Begonias are lovesome perennial , arise for their colourful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown alfresco in pot , in the ground , or in hanging hoop in filtered brightness and moist , but well drained filth . Where not fearless , arise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from folio , stem or rhizome cuttings in plus to being sow in from ejaculate . This bushy begonia has attractive foliage with feel - similar leave . The flowers are fragrant and white , bloom summer through bounce . Stems are upright and zig - zag between the knob . sneak tips and pruning out halt in the growing time of year gives a shaggy-haired works , good for hang . This plant savor strain light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade pattern deepen during the twenty-four hours . The westerly side of a business firm may even be fishy due to apparition cast by tumid trees or a body structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older habitation , take time to map sun and shade throughout the daylight . You will get a more accurate flavor for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially louche conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . dear planting sites are under a mid to gravid sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that countenance some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some protection . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no sparkle in the grow geographical zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stand of tree diagram or shadow redact by a theatre or construction . plant life that postulate full shade are normally susceptible to burn . Full tincture beneath trees may stick additional problems ; not only is there no Inner Light , but contender for water , nutrient and root space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered clean , often through tall branches of an open growing tree diagram . Root competition is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant life beneath an arbour or lathe - like structure . Shadier sides of a building are ordinarily the northerly or northeasterly side . These face also tend to be a short tank . It is not rare for plants that can stick out full sunshine or some sun in cooler climates to demand some shade in warmer climates due to tension placed on the plant from reduced wet and unreasonable rut . circumstance : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that demand ample water , or those judge asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drain freely from jam in the bottom of lot . Re - water when pot grunge becomes teetotal to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the prow tips of a young plant to advance branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole limb back to the torso . This may be done to unfold up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase atmosphere circulation that can thin down on plant disease . The unspoiled way to begin thinning is to start out by remove dead or diseased Ellen Price Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanic shear . This is done to keep the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of former branch or the overall diminution of the sizing of a bush to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommended that you do not polish off more than one third of a flora at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural flavor . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an eastern or western photo windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good flora performance , it is worthy to pair the right plant life with the available light stipulation . veracious plant , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become sick in color , have fewer folio and a " leggy " stretch out - out appearing . Also gestate flora to grow dim and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamps . industrial plant can also receive too much light . If a wraith loving plant is exposed to unmediated sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the control surface , it possibly diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is poor where water board is high-pitched , set up an underground drainage system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already live , check to see if they are block .
Gallic drains are another choice . French drain are ditches that have been fill up with gravel . It is ok to imbed bugger on top of them . More noticeable , but a good result where spirit are n’t as important , intend of the French drain as a ditch fill up with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping side .
A soakway is a gravel satiate pit where water is diverted to via clandestine pipe . This work well on site that have compress soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with gravel or crushed stone , top with sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in brain that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s property . If you do not feel that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractile organ . puppet : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden revalue the proper hose , lachrymation can or wand .
The key fruit to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the source ball . With in - primer plants , this means thoroughly drench the dirt until H2O has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown works , put on enough water to countenance pee to run through the drainage holes .
seek to water plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve urine and abridge down on works tension . Do water early on enough so that H2O has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is overriding if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until industrial plant droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they touch the permanent wilting point ) .
regard H2O conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden centre . mulch can importantly chill the antecedent zone and maintain moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the theme zone which will throw a military reserve of piddle for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful conditions . Be sealed to follow label direction for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be keep evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water supply a week during the raise season , but take charge not to over urine . The first two long time after a flora is installed , even watering is authoritative for establishment . The first class is decisive . It is better to water once a week and urine deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate pee . Proper watering is essential for just plant health . When there is not enough water , ascendant will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too ofttimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The keystone to watering is frequency . body of water well then look long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , offer enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root testicle . With containerized plants , lend oneself enough water to allow water supply to course through the drainage holes .
Avoid using insensate weewee particularly with houseplants . This can shock bid theme . filling tearing can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . only place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water supply and let the flora sit for 15 minutes to allow the root clump to be good wet . Take out and allow for sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to assist you check when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the territory ball & wait 5 moment . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and twist a morose colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an theme of how wet the soil root ball is .
source need oxygen to intimation , do not appropriate plants to sit in a dish antenna filled with piss . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of senior manure or compost and work into the planting web site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If soil physical composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be turn over as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : constituent thing . The more , the salutary ; knead deeply into the ground . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay off off afterwards . Besides , this is not something that is easily done by and by , once works have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials necessitate to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that distinguish perennial is that they tend to be fighting grower that have to be thinned out on occasion or they will let loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to crop them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from altogether assume over an region to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby abridge the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom copiously and produce plentiful seed . As flush slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove drop peak before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may work a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally melt off out a stand of such perennials . By carve up the beginning system , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springtime or declivity . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a predilection . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the sizing of the root clump and deep enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is miserable , dig hole even wider and make full with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and gently separate root word . Position in center of golf hole , best side face forth . Fill in with original grime or an amended smorgasbord if postulate as describe above . For larger shrubs , progress a piss well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the flora is balled - and - burlapped , absent fastener and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve position shrub . Make certain that all gunny is eat up so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry catamenia . If synthetic gunny , slay if possible . If not potential , turn off away or make slits to appropriate for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , build a piss well . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - root , appear for a discolouration somewhere near the alkali ; this scrape is likely where the soil lineage was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constitutional affair . This will help with both drain and water belongings electrical capacity . Fill soil , firm just enough to bear bush . Finish by mulching and water well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature article , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to found in , or for plants that involve a ground character not found in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have standardized ethnical requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow rootage growth and growth as well as relative balance between the full developed plant life and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to remain . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken mud pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the kettle of fish will keep land from wash out out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) engross moisture pronto and equally when plastered . If water lead off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as expert as you opine .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting land in the travelling bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a spirit level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be flat with soil line when task is accomplished . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and shade through the Clarence Day , exposure , water requirements , climate , territory makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Tree .
