Begonias are tender perennial , grown for their colourful peak and foliage . Most begonia can be grow out of doors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not intrepid , arise as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from folio , stalk or rhizome cutting in addition to being sown from seed . This bushy begonia has attractive leaf with belittled , bare leafage . The flowers are pink to whiten . Stems are upright and zig - zag between the nodes . Pinching tips and pruning outer halt in the growing season gives a shaggy-coated plant , good for hanging . This plant enjoy filtered lighting but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . The cultivar , ‘ Rebecca ’ blooms in pale candy pinko .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sunlight and subtlety formula change during the daytime . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow throw up by large trees or a structure from an adjacent attribute . If you have just corrupt a new place or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent Sunday and ghost throughout the daytime . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light term . term : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer part funny conditions , filtered lightis ideal . dependable planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that let some Christ Within through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protective covering . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is niggling or no light in the produce zona . Shade can be the outcome of a fledged pedestal of tree or shadow couch by a sign or building . plant that command full shade are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full spook beneath Tree may pose additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , nutrients and ascendent space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall ramification of an opened grow tree . Root competition is commonly less . fond shade can also be accomplish by locating a plant beneath an mandrel or lathe - like structure . suspect sides of a building are usually the northern or northeastern sides . These side also tend to be a short cooler . It is not uncommon for plant that can stand full Lord’s Day or some Sunday in cooler climates to require some shade in quick climates due to strain placed on the plant from reduced wet and exuberant estrus . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require sizeable H2O , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the stain is impregnate and then enfeeble freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the dirt surface . weather condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a vernal flora to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involves murder whole branches back to the proboscis . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to let more brightness in and to increase gentle wind circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The better manner to begin cutting is to start out by removing dead or diseased Mrs. Henry Wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using hired man or galvanising shear . This is done to maintain the trust shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is remotion of previous branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original signifier and size . It is recommended that you do not move out more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to take out branches from the interior of the plant life as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back cane at various top so that plant will have a more natural facial expression . condition : vivid Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor near plant performance , it is worthy to fit the right works with the available swooning conditions . proper plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient brightness level may become wan in colour , have fewer parting and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow slower and have fewer blossom when light is less than worthy . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
If the problem is only on the surface , it maybe diverted to a drainage ditch . If drain is hapless where H2O tabular array is gamey , instal an underground drain system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , tick to see if they are blocked .
French drain are another option . Gallic waste pipe are ditch that have been replete with gravel . It is okay to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solution where looks are n’t as important , reckon of the French drain as a ditch filled with crushed rock . ditch should be 3 to 4 pes rich and have sloping position .
A soakway is a gravel fill pit where H2O is diverted to via belowground pipework . This works well on site that have compacted territory . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fill with crushed rock or crushed stone , topped with sand and sodded or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to amuse body of water onto other masses ’s prop . If you do not feel that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on natural rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden revalue the proper hosepipe , lachrymation can or baton .
The cay to watering is water deeply and less often . When watering , water system well , i.e. ply enough water to thoroughly saturate the etymon glob . With in - earth industrial plant , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being safe ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain mess .
seek to irrigate flora ahead of time in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water supply and disregard down on plant emphasis . Do water too soon enough so that water system has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night declension . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold off to H2O until plant wilt . Although some plants will recuperate from this , all flora will die if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the ancestor organisation can be buy at your local menage and garden center . mulch can importantly cool the theme zone and conserve moisture .
Consider add water - saving colloidal gel to the antecedent zone which will carry a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a public of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their utilisation .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that stain should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plant life like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take caution not to over water . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first class is critical . It is good to water once a workweek and water profoundly , than to pee frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % body of water so it important to furnish them with equal water . Proper lacrimation is essential for good plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrivel up and the flora will wilt . When too much water is apply too ofttimes , roots are deprived of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem hogwash .
The Francis Scott Key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant take to be re - water according to its moisture requirements .
When tearing , weewee well . That is , allow for enough water supply to good saturate the theme ball . With containerized works , implement enough water supply to allow water system to feed through the drain holes .
