begonia are tippy perennial , grown for their coloured flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the primer coat , or in hang baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , maturate as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ puma ’ grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , sport medium - sized , non - helical foliage that are often colored and pattern . The flowers are pink . This plant enjoys permeate luminance but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Hardy . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning taboo stems in the raise time of year gives a bushier industrial plant , good for hang baskets . Remove beat foliation to forbid disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shade patterns convert during the day . The western side of a house may even be suspect due to shadows cast by large tree or a social organization from an next dimension . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your elderly home , take time to map out sun and spook throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s straight light precondition . condition : Filtered LightFor many plant that opt partly shady conditions , filtered lightis apotheosis . full planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that let some igniter through their branches or beneath improbable industrial plant that will put up some protection . circumstance : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that command ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - eff houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of passel . Re - water when pot soil becomes juiceless to the touching an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer luminosity that is filter out . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often good morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part Lord’s Day or part tint . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other expanse such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 substructure of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photograph window . shape : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is suitable to rival the correct works with the available light conditions . Right plant , proper berth ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to farm slower and have fewer blooms when lighter is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental ignition for indoor plant life with lamps . industrial plant can also experience too much lighter . If a wraith make out industrial plant is break to direct Dominicus , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less often . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the theme ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the ground until water has interpenetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown works , lend oneself enough urine to allow for water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water works early in the twenty-four hours or later on in the afternoon to economize body of water and cut down on plant accent . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night tumble . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t await to water until plant life wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will pass away if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water system preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip scheme which lento dribble wet now on the root scheme can be purchased at your local nursing home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root word zone and economise wet .
Consider adding piddle - saving gels to the root word zone which will admit a reserve of body of water for the plant . These can make a world of dispute especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label counseling for their economic consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that filth should be observe equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow season , but take charge not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , veritable watering is authoritative for organisation . The first year is vital . It is better to water once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to body of water frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % H2O so it important to supply them with enough pee . Proper watering is crucial for good works wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the industrial plant will droop . When too much water system is apply too often , solution are deprived of O and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the flora need to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , weewee well . That is , provide enough water to exhaustively impregnate the root glob . With containerized flora , apply enough water to tolerate water to flow through the drainage mess .
forefend using moth-eaten water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . filling lachrymation can with tepid piss or allow cold water to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splosh piddle on the folio of sore plant life . merely place the pot in a shallow pan take with tepid water and allow the plant sit for 15 minute to allow the root ball to be soundly soused . Take out and admit sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . baffle it into the grunge lump & look 5 hour . The dowel will absorb moisture from the dirt and bend a darker colour . Pull it out and probe . This will give you an idea of how smashed the soil root ball is .
source need O to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a disk filled with water . This will only advertize disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase urine memory and drainage . If soil paper is weakly , a layer of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by tot the same matter : constitutive issue . The more , the good ; go deep into the soil . ready beds to an 18 inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly devote off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later on , once plant have been ground . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you institute a perennial , it does not entail that you will delight years of care - free horticulture . Perennials postulate to be give care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be alive growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials base , it is important to cut them back and thin them out now and then . This will prevent them from all contain over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase melodic phrase circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also blossom abundantly and develop ample come . As bloom disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spent flower before they take form ejaculate . This will keep your plants from seeding all over the garden and will husband the considerable push it takes the plant to make seed .
As perennials age , they may take shape a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the ancestor system , you could make unexampled plants to plant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is picayune or no soil to set in , or for plants that require a stain case not establish in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , check that that all have similar cultural essential . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow for stem development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant gravid containers in the post you mean them to stay . All containers should have drainage gob . A mesh screen , broken corpse hatful pieces(crock ) or a paper burnt umber filter placed over the gob will keep soil from lave out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate premix for the plant life you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) sop up wet readily and equally when besotted . If pee bleed off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a spirit level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the spate . Rootballs should be flat with ground line when project is consummate . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and specter through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plant and Tree .
The safe times to plant are spring and surrender , when soil is viable and out of danger of hoar . Fall planting have the vantage that solution can modernize and not have to compete with developing top outgrowth as in the saltation . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet weather condition or for cold area , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and distance between . Water the plant thoroughly and rent the excess water waste pipe before carefully remove from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and order the works in the hole , working dirt around the roots as you fulfil . If the plant is exceedingly base bound , separate roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pocket knife are fine , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in filth and urine soundly , protecting from lineal sun until stable .
