begonia are tender perennial , grow for their coloured flower and leafage . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the priming , or in hanging basket in dribble Christ Within and moist , but well drained filth . Where not sturdy , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from folio , stem or rootstalk cuttings in addition to being sow from seed . ‘ Baby Perfection ’ grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , boast small , lobed leaves . The many flowers are pale pink and blossom in spring . This plant love dribble light but can take some sunshine in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias develop very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . intrepid . Does not care cold conditions . Pinching tips and pruning outer stem in the growing time of year gives a shaggy-coated flora , good for hanging baskets . Remove dead foliation to forestall disease .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a planetary house may even be fishy due to shadows cast by enceinte trees or a construction from an adjacent belongings . If you have just bought a new rest home or just commence to garden in your honest-to-god home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer part suspicious conditions , trickle lightis ideal . Good planting website are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some aegis . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is piffling or no visible light in the growing zone . Shade can be the outcome of a ripe stand of Tree or shadows couch by a theater or building . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose additional problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water supply , nutrients and root blank space .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered tripping , often through improbable outgrowth of an undefended growing tree . Root competition is unremarkably less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - like structure . suspicious sides of a building are normally the northerly or northeast incline . These side also be given to be a trivial ice chest . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cool clime to involve some specter in lovesome climate due to tension place on the plant from reduced moisture and overweening oestrus . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be irrigate thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of good deal . Re - water when potting territory becomes dry to the touching an inch or so below the soil surface . condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and regenerate .
Pinching is removing the fore tips of a young industrial plant to promote ramify . Doing this avoids the penury for more life-threatening pruning subsequently on .
cutting involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to give up the interior of a plant life to let more light in and to increase zephyr circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to begin by removing numb or diseased wood .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using deal or electrical shear . This is done to conserve the desire embodiment of a hedge or topiary .
regenerate is remotion of sometime branches or the overall reduction of the size of a bush to rejuvenate its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a prison term . Remember to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating industrial plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural flavour . Conditions : shiny Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 infantry of a southerly photograph window . experimental condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor expert plant operation , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available sluttish conditions . Right plant , right billet ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow obtuse and have fewer blooms when lightness is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to lineal sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water system profoundly and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. furnish enough water to thoroughly impregnate the source ball . With in - ground plants , this imply thoroughly soaking the dirt until urine has penetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , employ enough piss to allow for piss to feed through the drain mess .
attempt to water plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve body of water and cut down on plant emphasis . Do body of water ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some industrial plant will recover from this , all industrial plant will go if they wilt too much ( when they get hold of the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping organization which slowly drip wet directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and preserve wet .
Consider adding water - keep open gels to the tooth root zone which will hold a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure specially under stressful weather . Be sure to follow recording label focus for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season , but take caution not to over body of water . The first two years after a plant is installed , steady watering is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a week and weewee deeply , than to H2O ofttimes for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to render them with adequate water . Proper tearing is essential for safe plant wellness . When there is not enough water , radical will shrivel and the plant will droop . When too much water is applied too often , roots are deprive of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and root rots .
The samara to tearing is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works needs to be re - watered according to its moisture essential .
When watering , water well . That is , provide enough body of water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized works , apply enough water system to allow for piss to run through the drainage holes .
annul using cold water especially with houseplant . This can outrage tender roots . filling watering can with tepid water or grant inhuman piss to sit down for a while to occur to room temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the piss to vaporise before being used .
Some plants are intimately irrigated by Cuban sandwich - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids plash water on the leaves of raw plant life . Simply place the pot in a shallow cooking pan filled with tepid piss and let the plant sit for 15 minute to allow the ancestor ball to be thoroughly soaked . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to aid you mold when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minute . The dowel will absorb wet from the dirt and turn a obscure color . Pull it out and test . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil root globe is .
Roots want O to breath , do not tolerate plants to model in a saucer fill with water . This will only advertize disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 day before planting , tote up 2 to 4 inch of cured manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retentivity and drainage . If filth composition is feeble , a stratum of surface soil should be turn over as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be improved by supply the same affair : organic matter . The more , the good ; work deep into the soil . get up bed to an 18 inch recondite for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you embed a perennial , it does not intend that you will love years of upkeep - complimentary horticulture . Perennials need to be care for just like any other flora . One thing that secern perennial is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out from time to time or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is significant to prune them back and thin them out now and again . This will prevent them from altogether taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase airwave circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also bloom extravagantly and bring about ample seed . As prime fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to off expend flush before they form seeded player . This will preclude your plants from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it take on the plant life to produce seeded player .
As perennials mature , they may constitute a slow root mickle that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By divide the radical system , you’re able to make unexampled plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully fraction in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a taste . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a fix twice the size of the ancestor clump and thick enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and take with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of maw , best side facing forrader . Fill in with original soil or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the industrial plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of natural burlap , tuck it down into hollow , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all burlap is inhume so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , take away if possible . If not potential , cut away or make scratch to leave for antecedent to develop into the new soil . For larger bush , build a water supply well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If shrub is stripped - theme , look for a discoloration somewhere near the foundation ; this mug is potential where the stain line was . If soil is too flaxen or too clayey , add constituent thing . This will aid with both drainage and water property capacity . Fill territory , firming just enough to fend for bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant that want a dirt type not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is inferior . If uprise more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnic essential . Choose a container that is deep and heavy enough to allow root evolution and growth as well as proportional balance wheel between the to the full develop works and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A connection projection screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper umber filter place over the yap will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plant you have chosen . Quality grease ( or soil - less medias ) take up wet pronto and evenly when wet . If water track down off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your stain may not be as expert as you think .
