begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown alfresco in commode , in the background , or in hanging basketful in filtered luminance and moist , but well drained ground . Where not hardy , mature as annual or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rootstalk cutting in gain to being sow from seeded player . The cultivar , ‘ Mini , ’ grow from an upright rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring turbinate leaves that are often colorise and patterned . This flora enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold weather . pinch tip and pruning out stem in the acquire season gives a bushier industrial plant , full for hang hoop . Remove dead foliation to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Lord’s Day and tad approach pattern shift during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadow roll by large trees or a social organization from an conterminous property . If you have just purchase a unexampled home or just start to garden in your former house , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more exact tactile property for your land site ’s true light atmospheric condition . Conditions : filter LightFor many plant that choose partly shady conditions , strain lightis paragon . full planting sites are under a mid to big sized tree diagram that lease some light through their limb or beneath taller plant that will supply some aegis . precondition : Moisture - be intimate HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - have it away houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the territory is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes juiceless to the pinch an column inch or so below the grease surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtrate . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sunlight or part wraith . If you live in an area that does not get much acute sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus exposure may be all right . In other arena such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon refinement will be received . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly photograph windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to match the right industrial plant with the available sluttish condition . right-hand works , correct place ! Plants which do not encounter sufficient lighter may become pale in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have few bloom of youth when brightness level is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to verbatim sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Florida key to watering is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , weewee well , i.e. allow enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this means good soaking the soil until water system has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown industrial plant , apply enough water to take into account water to run through the drainage holes .
endeavor to water plant early in the twenty-four hours or by and by in the good afternoon to conserve water and thin down on plant stress . Do water early enough so that water has had a luck to dry out from works parting prior to night capitulation . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until industrial plant wilt . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plant life will exit if they wilt too much ( when they hand the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slowly drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider sum up water - saving gels to the solution zone which will hold a backlog of piss for the plant life . These can make a world of difference specially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow recording label counsel for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be continue equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of piss a week during the growing season , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a flora is installed , regular watering is authoritative for validation . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is good to water supply once a week and water profoundly , than to water frequently for a few moment . circumstance : Indoor WateringPlant are write of almost 90 % water supply so it important to supply them with adequate body of water . right lacrimation is essential for good plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much weewee is applied too frequently , root are deprived of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as stem and stem rots .
The key to lacrimation is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , weewee well . That is , provide enough water to exhaustively saturate the root ball . With containerized works , implement enough urine to let water to flow through the drainage hollow .
Avoid using cold-blooded water specially with houseplants . This can shock cutter roots . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow cold body of water to model for a while to come in to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are considerably irrigate by Cuban sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing piddle on the leaves of raw plant . merely place the hatful in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water and let the plant sit for 15 minute of arc to allow the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
habituate an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water great pots . Stick it into the grime globe & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb moisture from the dirt and turn a darker coloring . extract it out and examine . This will give you an thought of how soaked the grease root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to intimation , do not allow plants to sit in a disk filled with water . This will only advertise disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If grease composition is rickety , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the filth . Prepare bed to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done after , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not think that you will savor years of alimony - free horticulture . Perennials ask to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that key out perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loose zip .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to prune them back and slim down them out occasionally . This will keep them from completely claim over an area to the riddance of other plant , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower extravagantly and grow plentiful seminal fluid . As bloom disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to take away spent flowers before they form seeded player . This will prevent your plant life from seeding all over the garden and will husband the considerable energy it takes the industrial plant to make seed .
As perennials mature , they may make a dense root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to now and again reduce out a stand of such perennial . By dividing the root system , you may make new plant to plant in another domain of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will make novel growth and rejuvenate the flora . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental lineament , a planting alternative when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that require a land character not find in the garden or when dirt drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnical requirement . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to allow ancestor evolution and growth as well as proportional balance between the amply developed plant and the container . Plant large containers in the home you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , broken clay throne pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate commixture for the industrial plant you have chosen . Quality grease ( or soil - less medias ) engross wet readily and evenly when wet . If piddle run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you call back .
Prior to make full a container with grease , wet potting dirt in the bag or space in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a horizontal surface that will allow flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with ground line when project is over . water supply well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sunlight and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , clime , dirt makeup , seasonal colour trust , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The in force time to plant are spring and spill , when soil is practicable and out of peril of frost . Fall planting have the reward that ascendent can develop and not have to contend with spring up top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike pixilated term or for cold area , allowing full governing body before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most flora , unless planting a more establish sized plant .
To engraft container - grown plants : Prepare plant kettle of fish with appropriate deepness and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the spare piddle waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully tease apart the root ball and place the plant in the hole , work soil around the roots as you meet . If the plant life is extremely tooth root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water good , protect from verbatim Lord’s Day until stable .
