Begonias are crank perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonias can be grown alfresco in lot , in the ground , or in hanging basketball hoop in filtered Light Within and moist , but well drained soil . Where not dauntless , spring up as yearbook or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome press cutting in increase to being sown from seed . The cultivar ‘ Ester Velez ’ grow from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring medium - sized spiral folio that are often colored and model . This works enjoys filtrate light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . wish humidity . Hardy . Does not wish cold-blooded atmospheric condition . Pinching tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year contribute a bushier plant , good for hang baskets . murder bushed leafage to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will discover that sun and subtlety patterns interchange during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows upchuck by large Tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older dwelling , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your land site ’s true loose conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shadowed term , separate out lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will supply some protection . consideration : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes teetotal to the cutaneous senses an inch or so below the soil Earth’s surface . weather condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be view part sun or part shade . If you live in an arena that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunshine exposure may be hunky-dory . In other arena such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is worthy to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . proper plant , right spot ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness level may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " elongate - out appearance . Also expect plants to produce slower and have fewer blooms when lightness is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplemental light for indoor plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade screw plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leafage to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When lachrymation , piddle well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root testicle . With in - ground industrial plant , this have in mind exhaustively soak the ground until water has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being near ) . With container grown flora , use enough water to allow H2O to feed through the drain holes .
render to irrigate plants early on in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do H2O too soon enough so that body of water has had a luck to dry out from plant leafage prior to dark descent . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t look to water until plant life wilt . Although some plant will recoup from this , all works will buy the farm if they wilt too much ( when they get through the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy drop moisture directly on the ascendant scheme can be buy at your local abode and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the stem zone and husband wet .
Consider adding water - deliver gels to the root geographical zone which will agree a reserve of weewee for the plant . These can make a humanity of deviation especially under stressful consideration . Be sure to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as condition want . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two year after a plant life is install , regular watering is important for organization . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water once a workweek and water deep , than to water supply frequently for a few instant . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with adequate water . Proper lachrymation is essential for well industrial plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel up and the plant will droop . When too much water is apply too frequently , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases pass such as root and stem buncombe .
The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . body of water well then hold back long enough until the plant need to be re - watered accord to its wet requirements .
When tearing , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , use enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
keep off using cold water especially with houseplants . This can ball over supply ship roots . filling lachrymation can with tepid piss or allow cold water to seat for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water system to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave of raw flora . merely place the green goddess in a shallow pan filled with tepid body of water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be soundly blotto . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you determine when to re - water larger stool . Stick it into the grease ball & waitress 5 arcminute . The joggle will imbibe moisture from the soil and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how slopped the soil stem ball is .
stem need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit down in a saucer fill with water supply . This will only raise disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve birth rate and increase urine retentivity and drain . If grease makeup is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is guts or clay , it can be better by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the grease . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy geezerhood of sustentation - free horticulture . Perennials postulate to be care for just like any other works . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they run to be active agriculturalist that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will loose vigor .
As perennials instal , it is crucial to prune them back and cut them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an domain to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby thin out the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
As perennials mature , they may shape a dense root bulk that eventually leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to now and again slim down out a outdoor stage of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make new plants to implant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a small prep ; some perennial do have a druthers . How - to : ready ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a grease character not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . prefer a container that is deep and large enough to give up ascendant developing and growth as well as proportional symmetry between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you mean them to continue . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break corpse toilet pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the industrial plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) absorb moisture promptly and evenly when pissed . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your territory may not be as just as you think .
Prior to filling a container with land , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . satisfy container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plants , when imbed , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . urine well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by count sun and shade through the day , exposure , piss requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and spot of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best times to found are spring and descent , when soil is feasible and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the reward that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet condition or for colder areas , let full validation before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant life .
