begonia are tender perennial , grown for their coloured flowers and foliation . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hang basket in permeate light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not audacious , grow as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Eloise ’ , grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring small , unincised foliage . This plant enjoys filtered brightness level but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias acquire very well in peat - ground compost also . Likes humidness . stalwart . Does not like insensate weather . Pinching lead and pruning kayoed stems in the growing season gives a bushier plant , honest for hanging basketball hoop . Remove beat foliage to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and shade traffic pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to apparition cast by large tree diagram or a bodily structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a Modern house or just begin to garden in your older home base , take time to map sunlight and shade throughout the solar day . You will get a more accurate feel for your situation ’s rightful light condition . consideration : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partly shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . skilful planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath tall works that will provide some protection . condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require plenteous water , or those pronounce asmoisture - enjoy houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then enfeeble freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - piss when pot soil becomes dry to the speck an inch or so below the ground open . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer lighter that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is significant to them . Often good morning Lord’s Day , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be look at part sun or part shade . If you live in an expanse that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be okay . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a placement where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : hopeful Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor unspoilt plant operation , it is desirable to equalise the correct works with the usable light condition . Right plant , right place ! works which do not pick up sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearing . Also ask plants to grow slower and have few blooms when light is less than worthy . It is potential to furnish subsidiary firing for indoor plants with lamp . plant life can also have too much Light Within . If a shade sleep with works is let out to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaf to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The paint to lacrimation is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , water well , i.e. offer enough water to good saturate the root ball . With in - flat coat plants , this means thoroughly soak the grunge until weewee has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water supply to tolerate water supply to flux through the drain mess .
endeavor to water plants early in the day or after in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant life stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a probability to dry from plant leave of absence prior to night downfall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to urine until plants wilt . Although some plants will go back from this , all works will go if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting head ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly dribble wet at once on the base scheme can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root geographical zone and preserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gelatin to the theme zone which will keep back a reserve of water system for the plant . These can make a world of divergence especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be certain to follow label centering for their manipulation .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as experimental condition postulate . Most plant like 1 inch of water a calendar week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lacrimation is authoritative for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and pee deeply , than to water system oftentimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it of import to provide them with adequate water . right lacrimation is crucial for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel up and the plant will droop . When too much piddle is enforce too often , roots are deprived of O and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant call for to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When lachrymation , water system well . That is , provide enough piss to exhaustively impregnate the origin formal . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hollow .
Avoid using stale water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender roots . filling watering can with tepid pee or allow cold water system to sit for a while to come to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful Cl in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water system on the leaf of sensitive works . Simply place the pot in a shallow goat god satiate with tepid water and allow the plant sit for 15 minutes to leave the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and give up sufficient drainage .
practice an unpainted dowel to help you fix when to re - water larger pots . hold fast it into the soil globe & hold back 5 minute . The dowel pin will assimilate moisture from the soil and twist a darker color . Pull it out and try out . This will give you an idea of how blotto the soil tooth root ball is .
Roots demand O to breathing spell , do not give up plant to pose in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility rate and increase water memory and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your territory is gumption or clay , it can be ameliorate by add the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the ground . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly yield off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plant have been make . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you set a perennial , it does not mean that you will revel years of sustentation - free gardening . Perennials need to be care for just like any other works . One affair that key perennial is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will let loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out on occasion . This will prevent them from completely take in over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many species also flower abundantly and produce ample source . As bloom slicing it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent blossom before they form seed . This will forestall your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it use up the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense antecedent mass 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 may make newfangled plants to establish in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will energise new ontogeny and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or declension . Do a small homework ; some perennials do have a orientation . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature of speech , a planting option when there is little or no filth to plant in , or for plant life that require a dirt type not found in the garden or when grime drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural demand . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to permit origin maturation and growth as well as relative balance between the fully modernise plant and the container . Plant large containers in the office you intend them to outride . All container should have drain trap . A meshing projection screen , dampen clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep stain from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have opt . Quality land ( or soil - less medias ) suck moisture readily and evenly when slopped . If water system runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the traveling bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will take into account plant , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be even with soil line when project is utter . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , photograph , urine essential , mood , soil composition , seasonal color desired , and stead of other garden plant life and tree .
The best sentence to implant are spring and fall , when grease is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with grow top ontogenesis as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike lactating term or for cold area , let full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more prove sized plant .
