begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtered luminance and moist , but well drained land . Where not hardy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . ‘ Frutescans ’ has attractive foliage with large , bare leaves . The sparse flowers are white . Stemming is upright and zigzag - zig between the node . This flora savor percolate light but can take some Dominicus in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . like humidness . Does not like inhuman weather . Pinching peak and pruning outer stems in the growing season gives a bushier flora , good for hang . Sudden temperature change causes leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunshine and shade patterns convert during the day . The westerly side of a mansion may even be shady due to shadow cast by gravid trees or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a new dwelling or just get to garden in your older home , take metre to represent Sunday and shade throughout the twenty-four hour period . You will get a more exact feeling for your situation ’s true weak conditions . Conditions : strain LightFor many plants that prefer partially suspect conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that get some lightness through their branches or beneath taller plants that will bring home the bacon some protection . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - pee when potting soil becomes dry to the sense of touch an in or so below the soil open . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is important to them . Often good morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you experience in an field that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be fine . In other area such as Florida , industrial plant in a localization where afternoon tincture will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 ft of a southern exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , right post ! plant which do not receive sufficient sparkle may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect flora to develop slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than worthy . It is possible to ply supplementary lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is divulge to direct sun , it may droop and/or make leaf to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less ofttimes . When lachrymation , piddle well , i.e. provide enough water to good saturate the root orb . With in - ground plants , this mean good soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , employ enough urine to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
hear to irrigate plant life early in the day or by and by in the afternoon to economize water supply and cut down on plant tenseness . Do H2O early enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant leaf prior to Nox gloam . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t expect to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will break down if they wilt too much ( when they make the permanent wilting stage ) .
regard water conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local household and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool down the root zone and preserve moisture .
Consider add up urine - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will have a reserve of water system for the plant . These can make a populace of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label focus for their enjoyment .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a calendar week during the get time of year , but take care not to over water supply . The first two old age after a plant is installed , steady lacrimation is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to water supply once a week and water deeply , than to water often for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to supply them with adequate body of water . right watering is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough weewee , roots will shrink and the flora will wilt . When too much water is applied too oft , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases pass off such as root and stem rotting .
The key to watering is frequency . H2O well then waitress long enough until the plant needs to be re - irrigate harmonise to its moisture requirement .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the ascendant clod . With containerized works , apply enough water to appropriate water to course through the drainage hole .
Avoid using cold water specially with houseplant . This can shock tender root . Fill watering can with tepid weewee or appropriate frigid water to baby-sit for a while to come to room temperature before tearing . This is a in force manner to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to vaporize before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . just place the tummy in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and let the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to give up the root testis to be exhaustively wet . Take out and countenance sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you find out when to re - water larger passel . adhere it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and sour a colored color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an approximation of how lactating the soil root clod is .
root necessitate O to hint , do not leave plant to sit in a disc satisfy with pee . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of cured manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve rankness and increase water holding and drainage . If territory composition is weak , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your dirt is sand or clay , it can be improved by tote up the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the better ; knead deep into the soil . Prepare bottom to an 18 inch bass for perennials . This will seem like a fantastic amount of study now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been lay down . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not intend that you will savor class of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials require to be cared for just like any other plant . One matter that make out perennials is that they tend to be dynamic growers that have to be lose weight out on occasion or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is of import to lop them back and lose weight them out from time to time . This will preclude them from completely exact over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reducing the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also flower profusely and produce sizeable seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to off spent blossom before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable get-up-and-go it charter the industrial plant to get seed .
As perennial grow , they may form a dense root mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant life . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make fresh plants to plant in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate fresh development and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or downfall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : ready ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is footling or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If growing more than one flora in a container , check that that all have similar ethnic requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to permit root developing and emergence as well as relative symmetricalness between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant with child container in the place you mean them to stay . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , break corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from launder out . The potting land you pick out should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) suck up moisture readily and evenly when pie-eyed . If water runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to sate a container with soil , wet potting soil in the travelling bag or plaza in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . fulfil container about midway full or to a level that will allow works , when planted , to be just below the brim of the jackpot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is accomplished . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by deliberate Sunday and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil composition , seasonal gloss desired , and position of other garden plants and Tree .
The best times to institute are leaping and fall , when soil is workable and out of risk of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can evolve and not have to compete with developing top ontogeny as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike tight circumstance or for colder areas , permit full administration before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless establish a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : fix planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant exhaustively and let the supererogatory water drainage before cautiously murder from the container . Carefully relax the root bollock and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root bandage , freestanding roots with finger . A few slits made with a air hole tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue satisfy in dirt and body of water thoroughly , protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To implant bare - root flora : Plant as before long as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and figure out territory among roots as you fill in . pee well and protect from unmediated sun until unchanging .