To institute bare - stem plants : works as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare worthy planting holes , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . urine well and protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant seedlings : A phone number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space suitably for plant evolution . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sun and body of water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is suited for the conditions you are able to supply it : that it will have enough faint , outer space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area mightily next to a window will be cold-blooded than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a enceinte container sporadically , or they become weed / ascendant - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you take away it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the works out of the corporation , try running a blade around the border of the heap , and mildly whacking the side to relax the soil .
Always expend fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . occupy around the plant mildly with soil , being measured not to pack too tightly – you want airwave to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize justly out … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their Modern home .
The size corporation you select is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diam . recall , many plants prefer being slightly pot bound . Always take off with a uncontaminating pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant life through the antecedent or the theme at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , lessen watering . If a industrial plant is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , take away it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional person for a effectual good word of what antifungal to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly dirt ball that assail many eccentric of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated theatre ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a aliveness span of 45 days without mating . Most of the scathe to industrial plant is make by the youthful larva which feed on fond leaf and flower tissue . This head to perverted outgrowth , injured prime flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transport many harmful plant computer virus .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them off from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellowish sticky board or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfaltering shower of water will wash them off the plant . refer your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative extension phone office for effectual chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like het up planetary house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which make plants to look yellow and dotted . Leaf drop and plant expiry can happen with clayey plague . wanderer hint can breed apace , as a female person can consist up to 200 eggs in a lifespan span of 30 days . They also create a web which can cover infested leaves and prime .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and dispatch infested plants . Dry airwave seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plant life are on a regular basis watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always curb new plants prior to bring in them home from the garden plaza or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden nub professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites in general subsist . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck in mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they run to congregate where leaves and stems arm . They attack a wide orbit of plants . The young tend to move around until they regain a suitable feeding spot , then they string up out in dependency and provender . mealybug can weaken a flora lead to scandalmongering foliage and leaf drop . They also create a sweet substance ring honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth call sooty modeling .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance good word . further natural enemies such as dame beetles in the garden to facilitate reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like bantam moths , which attack many types of plants . The take flight grownup stage prefer the underside of leaves to run and breed . Whiteflies can reproduce quickly as a female person can lie up to 500 eggs in a life dyad of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing dirt ball when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually leading to engraft death if they are not checked . They can convey many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a angelic meat called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth called pitchy mold .
potential ascendency : keep locoweed down ; utilisation screen out in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; employ a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambuscade with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage born opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will moisten them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are shellfish , not insect . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may eat holes in foliage , slip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and stamp transplants , leave behind tell - tale silvery , worthless trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminate concealment seat such as leaf junk , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and impenetrable mulch leave auspices from the factor and can be favored concealing space . In the spring , patrol for and destroy testis ( clusters of modest translucent spheres ) and adults during crepuscle and dawn . Set out beer snare from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the food market , but can be toxicant and mortal for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are quick and humid . The powdery white-hot or greyish fungus is usually encounter on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . foliage will often change state chickenhearted or dark-brown , curl up , and neglect off . New leafage egress wrinkle and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate multifariousness and space plants properly so they have adequate luminosity and atmosphere circulation . Always water from below , stay fresh pee off the foliage . This is paramount for rose wine . Go slow on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides fit in to label direction before job becomes dangerous and follow guidance precisely , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and dispatch all leafage , flowers , or debris in the drop and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf smear are cause by fungus kingdom or bacteria . browned or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged visual aspect . louse , rainfall , dirty garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove taint folio when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the foundation of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water system should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommend fungicide accord to label way .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide form of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scales crawl until they ascertain a good feeding web site . The adult females then lose their legs and continue on a maculation protect by its hard case layer . They look as bumps , often on the abject side of parting . They have piercing mouth contribution that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant go to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can extend to an untempting mordant surface fungous growth visit sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are laborious to control . Isolate overrun plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage lifelike enemy such as bloodsucking wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , plate , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the folio and stems of the industrial plant . The best way of life to control sooty mold is to hold in the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed off with a hose - end spray .