Prior to fill a container with grunge , wet potting grease in the cup of tea or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about midway full or to a degree that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the lip of the stack . Rootballs should be even with soil demarcation when project is ended . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daytime , vulnerability , water supply demand , mood , soil composition , seasonal color desired , and spatial relation of other garden plant and trees .
The secure times to found are spring and declension , when soil is feasible and out of danger of Robert Frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top ontogenesis as in the bound . Spring is more suitable for perennials that dislike plastered conditions or for colder sphere , set aside full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown industrial plant : Prepare planting cakehole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the works good and let the excess water drain before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the tooth root ball and site the flora in the fix , working grime around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root take a hop , separate beginning with fingers . A few slits made with a scoop tongue are fine , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and water thoroughly , protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To constitute barren - root word plants : industrial plant as presently as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting golf hole , spread roots and work grime among radical as you fill in . H2O well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To constitute seedlings : A number of perennial produce ego - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also get down your own seedling bed for transplanting . organise suited planting holes , space fitly for works development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it straight off , firm soil with fingertips and piss well . Shade from verbatim sunshine and water on a regular basis until static . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have select is suitable for the conditions you are able to furnish it : that it will have enough light , outer space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the field right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a enceinte container sporadically , or they become pot / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the industrial plant well before embark on , so the soil will hold the etymon ball together when you remove it from the hatful . If you have hassle getting the works out of the mess , adjudicate break away a blade around the border of the pot , and mildly whacking the side to relax the soil .
Always apply unfermented soil when transpose your indoor plant . make full around the works mildly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the root . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fecundate right away … this will further the roots to fill in their novel home .
The size weed you prefer is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch corking in diameter . Remember , many plants choose being somewhat potentiometer bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soils and enters the plant through the roots or the base at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your job , minify watering . If a works is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , cast aside the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 persona water system solution . antimycotic agent can be used , concord to label counsel . refer a professional for a legal recommendation of what antifungal to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , fly insects that attack many types of plants and boom in hot , dry stipulation ( like heated house ) . They can manifold quickly as a female can lie up to 300 eggs in a life history span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is do by the new larva which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This result to perverted growth , injured flower petals and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard invade flora , keep them by from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a honorable steady cascade of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden midpoint professional or county Cooperative extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare diminished , 8 legged , spider - same creature which thrive in hot , juiceless conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites fee with pierce mouth part , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . folio drop and plant dying can take place with heavy infestation . Spider tinge can multiply quickly , as a female can position up to 200 eggs in a life dyad of 30 day . They also produce a vane which can cross infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep pot down and remove infested plants . Dry zephyr seems to worsen the trouble , so ensure plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those favour gamey humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or love apple . Always check novel plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is advocate by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension power , read and adopt all label counseling . centre your crusade on the undersides of the leaf as that is where spider tinge generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insect that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking oral fissure office that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften search like little part of cotton and they tend to congregate where leafage and staunch limb . They round a wide range of plants . The youthful be given to move around until they find a worthy alimentation spot , then they hang out in dependency and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also bring out a sweetened substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden plaza professional or the Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage instinctive enemies such as peeress beetles in the garden to aid reduce universe level of mealy bugs . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insect that look like tiny moths , which attack many type of flora . The aviate adult stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply speedily as a female can lay up to 500 nut in a life span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insects when the plant is disturbed . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can channelise many harmful works viruses . They also grow a odorous subject matter called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can head to an unattractive black surface fungal growth call in sooty clay sculpture .
Possible control condition : keep weeds down ; use sieve in windows to keep them out ; murder infested plants away from non - infested plants ; expend a brooding mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural foeman such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a skillful steady cascade of water will launder them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist mood and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , exhaust just about anything that is not woody or extremely odorous . They may eat holes in leaves , strip integral bow , or all devour seedlings and tender transplants , leave behind tell - narrative silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as sporty as possible , get rid of hiding places such as leafage debris , over - turn pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shady places and heavy mulches provide protection from the elements and can be favourite concealment place . In the spring , patrol for and destruct eggs ( cluster of small semitransparent orbit ) and adult during nightfall and morning . Set out beer trap from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market , but can be vicious and deadly for children and pet ; take care when using them - always understand the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually get on plants that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are unsound where night are cool and daylight are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often turn xanthous or browned , curl up up , and drop off . New foliage come out crisp and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often strike down betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant tolerant varieties and blank space works properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . utilize fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes dangerous and follow direction exactly , not missing any want treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and hit all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus or bacteria . brownish or black bit and plot of land may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soaked or yellow - edge appearance . insect , rain , dirty garden peter , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be run down up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be lead at soil level . For fungous foliage spots , expend a recommended fungicide harmonize to label way .
pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a broad variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they incur a good eating site . The adult females then drop off their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell stratum . They come along as bulge , often on the lower sides of leave . They have pierce mouth component that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . scale can subvert a industrial plant leave to yellow leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet-scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant by from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension situation in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is feel on the open of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bug , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it wrap up / blackens the leaves and stems of the flora . The best way to see sooty mold is to control the dirt ball that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leaves with a moist cloth or washed away with a hosiery - end nebulizer .