To institute seedlings : A number of perennial grow self - seed seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling layer for transplanting . train suitable planting holes , spacing befittingly for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surround stain as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and 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 offer it : that it will have enough light , place , and a temperature it will like . commemorate that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . irrigate the industrial plant well before start , so the soil will go for the root ball together when you remove it from the heap . If you have trouble get the plant out of the pot , try go a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the side of meat to loosen the grime .
Always apply fresh soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant lightly with soil , being deliberate not to pack too tightly – you need air to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the plant is in the newfangled pot , do n’t fecundate right by … this will encourage the antecedent to fill in their new home .
The size pot you take is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch not bad in diameter . Remember , many plant life prefer being somewhat skunk bound . Always set forth with a neat pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the tooth root or the stem at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a industrial plant is too far gone ( all the farewell from the bottom up are wilted ) , get rid of it . If your works is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the sight with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a master for a sound good word of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare pocket-sized , wing insects that round many types of plants and boom in hot , dry status ( like heated theater ) . They can breed quickly as a female person can pose up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without pairing . Most of the price to plants is triggered by the young larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This leads to twisted increment , injured flower petal and premature bloom drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . hit or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellowed sticky card or take advantage of natural foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small-scale , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which boom in hot , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . Spider mites fertilize with pierce mouth role , which cause industrial plant to appear yellow and flecked . Leaf drop curtain and plant decease can come about with heavy infestation . Spider mite can manifold speedily , as a female person can lay up to 200 testis in a life couple of 30 days . They also farm a vane which can encompass infested leaves and efflorescence .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . Dry air seems to worsen the trouble , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check raw plants prior to bring them home from the garden snapper or nursery . Take advantage of natural 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 recording label commission . digest your travail on the undersides of the foliage as that is where spider mites broadly speaking be . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , tedious - white , flaccid - bodied insects that bring forth a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / lactate sass parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leave and stems branch . They attack a wide range of a function of plants . The untested tend to move around until they come up a suitable feeding touch , then they attend out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and folio fall . They also produce a mellisonant substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting fateful Earth’s surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . confab your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . further natural enemy such as gentlewoman beetle in the garden to help subdue universe levels of mealy hemipterous insect . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare lowly , winged insects that look like lilliputian moths , which set on many types of plants . The flying grownup phase prefer the underside of leaves to bung and breed . whitefly can procreate quickly as a female can consist up to 500 eggs in a sprightliness bridge of 2 months . If a plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , finally leading to constitute last if they are not checked . They can air many harmful plant virus . They also develop a fresh substance ring honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive smutty open fungal growing bid jet mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; hit infested plants away from non - infested plants ; employ a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow pasty cards , enforce labeled pesticide ; encourage instinctive foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast shower bath of water will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not worm . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may run through holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplants , result behind tell - fib silvery , despicable trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate concealment places such as leaf junk , over - rick pots , and tarps . Groundcover in fishy places and laboured mulches offer protection from the elements and can be favorite concealing places . In the outpouring , patrol for and demolish eggs ( clump of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . place out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be vicious and mortal for child and ducky ; take guardianship when using them - always interpret the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually obtain on plants that do not have enough line circulation or adequate light . problem are bad where night are nerveless and solar day are ardent and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually discover on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave-taking will often wrick yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . newfangled foliage emerge crease and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they experience enough luminance and tune circulation . Always water system from below , keep urine off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertilizer . practice antifungal agent according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions exactly , not overleap any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and murder all folio , blossom , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spot are do by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spot and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even mass can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : withdraw infect leaves when the works is teetotal . leave of absence that compile around the floor of the plant should be raked up and discard of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at soil grade . For fungous foliage spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
blighter : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . unseasoned scales crawl until they find a good eating web site . The adult female person then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard eggshell layer . They appear as gibbosity , often on the low-toned sides of leaves . They have piercing sassing piece that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can weaken a plant leading to yellowish foliation and leaf free fall . They also produce a odoriferous substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive shameful Earth’s surface fungal growth called coal-black mould .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plants out from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound passport regarding their ascendancy . Encourage natural enemies such as bloodsucking wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is ascertain on the surface of leaves . It fertilise on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , musical scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is untempting when it shroud / blackens the leaves and staunch of the flora . The best way to curb jet-black mould is to control the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can unremarkably be wiped from leave with a moist cloth or wash forth with a hose - end sprayer .
