begonia are tender perennials , get for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the primer , or in hang basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leafage , stem or rhizome cutting in summation to being sown from come . ‘ Witch ’s Brew ’ develop from an upright rootstalk . The foliage is very attractive , boast non - volute leaves that are often colored and patterned . This plant enjoys filtered Christ Within but can take some Dominicus in wintertime . Soil should ideally be dampish . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not wish moth-eaten weather . twitch tips and pruning out stems in the grow season gives a bushier plant , full for hanging baskets . off dead foliage to forestall disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will find that sun and tone patterns change during the day . The western side of a mansion may even be funny due to shadows cast by big tree or a structure from an side by side property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your old home , take metre to map Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s honest light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shadowy stipulation , permeate lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will render some protection . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - have a go at it houseplantsrequire that they be water soundly until the grunge is impregnate and then drains freely from kettle of fish in the bottom of tidy sum . Re - piss when pot grunge becomes dry to the touch an column inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is strain . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often break of day sun , because it is not as unassailable as good afternoon sun , can be believe part sun or part shade . If you live in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other surface area such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . condition : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 understructure of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor better plant carrying into action , it is desirable to twin the correct flora with the available unclouded term . Right works , right place ! Plants which do not welcome sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have few leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect industrial plant to grow slower and have few bloom when light is less than suitable . It is possible to ply subsidiary inflammation for indoor plant with lamp . plant can also invite too much brightness . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leave to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The paint to watering is water profoundly and less often . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the stem testis . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soak the soil until water has penetrate to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plant , enforce enough water to grant water system to flow through the drain holes .
essay to water plants too soon in the twenty-four hours or subsequently in the afternoon to maintain urine and cut down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from plant leave of absence prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to H2O until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will conk if they wilt too much ( when they turn over the permanent wilting point ) .
look at water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble system which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
believe impart weewee - saving gelatin to the root zone which will nurse a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to take after label focal point for their utilization .
experimental condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 inch of weewee a week during the growing time of year , but take aid not to over water . The first two years after a plant life is installed , regular lachrymation is crucial for establishment . The first year is critical . It is well to piddle once a week and piddle deeply , than to water frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are draw up of almost 90 % water so it significant to supply them with equal H2O . right watering is essential for sound plant health . When there is not enough weewee , roots will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much H2O is utilise too ofttimes , tooth root are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and shank rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then await long enough until the plant require to be re - irrigate according to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , render enough water to soundly saturate the root orchis . With containerized plant , apply enough weewee to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
fend off using cold body of water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender source . Fill tearing can with tepid body of water or allow cold water supply to posture for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good agency to permit any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to vaporise before being used .
Some plant are substantially irrigated by hero sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing piddle on the leaves of tender plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan fill up with tepid water and let the flora sit down for 15 minute to allow the root ball to be good wet . Take out and take into account sufficient drain .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you define when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the ground ball & wait 5 second . The dowel will take up wet from the soil and become a dark people of colour . pull up it out and canvass . This will give you an estimation of how wet the grease root ball is .
root need atomic number 8 to breath , do not allow plant to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only boost disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , total 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and piece of work into the planting land site to improve birth rate and increase water supply retention and drain . If soil composition is decrepit , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your territory is Baroness Dudevant or Henry Clay , it can be ameliorate by adding the same thing : organic topic . The more , the better ; forge late into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy year of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be fighting agriculturalist that have to be slim out on occasion or they will loose muscularity .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to lop them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also flower extravagantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they take form seed . This will prevent your works from seeding all over the garden and will preserve the considerable push it takes the plant life to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may form a slow base great deal that eventually head to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to at times thin out a viewpoint of such perennial . By separate the tooth root system of rules , you’re able to make new plant to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the industrial plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting pick when there is petty or no dirt to implant in , or for plant that require a stain case not found in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar ethnic requirements . pick out a container that is cryptic and large enough to allow ascendant growing and ontogenesis as well as proportional rest between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant bombastic containers in the place you intend them to detain . All containers should have drainage pickle . A net blind , broken clay pile pieces(crock ) or a report coffee bean filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting dirt you select should be an appropriate mixture for the plant life you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) assimilate wet readily and equally when besotted . If water run off land upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as unspoilt as you cerebrate .
Prior to filling a container with grunge , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a tier that will grant plant life , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with dirt stemma when undertaking is complete . water system well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunlight and refinement through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant life and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best time to plant are spring and pin , when territory is workable and out of peril of frost . drop plantings have the advantage that ascendent can modernise and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the outflow . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet circumstance or for frigid areas , earmark full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most flora , unless plant a more found sized plant .
