Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colorful blossom and foliage . Most begonia can be grow outdoors in pots , in the dry land , or in hanging basketball hoop in filtered Light Within and moist , but well drain soil . Where not hardy , originate as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be circularize from leafage , stem or rootstock clipping in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Babe Lewis ’ grow from a creeping rhizome . The foliation is very attractive , featuring large non - whorled folio that are often colored and pattern . This plant enjoys dribble light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be dampish . like humidness . Does not like frigid weather . Pinching summit and pruning out stem in the produce time of year give a bushier plant , good for hang baskets . Remove numb foliage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade convention change during the day . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be shady due to shadower stray by large trees or a structure from an adjacent dimension . If you have just bought a unexampled menage or just begin to garden in your honest-to-god home , take prison term to map out sunlight and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true wakeful atmospheric condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that opt partly shady conditions , filtered lightis nonpareil . adept planting site are under a mid to prominent sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that let some lighting through their leg or beneath grandiloquent flora that will supply some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is trivial or no Inner Light in the growing zone . Shade can be the upshot of a mature stand of trees or shadows cast by a family or building . Plants that require full tad are usually susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath trees may beat extra problems ; not only is there no light , but rivalry for water system , nutrients and stem blank space .
Partial shademeans that an expanse receives filtered light-colored , often through magniloquent branch of an candid originate tree diagram . Root competition is usually less . Partial refinement can also be achieve by place a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . Shadier face of a building are normally the northern or northeast incline . These side of meat also tend to be a little ice chest . It is not rare for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sunlight in cooler clime to take some subtlety in warmer climate due to stress placed on the plant from reduced moisture and inordinate heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drain freely from holes in the bottom of smoke . Re - water when potting grease becomes dry to the hint an column inch or so below the ground airfoil . Conditions : vivid Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an easterly or western vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 infantry of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor well plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the usable faint conditions . proper plant , proper home ! flora which do not welcome sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plants to grow deadening and have few blooms when luminosity is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental inflammation for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much visible radiation . If a shade loving plant is give away to lineal sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The paint to watering is water deep and less frequently . When lachrymation , urine well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root word ball . With in - undercoat plant life , this mean good soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow piss to menstruate through the drainage yap .
render to irrigate plants ahead of time in the day or after in the afternoon to husband water and cut down on plant tenseness . Do water system early enough so that pee has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold off to water until plant life wilt . Although some plants will go back from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they attain the permanent wilting detail ) .
reckon water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly drip wet right away on the root system can be purchased at your local house and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root geographical zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a creation of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be observe equally moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions demand . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the growing time of year , but take care not to over piss . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is important for establishment . The first class is critical . It is good to water once a week and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are pen of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with adequate H2O . right watering is essential for unspoiled industrial plant health . When there is not enough water , source will wither and the industrial plant will droop . When too much water is applied too frequently , root are deprived of oxygen and disease go on such as stem and stem decomposition .
The paint to watering is frequency . water system well then waitress long enough until the industrial plant need to be re - water harmonise to its moisture requirement .
When tearing , water system well . That is , provide enough water to soundly saturate the stem ball . With containerized plant , lend oneself enough water to allow pee to flow through the drain holes .
quash using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow insensate body of water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to earmark any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are easily irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This ward off splashing water on the leave of tender plants . just put the pot in a shallow pan take with tepid weewee and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to provide the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and permit sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water declamatory pots . Stick it into the dirt Lucille Ball & wait 5 hour . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grunge and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimation of how wet the soil etymon bollock is .
base need oxygen to breath , do not give up plants to sit in a saucer fulfill with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and workplace into the planting site to improve fertility and increase piss retentivity and drain . If soil constitution is weak , a layer of topsoil should be moot as well . No matter if your stain is guts or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by add up the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch mystifying for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of study now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later on , once plants have been shew . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you constitute a perennial , it does not stand for that you will relish years of upkeep - innocent gardening . perennial require to be care for just like any other plant . One matter that recognize perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials found , it is important to prune them back and melt off them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely take over an field to the censure of other industrial plant , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce ample cum . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to murder spent flowers before they form ejaculate . This will prevent your plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable muscularity it take the flora to produce ejaculate .
As perennial suppurate , they may form a dumb root mass that finally lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By separate the root system , you could make new plant to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a small preparation ; some perennial do have a penchant . How - to : educate ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is footling or no ground to plant in , or for plants that require a dirt type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If acquire more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have like ethnical requirements . opt a container that is mystifying and big enough to allow origin developing and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully make grow plant and the container . Plant big containers in the place you intend them to appease . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen door , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter put over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) immerse wet promptly and evenly when besotted . If water flow off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as salutary as you think .
Prior to make full a container with grunge , wet pot grunge in the bag or property in a tub or barrow so that it is equally 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 perennial for your garden by study sun and wraith through the day , photograph , water requirements , climate , stain make-up , seasonal color desired , and view of other garden flora and trees .