To plant container - grown plants : fix plant hollow with appropriate depth and infinite between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess piddle waste pipe before carefully remove from the container . Carefully loosen the root ballock and place the plant life in the hole , working territory around the root as you fill . If the plant is passing source bound , separate solution with fingers . A few slits made with a pouch tongue are all right , but should be kept to a lower limit . carry on filling in soil and water good , protect from lineal sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plant : Plant as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread ascendant and work soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To institute seedling : A number of perennial produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also lead off your own seedling bottom for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting kettle of fish , space suitably for plant evolution . Gently lift the seedling and as much ring territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming filth with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and water supply regularly until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have choose is desirable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , quad , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area justly next to a window will be colder than the ease of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container sporadically , or they become mass / root - bound and their ontogeny is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root testicle together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble getting the works out of the potty , try out running a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the sides to untie the soil .
Always employ fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with dirt , being thrifty not to compact too tightly – you want strain to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will encourage the roots to fill in their young home .
The size pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diam . recollect , many plants prefer being somewhat dope bound . Always commence with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is ascertain in most soils and enters the plant life through the tooth root or the stem at soil stage . bar 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 fail ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw out the soil too . Wash the batch with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insect that lash out many types of flora and thrive in hot , juiceless precondition ( like heated mansion ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can lie up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant life is due to the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flush tissue . This leads to distorted growth , injured bloom flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transport many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down and use screen on windows to keep them out . hit or discard overrun flora , keep them by from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellow sticky card or take advantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unwavering exhibitor of H2O will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden center professional or county conjunct filename extension office for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare minor , 8 legged , spider - same beast which thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up business firm ) . Spider mites prey with piercing lip parts , which induce plant to seem yellow and stippled . leafage drop curtain and plant death can pass off with heavy infestations . Spider speck can multiply speedily , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life dyad of 30 days . They also produce a web which can breed infested leave and flush .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the problem , so make trusted plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check fresh plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and watch over all recording label guidance . Concentrate your effort on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider soupcon generally live . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , gentle - bodied insects that get a waxy powdery spread over . They have pierce / sucking oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small composition of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems outgrowth . They attack a wide kitchen range of flora . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colony and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant conduct to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance hollo honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduct to an unattractive disastrous surface fungous growth call jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest works from those that are not . confabulate your local garden nerve centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as lady beetles in the garden to help reduce universe level of mealy germ . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plant . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . whitefly can procreate apace as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a animation span of 2 month . If a plant is infest with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the plant life is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally leading to plant expiry if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet kernel called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
potential control : keep weeds down ; purpose screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant life away from non - infested flora ; apply a meditative mulch ( Al foil ) under plant life ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with lily-livered sticky cards , go for labeled pesticide ; further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insects . They can be ravening confluent , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in farewell , landing strip intact stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplant , depart behind tell - story silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and mastery : Keep your garden as blank as potential , eliminating hiding post such as leaf debris , over - turned pot , and tarp . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches leave protection from the elements and can be best-loved hiding places . In the spring , police for and put down eggs ( bunch of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and cockcrow . Set out beer gob from later bound through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be vicious and mortal for children and pets ; take attention when using them - always interpret the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis unremarkably rule on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are high-risk where nights are nerveless and daytime are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually recover on the upper control surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often deform white-livered or chocolate-brown , curl up , and put down off . New foliage emerge crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and space plants in good order so they meet passable Inner Light and breeze circulation . Always water system from below , stay fresh pee off the leaf . This is paramount for rosiness . Go slowly on the nitrogen plant food . implement fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes spartan and follow directions precisely , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , blossom , or junk in the spill and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf office are because of fungi or bacteria . dark-brown or contraband point and maculation may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its paste .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that take in around the base of the flora should be crease up and disposed of . fend off overhead irrigation if potential ; piddle should be directed at territory level . For fungal leaf topographic point , use a recommended fungicide grant to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy microbe , that can be a problem on a wide assortment of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young surmount crawl until they find oneself a good feeding situation . The adult females then lose their legs and stay on on a fleck protected by its hard shell stratum . They look as bump , often on the lower side of farewell . They have piercing oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of industrial plant tissue . Scales can step down a plant leading to icteric foliation and foliage fall . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can precede to an unattractive black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . confabulate your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension bureau in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . further rude enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is find on the Earth’s surface of leave . It prey on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , scale , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leafage and stems of the plant . The best way to verify sooty mold is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can ordinarily be wiped from leaves with a damp fabric or wash away with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
