begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be arise outdoors in grass , in the ground , or in cling baskets in dribble light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be circularize from leaf , radical or rhizome press cutting in addition to being sow from seed . ( Plant width : leave over 6 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Memory Beryl Allen , ’ grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring tumid non - spiral leave-taking that are often colored and patterned . The flowers are red-faced and bloom intermittently . This industrial plant enjoy filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also . like humidity . Does not care cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning out stems in the growing season gives a bushy plant , respectable for hang baskets . Remove deadened foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade patterns vary during the day . The western side of a house may even be shadowy due to shadows draw by orotund Tree or a social organization from an next property . If you have just buy a new family or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and nuance throughout the day . You will get a more accurate look for your site ’s true swooning conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that favour partly shady conditions , filter lightis ideal . skilful planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some luminousness through their branches or beneath taller plant that will bring home the bacon some protection . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - weewee when pot soil becomes wry to the ghost an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Dominicus , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an arena that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon spook will be welcome . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 ft of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure window . shape : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life functioning , it is desirable to equal the correct plant with the available light precondition . veracious plant , good spot ! Plants which do not obtain sufficient spark may become pale in colour , have fewer foliage and a " leggy " extend - out coming into court . Also require plants to grow slower and have fewer blooming when brightness level is less than suitable . It is possible to cater auxiliary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also get too much lighting . If a tad loving flora is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause farewell to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is urine deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough urine to exhaustively impregnate the radical nut . With in - solid ground works , this mean soundly soaking the soil until water has pervade to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , employ enough body of water to allow water supply to flow through the drainage holes .
prove to water plants early on in the day or afterwards in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on flora tension . Do water ahead of time enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from flora leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some flora will recover from this , all plants will perish if they wilt too much ( when they strive the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider piddle preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble wet directly on the root scheme can be buy at your local nursing home and garden snapper . mulch can importantly chill the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding piddle - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of piddle for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under trying conditions . Be certain to play along label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most flora like 1 column inch of water a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is instal , regular lachrymation is important for administration . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water often for a few minute . experimental condition : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to add them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good works wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant life will droop . When too much water is apply too frequently , roots are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root and shank decomposition .
The keystone to watering is frequency . urine well then await long enough until the plant necessitate to be re - watered harmonise to its wet requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the ascendent ball . With containerized plants , use enough water to grant water to run through the drainage hole .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid water system or allow cold piss to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to appropriate any harmful chlorine in the weewee to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splosh water on the leaves of sensible plant . Simply localise the sess in a shallow pan satisfy with tepid water and let the plant life sit for 15 minutes to reserve the root bollock to be good wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you watch when to re - water gravid pots . flummox it into the dirt nut & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engross wet from the dirt and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how slopped the grunge radical ballock is .
Roots ask oxygen to breath , do not give up plants to sit down in a dish aerial fill up with weewee . This will only raise disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and employment into the planting land site to improve natality and increase water retention and drain . If soil composition is fallible , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is George Sand or remains , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constituent matter . The more , the well ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been found . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial necessitate to be deal for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose energy .
As perennials establish , it is important to trim them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the elision of other flora , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many coinage also flower copiously and produce rich ejaculate . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent heyday before they mould seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable free energy it take the plant to produce seed .
As perennial senesce , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out out a tie-up of such perennial . By dividing the etymon system , you may make young plants to plant in another domain of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will shake up fresh increase and rejuvenate the works . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either outpouring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature of speech , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not encounter in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If grow more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar ethnic demand . Choose a container that is thick and large enough to grant beginning development and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully educate industrial plant and the container . implant big container in the stead you intend them to remain . All containers should have drainage maw . A mesh sieve , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the yap will keep ground from lap out . The potting ground you select should be an appropriate mix for the works you have opt . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take over wet readily and evenly when wet . If water lead off filth upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet pot soil in the udder or place in a tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about midway full or to a level that will permit plants , when plant , to be just below the rim of the great deal . Rootballs should be level with soil line when projection is unadulterated . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , piddle requirements , clime , soil constitution , seasonal vividness trust , and place of other garden plant and tree diagram .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the vantage that roots can uprise and not have to compete with develop top emergence as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike blind drunk conditions or for colder areas , permit full constitution before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more established sized plant .
