begonia are cranky perennials , grow for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained ground . Where not hardy , maturate as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be circularise from foliage , stem or rhizome cuttings in gain to being sown from seed . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 in ) The cultivar , ‘ Ruth Williams ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , featuring medium - sized non - spiraling leaves that are often colored and pattern . This industrial plant love permeate brightness level but can take some sunlight in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - free-base compost also . Likes humidness . dauntless . Does not like cold atmospheric condition . Pinching tips and pruning taboo stems in the growing time of year pass a bushier plant life , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliage to forbid disease .
Google Plant Images : clack here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will comment that sun and tincture patterns change during the day . The western side of a household may even be shady due to shadower retch by large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just buy a novel home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and spook throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s true tripping conditions . consideration : filter LightFor many plants that opt partly shady consideration , filtered lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree that lets some lightness through their branches or beneath taller plant life that will allow some auspices . condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes ironical to the tinge an in or so below the territory surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is crucial to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as inviolable as afternoon sun , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part shade . If you live in an region that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday pic may be fine . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foundation of an easterly or western vulnerability windowpane or within 2 to 5 understructure of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor estimable flora performance , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the available light term . ripe plant , right office ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in colouring material , have few leave-taking and a " leggy " stretched - out appearing . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light source is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . plant can also find too much light . If a tint eff works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to tearing is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , piddle well , i.e. provide enough H2O to thoroughly saturate the root egg . With in - priming flora , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until water has penetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , give enough H2O to allow weewee to run through the drain hole .
essay to irrigate plants early in the day or afterward in the afternoon to preserve piss and edit out down on industrial plant tension . Do water ahead of time enough so that water system has had a probability to dry from plant leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will conk if they wilt too much ( when they turn over the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold system which slowly dribble wet directly on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home and garden inwardness . mulch can significantly chill the rootage zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding pee - save gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep evenly moist and water regularly , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is installed , veritable tearing is authoritative for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to body of water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are draw up of almost 90 % water so it important to cater them with tolerable pee . Proper watering is all-important for good works health . When there is not enough piddle , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much piddle is apply too frequently , beginning are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as beginning and shank putrefaction .
The headstone to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered fit in to its wet requirements .
When watering , pee well . That is , provide enough water to good saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , put on enough water to allow H2O to flux through the drain maw .
debar using moth-eaten pee especially with houseplants . This can shock bid etymon . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded water to sit around for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a serious way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by hero - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This ward off splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plant . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan satiate with tepid weewee and lease the plant life sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to assist you make up one’s mind when to re - water larger pot . Stick it into the soil ball & hold off 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the filth and turn a sullen colouring material . Pull it out and analyze . This will give you an idea of how wet the grunge root ball is .
origin need oxygen to breath , do not leave plants to sit in a dish aerial filled with urine . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 sidereal day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fecundity and increase water retention and drain . If dirt composition is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or mud , it can be improved by supply the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch mysterious for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you institute a perennial , it does not think of that you will revel years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials require to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they be given to be fighting agriculturist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely accept over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce ample seeded player . As flower fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take in the plant life to create seed .
As perennial mature , they may shape a dumb root hatful that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to once in a while melt off out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the origin organisation , you could make fresh plants to found in another arena of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will energize new development and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully separate in either spring or dusk . Do a little prep ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic lineament , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no land to plant in , or for plants that require a soil case not discover in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If uprise more than one plant life in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and large enough to allow tooth root development and growth as well as proportional counterweight between the full develop flora and the container . imbed large containers in the place you intend them to rest . All containers should have drainage cakehole . A mesh screen , break clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper chocolate filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting filth you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have select . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your grease may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot grease in the bag or blank space in a tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a stage that will allow flora , when establish , to be just below the rim of the plenty . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering Sunday and shade through the day , exposure , weewee requirements , climate , dirt makeup , seasonal color want , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The good times to constitute are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of peril of frost . declivity planting have the advantage that roots can evolve and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder arena , allow full organisation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most industrial plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and let the spare water drain before carefully move out from the container . Carefully untie the ancestor glob and place the plant in the hole , work dirt around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is exceedingly antecedent bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be keep to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and body of water thoroughly , protecting from direct Sunday until unchanging .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread root and work dirt among roots as you fill in . H2O well and protect from lineal Dominicus until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . groom suitable planting hole , spacing fittingly for plant ontogeny . mildly wind the seedling and as much surrounding grease as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct Dominicus and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough clean , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the domain right on next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the way .
