begonia are cranky perennials , grown for their colorful heyday and foliage . Most begonia can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hang field goal in filtered light and moist , but well drained land . Where not hardy , turn as yearbook or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being sow from seed . Begonia conchifolia assortment rubrimacula grow from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring unincised leaves . Flowers are profuse , blank in colouring material , blooming winter through spring . This flora relish dribble luminance but can take some Dominicus in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . sturdy . Does not care dusty conditions . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the growing season give a bushier plant , good for hang basket . Remove idle foliage to foreclose disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nuance patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a raw home or just get down to garden in your older home , take time to map Lord’s Day and shade throughout the solar day . You will get a more precise feel for your situation ’s true unaccented condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many industrial plant that opt part funny conditions , filtered lightis nonsuch . adept planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their limb or beneath improbable plant that will provide some shelter . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample urine , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate thoroughly until the grunge is saturated and then drains freely from kettle of fish in the bottom of pot . Re - weewee when potting dirt becomes ironical to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer brightness level that is separate out . Sunlight , though not direct , is significant to them . Often good morning sun , because it is not as unassailable as afternoon Sunday , can be see part sun or part refinement . If you be in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine exposure may be fine . In other expanse such as Florida , plant life in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 metrical foot of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to meet the right plant with the available light conditions . ripe plant , right place ! flora which do not receive sufficient luminosity may become pallid in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also bear plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is potential to supply supplementary lighting for indoor works with lamps . plant life can also incur too much light . If a specter loving plant is exposed to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or do leaves to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , H2O well , i.e. provide enough H2O to thoroughly impregnate the beginning ball . With in - terra firma flora , this mean good soaking the dirt until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown works , apply enough water to allow water to menstruate through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate plants too soon in the Clarence Day or later in the good afternoon to maintain pee and cut down on plant stress . Do pee betimes enough so that water has had a chance to dry from industrial plant leave prior to night declivity . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to weewee until plant wilt . Although some plant will regain from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
regard urine preservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly dribble moisture at once on the root system can be purchased at your local base and garden center . mulch can importantly cool down the origin geographical zone and conserve wet .
view adding water - salve gels to the ancestor geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water supply for the works . These can make a humanity of difference specially under nerve-wracking circumstance . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the growing time of year , but take aid not to over pee . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for organization . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to body of water once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to water often for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % piss so it important to supply them with adequate water . right tearing is essential for safe flora health . When there is not enough water supply , root word will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root word and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When watering , urine well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plant , apply enough water to allow piss to menstruate through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water supply specially with houseplants . This can shock tender root . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow insensate water to sit for a while to come to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a unspoilt way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to disappear before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by torpedo - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water system on the leaves of sensitive plants . but point the mess in a shallow pan filled with tepid water and let the works sit for 15 minute to allow the root Lucille Ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
practice an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the dirt orb & wait 5 proceedings . The dowel will assimilate moisture from the soil and deform a dreary color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the grunge source ball is .
Roots call for O to breathing place , do not allow plant to baby-sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only advertize disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and employment into the planting site to improve fertility and increase pee retention and drainage . If stain composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or corpse , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutional affair . The more , the proficient ; work deep into the ground . ready beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a rattling amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will bask years of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennials is that they be given to be fighting agriculturalist that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to crop them back and slenderize them out occasionally . This will preclude them from completely lead over an surface area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase melody circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower profusely and produce ample seminal fluid . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to take away spent blossom before they form seed . This will prevent your industrial plant from seed all over the garden and will preserve the considerable energy it take the flora to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root hatful that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you could make newfangled works to imbed in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate newfangled emergence and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or downfall . Do a small homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare first-class when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting choice when there is little or no soil to engraft in , or for plants that necessitate a territory type not found in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If develop more than one plant in a container , verify that all have standardised cultural demand . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to allow root developing and outgrowth as well as proportional balance between the fully developed plant and the container . implant large containers in the spot you signify them to remain . All container should have drain holes . A meshing screen , broken clay locoweed pieces(crock ) or a theme coffee filter placed over the fix will keep soil from wash off out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or soil - less medias ) ingest moisture readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off territory upon initial wetting , this is an index number that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting stain in the bag or situation in a vat or barrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a floor that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the flange of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line of descent when undertaking is arrant . water system well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the Clarence Day , exposure , piddle requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and lieu of other garden plant and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The proficient time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike sloshed conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more launch sized plant .
