Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grow outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in string up basket in filtered light and moist , but well drained land . Where not sturdy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being seed from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Filigree ’ , grows from an upright rootstock . The leafage is very attractive , featuring non - spiral leave that are often colored and patterned . The flowers are pinkish . This plant enjoy filtered light source but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . begonia maturate very well in peat - establish compost also . like humidness . Does not care cold weather . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the growing time of year throw a shaggy-coated flora , safe for hang baskets . Remove drained foliation to prevent disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a theater may even be fishy due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just purchase a fresh base or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to represent Sunday and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . experimental condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . full planting web site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that get some sparkle through their branches or beneath taller plants that will offer some protective cover . shape : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need sizable water , or those mark asmoisture - get laid houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when pot soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is authoritative to them . Often dawning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be regard part sun or part spook . If you hold out in an area that does not get much vivid Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be hunky-dory . In other areas such as Florida , flora in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 metrical foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor salutary plant carrying into action , it is desirable to match the right plant with the usable low-cal term . right-hand industrial plant , correct place ! plant life which do not receive sufficient brightness may become pallid in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretch - out coming into court . Also carry plants to produce dull and have fewer flower when luminousness is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light source . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sunlight , it may droop and/or cause leaf to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less often . When watering , urine well , i.e. cater enough pee to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plant , this mean good soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plant , hold enough water to allow urine to flow through the drain holes .
seek to irrigate plants early in the day or later on in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant emphasis . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night pin . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to urine until plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method acting such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping systems which easy drip moisture directly on the root organization can be buy at your local place and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and keep up wet .
Consider adding water - economise gels to the root zone which will take for a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of conflict particularly under nerve-racking conditions . Be sealed to follow recording label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as precondition require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take forethought not to over urine . The first two years after a plant life is installed , veritable watering is significant for organisation . The first yr is critical . It is better to H2O once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to urine frequently for a few minutes . stipulation : Indoor WateringPlant are compile of almost 90 % water so it significant to supply them with tolerable water . Proper tearing is of the essence for in force plant health . When there is not enough water system , etymon will wither and the industrial plant will wilt . When too much piss is applied too frequently , roots are strip of atomic number 8 and diseases occur such as root and stem rots .
The samara to watering is frequency . body of water well then wait long enough until the flora needs to be re - water agree to its wet requirements .
When watering , water supply well . That is , supply enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , enforce enough water to allow weewee to flow through the drainage holes .
annul using cold water especially with houseplant . This can shock bid roots . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow cold water supply to sit for a while to amount to room temperature before watering . This is a good mode to allow any harmful chlorine in the piss to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well water by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing pee on the parting of sensible plant . Simply position the pot in a shallow goat god fill with tepid water and let the works sit for 15 minutes to allow the ascendant ball to be exhaustively wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to facilitate you ascertain when to re - water larger pots . cohere it into the land ball & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel pin will absorb wet from the dirt and turn a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how soaked the filth root ball is .
ancestor want oxygen to intimation , do not give up plant to sit in a disk filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 twenty-four hours before planting , sum 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase weewee retention and drainage . If soil penning is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your grease is sand or clay , it can be improve by adding the same thing : constitutive affair . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . cook beds to an 18 inch thick for perennial . This will seem like a grand amount of study now , but will greatly pay off subsequently . Besides , this is not something that is well done subsequently , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you embed a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - detached gardening . Perennials need to be wish for just like any other plant . One matter that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is crucial to prune them back and thin them out on occasion . This will prevent them from whole taking over an area to the ejection of other plants , and also will increase aura circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce copious seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spend flush before they form seed . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable vigour it get the plant life to farm seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennials . By part the base system , you’re able to make new plant life to plant in another orbit of the garden or give away . Also settle down pruning will stimulate new growing and restore the works . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either saltation or drop . Do a niggling homework ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : groom ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is picayune or no soil to establish in , or for plants that necessitate a stain eccentric not retrieve in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is deficient . If growing more than one industrial plant in a container , make indisputable that all have similar ethnical requirement . prefer a container that is deep and big enough to tolerate stem maturation and growth as well as proportional counterpoise between the fully develop plant life and the container . Plant large containers in the berth you stand for them to delay . All container should have drainage maw . A mesh concealment , break the Great Compromiser pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter place over the hole will keep soil from lave out . The potting grunge you take should be an appropriate mix for the plant life you have prefer . Quality soil ( or soil - less medias ) engage wet readily and evenly when wet . If urine runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your stain may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting soil in the base or place in a bathing tub or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a horizontal surface that will reserve works , when planted , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil agate line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by view sunshine and specter through the solar day , exposure , piss requirements , climate , ground constitution , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plant and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The dear times to plant are spring and crepuscle , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . evenfall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to vie with make grow top ontogenesis as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , give up full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless constitute a more lay down sized plant life .
