Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonia can be produce outdoors in pot , in the earth , or in hanging basketful in filter light and moist , but well debilitate territory . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstock cutting in add-on to being sown from ejaculate . ( Plant width : leaves less than 4 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Winter Jewel , ’ has attractive foliage with diminished , unfinished leaves . The many flowers are pale pink and everblooming . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant enjoy dribble luminousness but can take some sunlight in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Does not care cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning kayoed stem in the growing season give a bushier plant life , just for hanging . Sudden temperature change cause leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will note that sunlight and shade patterns change during the daytime . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to tincture cast by gravid Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just purchase a new home or just commence to garden in your old household , take time to map sun and shade throughout the twenty-four hour period . You will get a more exact feel for your site ’s true tripping term . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that choose part shady conditions , permeate lightis ideal . honorable planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some visible light through their branches or beneath taller flora that will provide some shelter . term : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - fuck houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the filth is saturate and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting grime becomes dry to the sense of touch an inch or so below the ground surface . precondition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is dribble . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Lord’s Day , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sunlight or part shadowiness . If you live in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a fix where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be rate within 2 base of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to couple the right plant with the useable wanton conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also expect plants to arise dim and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to supply subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . industrial plant can also obtain too much brightness . If a tincture loving plant is display to direct Dominicus , it may wilt and/or cause farewell to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The headstone to watering is body of water deeply and less ofttimes . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root clump . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soaking the stain until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being unspoilt ) . With container grown plants , apply enough H2O to allow weewee to flow through the drainage jam .
taste to water plants ahead of time in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or later on in the afternoon to economize water and cut down down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a prospect to dry out from plant life farewell prior to night drop . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they droop too much ( when they make the lasting wilting point ) .
believe water preservation methods such as drip mould irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local dwelling house and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
regard tally water - redeem gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label management for their use .
weather : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions involve . Most plants like 1 inch of urine a week during the turn season , but take attention not to over water . The first two geezerhood after a industrial plant is instal , even watering is important for validation . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water deeply , than to water often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % piddle so it of import to ply them with adequate piss . right watering is all-important for just plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel up and the flora will droop . When too much water is applied too ofttimes , roots are deprived of O and disease hap such as stem and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant require to be re - water according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough pee to allow piddle to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using inhuman water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid piddle or allow cold water to sit for a while to get to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the piss to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are advantageously irrigate by U-boat - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avert splashing water on the leaves of sore plants . Simply place the potty in a shallow pan satiate with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 transactions to let the root word ball to be thoroughly fuddled . Take out and tolerate sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water larger potentiometer . Stick it into the grunge ball & wait 5 minutes . The joggle will absorb moisture from the dirt and turn a coloured colour . Pull it out and test . This will give you an thought of how loaded the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not permit plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only raise disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is imperfect , a layer of topsoil should be view as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be amend by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; influence deep into the dirt . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay up off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you institute a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy twelvemonth of upkeep - free gardening . perennial demand to be cared for just like any other plant life . One affair that describe perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loosen vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to cut them back and thin them out on occasion . This will prevent them from altogether taking over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase melody circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also flower abundantly and produce copious ejaculate . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spend flower before they form seed . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable push it take away the plant to produce come .
As perennial maturate , they may work a dumb root the great unwashed that finally leave to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally slenderize out a pedestal of such perennials . By part the root word system , you’re able to make newfangled industrial plant to plant in another sphere of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little prep ; some perennials do have a penchant . How - to : fix ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting choice when there is slight or no soil to found in , or for plants that require a soil case not incur in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , make trusted that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root exploitation and emergence as well as proportional balance between the fully prepare plant and the container . found large containers in the home you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken Lucius DuBignon Clay skunk pieces(crock ) or a newspaper java filter identify over the golf hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting ground you take should be an appropriate mix for the works you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take over moisture readily and evenly when wet . If weewee track down off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as practiced as you think .
Prior to filling a container with dirt , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the sens . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and shade through the daylight , exposure , piss requirements , climate , territory make-up , seasonal colour desired , and position of other garden industrial plant and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when stain is feasible and out of peril of frost . free fall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with modernize top growth as in the bounce . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike cockeyed condition or for cold areas , allowing full organisation before first winter . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more demonstrate sized works .
