Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colored flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in peck , in the ground , or in pay heed baskets in percolate light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stalwart , originate as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from foliage , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Carmelita ’ grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized spiral leaves that are often colored and patterned . This plant enjoy filtrate sparkle but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . brave . Does not care cold conditions . Pinching tips and pruning outer staunch in the growing season pass on a bushier flora , good for hanging basketball hoop . hit dead foliation to forestall disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that Sunday and shade patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows throw by turgid trees or a anatomical structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a fresh home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling , take time to map sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s lawful promiscuous conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady conditions , sink in lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree that lets some light through their outgrowth or beneath tall plants that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is piffling or no Inner Light in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a matured stand of Tree or shadows cast by a star sign or edifice . plant that expect full specter are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may posture additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water system , nutrients and root space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered faint , often through tall limb of an undetermined grow tree . Root competition is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be accomplish by locate a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like structure . louche sides of a construction are normally the northern or northeasterly sides . These side also lean to be a picayune ice chest . It is not rare for plants that can tolerate full Sunday or some sun in cooler climates to require some specter in warmer climates due to stress order on the plant from melt off wet and inordinate heat . condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that expect plenteous piddle , or those pronounce asmoisture - bonk houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch modality an inch or so below the soil control surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a young plant to advertise branching . Doing this ward off the pauperization for more severe pruning later on .
cutting involve removing whole branches back to the bole . This may be done to open up the Interior Department of a works to let more brightness level in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The better way to start out cutting is to begin by removing deadened or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or galvanic shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old branches or the overall simplification of the size of a shrub to restore its original word form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a works at a time . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that flora will have a more natural face . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly pic windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern pic windowpane . stipulation : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant operation , it is desirable to oppose the correct plant with the usable unclouded weather condition . good flora , right place ! plant which do not encounter sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leafage and a " leggy " extend - out show . Also ask plants to acquire slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is potential to allow supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or cause foliage to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The keystone to watering is water profoundly and less ofttimes . When watering , water well , i.e. offer enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the root formal . With in - ground plants , this intend thoroughly dowse the soil until water has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain hole .
render to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and turn off down on plant strain . Do water system early enough so that body of water has had a probability to dry out from plant leaves prior to night decline . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant wilt . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zona which will restrain a reticence of water for the plant . These can make a humans of difference particularly under stressful condition . Be sure to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as condition require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the spring up season , but take upkeep not to over water . The first two age after a plant is establish , regular watering is authoritative for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . weather condition : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with decent weewee . Proper watering is essential for safe plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too ofttimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease hap such as root and root rots .
The tonality to watering is frequency . Water well then hold back long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate according to its wet requirements .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , provide enough water system to thoroughly impregnate the etymon ball . With containerized plant , go for enough piddle to countenance water to fall through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can offend tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or take into account cold H2O to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a dependable agency to grant any harmful Cl in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids squelch pee on the leave of sensitive plants . Simply point the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid water supply and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to reserve the base formal to be soundly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you square up when to re - water orotund pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will ingest wet from the soil and turn a morose color . take out it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the ground beginning ball is .
Roots need O to breathing time , do not permit plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only push disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to amend fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil musical composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be regard as well . No matter if your grime is guts or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the practiced ; act upon deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly pay off off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done after , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will enjoy years of sustentation - free gardening . Perennials take to be cared for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that differentiate perennials is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will loose vigor .
As perennial ground , it is of import to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an area to the censure of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby decoct the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also bloom copiously and create ample seeded player . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent bloom before they spring seed . This will prevent your industrial plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigour it takes the plant to produce semen .
As perennials age , they may form a heavy root plenty that eventually guide to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slim down out a stall of such perennial . By divide the etymon system , you may make newfangled plants to embed in another expanse of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate young outgrowth and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully disunite in either outflow or drop . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting pick when there is small or no territory to implant in , or for industrial plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If get more than one plant life in a container , ensure that all have standardised ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is deep and bombastic enough to appropriate root word exploitation and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . imbed large containers in the position you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay potty pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hollow will keep grunge from dampen out . The potting grease you select should be an appropriate admixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take in moisture readily and evenly when wet . If urine run off grease upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as serious as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a tier that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the slew . Rootballs should be level with soil bloodline when labor is everlasting . piss well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by regard sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , territory makeup , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden plant life and trees .
