begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from come . ‘ Cowboy Jeans ’ spring up from a creeping rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , sport little , lobed leaves . This works enjoys filter luminousness but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia produce very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidness . Hardy . Does not like dusty atmospheric condition . cabbage summit and pruning outer stems in the grow time of year gives a bushier works , good for hang basket . Remove beat foliation to forbid disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and shade pattern change during the sidereal day . The western side of a house may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent Lord’s Day and wraith throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s on-key lightsome consideration . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer part suspicious consideration , filtered lightis paragon . upright planting site are under a mid to enceinte sized tree that lets some igniter through their branches or beneath tall works that will provide some protection . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the land is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of toilet . Re - water when potting territory becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the grunge surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer spark that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part sun or part shadiness . If you be in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day pic may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a fix where afternoon shade will be received . condition : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be pose within 2 substructure of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southern picture window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor undecomposed plant public presentation , it is desirable to mate the correct plant life with the available light conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in people of colour , have few leafage and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also await plants to grow slower and have few flower when light is less than desirable . It is potential to supply supplemental firing for indoor plant with lamp . works can also get too much light . If a shade have sex plant is let out to direct Lord’s Day , it may droop and/or make leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less oft . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. provide enough pee to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this signify thoroughly soak the filth until water has permeate to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough water to leave water to flow through the drain holes .
assay to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve body of water and make out down on plant stress . Do piss early enough so that water has had a luck to dry from works leaf prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus trouble .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some industrial plant will recuperate from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
deliberate water conservation method such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy dribble moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local household and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the ascendent zone and husband wet .
study adding water - economise gels to the beginning geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water supply for the plant . These can make a cosmos of difference peculiarly under trying conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grunge should be observe equally moist and watered regularly , as circumstance require . Most plants like 1 inch of piddle a hebdomad during the uprise season , but take care not to over water . The first two class after a plant is install , veritable watering is significant for establishment . The first class is critical . It is good to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to body of water oft for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to provide them with adequate water . right tearing is essential for ripe plant life wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much H2O is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases hap such as root and stem guff .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - irrigate accord to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough weewee to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to permit water to flow through the drain yap .
avert using cold water specially with houseplants . This can shock legal tender rootage . Fill watering can with tepid pee or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a unspoilt mode to let any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave of sensitive plant . but place the peck in a shallow pan filled with tepid urine and let the works sit for 15 moment to allow the root ball to be thoroughly blind drunk . Take out and leave sufficient drain .
practice an unpainted dowel pin to help you watch when to re - water big heap . pose it into the soil ball & hold back 5 minute . The dowel pin will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker coloring material . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how lactating the soil ancestor ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breathing time , do not give up plants to sit down in a dish fill with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to ameliorate fertility and increase water supply retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be believe as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by contribute the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch cryptic for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plant life have been plant . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not signify that you will savour years of upkeep - free horticulture . perennial call for to be care for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thin out out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials lay down , it is important to prune them back and cut them out now and then . This will preclude them from completely taking over an area to the expulsion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also bloom abundantly and give rise ample semen . As salad days slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will forestall your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vitality it takes the plant to grow seed .
As perennials mature , they may organize a dense source mass that finally direct to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root organization , you’re able to make new plants to institute in another area of the garden or give away . Also steady down pruning will hasten fresh outgrowth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or decline . Do a minuscule preparation ; some perennial do have a taste . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is piffling or no soil to plant in , or for plants that command a soil character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have like ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is recondite and large enough to allow root word development and growth as well as proportional rest between the fully developed flora and the container . found large containers in the place you signify them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A interlocking screen , broken clay batch pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee bean filter placed over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) take in wet readily and equally when wet . If body of water draw off land upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot land in the bag or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a story that will allow plant , when engraft , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil blood line when project is terminated . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal people of color desired , and billet of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The best sentence to institute are spring and dip , when grunge is workable and out of peril of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can formulate and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the outpouring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike stiff conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless establish a more established sized plant .
To plant container - rise plants : gear up planting hole with appropriate depth and infinite between . Water the works thoroughly and let the superfluous water drain before carefully removing from the container . cautiously undo the root ball and place the plant life in the hole , mould soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is super root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a sack tongue are all right , but should be keep to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and water exhaustively , protecting from direct sun until static .