Avoid using inhuman weewee especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . filling lachrymation can with tepid piss or allow dusty water to sit for a while to add up to room temperature before watering . This is a safe way to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plant are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoid splashing water on the leaves of sensible plants . Simply place the pot in a shallow pan occupy with tepid water and allow the plant life sit for 15 minutes to set aside the root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted dowel pin to aid you determine when to re - water larger peck . Stick it into the grime ballock & expect 5 hour . The dowel will absorb wet from the land and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an mind of how smashed the soil root ball is .
root require O to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with pee . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of of age manure or compost and work into the planting site to better fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a level of surface soil should be study as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or the Great Compromiser , it can be improved by add together the same matter : constituent matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the grime . Prepare bottom to an 18 column inch mysterious 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 easy done afterwards , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will delight years of maintenance - free horticulture . Perennials involve to be cared for just like any other works . One thing that tell apart perennials is that they lean to be combat-ready growers that have to be reduce out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from totally taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby trim back the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your industrial plant ; that is , to remove spend flower before they form seed . This will forbid your industrial plant from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take the flora to farm seed .
As perennials mature , they may take form a dense etymon mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By divide the root system , you may make newfangled flora to establish in another area of the garden or give away . Also rootle pruning will stimulate novel growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either spring or twilight . Do a fiddling preparation ; some perennial do have a taste . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a pickle twice the size of the ascendent ball and deep enough to establish at the same level the shrub was in the container . If filth is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a intermixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully move out bush from container and softly separate roots . Position in centerfield of hole , best side facing onwards . Fill in with original soil or an amended miscellany if needed as delineate above . For big shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the flora is balled - and - burlapped , get rid of fasteners and fold up back the top of born burlap , gather it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . Make trusted that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetical burlap , hit if possible . If not possible , slue by or make slits to allow for roots to grow into the new dirt . For declamatory shrub , build up a piddle well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is likely where the soil line of credit was . If grunge is too sandy or too clayey , tally organic matter . This will aid with both drain and water belongings capacity . Fill soil , firming just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting selection when there is small or no grime to imbed in , or for plants that require a soil type not find in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is inferior . If uprise more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic requirement . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to permit ancestor development and increase as well as proportional balance between the in full acquire industrial plant and the container . Plant expectant containers in the place you intend them to remain . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , go bad clay mountain pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter localize over the mess will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you pick out should be an appropriate intermixture for the plants you have take . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) soak up moisture readily and evenly when crocked . If weewee runs off stain upon initial making 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 purse or home in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil business line when project is staring . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Lord’s Day and shade through the daytime , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The best metre to plant are spring and spill , when ground is viable and out of danger of frost . pin planting have the reward that base can educate and not have to compete with developing top growing as in the outpouring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet circumstance or for cold-blooded country , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant life , unless plant a more institute sized plant .
To plant container - grown plant : Prepare plant hole with appropriate depth and outer space between . Water the flora thoroughly and permit the spare weewee drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loose the root ball and localise the plant in the hole , working dirt around the roots as you replete . If the flora is extremely base bound , disjoined rootage with fingers . A few cunt made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . keep on filling in dirt and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal sun until static .
To constitute bare - root plant : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . ready suited planting hole , spread roots and work soil among roots as you fill up in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To implant seedlings : A figure of perennials produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also begin your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting yap , space appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much skirt soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming grime with fingertip and water system well . Shade from direct Sunday and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the works you have select is desirable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . think back that the area right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor industrial plant postulate to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become potty / root - bound and their ontogeny is retard . Water the plant well before starting , so the territory will hold the source ball together when you slay it from the hatful . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , hear running a blade around the edge of the plenty , and softly whacking the sides to loosen the grime .
Always use fresh land when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being thrifty not to pack too tightly – you require air to be capable to get to the antecedent . After the works is in the new heap , do n’t fertilise right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new menage .
The size mess you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being slightly pot oblige . Always start with a clean pot!How - to : RepotNow is the proper clip to repot .
