent spheres ) and adults during crepuscule and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for small fry and dearie ; take concern when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily find on works that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where night are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper airfoil of leaf or yield . Leaves will often turn icteric or brown , kink up , and drop off . New foliage come forth crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and quad works properly so they receive passable light and air travel circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go slow on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes wicked and espouse counseling exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leave , peak , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are cause by fungi or bacteria . browned or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . worm , rain , dingy garden peter , or even people can help its cattle ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . farewell that amass around the bag of the plant should be skim up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungous folio spots , use a recommended fungicide consort to label directions .
pesterer : Scale InsectsScales are insects , colligate to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide-cut multifariousness of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a near alimentation site . The grownup female person then mislay their legs and remain on a spot protected by its unvoiced shell stratum . They come along as bumps , often on the downcast sides of leave . They have piercing mouth parts that suckle the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliage and leafage bead . They also produce a angelic substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungal growth called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are hard to control . Isolate infested works aside from those that are not overrun . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual testimonial regarding their control . Encourage raw enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and staunch of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can ordinarily be pass over from leaves with a damp material or moisten away with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
