begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colourful bloom and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the background , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not fearless , produce as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cutting in gain to being seed from seed . ( Plant breadth : leaves over 6 inches ) The ‘ Paul - bee ’ is a bushy begonia that has attractive foliage with large , naked leaves . The flowers are chickenhearted to snowy and are in efflorescence in spring . Stemming is good and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant savor filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like stale weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier industrial plant , good for hanging . Sudden temperature change have leaves to dismiss .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shade pattern modify during the day . The western side of a house may even be umbrageous due to shadows cast off by large trees or a bodily structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw home or just begin to garden in your older plate , take fourth dimension to map Dominicus and tone throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light stipulation . status : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady condition , filtered lightis nonsuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to heavy sized tree that lets some light through their offshoot or beneath taller plants that will furnish some shelter . Conditions : Moisture - love HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample piddle , or those labeled asmoisture - roll in the hay houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from cakehole in the bottom of mickle . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an in or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt lightness that is dribble . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dawn sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be regard part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon tint will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be put within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor in force flora performance , it is worthy to equalise the right plant with the available light circumstance . Right plant , right-hand place ! plant life which do not receive sufficient lighter may become pallid in coloration , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " stretch - out appearing . Also expect plant to grow slow and have few blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much Light Within . If a refinement loving works is scupper to unmediated Dominicus , it may wilt and/or cause leave to be burn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less ofttimes . When watering , pee well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With in - ground plant life , this means exhaustively surcharge the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , put on enough water to allow pee to flow through the drain holes .
endeavor to irrigate plants early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and trim down on plant focus . Do water betimes enough so that urine has had a chance to dry out from plant farewell prior to dark spill . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t hold back to weewee until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slow drip wet directly on the etymon system can be buy at your local base and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving colloidal gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to stick with recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be kept evenly moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as condition ask . Most plants like 1 in of water a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over piddle . The first two geezerhood after a plant is establish , regular lachrymation is significant for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and body of water deep , than to water frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to render them with adequate water . right watering is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough urine , roots will wither and the works will wilt . When too much urine is go for too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works require to be re - water according to its moisture requirement .
When lachrymation , urine well . That is , provide enough water to good saturate the ancestor ball . With containerized plants , apply enough pee to leave H2O to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a unspoiled mode to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoid splashing H2O on the leaves of sensible plant . only send the bay window in a shallow goat god fill with tepid water system and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root testicle to be thoroughly lactating . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help you mold when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the grunge ballock & waitress 5 proceedings . The dowel will absorb moisture from the grease and turn a darker color . take out it out and essay . This will give you an idea of how sloshed the soil root formal is .
Roots need O to breathing space , do not allow works to ride in a dish aerial filled with H2O . This will only further disease .
Planting
A week to 10 Day before planting , add up 2 to 4 in of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase urine holding and drainage . If stain composition is debile , a bed of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the good ; crop deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch mysterious for perennials . This will seem like a awful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy long time of care - free gardening . perennial need to be wish for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they be given to be active growers that have to be thin out at times or they will loose heartiness .
As perennial instal , it is important to rationalise them back and thin them out once in a while . This will forbid them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase airwave circulation thereby abbreviate the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also flower abundantly and bring out ample seminal fluid . As efflorescence fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they mould seed . This will forestall your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may imprint a dense root plenty that finally precede to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally reduce out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you’re able to make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will shake up novel emergence and restore the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either natural spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting choice when there is little or no stain to implant in , or for plants that require a ground type not find in the garden or when land drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have similar ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is deep and gravid enough to tolerate source developing and growth as well as relative balance between the full developed plant and the container . institute tumid containers in the home you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh filmdom , cave in the Great Compromiser pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper publisher burnt umber filter localise over the hole will keep dirt from washing out . The potting land you pick out should be an appropriate admixture for the plants you have choose . Quality dirt ( or grunge - less medias ) absorb wet readily and equally when wet . If water be given off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your grease may not be as skilful as you think .
Prior to filling a container with grunge , wet potting dirt in the bag or place in a bathing tub or garden cart so that it is evenly moist . take container about halfway full or to a stage that will allow plants , when plant , to be just below the flange of the great deal . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider Dominicus and shade through the day , picture , H2O requirements , climate , soil war paint , seasonal colouring desired , and position of other garden works and trees .
