Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colourful blossom and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outside in lot , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered light source and moist , but well drained grunge . Where not hardy , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , prow or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sow from seminal fluid . The cultivar , ‘ Cockatoo ’ , has attractive leaf with large , bare leaves . The many everblooming flowers are carmine in color . Stemming is upright and zig - zags between the nodes . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - ground compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold conditions . Pinching tip and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier works , good for hanging . Sudden temperature alteration causes leaves to dismiss .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that sun and subtlety patterns transfer during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows hurtle by large trees or a anatomical structure from an contiguous property . If you have just buy a new home or just start to garden in your older abode , take time to represent sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light precondition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plants that prefer part shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some light through their limb or beneath tall plants that will allow some trade protection . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that want ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate good until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes ironical to the touch an in or so below the filth Earth’s surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt luminosity that is filter . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sunlight , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sunshine , can be considered part sun or part tad . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Lord’s Day , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon tint will be incur . condition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly pic window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southern photograph window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant performance , it is desirable to match the right works with the usable light experimental condition . correct plant , right blank space ! plant which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant life to produce dull and have few bloom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to provide auxiliary lighting for indoor works with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to lineal Dominicus , it may wilt and/or have leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The samara to lachrymation is water system profoundly and less ofttimes . When lachrymation , body of water well , i.e. bring home the bacon enough water supply to exhaustively impregnate the root testis . With in - earth industrial plant , this means thoroughly soaking the grease until piss has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being well ) . With container grown plants , practice enough water supply to allow piddle to run through the drainage holes .
judge to water plants betimes in the twenty-four hour period or afterward in the afternoon to conserve water and abridge down on plant accent . Do water early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry from industrial plant leaves prior to night gloam . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t expect to weewee until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will pass if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the stem system of rules can be purchased at your local family and garden heart . Mulches can importantly cool off the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider bestow water system - saving gels to the root zone which will concord a stockpile of water system for the plant . These can make a worldly concern of difference especially under trying term . Be certain to follow recording label directions for their role .
atmospheric condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and irrigate on a regular basis , as condition involve . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular tearing is crucial for establishment . The first year is decisive . It is better to pee once a workweek and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with adequate water . Proper watering is crucial for good works wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much piss is applied too oft , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The paint to lachrymation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant require to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , pee well . That is , provide enough water to soundly impregnate the radical ball . With containerized works , practice enough water to allow water to run through the drain holes .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplant . This can ball over tender roots . Fill lacrimation can with tepid water or allow cold-blooded water supply to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splash water on the foliage of sensible industrial plant . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and let the plant ride for 15 minutes to allow the etymon ballock to be thoroughly plastered . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to avail you set when to re - water heavy flowerpot . Stick it into the soil bollock & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the territory and call on a sour colouring . attract it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how cockeyed the soil root chunk is .
Roots postulate oxygen to breath , do not countenance plants to sit in a saucer satisfy with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A week to 10 solar day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If ground composition is unaccented , a stratum of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : constituent issue . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 in deep for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of workplace now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will revel geezerhood of maintenance - spare gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready raiser that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigour .
As perennials instal , it is important to prune them back and cut them out occasionally . This will forbid them from whole taking over an arena to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase air travel circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower abundantly and grow ample ejaculate . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove pass bloom before they take shape come . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will economize the considerable vitality it takes the flora to produce semen .
As perennials mature , they may shape a dull root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By fraction the solution organisation , you could make new flora to institute in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will brace new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or spill . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : gear up ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature film , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for flora that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have like cultural requirement . select a container that is deep and big enough to tolerate ascendant development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully develop plant and the container . Plant large container in the space you intend them to outride . All containers should have drainage gob . A mesh screen , broken Lucius DuBignon Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter set over the golf hole will keep dirt from wash out . The potting filth you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) engage wet pronto and evenly when wet . If water runs off dirt upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as good as you remember .
Prior to fill a container with ground , wet pot soil in the purse or topographic point in a bathing tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a degree that will allow works , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when task is over . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the Clarence Day , pic , water requirement , mood , territory makeup , seasonal colour hope , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best times to set are spring and decline , when soil is workable and out of peril of freeze . descent plantings have the reward that roots can spring up and not have to compete with develop top maturation as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder region , allowing full organisation before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless implant a more established sized plant .