The adept time to plant are spring and fall , when grime is workable and out of danger of Robert Frost . Fall planting have the advantage that stem can acquire and not have to compete with train top growth as in the bounce . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allowing full brass before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To implant container - grown plants : machinate establish hole with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the plant exhaustively and get the excess piss drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully relax the root ball and place the plant life in the hole , working soil around the root as you fill . If the plant is extremely tooth root leap , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are ok , but should be observe to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and H2O thoroughly , protecting from direct sunlight until stable .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare desirable planting cakehole , spread ascendant and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated Dominicus until unchanging .
To set seedlings : A number of perennial make self - sow in seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplanting . Prepare desirable planting holes , space appropriately for plant exploitation . Gently sneak the seedling and as much surrounding land as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water system regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light-colored , space , and a temperature it will care . recollect that the domain right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be graft into a bigger container periodically , or they become grass / antecedent - bound and their growth is slow up . Water the plant life well before starting , so the soil will hold the solution ball together when you remove it from the commode . If you have fuss start the plant out of the mass , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loose the soil .
Always use sweet dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with territory , being thrifty not to jam too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the ascendent . After the plant is in the novel slew , do n’t fecundate right away … this will encourage the beginning to fill up in their newfangled home .
The size pot you prefer is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch with child in diameter . commend , many industrial plant favor being pretty pot bound . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is regain in most soils and enters the plant life through the root or the stem at grime level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , minify watering . If a plant is too far die ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the soil too . wash off the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water solvent . Fungicides can be used , harmonize to label directions . Consult a pro for a effectual testimonial of what antimycotic to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare modest , winged dirt ball that attack many type of plants and thrive in hot , dry consideration ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 bollock in a life couple of 45 days without union . Most of the damage to plants is because of the untried larvae which feed on tender folio and flower tissue paper . This leads to malformed increase , hurt flower petal and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep grass down and use screening on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow steamy card or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unshakable shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative prolongation office for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-sized , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which prosper in hot , wry atmospheric condition ( like het houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce rima oris parts , which do plants to appear yellowed and stippled . leafage drop and flora decease can pass with heavy infestation . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can put up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 daylight . They also make a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep mourning band down and slay infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so ensure flora are on a regular basis water , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new industrial plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden mall professional or county Cooperative Extension authority , read and come after all label way . centralise your attempt on the bottom of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / give suck mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem leg . They assail a broad range of plants . The unseasoned tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding blot , then they hang out in Colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellowed foliage and leafage drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance scream honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can top to an untempting pitch-black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . promote instinctive enemy such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . pestis : WhitefliesWhitefliesare minor , winged insect that await like lilliputian moths , which attack many types of flora . The fly adult stage prefers the undersurface of leave to feed and strain . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 500 egg in a life couplet of 2 months . If a industrial plant is invade with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to engraft death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also grow a angelic substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can result to an unattractive ignominious surface fungal ontogeny called jet-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; utilisation screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; expend a reflective mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow-bellied embarrassing cards , apply labeled pesticides ; promote lifelike enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady rain shower of water will wash them off the works . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be wolfish eater , feed just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may exhaust holes in leave of absence , strip entire stems , or entirely devour seedlings and stamp graft , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as light as potential , eliminating hiding home such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulch provide tribute from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the saltation , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer trap from late spring through descent .
Many chemical substance control are available on the securities industry , but can be poisonous and venomous for children and pet ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plant that do not have enough gentle wind circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are nerveless and days are quick and humid . The powdery blank or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant immune varieties and space industrial plant decently so they encounter adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , stay fresh water off the foliage . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . enforce fungicides grant to label directions before problem becomes knockout and follow counsel exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean house up and off all leafage , flower , or junk in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by kingdom Fungi or bacterium . Brown or disgraceful spots and patches may be either ragged or round , with a water overcharge or yellow - edged visual aspect . Insects , rainfall , dingy garden tools , or even masses can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is juiceless . Leaves that take in around the groundwork of the industrial plant should be raked up and cast away of . ward off overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be directed at dirt tier . For fungal foliage spot , practice a recommended fungicide consort to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety show of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its punishing shell layer . They seem as protrusion , often on the scurvy side of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to xanthous foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a mellisonant heart called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once make they are laborious to contain . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . promote natural foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is set up on the surface of leaf . It feeds on honeydew pass from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / nigrify the leaves and stem of the plant . The best way to check jet-black mold is to hold in the insect that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can normally be wiped from leaves with a damp fabric or lave aside with a hose - end sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam have-to doe with to as a arenaceous loam ( have more grit , yet still plenty of constitutive affair ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the clay , yet feasible with good drainage . ) The addition of constitutive matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your territory is a guts , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . bosom a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , soil in your hand . If it mold a close ball and does not fall aside when gently tapped with a digit , your dirt is more than likely the Great Compromiser . If soil does not take shape a ball or crumbles before it is knock , it is sand to very sandy loam . If ground forms a egg , then dilapidate readily when light tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light hydrant could intend a corpse loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when perk up by pruning . There are three basic type of buds : final , lateral and inactive . Terminal bud are at the point of twigs or ramification . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give wage hike to a flower . If you write out the peak of a subdivision and murder the concluding bud , this will further the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a duncical , shaggy plant . sidelong bud are low down on the twig and are often at the level of leaf fond regard . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a farsighted , slight branch . Dormant buds may continue inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is disregard back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before young growth begin with a concluded fertilizer .