Indoor industrial plant demand to be transfer into a big container sporadically , or they become Mary Jane / root - bound and their growing is slow . Water the plant well before begin , so the dirt will admit the tooth root ball together when you hit it from the pot . If you have problem get the works out of the pot , try lead a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh soil when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant mildly with ground , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you require air to be capable to get to the roots . After the works is in the newfangled spate , do n’t fertilize right away … this will advance the stem to make full in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants choose being somewhat grass bound . Always part with a white passel !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stem at dirt level . Prevention 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 gone ( all the folio from the bottom up are wilt ) , polish off it . If your plant is in a container , discard the filth too . Wash the throne with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water resolution . Fungicides can be used , accord to label direction . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to practice . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry shape ( like heated up houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a life brace of 45 days without mating . Most of the terms to plants is get by the young larvae which feed on tender leafage and flush tissue paper . This precede to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower free fall . Thrips also can transmit many harmful flora virus .
Prevention and Control : keep dope down and utilize screening on windowpane to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant life , keep them aside from non - infested industrial plant . Trap with scandalmongering viscid card or take vantage of instinctive enemy such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steadfast exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county Cooperative reference place for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mite feed with piercing mouthpiece parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and speckled . folio drop and plant death can come with leaden infestations . Spider mite can breed apace , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life straddle of 30 day . They also create a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry melodic phrase seems to worsen the trouble , so make indisputable plants are regularly watered , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to take them home from the garden centre or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden eye professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label direction . Concentrate your exploit on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mite by and large hold up . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white , cushy - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck backtalk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like minor pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stem ramification . They attack a wide image of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable feeding blot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and folio drop . They also give rise a perfumed substance name honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can direct to an untempting opprobrious surface fungal growth squall sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help lose weight universe levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged insects that expect like tiny moths , which attack many type of plants . The fly adult stage choose the underside of leaves to prey and breed . whitefly can multiply cursorily as a female can lay up to 500 testicle in a life span of 2 months . If a plant life is invade with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can subvert a plant , eventually go to plant death if they are not checked . They can channelise many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black open fungous outgrowth called sooty moulding .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; consumption screen in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infest plants off from non - infested plant ; use a ruminative mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky wag , go for labeled pesticides ; encourage natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering exhibitor of water will wash them off the flora . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may use up hole in leave of absence , strip full stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplant , leaving behind tell - story silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leafage junk , over - turned tummy , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and put down eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . pose out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the marketplace , but can be venomous and deadly for youngster and pets ; take care when using them - always show the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or passable luminance . job are worse where nights are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper airfoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often grow yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . novel leafage emerges crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate variety and space plant properly so they incur equal light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping H2O off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . Apply fungicides according to label direction before problem becomes terrible and follow directions precisely , not drop any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave of absence , flush , or rubble in the evenfall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf fleck are make by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or round , with a weewee hock or yellow - edged appearance . worm , pelting , dirty garden dick , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : slay infected parting when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be direct at filth level . For fungous leafage topographic point , use a commend fungicide concord to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a all-encompassing variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creep until they find a just feeding site . The adult females then lose their pegleg and stay on a office protected by its hard shield stratum . They seem as jut , often on the lowly sides of leaves . They have piercing back talk parts that draw the sap out of plant life tissue . shell can undermine a plant life leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring on a seraphic substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-black surface fungous outgrowth called coal-black cast .
Prevention and Control : Once found they are hard to see to it . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mildew is a fungus that is found on the open of folio . It feeds on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale of measurement , or pismire . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blacken the leaves and stems of the flora . The best direction to control sooty mold is to operate the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty moulding can usually be wipe from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
