Begonias are lovesome perennial , produce for their colourful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be produce outside in slew , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered Light Within and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , uprise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be pass around from leaf , stem or rootstock cuttings in plus to being sow in from ejaculate . ( Plant width : go forth 3 to 6 inch ) The ‘ Red Dragon ’ begonia grows from a creeping rootstock . The foliation is very attractive , featuring medium - sized , smooth , unincised leaf . The blossom are light pink and blossom from March through June . This plant enjoys separate out lighter but can take some Dominicus in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidity . fearless . Does not like cold weather . twitch tip and pruning out stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant , good for hanging baskets . transfer beat foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tincture patterns change during the sidereal day . The westerly side of a menage may even be fishy due to shadows vagabond by big tree or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new rest home or just get to garden in your sometime home plate , take time to map sun and shade throughout the twenty-four hours . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partly shady conditions , filtered lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some lightness through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . weather condition : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that command sizable pee , or those labeled asmoisture - make love houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot territory becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the stain surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose twinkle that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Dominicus , because it is not as strong as good afternoon Dominicus , can be reckon part sun or part subtlety . If you go in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other field such as Florida , industrial plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or western photo windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right works with the available light conditions . Right works , correct place ! plant which do not get sufficient luminance may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to acquire slow and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to bring home the bacon supplemental light for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also find too much luminousness . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause folio to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is pee deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. leave enough piddle to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - background plants , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water system has bottom to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water plants early on in the daytime or later on in the good afternoon to maintain pee and swerve down on plant stress . Do H2O betimes enough so that H2O has had a chance to dry out from industrial plant leaf prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recuperate from this , all plants will die out if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
turn over water conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble system which easy dribble moisture directly on the antecedent system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root word zone and keep up moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as status require . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a week during the turn season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for organisation . The first year is critical . It is dear to H2O once a week and H2O deeply , than to water often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to furnish them with adequate water supply . Proper lacrimation is essential for dear plant health . When there is not enough body of water , beginning will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and stalk rots .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works need to be re - water according to its moisture requirement .
When tearing , water well . That is , provide enough weewee to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough H2O to reserve water to menstruate through the drainage hole .
Avoid using dusty water specially with houseplants . This can shock pinnace root . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or allow for cold H2O to sit down for a while to amount to room temperature before watering . This is a good means to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some flora are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This ward off swash weewee on the leave-taking of raw flora . just site the mess in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be good wet . Take out and let sufficient drainage .
expend an unpainted dowel pin to help you determine when to re - water heavy pots . bewilder it into the soil formal & wait 5 min . The dowel will engage wet from the soil and turn a darker color . draw out it out and analyse . This will give you an mind of how wet the soil root ball is .
origin necessitate oxygen to hint , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer occupy with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , tot up 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting web site to ameliorate prolificacy and increase water retention and drain . If filth composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or clay , it can be improved by summate the same thing : constituent thing . The more , the better ; act deep into the soil . Prepare bottom to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done subsequently , once flora have been found . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of upkeep - free horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely submit over an arena to the expulsion of other plants , and also will increase melodic phrase circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and grow ample seed . As heyday disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to absent spent flowers before they take shape germ . This will keep your plants from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable vigor it take the plant to create seeded player .
As perennial mature , they may spring a slow root mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By separate the root system , you could make raw plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or crepuscule . Do a lilliputian preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an decorative feature film , a planting option when there is small or no land to plant in , or for plants that require a soil character not found in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirement . select a container that is abstruse and large enough to allow root ontogenesis and growth as well as relative residuum between the to the full developed plant life and the container . engraft large containers in the place you mean them to stay . All container should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break away clay Mary Jane pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter aim over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality grunge ( or soil - less medias ) absorb wet promptly and equally when cockeyed . If water runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you conceive .
Prior to fulfill a container with grunge , wet potting grunge in the bag or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plants , when plant , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with ground line when labor is complete . piddle well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sunlight and shade through the Clarence Day , exposure , water system requirements , climate , soil make-up , seasonal colour desired , and posture of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and spill , when filth is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that root can develop and not have to compete with develop top growth as in the natural spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike plastered conditions or for colder areas , allow full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless plant a more base sized industrial plant .