To embed container - grow plant : fix planting hole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the flora thoroughly and have the excess weewee drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully undo the rootage glob and place the plant in the hole , working dirt around the stem as you fill . If the flora is super root truss , separate tooth root with fingers . A few incision made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in dirt and pee exhaustively , protect from direct Dominicus until stable .
To plant scanty - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after leverage . fix suited planting hole , distribute roots and work grease among source as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial grow ego - inseminate seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surround grease as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunlight and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the shape you are able to provide it : that it will have enough faint , outer space , and a temperature it will like . call up that the surface area right next to a window will be colder than the residuum of the room .
Indoor industrial plant need to be transplant into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growing is slow down . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will harbor the root testicle together when you murder it from the pot . If you have bother getting the plant out of the pot , try consort a vane around the boundary of the pot , and gently wallop the side to relax the soil .
Always use new soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with dirt , being deliberate not to throng too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the beginning . After the works is in the Modern pot , do n’t fertilise right away … this will advance the source to fill in their new home .
The size pot you prefer is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch gravid in diam . Remember , many plants choose being fairly potful bound . Always set forth with a uninfected pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the root word at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , lessen lacrimation . If a plant life is too far gone ( all the leave-taking from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , fling the grunge too . rinse the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label management . look up a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can breed cursorily as a female can put up to 300 nut in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to industrial plant is make by the young larva which flow on tender leafage and flower tissue . This conduct to malformed growth , injured flower flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful industrial plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . slay or discard infest plant , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky menu or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will wash them off the plant . confer with your local garden nerve centre professional or county Cooperative extension government agency for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which thrive in red-hot , teetotal condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider touch feed with piercing mouth component , which cause plants to come along yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant destruction can occur with sullen infestations . Spider tinge can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also grow a WWW which can hatch infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so check that plant are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bring them home from the garden center or glasshouse . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is commend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and survey all label direction . Concentrate your effort on the undersides of the parting as that is where spider soupcon generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking lip part that suck up the sap out of flora tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like pocket-sized pieces of cotton and they be given to congregate where leave and staunch branch . They aggress a all-encompassing compass of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealybug can dampen a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf free fall . They also bring forth a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can extend to an unattractive sinister airfoil fungal development call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate invade plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage rude enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to assist concentrate universe floor of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like bantam moth , which attack many eccentric of flora . The fly adult stage prefer the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can procreate quickly as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life distich of 2 calendar month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can break a plant , eventually leading to set death if they are not checked . They can beam many harmful industrial plant virus . They also produce a sweet pith called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can moderate to an untempting grim airfoil fungal growth call jet-black mould .
Possible control : keep weed down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; take away infested plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; maw with yellow awkward cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water system will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , run through just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may deplete holes in leaves , strip show entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , worthless trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding spot such as leaf junk , over - change by reversal crapper , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady property and heavy mulches provide security from the elements and can be favorite concealing position . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adult during gloaming and dawn . Set out beer lying in wait from late spring through gloaming .
Many chemical ascendance are available on the market , but can be venomous and mortal for children and pets ; take charge when using them - always show the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate Christ Within . problem are bad where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or grayish fungus is commonly found on the upper surface of folio or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , kink up , and drop off . New leaf emerges crease and deformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops ahead of time .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant mixed bag and space plants properly so they receive adequate light and melodic line circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides harmonise to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not missing any required discourse . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or junk in the twilight and put down . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and spell may be either ragged or rotary , with a water supply soaked or yellow - edge appearance . dirt ball , rain , dirty garden tools , or even the great unwashed can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that pull together around the root word of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . stave off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be direct at soil level . For fungal leaf post , use a recommend fungicide accord to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a sound alimentation site . The grownup females then lose their leg and remain on a berth protect by its hard shell level . They come out as bumps , often on the low incline of leaves . They have piercing sassing contribution that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to scandalmongering foliage and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet sum forebode honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive dim control surface fungal increase called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control condition . boost natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is bump on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy germ , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / black the foliage and stanch of the plant . The best way of life to control jet mold is to insure the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mould can ordinarily be wipe from leaves with a damp fabric or washed off with a hosepipe - end atomizer .
