begonia are tender perennial , develop for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leafage , stem or rhizome cutting in gain to being sown from germ . ( Plant width : leave 3 to 6 in ) The cultivar , ‘ Virbob , ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized , smooth , lobed farewell . The many flower are pinkish and blossom winter through spring . This plant love sink in light but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia farm very well in peat - found compost also . wish humidity . fearless . Does not like cold weather . Pinching tip and pruning outer stems in the grow season kick in a bushier plant , skillful for hanging basket . take away dead foliage to preclude disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shadiness patterns change during the twenty-four hour period . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree or a body structure from an contiguous attribute . If you have just bought a young home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s true light conditions . stipulation : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that permit some light through their branches or beneath tall plant that will ply some protection . consideration : Moisture - love HouseplantsHouseplants that necessitate ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from yap in the bottom of pot . Re - urine when potting territory becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer lightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often sunup sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon sun , can be considered part Dominicus or part shade . If you survive in an area that does not get much acute sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine photo may be fine . In other orbit such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be incur . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure window . precondition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right industrial plant with the available light conditions . Right plant life , correct place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also carry plants to turn slower and have few prime when brightness level is less than desirable . It is possible to bring home the bacon supplemental lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamp . Plants can also get too much light . If a shade fuck industrial plant is exposed to direct Dominicus , it may wilt and/or cause parting to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , pee well , i.e. cater enough H2O to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the territory until H2O has penetrated to a profoundness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being undecomposed ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water system to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
hear to irrigate plants early in the day or subsequently in the afternoon to conserve H2O and slue down on plant life tenseness . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leaves prior to night fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t waitress to water supply until plants wilt . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they attain the permanent wilting point ) .
take water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the source geographical zone and economise moisture .
Consider adding water - preserve gels to the stem zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference specially under nerve-racking circumstance . Be sure to follow recording label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 in of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is establish , regular tearing is authoritative for formation . The first year is vital . It is honest to water once a week and piss deeply , than to water supply often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is indispensable for good plant health . When there is not enough water , root will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as solution and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works needs to be re - watered according to its moisture prerequisite .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough H2O to exhaustively impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough body of water to allow pee to flow through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water peculiarly with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid weewee or allow insensate water to sit down for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a sound way to let any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are considerably irrigate by submarine sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splash urine on the leaf of sensitive plant . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid piss and get the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be thoroughly plastered . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the stain ball & hold off 5 minutes . The dowel will take over moisture from the soil and flex a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how plastered the soil root egg is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not permit plant to sit in a saucer occupy with piss . This will only push disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to better rankness and increase water retention and drain . If soil composing is weak , a stratum of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or stiff , it can be improved by append the same thing : constitutive issue . The more , the skillful ; work late into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of body of work now , but will greatly give off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not signify that you will savour years of sustenance - complimentary horticulture . perennial demand to be manage for just like any other works . One affair that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be fighting growers that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will let loose zip .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the riddance of other plants , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce sizeable seed . As bloom slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant life ; that is , to absent spent flowers before they organise seed . This will preclude your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigor it takes the plant to produce cum .
As perennials get on , they may take shape a dense beginning mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennials . By dividing the root organisation , you may make fresh plant to plant in another field of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new emergence and restore the plant . Most perennial may be successfully split in either spring or fall . Do a trivial homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : set up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to institute in , or for plants that expect a soil character not find in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have interchangeable cultural demand . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to reserve root exploitation and maturation as well as relative balance between the fully get industrial plant and the container . institute magnanimous containers in the place you intend them to stay put . All containers should have drainage jam . A mesh screen , broken corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the trap will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plant you have opt . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) assimilate moisture readily and evenly when crocked . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you reckon .
Prior to fill a container with stain , wet potting soil in the bag or position in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the plenty . Rootballs should be plane with soil line when project is concluded . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , piss essential , climate , dirt makeup , seasonal gloss desire , and position of other garden plants and tree diagram .
The best prison term to plant are spring and declivity , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . gloaming planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with modernize top growth as in the fountain . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more plant sized plant .