The best fourth dimension to plant are springtime and pin , when soil is viable and out of risk of hoarfrost . Fall planting have the advantage that origin can develop and not have to contend with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet stipulation or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless set a more show sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and permit the redundant water drain before carefully remove from the container . Carefully loosen the ascendant ball and place the flora in the gob , ferment soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant life is extremely root bind , disjoined roots with finger . A few dent made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be continue to a minimum . Continue filling in territory and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until stable .
To embed bare - root plants : plant life as before long as potential after leverage . Prepare worthy planting gob , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . H2O well and protect from lineal sun until static .
To institute seedlings : A number of perennials make self - sown seedlings that can be transpose . You may also begin your own seedling bottom for transplant . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for works development . Gently lift the seedling and as much ring soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the industrial plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to bring home the bacon it : that it will have enough weak , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area decently next to a window will be colder than the rest period of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become heap / root - bound and their increase is retarded . irrigate the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the rootage ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble experience the plant out of the slew , test running a leaf blade around the boundary of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to undo the soil .
Always employ fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with land , being careful not to load down too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the ascendant . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise flop aside … this will promote the roots to fill in their new habitation .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch outstanding in diameter . call back , many plants prefer being somewhat pot tie . Always go with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you surmise Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the folio from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the grime too . wash out the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part H2O result . antifungal agent can be used , according to label counselling . Consult a professional for a legal passport of what antifungal agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , wing insects that lash out many types of plant and thrive in live , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can procreate quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without pairing . Most of the hurt to plant life is cause by the young larvae which feed on lovesome foliage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted ontogenesis , injure flower petal and premature blossom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take reward of raw foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unwavering shower bath of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative lengthiness office for legal chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like beast which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated family ) . Spider mites feed with pierce back talk parts , which cause plant to seem yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and plant decease can occur with heavy plague . Spider pinch can breed cursorily , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a biography span of 30 days . They also produce a WWW which can cover infested folio and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep widow’s weeds down and remove infested industrial plant . Dry melodic phrase seems to worsen the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check out novel plant prior to bringing them home from the garden centre or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre of attention professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and keep an eye on all recording label directions . boil down your effort on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites in the main live . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , thudding - white , soft - corporal insects that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / fellate mouth role that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton plant and they incline to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They set on a wide image of industrial plant . The new lean to move around until they regain a suited feeding smudge , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to jaundiced leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can conduce to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungous increment called sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest flora from those that are not . look up your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension power in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetle in the garden to aid trim back universe degree of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that wait like flyspeck moths , which attack many types of plants . The vaporize adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can breed quickly as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a life duad of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can undermine a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can carry many harmful plant life virus . They also produce a sweet-scented substance hollo honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can direct to an untempting black surface fungal increase call pitchy mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; manipulation screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infest works out from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow awkward cards , lend oneself label pesticides ; encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of piddle will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not worm . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat up holes in folio , funnies total stems , or completely devour seedling and tender graft , leave behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating concealment place such as leaf debris , over - turned passel , and tarps . Groundcover in funny places and intemperate mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding place . In the bounce , police for and destroy eggs ( clusters of low semitransparent vault of heaven ) and adults during twilight and dawn . Set out beer trap from late spring through fall .
Many chemical control are available on the market , but can be vicious and deadly for fry and favorite ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate twinkle . problem are unsound where night are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery whitened or gray fungus is usually plant on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often twist yellow or brownish , draw in up , and drop off . Modern foliation come forth crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they get passable Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping urine off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . employ fungicides according to label direction before trouble becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - inch coming into court . Insects , rain , unsportsmanlike garden tools , or even people can help its cattle farm .
Prevention and Control : murder infect leaf when the works is dry . Leaves that collect around the radix of the plant should be raked up and toss away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil layer . For fungous folio spots , practice a urge fungicide consort to label directions .
cuss : Scale InsectsScales are worm , refer to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales creep until they find a skillful alimentation land site . The grownup females then mislay their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard carapace bed . They seem as bumps , often on the low incline of leaves . They have piercing backtalk percentage that take in the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant go to yellow leafage and leaf pearl . They also produce a sweet-scented substance holler honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting fatal open fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are heavy to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension billet in your county for a sound good word regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipterous insect , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaves and stem of the works . The honorable mode to control sooty mold is to insure the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can ordinarily be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or washed away with a hose - end nebulizer .