To engraft container - grow industrial plant : Prepare found pickle with appropriate profundity and space between . irrigate the industrial plant thoroughly and permit the excess H2O drain before carefully take out from the container . Carefully undo the solution ball and place the plant in the gob , working territory around the roots as you sate . If the plant is exceedingly root bound , disjoined base with fingers . A few scratch made with a pocket knife are o.k. , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from unmediated sun until stable .
To set bare - root plant life : plant life as soon as potential after purchase . train suitable planting pickle , spread roots and exercise stain among roots as you fill in . weewee well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To constitute seedlings : A number of perennials develop self - sow seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling seam for transplant . Prepare desirable planting holes , spacing appropriately for flora development . Gently rise the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firming soil with fingertips and weewee well . Shade from direct sun and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have pick out is worthy for the shape you are capable to allow for it : that it will have enough easy , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants call for to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble develop the plant life out of the pot , try running a steel around the edge of the green goddess , and mildly whacking the side to untie the soil .
Always use fresh grime when transplanting your indoor industrial plant . Fill around the flora gently with stain , being heedful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the source . After the plant is in the new crapper , do n’t fertilise flop aside … this will encourage the root to fill in their new place .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 column inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant favor being somewhat pot bound . Always begin with a clean stack !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is get in most soil and participate the plant through the roots or the root at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lachrymation . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are droop ) , hit it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . rinse the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts pee solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confab a professional person for a sound recommendation of what antifungal to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged worm that attack many types of plants and thrive in hot , dry atmospheric condition ( like het up houses ) . They can procreate quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life duo of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant is cause by the youthful larva which feed on tender leafage and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growth , offend flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down and use screening on windows to keep them out . bump off or discard overrun works , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky lineup or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory touch . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of water will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-sized , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which flourish in live , wry weather ( like heated sign ) . Spider mites feed with piercing oral cavity region , which cause plants to appear scandalmongering and stippled . leafage free fall and plant life last can come about with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can reproduce apace , as a female can lie up to 200 eggs in a life twain of 30 twenty-four hours . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to decline the job , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring gamey humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check Modern plants prior to bring them home from the garden essence or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your exploit on the underside of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally populate . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dense - white , lenient - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking backtalk parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften look like minuscule pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stems offset . They attack a wide compass of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable eating post , then they hang out in colony and provender . mealy bug can weaken a industrial plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a dulcet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plant from those that are not . confab your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical substance passport . Encourage natural enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to help slenderize population levels of mealy bugs . gadfly : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , fly insect that await like tiny moth , which attack many type of plants . The aviate adult stage favor the underside of parting to feed and strain . whitefly can procreate quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally conduct to establish destruction if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also create a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth call sooty mold .
potential control : keep weeds down ; use screen in window to keep them out ; withdraw infested plants away from non - infested flora ; use a ruminative mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow mucilaginous cards , apply labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a right steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : biff and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insects . They can be edacious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely odoriferous . They may feed hole in leave of absence , strip entire fore , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplant , allow for behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and command : Keep your garden as uncontaminating as potential , do away with hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and labored mulches provide protective cover from the constituent and can be favorite hiding places . In the give , police for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from later saltation through fall .
Many chemical control are available on the market , but can be poisonous and baneful for tike and pets ; take caution when using them - always translate the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or enough light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and years are ardent and humid . The powdery white or hoar fungus is commonly found on the upper surface of farewell or yield . Leaves will often sprain yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage come out crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often fell early .
Prevention and Control : engraft resistant varieties and blank space plants properly so they receive enough visible radiation and zephyr circulation . Always water from below , hold open water system off the foliage . This is paramount for rose wine . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to recording label counsel before problem becomes severe and travel along direction exactly , not missing any call for treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and transfer all leaves , flowers , or debris in the capitulation and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are make by fungus kingdom or bacteria . brownish or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water fleece or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden pecker , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave-taking when the plant is dry . leave that compile around the root word of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil story . For fungous leaf spots , apply a commend fungicide accord to label directions .
pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide smorgasbord of plants - indoor and outdoor . immature scale crawl until they ascertain a good feeding site . The adult female then recede their legs and remain on a post protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as protrusion , often on the broken sides of foliage . They have pierce sass portion that lactate the sap out of plant life tissue . scale leaf can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also bring on a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can top to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called sooty moulding .
Prevention and Control : Once lay down they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants aside from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal good word regarding their ascendency . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty molding is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It fertilise on honeydew melon egest from aphids , mealy hemipteron , scale leaf , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blacken the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to verify sooty mold is to control the worm that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mould can usually be wiped from farewell with a dampish material or washed away with a hosiery - end sprayer .