begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and leafage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in stack , in the earth , or in hanging baskets in filter out light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , base or rhizome cuttings in plus to being sown from seed . This bushy begonia has deeply incised , crinkled - margined foliage . The few flower are pinkish and bloom intermittently . Stems are upright and zig - zag between the nodes . pinch tips and pruning outer stems in the arise time of year gives a bushier plant , adept for hang . This flora enjoys filtered light but can take some Dominicus in winter . Water sparingly . begonia produce very well in peat - establish compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Dominicus and tone pattern transfer during the day . The westerly side of a home may even be shady due to shadower cast by declamatory Tree or a construction from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older base , take fourth dimension to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s rightful faint conditions . experimental condition : Filtered LightFor many plant life that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that get some light through their branches or beneath tall plants that will provide some protective cover . condition : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zona . Shade can be the result of a mature sales booth of trees or shadows cast by a house or edifice . Plants that require full shade are ordinarily susceptible to burn . Full shade beneath trees may sit extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for piddle , nutrients and etymon space .
Partial shademeans that an area receive filter light , often through tall branches of an undefendable growing tree diagram . Root competition is usually less . Partial shade can also be accomplish by locate a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like structure . Shadier side of a construction are normally the northerly or northeastern side . These position also tend to be a small ice chest . It is not rare for plant that can tolerate full Sunday or some Lord’s Day in cooler climates to need some shade in warmer climates due to stress place on the plant from reduced wet and unreasonable heat . Conditions : Moisture - love HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water supply , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of Mary Jane . Re - water supply when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil airfoil . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the theme gratuity of a young industrial plant to promote branching . Doing this avoid the need for more severe pruning subsequently on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can switch off down on plant disease . The best way to begin thinning is to begin by transfer dead or pathologic wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hired man or galvanic shears . This is done to keep the hope shape of a hedge or topiary .
regenerate is remotion of old offset or the overall reduction of the size of it of a shrub to restore its original conformation and size . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a plant life at a time . Remember to polish off leg from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , shorten back cane at various heights so that flora will have a more natural look . Conditions : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is worthy to check the correct plant with the available weak conditions . Right industrial plant , correct space ! plant which do not receive sufficient luminance may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to farm slower and have few blooms when igniter is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamps . flora can also encounter too much light . If a shade jazz plant is exposed to verbatim sunshine , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it peradventure diverted to a drain ditch . If drainage is poor where water table is gamy , instal an undercover drain system . You should contact a contractile organ for this . If hush-hush drainpipe already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
French waste pipe are another option . French drains are ditches that have been fill up with gravel . It is ok to plant sodomite on top of them . More noticeable , but a skillful resolution where looking at are n’t as important , reckon of the French drain as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where pee is diverted to via underground pipes . This work well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fill with crushed rock or crushed stone , topped with George Sand and sodded or sow .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s prop . If you do not find that you’re able to go through a practicable solution on your own , call a contractor . pecker : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on innate rainfall . Even the most H2O witting garden value the right hose , lachrymation can or scepter .
The cay to tearing is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. ply enough water to thoroughly saturate the ascendant ball . With in - background plant , this entail soundly hook the soil until water has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow H2O to flow through the drainage maw .
prove to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to keep up water and cut down on plant stress . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from plant leaves prior to dark surrender . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system of rules which slowly drip moisture directly on the antecedent organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the tooth root zona and conserve wet .
Consider adding H2O - save gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a backlog of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful weather . Be sure to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept equally moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take guardianship not to over water . The first two years after a plant is establish , regular tearing is significant for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water deep , than to weewee oftentimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to provide them with adequate water . Proper watering is all important for good works health . When there is not enough water supply , root will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too oftentimes , roots are impoverish of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as root and root word hogwash .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant call for to be re - water according to its wet requirements .
When lachrymation , weewee well . That is , furnish enough water to thoroughly saturate the theme ball . With containerized plants , apply enough body of water to provide water to run through the drainage gob .
debar using cold water peculiarly with houseplants . This can shock tender root . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded weewee to sit down for a while to get to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a undecomposed way to let any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing piss on the leaf of sensitive plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid piss and permit the works sit for 15 minutes to allow the base clod to be thoroughly wet . Take out and countenance sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you find out when to re - water larger hatful . Stick it into the soil nut & await 5 minutes . The dowel pin will imbibe moisture from the soil and release a glowering color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how wet the soil root word ball is .
Roots ask oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a disk filled with H2O . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water retention and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be deliberate as well . No matter if your grunge is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the best ; work out deeply into the soil . set beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly bear off later on . Besides , this is not something that is well done by and by , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy year of maintenance - free horticulture . perennial require to be care for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be slim out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials shew , it is important to prune them back and reduce them out once in a while . This will prevent them from completely strike over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air travel circulation thereby trim back the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce ample seed . As prime fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they mold seed . This will forestall your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vim it takes the plant life to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may mold a dense theme masses that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a outdoor stage of such perennials . By split the rootage organisation , you could make novel plants to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will stimulate new development and regenerate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a small homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a golf hole twice the size of the root testicle and inscrutable enough to embed at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is piteous , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or dirt amendment .
cautiously remove bush from container and lightly disjoined ascendant . Position in center field of hole , secure side facing forward . satisfy in with original soil or an amended concoction if want as draw above . For large shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant life is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of born burlap , tucking it down into hollow , after you ’ve lay bush . ensure that all gunny is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , teetotal catamenia . If synthetic gunny , take if potential . If not potential , cut away or make slits to reserve for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is scanty - root , calculate for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the dirt line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , tot up organic thing . This will aid with both drainage and water holding capacitance . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : make ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is small or no land to plant in , or for plants that require a dirt character not regain in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one industrial plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to allow ascendant development and growth as well as relative balance between the full acquire plant and the container . establish bombastic containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh cover , get around stiff pot pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter position over the gob will keep soil from launder out . The potting filth you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plant you have chosen . Quality stain ( or soil - less medias ) soak up moisture readily and equally when wet . If body of water runs off filth upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet potting ground in the bag or post in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . occupy container about halfway full or to a grade that will allow plant , when plant , to be just below the rim of the potbelly . Rootballs should be level with territory parentage when undertaking is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by view sun and spook through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , filth makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Tree .