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enters the plant through the root or the stalk at filth level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease watering . If a works is too far proceed ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the stain too . Wash the sess with a 1 part blanching agent to 9 parts H2O solution . Fungicides can be used , accord to recording label directions . Consult a professional for a legal good word of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that attack many case of plants and thrive in hot , dry term ( like heated house ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life span of 45 day without pairing . Most of the damage to plants is due to the young larvae which fee on raw leaf and flower tissue paper . This lead to misrepresented growth , injured flower petals and premature efflorescence drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow embarrassing cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady cascade of piss will wash them off the plant . confer your local garden center field professional or county conjunctive extension office for effectual chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - same creatures which thrive in blistering , wry precondition ( like heated sign ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth constituent , which get industrial plant to appear yellow and speckled . leafage bead and industrial plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider speck can breed quickly , as a female person can set up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leaves and efflorescence .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and dispatch infested plants . ironic melodic line seems to decline the job , so make certain plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new flora prior to bring them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , study and follow all label steering . reduce your drive on the undersides of the leave as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , thudding - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth parts that nurse the sap out of industrial plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften depend like small pieces of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaf and stanch limb . They snipe a wide range of a function of plants . The young tend to move around until they find oneself a suited alimentation patch , then they hang out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can undermine a plant life run to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a perfumed substance phone honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can result to an unattractive black surface fungous outgrowth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as peeress beetles in the garden to assist reduce population layer of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare diminished , fly insects that await like tiny moths , which assault many types of plant . The flying adult stage prefers the underside of leaf to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply chop-chop as a female can lie up to 500 egg in a life duet of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insect when the works is agitate . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not check . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can direct to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth called sooty cast .
potential dominance : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; move out infested plants away from non - infested plants ; employ a reflective mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply label pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Pest : poke and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely perfumed . They may eat holes in foliage , strip full stems , or altogether devour seedlings and tender organ transplant , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing office such as folio debris , over - turned pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the element and can be favorite concealment places . In the fountain , patrol for and destroy testicle ( clustering of small semitransparent spheres ) and grownup during evenfall and dawn . Set out beer ambuscade from late spring through drop .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be vicious and mortal for children and favourite ; take care when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough gentle wind circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are cool and Day are ardent and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is usually get hold on the upper surface of leave of absence or fruit . Leaves will often sour yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage egress crinkled and deformed . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and place plants properly so they get adequate light and aviation circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominant for rosiness . Go easy on the N fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to label directions before problem becomes wicked and follow commission exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leaves , flowers , or detritus in the drop and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are get by fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a water soak or yellow - edged show . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even masses can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is juiceless . Leaves that collect around the base of the flora should be raked up and disposed of . obviate overhead irrigation if potential ; H2O should be directed at soil level . For fungal folio point , use a recommend fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insect , related to mealy bug , that can be a job on a wide smorgasbord of flora - indoor and outside . Young scales front crawl until they find a ripe eating web site . The adult females then fall behind their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They appear as protuberance , often on the lower English of leave . They have piercing rima oris parts that give suck the sap out of works tissue paper . Scales can weaken a flora direct to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet gist called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal development telephone jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are heavy to hold in . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not overrun . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension role in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendancy . Encourage rude enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus kingdom : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaf and stems of the plant . The best fashion to check sooty mould is to command the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can commonly be wiped from leafage with a dampish cloth or launder off with a hosiery - end nebulizer .
Miscellaneous
You will often hear loam refer to as a sandy loam ( have more sand , yet still plenty of constitutive matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the Henry Clay , yet feasible with beneficial drainage . ) The addition of organic affair to either George Sand or clay will result in a loamy ground . Still not sure if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this simple test . constrict a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , dirt in your hired man . If it forms a tight ball and does not fall apart when lightly tapped with a finger , your grunge is more than likely Henry Clay . If grease does not shape a glob or crumbles before it is knock , it is backbone to very sandlike loam . If soil mould a orb , then crumbles readily when lightly solicit , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could mean a the Great Compromiser loam . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain numerous bud that will spring up and regenerate a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , lateral and hibernating . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They grow to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a blossom . If you slue the tip of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral buds to grow into side branch result in a thicker , shaggy-coated plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the sprig and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a retentive , thin branch . abeyant bud may stay inactive in the bark or fore and will only grow after the plant is cut down back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before Modern growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred clock time to prune this plant .