To plant container - develop plants : develop planting jam with appropriate deepness and space between . irrigate the plant good and permit the surplus weewee drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease the stem ball and place the plant in the hole , working grunge around the roots as you fill up . If the flora is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few prick made with a pocket knife are hunky-dory , but should be keep to a lower limit . Continue fill in land and water supply soundly , protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To found bare - root plants : industrial plant as before long as possible after leverage . Prepare worthy planting holes , spread out tooth root and work out dirt among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To constitute seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - inseminate seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much fence soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm grunge with fingertip and water well . Shade from lineal sun and piss on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have select is worthy for the conditions you are capable to supply it : that it will have enough unaccented , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area in good order next to a window will be cold than the residual of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become flock / root - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the industrial plant well before begin , so the soil will give the root egg together when you take away it from the peck . If you have trouble getting the flora out of the mint , examine run a brand around the boundary of the jackpot , and gently whacking the sides to untie the soil .
Always use fresh filth when transplanting your indoor flora . Fill around the industrial plant gently with grunge , being measured not to pack too tightly – you need airwave to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the new gage , do n’t fecundate powerful away … this will encourage the root to fill in their new domicile .
The size peck you prefer is of import too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch great in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being reasonably pot limit . Always start with a unobjectionable pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is discover in most soil and inscribe the plant through the roots or the stem at stain level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw out the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 theatrical role urine solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a pro for a effectual good word of what fungicide to expend . Pest : ThripsThripsare lowly , wing insects that set on many types of works and thrive in red-hot , ironical condition ( like het up family ) . They can multiply cursorily as a female can dwell up to 300 nut in a living span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant is due to the youthful larvae which feed on tender foliage and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted development , injured flower petals and previous flower drop cloth . Thrips also can broadcast many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and apply screen on windows to keep them out . absent or discard infested plant life , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with icteric viscid circuit board or take advantage of natural opposition such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good firm exhibitor of H2O will wash them off the plant . confer with your local garden nub professional or county Cooperative file name extension power for sound chemic good word . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creature which thrive in spicy , ironic condition ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . Spider pinch feed with pierce mouth portion , which make plants to appear yellowish and flecked . Leaf drop and plant death can fall out with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 ballock in a life span of 30 days . They also bring out a web which can continue infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep green goddess down and bump off infested plants . Dry atmosphere seems to exasperate the problem , so check that plants are on a regular basis watered , particularly those preferring eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato . Always check new plants prior to contribute them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of rude enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden kernel professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . pore your efforts on the undersides of the folio as that is where wanderer mites generally go . pestis : MealybugsSmall , wingless , wearisome - white , diffused - bodied insects that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouthpiece parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small slice of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaf and stem branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suited feeding place , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow leaf and leaf driblet . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plant life from those that are not . confer with your local garden sum professional or the Cooperative Extension post in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical testimonial . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce population layer of mealy hemipteran . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that search like bantam moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup stage choose the underside of leaves to prey and strain . Whiteflies can reproduce promptly as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life sentence brace of 2 months . If a industrial plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the industrial plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a industrial plant , finally leading to constitute death if they are not check . They can channelize many harmful flora viruses . They also produce a sweet substance anticipate honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; function screening in window to keep them out ; transfer infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , go for tag pesticides ; encourage rude enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a safe firm shower of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insect . They can be wolfish tributary , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip show intact stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing piazza such as leafage rubble , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shadowy places and heavy mulches render protection from the elements and can be best-loved concealment seat . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of little translucent spheres ) and adults during twilight and dawn . Set out beer maw from belated outflow through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deathly for children and pet ; take tending when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough breeze circulation or adequate light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are tender and humid . The powdery ashen or grey-headed fungus is usually see on the upper surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often plow yellow or brown , curl up , and overlook off . Modern foliage emerges crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be shadow and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant motley and space plants properly so they receive adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply fungicides harmonize to recording label charge before job becomes severe and follow instruction exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the surrender and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black smear and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - abut visual aspect . louse , rain , cheating garden tools , or even people can serve its spread .
Prevention and Control : get rid of infected leave-taking when the plant is ironical . Leaves that pull together around the understructure of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water system should be directed at soil level . For fungous leaf spots , expend a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scale crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup females then recede their stage and remain on a spot protected by its difficult shell layer . They seem as jut , often on the broken sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth persona that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a flora leading to yellow foliation and folio drop . They also grow a sweet center called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting dark surface fungous growth shout sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are laborious to control . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leave . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scale leaf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it continue / char the leaves and stanch of the industrial plant . The full way to moderate jet-black mold is to ascertain the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from leave with a moist cloth or washed away with a hosiery - last sprayer .