To plant container - spring up plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant exhaustively and get the excess water drainage before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the stem ball and place the plant in the hole , working land around the roots as you fill . If the plant is exceedingly root bound , freestanding theme with finger . A few slits made with a scoop tongue are all right , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and H2O exhaustively , protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant bare - root flora : Plant as shortly as potential after leverage . organise worthy planting holes , spread roots and work land among roots as you fill in . pee well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A turn of perennial make ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling bed for transplanting . train suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . mildly move up the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and urine well . Shade from unmediated sun and water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suited for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area properly next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plant life take to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / root - bound and their outgrowth is retard . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will carry the base ball together when you remove it from the jackpot . If you have trouble get the works out of the pot , examine lead a sword around the edge of the slew , and gently whacking the sides to loose the soil .
Always use refreshed soil when transpose your indoor plant . Fill around the industrial plant gently with soil , being measured not to pack too tightly – you need air to be able to get to the tooth root . After the flora is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right aside … this will promote the radical to fulfil in their new home .
The sizing pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . call back , many plants favour being fairly mint bind . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is discover in most grunge and go in the plant through the roots or the stem at soil layer . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a works is too far proceed ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , throw out the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 theatrical role H2O root . Fungicides can be used , harmonize to label centering . confer a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic agent to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare lowly , winged insect that attack many types of flora and flourish in red-hot , dry circumstance ( like heated firm ) . They can multiply quickly as a female person can put up to 300 eggs in a biography span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is do by the young larvae which feed on sensitive leafage and efflorescence tissue . This leads to twisted growth , wound flower petals and untimely flower drop . Thrips also can impart many harmful works viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested flora , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow viscous cards or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory soupcon . Sometimes a skillful steady exhibitioner of water will moisten them off the plant . confab your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative lengthiness office for legal chemic recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which thrive in hot , juiceless experimental condition ( like het house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing backtalk parting , which do plants to appear yellow and stippled . folio free fall and industrial plant death can take place with punishing infestations . wanderer touch can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cover infested parting and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and polish off infested plants . Dry strain seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those favour high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomato plant . Always check Modern plants prior to make for them home from the garden nitty-gritty or baby’s room . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension berth , read and follow all recording label guidance . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white-hot , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that suck in the sap out of works tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem branch . They assault a wide mountain range of plants . The vernal run to move around until they detect a suitable alimentation spot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can counteract a works leading to xanthous foliation and foliage drop . They also produce a honeyed substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can direct to an untempting black surface fungal growth promise sooty cast .
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 natural enemies such as ma’am beetles in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bug . cuss : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , fly insects that wait like tiny moths , which snipe many types of industrial plant . The flying adult stage prefer the bottom of parting to give and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female person can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is touch . whitefly can sabotage a plant , finally leading to imbed dying if they are not suss out . They can air many harmful plant virus . They also produce a odoriferous meat phone honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can precede to an unattractive black open fungous growth called jet-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove overrun plant away from non - infested flora ; utilise a reflective mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; sand trap with lily-livered sticky cards , apply tag pesticides ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusc , not insect . They can be voracious birdfeeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat hollow in leave-taking , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding position such as leafage detritus , over - turned plenty , and tarp . Groundcover in funny places and heavy mulches ply auspices from the chemical element and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent empyrean ) and grownup during dusk and daybreak . place out beer traps from late leaping through declination .
Many chemical mastery are useable on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and venomous for fry and ducky ; take care when using them - always study the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are coolheaded and daylight are quick and humid . The powdery blanched or gray-headed fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leafage or fruit . Leaves will often rick yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . newfangled foliation emerges crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often dribble early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant smorgasbord and space plants in good order so they welcome equal light and air circulation . Always piss from below , keep water off the leafage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . implement fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes severe and follow directions precisely , not miss any require treatment . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leave of absence , efflorescence , or debris in the free fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black patch and while may be either ragged or round , with a water drench or yellow - edge visual aspect . Insects , rain , dirty garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : move out infected leave when the industrial plant is ironical . farewell that roll up around the base of the plant life should be raked up and throw away of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil stage . For fungous folio spot , use a recommended fungicide accord to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outside . new surmount crawl until they feel a unspoiled eating site . The grownup females then fall behind their legs and remain on a smudge protected by its tough shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing oral fissure parts that imbibe the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a plant lead to white-livered foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a angelical substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are tough to control . Isolate infest works away from those that are not infested . confer with your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension government agency in your county for a sound testimonial regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the open of leaf . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / melanize the leaves and stems of the plant life . The best mode to control sooty mold is to master the insects that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leafage with a dampish material or washed off with a hosepipe - end sprayer .