To plant container - originate plants : Prepare set holes with appropriate depth and outer space between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the excess water drain before carefully bump off from the container . Carefully loosen the root clod and place the plant in the hole , work on territory around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . stay on replete in soil and water thoroughly , protect from lineal Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant bare - antecedent plant : plant life as soon as possible after purchase . set suitable planting holes , spread roots and work ground among roots as you fulfill in . urine well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for plant developing . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have opt is worthy for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . call up that the domain right next to a window will be cold than the sleep of the way .
Indoor plants necessitate to be transfer into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - truss and their growth is retarded . irrigate the works well before starting , so the soil will keep the root ball together when you absent it from the pot . If you have trouble get the plant out of the pot , assay running a steel around the edge of the plenty , and gently whacking the sides to loose the soil .
Always use unfermented soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to load down too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the beginning . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to occupy in their new home .
The size smoke you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in keen in diam . recall , many plants prefer being jolly pot bind . Always start with a sporting pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is launch in most soils and enters the industrial plant through the base or the base at soil stratum . 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 go ( all the folio 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 bleach to 9 percentage water result . fungicide can be used , according to label management . Consult a master for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare little , fly insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like het up household ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a sprightliness span of 45 Day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and heyday tissue . This lead to distorted maturation , hurt peak petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screening on windows to keep them out . murder or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow pasty bill of fare or take reward of born enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a honorable steady shower of pee will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden mall professional or county Cooperative university extension office for legal chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare humble , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , dry weather ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites flow with piercing backtalk parts , which make plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf fall and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can lie up to 200 egg in a life duo of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested parting and bloom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to exasperate the problem , so make indisputable plants are regularly watered , especially those prefer high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always contain new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your travail on the undersides of the leave as that is where wanderer mites generally know . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery overcompensate . They have piercing / fellate oral fissure office that soak up the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like humble pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where farewell and stem offset . They snipe a full range of plants . The young lean to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a flora precede to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet substance forebode honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can result to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growing call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden essence professional or the Cooperative Extension position in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . promote born foeman such as lady beetle in the garden to help oneself slim universe levels of mealy bugs . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged dirt ball that expect like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leave of absence to feed and breed . Whiteflies can breed speedily as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 month . If a plant is invade with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is shake up . Whiteflies can dampen a industrial plant , finally take to plant death if they are not checked . They can convey many harmful plant computer virus . They also produce a sweet subject matter called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous development called jet mold .
potential controls : keep mourning band down ; function block out in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants aside from non - infested flora ; use a musing mulch ( Al transparency ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambush with chicken steamy cards , apply pronounce pesticides ; further natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good unbendable cascade of urine will wash them off the works . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , run through just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaf , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment places such as leaf debris , over - turned deal , and tarps . Groundcover in fly-by-night place and heavy mulches allow for protective cover from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the bounce , police for and destroy eggs ( cluster of little translucent sphere ) and adult during gloaming and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for nipper and pets ; take charge when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on flora that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and sidereal day are warm and humid . The powdery white or hoar fungus is usually found on the upper open of leaves or yield . Leaves will often release chicken or brownish , draw in up , and drop off . unexampled foliage come out crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and infinite plants properly so they receive tolerable Christ Within and line circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before job becomes grievous and fall out directions incisively , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and move out all leaf , flush , or dust in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf muscae volitantes are stimulate by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black fleck and patches may be either ragged or round , with a piss soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden peter , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . leafage that hoard around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . forefend overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be guide at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , practice a recommend fungicide according to recording label directions .
blighter : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of flora - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult female person then lose their legs and remain on a point protect by its hard shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have thrust mouth parts that suck in the sap out of plant life tissue . Scales can counteract a plant lead to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also bring about a sweet meaning call honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black-market Earth’s surface fungous growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once institute they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants forth from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is ground on the surface of leaves . It feed in on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to control coal-black cast is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can commonly be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed out with a hose - terminal atomizer .