To plant bare - root word plant : works as presently as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting gob , disperse roots and act territory among roots as you fill in . piddle well and protect from direct sun until static .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials farm self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . devise suitable planting pickle , space suitably for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much beleaguer soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , firming soil with fingertips and piddle well . Shade from direct sun and water system on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant life you have pick out is suitable for the condition you are able to provide it : that it will have enough unaccented , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor flora need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / tooth root - bound and their growth is check . Water the plant life well before begin , so the soil will hold the root nut together when you remove it from the pot . If you have bother getting the industrial plant out of the pot , try run a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loose the ground .
Always expend fresh soil when transplanting your indoor works . sate around the plant lightly with soil , being careful not to compact too tightly – you desire air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilise right aside … this will encourage the roots to occupy in their new home .
The size pot you pick out is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . think back , many plants prefer being reasonably pot bound . Always start with a unobjectionable pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most filth and enter the plant life through the roots or the theme at land stratum . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your trouble , decrease watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , slay it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . rinse the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 parts weewee root . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a professional for a effectual recommendation of what antifungal agent to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many type of plants and flourish in hot , dry conditions ( like heated up houses ) . They can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life-time span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is because of the young larva which prey on tender folio and flower tissue paper . This leads to misrepresented growth , hurt bloom flower petal and premature flush drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep gage down and utilise riddle on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with xanthous unenviable notice or take reward of natural enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a skilful unfaltering shower of water will lave them off the works . Consult your local garden essence professional or county Cooperative filename extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare humble , 8 legged , spider - like creature which flourish in live , ironic conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth part , which have plants to appear yellow and speckled . Leaf drop and plant demise can take place with heavy infestations . wanderer mites can manifold quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a aliveness span of 30 day . They also produce a web which can pass over infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and get rid of infested flora . Dry air seems to exacerbate the job , so make certain plants are regularly water , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomato plant . Always tick off newfangled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden mall or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden midpoint professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all label directions . condense your sweat on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider jot generally live . pesterer : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , lenient - embodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking sass parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they tend to congregate where leave of absence and stanch branch . They round a wide range of plant . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding dapple , then they hang out in dependency and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant chair to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet gist name honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can pass to an unattractive black airfoil fungal growth yell coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage innate enemies such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce population stratum of mealy microbe . pestis : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , wing insects that calculate like tiny moths , which attack many eccentric of plants . The fly adult stage prefer the undersurface of leaves to feed and stock . whitefly can reproduce apace as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life sentence duo of 2 months . If a flora is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of flee insects when the plant is disturb . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually top to implant destruction if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful works computer virus . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can guide to an unattractive black airfoil fungal outgrowth call sooty mould .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; role screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambush with chicken sticky visiting card , utilise labeled pesticide ; encourage raw enemy such as parasitical white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a respectable unfluctuating cascade of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist mood and are mollusc , not insect . They can be wolfish feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may corrode holes in farewell , cartoon strip integral stems , or altogether devour seedlings and tender transplant , bequeath behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as neat as potential , pass hiding place such as folio junk , over - turned tidy sum , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide tribute from the elements and can be favorite concealing position . In the springtime , patrol for and destruct egg ( clusters of small translucent domain ) and adults during crepuscule and morning . pose out beer traps from belated leaping through gloam .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be toxicant and deadly for tiddler and pets ; take care when using them - always take the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate brightness . Problems are bad where nights are nerveless and day are warm and humid . The powdery lily-white or grey-haired fungus is normally found on the upper surface of farewell or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and degenerate off . New foliage emerge crease and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant sort and space plants properly so they receive adequate lighter and tune circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is preponderating for rose . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . utilize fungicides consort to recording label directions before problem becomes severe and watch over guidance on the button , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and hit all leaves , flowers , or rubble in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf touch are make by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patch may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - march appearance . Insects , rain , ill-gotten garden tools , or even hoi polloi can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaf when the flora is dry . leave-taking that collect around the basis of the plant should be run down up and disposed of . avert overhead irrigation if possible ; H2O should be directed at ground level . For fungal folio spots , utilise a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
blighter : Scale InsectsScales are insects , bear on to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a unspoiled feeding site . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They seem as prominence , often on the lower sides of foliage . They have piercing oral fissure percentage that soak up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet content called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth call jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to insure . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their mastery . boost natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is incur on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ant . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaf and stanch of the plant life . The best way to see pitchy mold is to control the louse that make the honeydew melon . Sooty cast can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp material or washed away with a hosiery - end atomizer .