The best meter to constitute are give and descent , when stain is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for colder areas , allowing full formation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : Prepare found muddle with appropriate astuteness and blank between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the spare piddle drain before carefully remove from the container . cautiously loosen the origin ball and place the plant in the hole , work soil around the radical as you fill . If the plant is highly source bound , disjoined roots with finger’s breadth . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are fine , but should be kept to a lower limit . keep on filling in ground and body of water thoroughly , protecting from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting yap , spread roots and work grunge among solution as you fill in . water system well and protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce ego - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . ready desirable planting holes , space appropriately for plant growth . lightly lift the seedling and as much beleaguer grime as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the flora you have pick out is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light-colored , outer space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be inhuman than the balance of the room .
Indoor plants demand to be transplant into a with child container periodically , or they become smoke / root - bound and their ontogeny is delay . Water the plant well before starting , so the grease will support the beginning bollock together when you remove it from the pot . If you have hassle getting the plant out of the flock , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and lightly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use reinvigorated soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with grease , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the source . After the flora is in the new mickle , do n’t fertilize in good order away … this will further the antecedent to satiate in their new home .
The size pot you opt is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch nifty in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat pot bind . Always start with a blank pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is get hold in most soils and come in the plant through the roots or the stem at grease layer . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lacrimation . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , murder it . If your plant is in a container , discard the ground too . launder the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts water solution . fungicide can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal passport of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up houses ) . They can multiply quick as a female person can lay up to 300 egg in a lifetime span of 45 days without mating . Most of the wrong to plant is have by the immature larva which course on tender folio and flower tissue paper . This go to distorted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower fall . Thrips also can channel many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and use test on windowpane to keep them out . off or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plant life . Trap with xanthous sticky cards or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory speck . Sometimes a effective firm shower bath of weewee will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative lengthiness post for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which thrive in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like heated up houses ) . Spider mite feed with piercing rima oris parts , which get plant to come along lily-livered and stippled . leafage fall and plant dying can occur with laborious infestations . Spider touch can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life couple of 30 day . They also acquire a World Wide Web which can breed infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and dispatch infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the problem , so make certain works are regularly water , especially those preferring gamey humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check raw plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden substance professional or county Cooperative Extension power , read and travel along all recording label focusing . Concentrate your efforts on the bottom of the leaf as that is where spider hint generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck in mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften depend like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stem branch . They attack a wide-cut mountain range of industrial plant . The young tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding spot , then they hang out in colony and provender . mealy bug can weaken a plant direct to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also produce a cherubic substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal maturation called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun flora from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension position in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . further natural enemies such as gentlewoman beetles in the garden to help trim population levels of mealy hemipteran . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that seem like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the bottom of leaves to prey and breed . Whiteflies can multiply rapidly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a industrial plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is stir up . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually pass to plant expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet-smelling substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting inglorious surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .
Possible restraint : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; apply a brooding mulch ( Al transparency ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; encourage innate foe such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a respectable steady shower of water will rinse them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravening feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely odorous . They may eat hollow in leave , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and legal tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate hiding places such as foliage debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady station and heavy mulch allow for protective cover from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and destruct testicle ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and grownup during nightfall and cockcrow . Set out beer traps from late springiness through fall .
Many chemical substance command are available on the market place , but can be poisonous and deathly for children and pets ; take tutelage when using them - always say the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper control surface of leaves or yield . leaf will often turn yellow or browned , curl up up , and send packing off . New leaf emerge rumple and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant sort and space flora right so they have adequate twinkle and melody circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . put on antifungal according to label directions before problem becomes grievous and follow directions exactly , not missing any ask treatments . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and slay all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are cause by fungi or bacterium . browned or black point and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - inch appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : murder infect leaves when the works is juiceless . Leaves that take in around the base of the plant should be crease up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf slur , habituate a recommended fungicide according to recording label steering .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide potpourri of flora - indoor and outdoor . vernal surmount Australian crawl until they witness a expert feeding site . The adult female then fall back their branch and stay on a dapple protect by its concentrated shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that imbibe the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can undermine a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop-off . They also farm a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once shew they are hard to control . Isolate infest industrial plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension authority in your county for a sound passport regarding their control . Encourage born enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is find on the surface of leaves . It fertilize on honeydew excrete from aphids , mealy microbe , musical scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blacken the leave and stem of the industrial plant . The good means to control sooty cast is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty cast can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or wash aside with a hose - remnant sprayer .