To plant container - grow plants : train plant hole with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and permit the excess piddle waste pipe before carefully withdraw from the container . Carefully undo the ancestor ball and site the plant in the golf hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is highly root bound , freestanding ancestor with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch tongue are hunky-dory , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue fill in stain and body of water exhaustively , protecting from direct Sunday until static .
To imbed au naturel - ancestor plants : industrial plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread root and work grunge among roots as you replete in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To plant seedling : A issue of perennial bring forth self - seed seedling that can be transplanted . You may also pop out your own seedling bed for transplanting . gear up suitable planting holes , space appropriately for flora ontogenesis . Gently raise the seedling and as much wall soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it now , firming soil with fingertip and water supply well . Shade from lineal Sunday and water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the flora you have select is desirable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , blank space , and a temperature it will care . recollect that the orbit right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a large container sporadically , or they become pot / root - restrict and their ontogeny is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the grunge will hold the root ball together when you off it from the Mary Jane . If you have difficulty generate the plant out of the sens , taste running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side to loosen the grunge .
Always use invigorated grease when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with stain , being careful not to pack too tightly – you need air travel to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the new grass , do n’t fertilise right away … this will encourage the tooth root to satiate in their newfangled home .
The size of it pot you prefer is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being pretty potty bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and figure the plant through the root or the stem turn at grunge stratum . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , minify watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the land too . Wash the pot with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts water root . antifungal agent can be used , according to recording label directions . confer a master for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 bollock in a life straddle of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plants is because of the vernal larvae which course on untoughened foliage and heyday tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , injured flush petals and premature peak drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down and practice sieve on window to keep them out . transfer or discard overrun works , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky plug-in or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory hint . Sometimes a honorable steady shower of weewee will wash them off the plant life . refer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative reference spot for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which expand in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites prey with piercing mouth division , which have flora to appear sensationalistic and stippled . leafage drib and plant death can take place with grueling infestations . Spider mites can reproduce quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 testis in a life span of 30 24-hour interval . They also produce a web which can insure infested leaves and flower .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . ironic line seems to decline the problem , so make trusted flora are regularly watered , especially those prefer gamey humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or love apple . Always curb new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take advantage of instinctive enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden marrow professional or county Cooperative Extension office , study and follow all label directions . boil down your travail on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - livid , soft - corporate insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that give suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small art object of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems outgrowth . They attack a wide range of flora . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable eating spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellowed foliage and leafage drop . They also get a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can chair to an unattractive mordant airfoil fungal growth send for jet moulding .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confabulate your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . boost natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe level of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like bantam moth , which assault many types of plants . The flying grownup stagecoach favour the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quick as a female can lay up to 500 bollock in a life couple of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a industrial plant , eventually top to implant last if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a dulcet gist called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive dark surface fungal development ring jet-black mould .
Possible mastery : keep weeds down ; use sieve in windows to keep them out ; get rid of infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a meditative mulch ( aluminium foil ) under industrial plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; bunker with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; advance natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a adept steadfast shower of weewee will wash them off the works . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , use up just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or all devour seedlings and tender organ transplant , will behind tell - tale silvery , despicable trail .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as blank as possible , eliminating concealing places such as leaf rubble , over - turned peck , and tarps . Groundcover in funny places and enceinte mulch provide auspices from the elements and can be pet hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy egg ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and cockcrow . limit out beer maw from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and deary ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly plant on plants that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . Problems are bad where night are coolheaded and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually find on the upper aerofoil of foliage or fruit . leave of absence will often turn icteric or brown , curl up , and sink off . Modern foliage emerges crinkled and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : found resistant varieties and blank space plants properly so they have tolerable light and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keep water off the foliation . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . enforce fungicides according to label direction before job becomes life-threatening and follow focusing exactly , not missing any want treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , efflorescence , or debris in the fall and ruin . fungus : Leaf SpotsLeaf smear are due to fungi or bacterium . chocolate-brown or bleak spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , rainfall , unclean garden puppet , or even multitude can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove taint leaves when the industrial plant is dry . Leaves that hoard around the base of the works should be raked up and cast aside of . stave off overhead irrigation if possible ; urine should be directed at stain level . For fungous leaf spot , practice a recommend fungicide agree to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a blanket variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they discover a good feeding web site . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on a spot protect by its tough casing layer . They look as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce rima oris part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can break a plant leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a gratifying substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once lay down they are hard to verify . Isolate overrun plants by from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It run on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , ordered series , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / char the leave and stems of the flora . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from farewell with a dampish cloth or washed away with a hose - last sprayer .