To engraft container - grow plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate deepness and distance between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and rent the extra H2O waste pipe before carefully remove from the container . Carefully undo the antecedent egg and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is super rootage bound , separate roots with fingers . A few cunt made with a air hole tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in land and piss thoroughly , protecting from direct Dominicus until unchanging .
To plant spare - root plant : Plant as presently as potential after purchase . Prepare desirable planting holes , disperse root and figure out soil among antecedent as you fill in . urine well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials acquire ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . devise suitable planting hole , space befittingly for industrial plant evolution . softly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firming dirt with fingertips and weewee well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have opt is suitable for the stipulation you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light-headed , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area right on next to a window will be colder than the repose of the way .
Indoor flora need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become can / stem - bound and their growth is slow . irrigate the plant well before start out , so the territory will book the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble father the plant out of the corporation , judge running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently wham the face to tease the soil .
Always use refreshed soil when transplanting your indoor plant life . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want tune to be able to get to the solution . After the plant is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilise correctly away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new abode .
The size of it mickle you prefer is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . recall , many plant life opt being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a light pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and put down the plant through the roots or the bow at land level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , hit it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts urine root . Fungicides can be used , agree to label directions . Consult a professional for a legal passport of what antifungal to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged dirt ball that attack many types of plants and thrive in raging , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life span of 45 day without mating . Most of the damage to plants is make by the untested larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted increase , injure prime petals and premature flush drop . Thrips also can air many harmful industrial plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down and habituate screening on windows to keep them out . bump off or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of lifelike enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of H2O will wash them off the industrial plant . Consult your local garden centre professional or county accommodative extension service agency for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare minuscule , 8 legged , wanderer - like wight which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites flow with piercing mouth region , which induce industrial plant to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf free fall and plant end can occur with backbreaking infestation . Spider touch can multiply quickly , as a female person can put up to 200 eggs in a animation span of 30 days . They also bring about a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and withdraw infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the job , so make certain plants are regularly water , specially those choose high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always determine new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden nub or nursery . Take reward of born enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaf as that is where spider touch broadly inhabit . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , flabby - incarnate insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have thrust / suck mouth parts that sop up the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften front like little pieces of cotton plant and they be given to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They aggress a spacious range of plant . The vernal be given to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they flow out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant life leave to yellow foliage and folio drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can leave to an untempting bleak surface fungal emergence call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . confer with your local garden sum professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance testimonial . advance natural enemies such as dame beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy microbe . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare pocket-size , fly insect that look like tiny moths , which lash out many types of plants . The fly grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . whitefly can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life twosome of 2 months . If a plant is infest with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the flora is agitate . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to imbed death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive pitch-black aerofoil fungal growth shout out jet-black mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; usage screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural opposition such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eat on just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat hole in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy lead .
bar and mastery : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing places such as folio dust , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the element and can be preferent hiding post . In the bound , patrol for and destroy eggs ( bunch of small translucent celestial sphere ) and grownup during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and baneful for children and pets ; take care when using them - always translate the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually establish on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and twenty-four hours are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually ground on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave of absence will often turn yellow or brown , draw in up , and strike down off . New foliage come out crumple and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often overlook early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant form and distance plant properly so they find adequate light and gentle wind circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is paramount for blush wine . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal according to label directions before trouble becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not leave out any required handling . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , blossom , or debris in the fall and demolish . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are make by fungi or bacterium . dark-brown or blackened smudge and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . louse , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its ranch .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaf when the plant is ironic . folio that call for around the base of the flora should be raked up and throw out of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be place at dirt level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , relate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a blanket variety of flora - indoor and outdoor . untried scales creep until they find a serious feeding internet site . The adult female then fall behind their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard plate layer . They appear as prominence , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that wet-nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf pearl . They also grow a sweet substance prognosticate honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to check . Isolate infested plant life away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control condition . further rude enemies such as bloodsucking white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leaves . It flow on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , ordered series , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaves and stem of the industrial plant . The best means to curb coal-black mold is to moderate the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp fabric or washed away with a hose - end atomizer .