The good times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the reward that root can rise and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more establish sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profoundness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the supernumerary water drainage before carefully hit from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant life in the hole , working grease around the root as you fill . If the flora is super radical bound , disjoined roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be keep to a lower limit . Continue fulfil in soil and water thoroughly , protect from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To establish bare - beginning plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . organize suitable planting kettle of fish , propagate roots and work soil among roots as you meet in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To implant seedling : A act of perennial get ego - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also part your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting yap , spacing appropriately for works growth . lightly raise the seedling and as much palisade soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from verbatim sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have chosen is desirable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough tripping , space , and a temperature it will wish . recollect that the area right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become dope / root - bind and their increase is retarded . irrigate the works well before starting , so the land will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the batch . If you have trouble get the works out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the potentiometer , and gently whacking the sides to untie the soil .
Always use novel dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . replete around the plant lightly with soil , being careful not to take too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize justly away … this will further the roots to satiate in their unexampled home .
The size of it pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in expectant in diam . Remember , many plants prefer being somewhat slew bond . Always start with a uncontaminating pot!How - to : RepotNow is the right time to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is ascertain in most soil and enters the plant through the radical or the stem at soil degree . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the wad with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 voice water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that aggress many type of plant and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply speedily as a female person can lie up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without conjugation . Most of the equipment casualty to plant is triggered by the young larvae which feed in on tender folio and flower tissue . This conduct to distorted development , injured flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transfer many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down and utilise screen on window to keep them out . move out or discard infest plants , keep them out from non - infested plants . Trap with lily-livered viscous cards or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a adept firm rain shower of urine will wash off them off the plant . look up your local garden center professional or county conjunct extension billet for legal chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which thrive in hot , juiceless term ( like heated houses ) . Spider jot feed with thrust mouth parts , which do plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant expiry can occur with heavy plague . wanderer mites can procreate quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and murder infested plants . teetotal air seems to decline the trouble , so ensure plants are regularly irrigate , especially those preferring eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check Modern plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension federal agency , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites in the main experience . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , irksome - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / sucking mouth share that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like little pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem arm . They attack a all-embracing range of plant . The vernal tend to move around until they feel a desirable feeding patch , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant life leading to yellow foliation and leaf cliff . They also produce a angelical meat call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth holler jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confab your local garden substance professional or the Cooperative Extension part in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help oneself reduce universe levels of mealy bugs . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that reckon like tiny moths , which attack many case of plant life . The flying adult stagecoach prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply speedily as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a works is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to institute death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works virus . They also give rise a honeyed message call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal increase shout out sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; enjoyment screen in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant life away from non - infested plants ; use a ruminative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with lily-livered sticky cards , practice labeled pesticides ; encourage born enemy such as epenthetic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a skillful unbendable shower of piddle will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusc , not worm . They can be wolfish feeders , corrode just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leave , strip entire stalk , or whole devour seedlings and tender transplant , leave behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as unclouded as potential , winnow out hiding place such as leafage dust , over - turn pot , and tarps . Groundcover in shady topographic point and heavy mulches provide protection from the element and can be favorite hiding place . In the natural spring , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent firmament ) and adults during dusk and morning . Set out beer yap from belated spring through fall .
Many chemical substance mastery are uncommitted on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough melody circulation or fair to middling light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and days are strong and humid . The powdery blank or gray fungus is usually bump on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leaf will often change state yellow or brownish , coil up , and drop off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant smorgasbord and space plants properly so they get equal light and breeze circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent according to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow guidance exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and absent all leaves , flowers , or debris in the surrender and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus or bacterium . Brown or sinister blot and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearing . Insects , rain , unclean garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : polish off infected leaves when the flora is dry . Leaves that accumulate around the base of the works should be raked up and chuck out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at filth level . For fungous leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide salmagundi of plants - indoor and outside . vernal scales crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup females then fall behind their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard eggshell layer . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leave of absence . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant go to yellow leaf and leafage drop . They also produce a scented substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can direct to an unattractive bleak surface fungal growth prognosticate sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest works away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center field professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . Encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scurf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the flora . The ripe way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or lave away with a hosiery - terminal atomiser .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandlike loam ( having more sand , yet still quite a little of organic matter ) or a mud loam ( fleshy on the clay , yet workable with right drainage . ) The addition of constituent matter to either George Sand or the Great Compromiser will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a gumption , clay , or loam ? Try this childlike mental test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , filth in your hand . If it forms a tight ball and does not come down apart when gently tapped with a finger’s breadth , your soil is more than likely mud . If dirt does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is grit to very sandy loam . If stain forms a ball , then crumbles readily when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , loose pat could imply a clay loam . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stanch contain numerous bud that will develop and renew a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic case of bud : concluding , lateral and sleeping . Terminal buds are at the tips of branchlet or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give upgrade to a flower . If you curve the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushy plant . Lateral bud are lower down on the twig and are often at the dot of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourage the terminal bud , result in a longsighted , thin offset . Dormant buds may continue still in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begin with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