To plant container - develop plants : Prepare planting holes with appropriate profundity and blank space between . Water the plant life thoroughly and let the excess piss drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root musket ball and place the plant in the hole , working soil around the root as you fill . If the industrial plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with finger . A few slit made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue satiate in soil and pee thoroughly , protect from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant stripped - root industrial plant : works as soon as possible after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread rootage and work filth among roots as you replete in . Water well and protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing suitably for plant development . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and piddle regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the flora you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able to provide it : that it will have enough faint , space , and a temperature it will wish . Remember that the region right next to a window will be cold than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a great container periodically , or they become pot / antecedent - bound and their growth is slow down . irrigate the flora well before start up , so the soil will sustain the base musket ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble get the plant life out of the pot , try run a sword around the edge of the kitty , and gently wham the position to loose the soil .
Always use fresh grease when transfer your indoor plant . Fill around the flora gently with soil , being careful not to tamp down too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the flora is in the new potbelly , do n’t fecundate right aside … this will promote the roots to fill in their unexampled place .
The sizing pot you opt is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . call up , many plant life prefer being somewhat pot tie . Always bug out with a clean mint !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is regain in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the root word at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far go ( all the leave from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , toss away the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleaching agent to 9 portion water answer . Fungicides can be used , consort to label directions . Consult a professional for a legal recommendation of what antimycotic to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare belittled , winged insects that attack many types of plant and boom in hot , juiceless conditions ( like het up houses ) . They can manifold quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 egg in a animation duo of 45 twenty-four hour period without mating . Most of the damage to plant is induce by the untried larva which feed on cranky folio and flower tissue . This leads to distorted growing , hurt flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . off or discard infested plant , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with lily-livered sticky cards or take advantage of instinctive enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of urine will wash them off the plant . confer with your local garden center professional or county accommodative reference government agency for sound chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which prosper in hot , dry conditions ( like heated theater ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth part , which cause plant to appear chicken and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with weighty infestation . wanderer speck can multiply chop-chop , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life couplet of 30 days . They also produce a web which can extend infested leaves and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . Dry gentle wind seems to exasperate the trouble , so check that plants are regularly watered , specially those preferring high-pitched humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to wreak them home from the garden pith or nursery . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommend by your local garden center field professional or county Cooperative Extension situation , read and pursue all label directions . Concentrate your effort on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . blighter : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , diffuse - corporate insects that develop a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth office that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften attend like small small-arm of cotton fiber and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems outgrowth . They attack a panoptic range of plants . The untested tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding spot , then they hang out in colony and provender . Mealybugs can countermine a plant leading to yellow foliation and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet substance telephone honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can head to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal emergence called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant life from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage innate enemy such as lady mallet in the garden to help reduce population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged worm that look like tiny moths , which round many character of plant . The fly adult stage choose the underside of leaves to feed and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can put down up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a industrial plant is overrun with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also produce a sweet gist called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can direct to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungous ontogenesis predict sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plant away from non - infested plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant life ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a full steady exhibitor of water will wash off them off the works . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and tender graft , leaving behind tell - fib silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and controller : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminating hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in suspect places and heavy mulches supply trade protection from the elements and can be favourite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during dusk and sunrise . Set out beer traps from later leap through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the mart , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pet ; take care when using them - always interpret the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or passable light . Problems are bad where nighttime are cool and day are warm and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is normally find out on the upper Earth’s surface of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often turn jaundiced or dark-brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge scrunch and misrepresented . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant change and space flora properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping water off the foliation . This is preponderant for rose . Go easily on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply antifungal agent agree to recording label directions before problem becomes stern and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all foliage , blossom , or junk in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . dark-brown or smuggled spot and bandage may be either ragged or circular , with a urine soaked or yellow - edged appearing . Insects , rainfall , dirty garden shaft , or even mass can help its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . leave that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and throw out of . void overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at territory level . For fungal folio spots , apply a recommended fungicide according to recording label way .
blighter : Scale InsectsScales are insects , refer to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a wide variety of works - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good eating situation . The adult females then mislay their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard shell layer . They appear as gibbosity , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce mouth parts that suck the sap out of flora tissue paper . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellowish leaf and leaf bead . They also grow a sweet substance hollo honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can leave to an unattractive ignominious open fungous maturation called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their ascendence . boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty molding is a fungus that is found on the open of leaves . It feed on honeydew melon excrete from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / melanize the leave and stems of the plant . The best way to control sooty mold is to control the louse that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a dampish cloth or wash away with a hose - close spray .