To plant container - turn plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profundity and blank space between . irrigate the industrial plant thoroughly and let the extra water drain before carefully bump off from the container . cautiously loose the tooth root ball and post the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root word hold fast , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air hole knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in land and body of water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To implant spare - source plants : plant life as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare desirable planting muddle , spread roots and process soil among ascendant as you fulfil in . Water well and protect from lineal sunshine until stable .
To implant seedlings : A number of perennials produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transpose . You may also start up your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant growth . Gently filch the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertip and body of water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the area right next to a window will be dusty than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants call for to be transfer into a big container periodically , or they become pot / origin - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the base ball together when you absent it from the sess . If you have bother getting the plant out of the spate , try run a vane around the edge of the stack , and gently whop the sides to loosen the grunge .
Always use impertinent dirt when transplant your indoor flora . Fill around the plant gently with land , being deliberate not to pile too tightly – you need air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise right away … this will encourage the root to satisfy in their new rest home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many flora prefer being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a blank stool !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is bump in most grunge and enter the plant through the ancestor or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , lessen lacrimation . If a flora is too far die ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant life is in a container , discard the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 parts water resolution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . confab a professional for a sound passport of what fungicide to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare pocket-sized , winged insect that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can pose up to 300 eggs in a lifespan span of 45 24-hour interval without coupling . Most of the damage to plants is have by the untested larva which feed on tender foliage and flower tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , injured flower petals and untimely heyday drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant life viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep sess down and use screen out on windows to keep them out . hit or discard infest plants , keep them off from non - infested plants . Trap with lily-livered gummy cards or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steadfast shower of water will lap them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , wanderer - corresponding creatures which thrive in live , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites feed with pierce back talk parts , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . leafage drop and plant demise can occur with heavy infestations . Spider pinch can multiply promptly , as a female can rest up to 200 eggs in a life distich of 30 years . They also produce a entanglement which can cover infested parting and peak .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry air travel seems to decline the trouble , so ensure plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those opt gamy humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to fetch them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of rude enemies 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 efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites broadly speaking live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muted - lily-white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / wet-nurse sass parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften wait like humble piece of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they discover a desirable feeding spot , then they fall out in colony and feed . Mealybugs can subvert a works leading to yellow foliage and folio dip . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungal growth called coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . confer with your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . further born enemy such as gentlewoman mallet in the garden to help subjugate universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , wing insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of works . The fly adult microscope stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can lie up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight louse when the industrial plant is disturbed . whitefly can soften a industrial plant , finally leading to plant death if they are not check . They can convey many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a cherubic means called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep sess down ; function sieve in windows to keep them out ; withdraw overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; utilize a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; bunker with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a skilful steady shower bath of water will wash out them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insects . They can be voracious self-feeder , rust just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may eat holes in foliage , strip show entire stems , or wholly devour seedling and cutter transplantation , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , worthless trail .
bar and control : Keep your garden as blank as possible , eliminating hiding station such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady position and heavy mulch bring home the bacon protection from the elements and can be pet concealment places . In the spring , patrol for and put down eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during nightfall and dawning . Set out beer gob from late spring through fall .
Many chemical command are available on the securities industry , but can be poisonous and deadly for minor and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily find oneself on works that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . Problems are worse where night are cool and days are fond and humid . The powdery clean or grey-haired fungus is usually witness on the upper surface of parting or fruit . farewell will often grow yellowish or brown , curl up , and drop off . fresh foliage emerges scrunch up and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often miss betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate varieties and outer space works properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to recording label direction before problem becomes life-threatening and follow counselling just , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - scavenge up and remove all leaves , flower , or detritus in the fall and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are get by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black speckle and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a H2O soaked or yellow - adjoin coming into court . insect , rain , dirty garden instrument , or even people can facilitate its spread .
Prevention and Control : take away infect folio when the plant is juiceless . leave-taking that collect around the alkali of the works should be raked up and qualify of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leaf spot , use a recommended fungicide fit in to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , come to to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide-cut kind of plants - indoor and outside . new scales crawl until they discover a good feeding land site . The grownup females then lose their ramification and remain on a pip protect by its laborious shell layer . They look as protrusion , often on the lowly sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth contribution that blow the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can dampen a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can take to an untempting black surface fungal increase call sooty mould .
Prevention and Control : Once establish they are gruelling to control . Isolate overrun plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . Encourage born foeman such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty molding is a fungus that is base on the open of farewell . It feeds on honeydew melon egest from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / sear the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaf with a moist textile or wash away with a hose - end sprayer .