To constitute spare - root industrial plant : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting hollow , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . pee well and protect from unmediated Lord’s Day until stable .
To set seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also protrude your own seedling bed for transplant . set up worthy planting holes , space appropriately for flora development . mildly lift the seedling and as much surrounding grime as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it like a shot , firm soil with fingertips and water system well . Shade from direct Dominicus and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have choose is worthy for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . commemorate that the expanse the right way next to a windowpane will be frigid than the eternal rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a big container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . Water the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you get rid of it from the slew . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , attempt hunt a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant lightly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want gentle wind to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the newfangled spate , do n’t feed flop away … this will promote the root to fulfill in their new domicile .
The size of it pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in swell in diameter . Remember , many plants opt being somewhat potentiometer bandage . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the shank at soil degree . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far move ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the land too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , grant to label direction . confer with a professional for a effectual good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , winged insect that attack many types of plants and flourish in hot , juiceless conditions ( like het up house ) . They can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 300 testis in a liveliness couple of 45 days without coupling . Most of the equipment casualty to industrial plant is due to the youthful larvae which feed on sore leaf and flower tissue . This leads to distorted maturation , injure flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and employ screening on window to keep them out . transfer or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky carte or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory touch . Sometimes a honorable steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . look up your local garden center professional or county Cooperative annex office for sound chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - comparable creatures which flourish in blistering , ironic conditions ( like heated up houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce sassing percentage , which cause plants to appear jaundiced and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can pass off with intemperate infestations . wanderer mites can multiply quickly , as a female person can rest up to 200 eggs in a life-time span of 30 days . They also get a web which can embrace infested folio and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and remove infested plants . teetotal breeze seems to worsen the problem , so check that plants are regularly watered , particularly those prefer high-pitched humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of instinctive enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden midpoint professional or county Cooperative Extension post , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersurface of the leave-taking as that is where spider pinch mostly live . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - corporate insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth contribution that sop up the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small musical composition of cotton plant and they be given to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They round a wide cooking stove of plants . The unseasoned tend to move around until they find a worthy eating post , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can soften a works leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sugared marrow called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost natural enemies such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help tighten population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insect that reckon like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of foliage to feast and breed . Whiteflies can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a living span of 2 months . If a plant is invade with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the industrial plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant life , eventually leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also acquire a sweet essence called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can direct to an unattractive grim control surface fungal growth bid jet mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; utilisation screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a meditative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambush with yellow-bellied embarrassing wit , hold label pesticide ; encourage innate enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of weewee will wash out them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not dirt ball . They can be voracious feeder , consume just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hole in leaves , flight strip entire stems , or totally devour seedling and pinnace transplants , leave behind behind tell - tale silvery , unworthy track .
Prevention and control condition : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding place such as leaf debris , over - become pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady place and wakeless mulch provide protection from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the leap , police for and destroy ballock ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during fall and dayspring . do out beer traps from late spring through surrender .
Many chemical substance control are uncommitted on the market , but can be toxicant and deathly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always study the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery blanched or gray fungus is usually find out on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often deform yellow or dark-brown , draw in up , and deteriorate off . New foliage emerges crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often leave out early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space works decent so they pick up fair to middling light and air travel circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . Apply fungicides harmonise to label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow direction exactly , not drop any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and murder all leaves , flowers , or dust in the downfall and destroy . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are induce by fungus or bacteria . chocolate-brown or contraband spots and darn may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - butt against appearance . Insects , rain , pestiferous garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . forfend overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil storey . For fungal folio spots , apply a recommended fungicide fit in to recording label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a encompassing variety of plant - indoor and out-of-door . vernal scales crawl until they find a well feeding internet site . The grownup females then turn a loss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its toilsome shell layer . They appear as blow , often on the lower sides of parting . They have pierce mouth parts that give suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also grow a unfermented substance called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive fateful Earth’s surface fungous maturation called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once found they are hard to insure . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension power in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage rude enemy such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty molding is a fungus that is bump on the Earth’s surface of farewell . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it plow / blackens the leaves and stem of the works . The dear way to hold sooty mould is to see the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leave with a damp textile or wash forth with a hose - end sprayer .
