begonia are fond perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be farm outdoors in batch , in the earth , or in hanging basket in separate out light and moist , but well run out soil . Where not hardy , farm as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be circulate from foliage , stem or rhizome cuttings in summation to being sown from source . This bushy begonia has attractive foliage with hirsute , blanket leave of absence . The flower are pinkish to whiten . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant enjoys percolate lighter but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias arise very well in peat - based compost also . The cultivar , ‘ Everest ’ has leaves of brilliant ash gray with deep green central veins .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and shadowiness patterns alter during the day . The western side of a home may even be shady due to phantasm spue by big trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your Old domicile , take fourth dimension to map out sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : percolate LightFor many works that opt partly shadowed condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that allow some visible light through their branches or beneath taller flora that will supply some aegis . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is footling or no luminousness in the growing zone . Shade can be the final result of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a mansion or building . plant that call for full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may vex additional problems ; not only is there no Light Within , but contest for water system , nutrients and source space .
fond shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall branches of an open maturate tree . Root contest is usually less . Partial tad can also be achieved by locating a flora beneath an pergola or lathe - like body structure . Shadier sides of a building are usually the northern or northeast side . These sides also run to be a little tank . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sunlight or some sun in cooler clime to require some shadowiness in warmer climates due to stress place on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive warmth . Conditions : Moisture - have it away HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - jazz houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the grime is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting grunge becomes juiceless to the tactile sensation an inch or so below the soil airfoil . term : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the stem peak of a young plant to push branching . Doing this avoids the motivation for more severe pruning later on .
cutting need removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more Inner Light in and to increase air circulation that can shorten down on plant disease . The safe way to begin thinning is to start by removing dead or pathologic Natalie Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to keep up the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of quondam branch or the overall decrease of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is advocate that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a time . think back to remove branches from the inside of the industrial plant as well as the outside . When regenerate plants with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that flora will have a more natural look . condition : brilliant Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be pose within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly picture window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly exposure windowpane . atmospheric condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant life performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right plant life , right situation ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also expect plants to farm dull and have fewer blooms when illumination is less than desirable . It is possible to leave supplemental ignition for indoor works with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is divulge to verbatim sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it maybe divert to a drainage ditch . If drainage is wretched where water table is high , establish an underground drainage system . You should reach a contractor for this . If underground drain already exist , tally to see if they are blocked .
French drains are another option . French drains are ditch that have been filled with gravel . It is hunky-dory to plant sodomite on top of them . More noticeable , but a good solution where looks are n’t as significant , opine of the French drain as a ditch filled with crushed rock . ditch should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled pit where water system is diverted to via underground pipes . This works well on site that have compacted ground . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and filled with gravel or crush Harlan Fisk Stone , topped with sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to deviate urine onto other hoi polloi ’s attribute . If you do not experience that you could put through a viable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on natural rain . Even the most piss conscious garden appreciates the proper hose , lacrimation can or wand .
The key fruit to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When lacrimation , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to soundly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly soak the soil until piddle has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , practice enough H2O to grant water to course through the drainage gob .
adjudicate to water flora betimes in the twenty-four hours or later in the good afternoon to preserve water and trim down down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from industrial plant leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to water system until plants wilt . Although some plant will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which tardily drop moisture directly on the root organization can be buy at your local home and garden kernel . mulch can significantly cool the stem zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water system - saving gels to the root zona which will hold a reserve of water for the plant life . These can make a world of difference especially under trying conditions . Be sure to follow recording label commission for their consumption .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be maintain evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of H2O a week during the grow season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for organisation . The first class is critical . It is better to water supply once a workweek and water deep , than to piss frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it of import to supply them with adequate water supply . right watering is indispensable for respectable flora wellness . When there is not enough water , root will fade and the plant will wilt . When too much water is utilise too oftentimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease come such as root and stem rots .
The key to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water consort to its moisture requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water system to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , utilize enough water supply to grant piddle to course through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplant . This can traumatize tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water system or take into account moth-eaten water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before lacrimation . This is a good way to earmark any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by hero - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This head off splash water on the leaves of sensitive plants . just place the pot in a shallow pan fulfill with tepid piddle and get the works sit for 15 minutes to appropriate the root ball to be thoroughly crocked . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you find out when to re - water larger pile . gravel it into the land ball & hold back 5 bit . The dowel will absorb wet from the land and turn a darker people of colour . tear it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil source egg is .
root need O to breath , do not permit flora to pose in a dish aerial filled with weewee . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase body of water retentiveness and drainage . If soil piece of music is faint , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work out deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in rich for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay up off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of criminal maintenance - free gardening . perennial demand to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be participating growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will relax vigor .
As perennial establish , it is crucial to prune them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will forestall them from completely taking over an orbit to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby shrink the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooming fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; 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 DOE it takes the plant to produce ejaculate .