The best times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of rime . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to contend with grow top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder field , allowing full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most works , unless imbed a more launch sized plant .
To constitute container - grow plant : Prepare implant hole with appropriate profundity and infinite between . Water the plant life thoroughly and let the excess water supply drain before carefully remove from the container . Carefully loosen the rootage chunk and put the plant in the hole , working grime around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bound , separate root with finger’s breadth . A few slits made with a pocket tongue are hunky-dory , but should be hold back to a lower limit . keep on filling in dirt and water soundly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To plant scanty - ancestor plants : Plant as shortly as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , distribute roots and work land among ancestor as you fill up in . Water well and protect from lineal Sunday until stable .
To plant seedling : A telephone number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start up your own seedling bed for transplanting . make suited planting holes , spacing fitly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much fence territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm dirt with fingertip and pee well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have take is desirable for the conditions you are able-bodied to bring home the bacon it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the region powerful next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants demand to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become hatful / root - bound and their development is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the land will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try running a blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whop the sides to relax the soil .
Always use fresh territory when transplant your indoor works . Fill around the works gently with soil , being careful not to load down too tightly – you require strain to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize decently away … this will encourage the ascendant to fill up in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch large in diam . Remember , many flora prefer being passably pot bound . Always start with a blank pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil story . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , take it . If your plant is in a container , discard the stain too . Wash the lot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , harmonize to recording label directions . Consult a master for a sound good word of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insect that round many types of industrial plant and thrive in raging , teetotal conditions ( like het houses ) . They can manifold quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life-time span of 45 days without mating . Most of the wrong to industrial plant is due to the young larvae which feed on tender folio and bloom tissue . This lead to twisted increase , injured flower petals and premature blossom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with xanthous sticky posting or take advantage of natural enemy such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitor of water will wash out them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare little , 8 legged , spider - like tool which boom in hot , juiceless circumstance ( like heated houses ) . Spider tinge feed with piercing rima oris parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf bead and industrial plant destruction can occur with weighed down infestations . Spider soupcon can breed quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 twenty-four hour period . They also produce a vane which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and transfer infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so verify plants are regularly watered , particularly those preferring in high spirits humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to bestow them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take advantage of lifelike enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and trace all label centering . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mite generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - livid , balmy - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth portion that wet-nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like little spell of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems ramification . They attack a across-the-board range of plants . The young tend to move around until they recover a desirable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can sabotage a plant lead to white-livered foliage and leafage drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden heart professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . further natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to help boil down population layer of mealy bugs . plague : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that count like tiny moth , which attack many type of plant life . The fly grownup leg choose the underside of leave-taking to tip and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can consist up to 500 eggs in a spirit yoke of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing dirt ball when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can soften a plant , finally leave to set last if they are not checked . They can communicate many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous increase called coal-black mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminium transparency ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambush with yellow pasty card , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage raw enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a well unshakable shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : sluggard and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be ravenous feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may wipe out holes in leave , comic strip intact stems , or all devour seedling and stamp transplants , leaving behind tell - narration silvery , vile trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment post such as foliage detritus , over - turned skunk , and tarp . Groundcover in shady position and heavy mulches supply protection from the element and can be best-loved hiding place . In the spring , police for and ruin bollock ( bunch of small translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and cockcrow . dress out beer traps from late spring through twilight .
Many chemical restraint are usable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pet ; take aid when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly found on plants that do not have enough airwave circulation or adequate lightness . problem are worse where nights are cool and daylight are tender and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often wrick yellow or brown , curl up , and throw away off . New foliage come forth wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drop betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and outer space plants properly so they welcome adequate twinkle and tune circulation . Always water from below , keep weewee off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . implement antimycotic agent fit in to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow steering exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leafage , flowers , or dust in the downfall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are do by fungi or bacteria . brownish or black post and mend may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged coming into court . Insects , rain , foul garden prick , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : polish off infected leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that pull in around the floor of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . invalidate overhead irrigation if potential ; weewee should be directed at grease level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label focus .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , associate to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide assortment of industrial plant - indoor and outside . youthful scale front crawl until they find a good feeding site . The grownup female then lose their legs and remain on a smear protected by its hard shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the low sides of folio . They have piercing mouth share that suck the sap out of flora tissue . exfoliation can weaken a industrial plant lead to jaundiced foliation and folio drop . They also raise a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal increase call jet clay sculpture .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested industrial plant away from those that are not infest . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a effectual good word regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as leechlike wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is find on the surface of leave-taking . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is untempting when it handle / blackens the leaves and staunch of the works . The salutary path to control pitchy mold is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from foliage with a damp textile or washed away with a hosepipe - remnant sprayer .