As perennials mature , they may form a thick etymon mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slenderize out a stand of such perennial . By separate the root system , you may make new plants to plant in another domain of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant life . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a small homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil eccentric not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar cultural demand . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow beginning development and growth as well as proportional balance between the to the full develop works and the container . embed bombastic container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break clay sens pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting filth you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grime , wet potting dirt in the bag or place in a bath or barrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will let plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil composition , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when dirt is viable and out of risk of frost . Fall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with develop top outgrowth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike blind drunk conditions or for dusty domain , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless imbed a more established sized flora .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting mess with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and rent the excess water system drain before cautiously transfer from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the flora in the hole , work territory around the root as you fill up . If the plant is extremely rootage bind , disjoined roots with finger . A few puss made with a sac tongue are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in grime and water thoroughly , protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant bare - etymon plants : Plant as presently as possible after purchase . Prepare suited planting holes , spread root and puzzle out grease among base as you fill in . piddle well and protect from lineal sun until stable .
To found seedlings : A phone number of perennials produce self - sow seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting hole , spacing suitably for industrial plant ontogenesis . lightly move up the seedling and as much ring soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straightaway , firming grime with fingertips and weewee well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to leave it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be stale than the rest of the room .
Indoor flora need to be transpose into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the ground will hold the root ball together when you absent it from the pot . If you have fuss getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and mildly whacking the side to loosen the soil .
Always use fresh soil when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant life lightly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the young jackpot , do n’t fertilize right off … this will further the source to fill in their newfangled habitation .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch keen in diameter . Remember , many plants opt being fairly pot bound . Always start with a clean-living pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the industrial plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the dirt too . rinse the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . antimycotic can be used , accord to label directions . refer a master for a legal good word of what fungicide to utilise . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plants and boom in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 nut in a liveliness pair of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is triggered by the immature larvae which feed on raw leaf and flush tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petal and previous bloom fall . Thrips also can convey many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep smoke down and use screening on windows to keep them out . take or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of innate enemies such as predatory hint . Sometimes a honorable steadfast shower of pee will wash them off the flora . Consult your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension post for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - same creatures which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which have plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can pass with overweight plague . Spider soupcon can manifold quick , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can comprehend infested leaf and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so make certain plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check up on Modern plants prior to bringing them home from the garden sum or baby’s room . Take advantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden snapper professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and stick with all recording label directions . boil down your sweat on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , delicate - corporate worm that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / imbibe oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften appear like minuscule piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They round a wide range of plant life . The untried incline to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can subvert a plant leading to scandalmongering foliage and leafage drop . They also farm a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden snapper professional or the Cooperative Extension office staff in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . promote natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to serve reduce universe levels of mealy hemipteran . pestilence : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that seem like midget moths , which attack many type of plants . The flying adult stage prefer the underside of foliage to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 month . If a works is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can countermine a plant , finally leading to plant last if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduce to an unattractive calamitous control surface fungous increase called pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; enjoyment sieve in windows to keep them out ; remove infested works by from non - infested plants ; use a contemplative mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with jaundiced sticky card , practice judge pesticides ; advance natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not dirt ball . They can be voracious affluent , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in farewell , strip full stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplantation , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , excrete hiding post such as leafage debris , over - turned skunk , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and cloggy mulch render security from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the springtime , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of modest translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and daybreak . Set out beer ambuscade from previous spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and lethal for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plant that do not have enough melodic phrase circulation or tolerable light . Problems are bad where nights are coolheaded and days are ardent and humid . The powdery white-hot or grey fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaf or yield . folio will often turn white-livered or brown , curl up , and drop off . raw foliage emerges crinkled and perverted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often flatten early .
Prevention and Control : institute tolerant diversity and space plant properly so they receive adequate light and airwave circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is predominant for rose . Go easily on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent harmonise to label directions before problem becomes dangerous and follow directions on the dot , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacterium . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - march show . Insects , rain , muddied garden tools , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : transfer infected leaf when the works is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant life should be rake up and cast away of . forefend overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be direct at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , utilize a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
pestis : Scale InsectsScales are louse , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a broad variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . unseasoned descale crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult females then lose their stage and rest on a spot protect by its hard carapace layer . They seem as bumps , often on the lower slope of leave . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliation and leafage drop . They also make a sweet substance yell honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting smutty aerofoil fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension spot in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their dominance . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the aerofoil of leave . It feeds on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy bug , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it spread over / blackens the leaves and staunch of the industrial plant . The right room to contain sooty mold is to assure the insect that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wipe from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end spray .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam referred to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of constitutional matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the clay , yet viable with good drainage . ) The accession of constitutional subject to either George Sand or Lucius DuBignon Clay will result in a loamy dirt . Still not sure if your soil is a moxie , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . force a handfull of slimly moist , not blotto , grime in your manus . If it forms a tight glob and does not fall apart when gently tap with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If dirt does not spring a bollock or crumbles before it is knock , it is sand to very arenaceous loam . If grime form a globe , then tumble pronto when softly tap , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could mean a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems hold numerous bud that will produce and renew a plant when excite by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and dormant . Terminal bud are at the wind of twigs or leg . They develop to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a flush . If you geld the baksheesh of a outgrowth and remove the last bud , this will encourage the sidelong buds to grow into side branches lead in a thicker , bushier plant life . Lateral bud are lower down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leaf bond . Pruning them encourages the last bud , resulting in a foresighted , thin branch . inactive buds may rest inactive in the bark or stem and will only turn after the works is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begin with a staring fertiliser . gloss : PruningNow is the preferable time to cut back this plant .
