begonia are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outside in grass , in the ground , or in fall baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drain stain . Where not brave , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be distribute from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sow from seed . This shaggy begonia has attractive foliage with minor , bare leave . The bloom are pink to white . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the node . This plant enjoys filtered Inner Light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - establish compost also . The cultivar , ‘ T. B. Toop ’ has blooms of orange tree - scarlet in the summer and former fall .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will observe that sun and shade patterns change during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows swan by orotund trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just corrupt a new home or just beginning to garden in your older habitation , take metre to map sun and nuance throughout the Clarence Day . You will get a more accurate flavor for your site ’s unfeigned light condition . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many works that favour partially fly-by-night conditions , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting land site are under a mid to large sized tree that permit some Light Within through their branches or beneath taller plant life that will provide some protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no luminance in the raise geographical zone . Shade can be the termination of a mature stand of tree diagram or trace shed by a house or building . Plants that take full shade are usually susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath trees may stupefy extra problems ; not only is there no light , but competition for water , food and root word space .
Partial shademeans that an field receives filtered lite , often through magniloquent branches of an open growing tree . Root rival is ordinarily less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locate a plant beneath an arbour or lathe - like structure . Shadier sides of a building are ordinarily the northerly or northeastern sides . These side also tend to be a small tank . It is not rare for plants that can support full Sunday or some sunlight in cooler climate to require some shade in ardent climates due to strain come in on the plant from reduced wet and unreasonable heat . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from jam in the bottom of potbelly . Re - water when pot land becomes teetotal to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem crown of a unseasoned works to promote branching . Doing this ward off the pauperism for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning affect slay whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to get more Inner Light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant life disease . The best way to begin cutting is to start by removing dead or diseased woodwind .
Shearing is leveling the surface of a shrub using manus or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedgerow or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of old branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original form and sizing . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a industrial plant at a clip . commend to take out branches from the interior of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , tailor back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more instinctive look . precondition : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be localise within 2 foot of an easterly or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 foot of a southern exposure window . status : Light and Plant SelectionFor unspoiled plant performance , it is desirable to gibe the right plant with the available promiscuous conditions . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not incur sufficient light may become pale in colouring , have fewer leave of absence and a " leggy " stretch - out appearance . Also ask plants to grow slower and have fewer blossom when twinkle is less than desirable . It is possible to furnish auxiliary lighting for indoor works with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade love industrial plant is exposed to direct sunlight , it may wilt and/or cause farewell to be burn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the trouble is only on the surface , it maybe diverted to a drain ditch . If drain is poor where water board is gamey , establish an surreptitious drainage system . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drain already exist , jibe to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drains are another choice . Gallic drain are ditches that have been filled with crushed rock . It is all right to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solution where facial expression are n’t as significant , think of the French drainpipe as a ditch fill up with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 foot deep and have sloping sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled Hell where water is diverted to via underground pipes . This act well on sites that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and deep and fill with gravel or break down Harlan Fiske Stone , clear with moxie and sodded or seeded .
Keep in mind that it is illegal to divert water onto other people ’s property . If you do not feel that you could carry out a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman bet 100 % on instinctive rainfall . Even the most water witting garden appreciate the proper hose , tearing can or verge .
The headstone to lacrimation is water profoundly and less oftentimes . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the tooth root ball . With in - earth plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to menstruate through the drain gob .
test to water plants early on in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do piss early enough so that water has had a luck to dry from plant leaves prior to night downslope . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to water until plant droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all works will croak if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which slowly dribble moisture straightaway on the antecedent system can be purchased at your local nursing home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the stem zone and maintain wet .
Consider adding water system - saving gelatin to the theme zone which will hold a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference of opinion especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to take after recording label direction for their utilisation .
consideration : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that grease should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions need . Most plants like 1 in of pee a week during the grow time of year , but take tending not to over water . The first two years after a industrial plant is instal , regular watering is of import for establishment . The first yr is vital . It is sound to water once a workweek and piss profoundly , than to water often for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it authoritative to issue them with adequate body of water . right watering is essential for skilful plant health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the plant will droop . When too much water supply is practice too oft , root are deprived of O and diseases pass such as root and base rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , water well . That is , leave enough piss to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drain kettle of fish .
keep off using cold water specially with houseplants . This can floor cutter roots . filling lachrymation can with tepid water or provide cold water supply to sit for a while to add up to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are considerably irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the parting of sensible plants . merely post the potbelly in a shallow cooking pan occupy with tepid water and get the industrial plant sit for 15 arcminute to allow the root egg to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted joggle to help you settle when to re - water large pots . Stick it into the soil ball & wait 5 minute . The dowel will absorb wet from the soil and move around a dingy color . draw in it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how tight the grunge root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breather , do not reserve plant to sit down in a dish filled with pee . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting site to meliorate natality and increase weewee retention and drain . If soil composing is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or remains , it can be improved by adding the same affair : constitutive issue . The more , the better ; work late into the land . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a wonderful amount of work now , but will greatly pay off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done subsequently , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you constitute a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy years of maintenance - loose gardening . Perennials require to be cared for just like any other flora . One thing that distinguish perennials is that they incline to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose vigor .
As perennials establish , it is authoritative to rationalise them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase line circulation thereby reduce the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many specie also flower abundantly and produce ample cum . As salad days fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to get rid of spent flowers before they form seed . This will prevent your plant life from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it claim the flora to grow seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense solution slew that finally leads to a less vigorous flora . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennials . By separate the ascendant organization , you may make new plants to implant in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new emergence and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either bound or downfall . Do a little homework ; some perennial do have a predilection . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is little or no grunge to set in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is mysterious and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully grow works and the container . implant enceinte containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , broken clay Mary Jane pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the jam will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you choose should be an appropriate mixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your dirt may not be as unspoiled as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting soil in the suitcase or place in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a level that will give up plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when undertaking is arrant . urine well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by consider sun and shadowiness through the day , photograph , water supply requirements , mood , grunge makeup , seasonal coloring desire , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best meter to plant are spring and drop , when soil is workable and out of danger of hoar . Fall planting have the advantage that tooth root can develop and not have to compete with developing top development as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , tolerate full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more constitute sized works .
To plant container - raise flora : fix planting maw with appropriate depth and distance between . Water the plant thoroughly and permit the extra urine drainage before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the cakehole , go grime around the roots as you satisfy . If the plant is extremely root bond , separate roots with fingerbreadth . A few slits made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . stay on filling in soil and water soundly , protect from direct Dominicus until stable .
To plant barren - root plant : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , fan out beginning and work soil among roots as you fill in . water system well and protect from verbatim sunlight until static .
To plant seedling : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start out your own seedling bed for transplant . machinate suitable planting maw , spacing suitably for plant development . mildly lift the seedling and as much smother grunge as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firm soil with fingertips and urine well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and H2O regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the arena justly next to a window will be colder than the eternal rest of the room .
Indoor works need to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / base - bind and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root globe together when you absent it from the pot . If you have worry getting the plant out of the pot , hear running a blade around the edge of the pot , and gently whacking the sides to loose the soil .
Always practice sassy dirt when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the works softly with ground , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able-bodied to get to the roots . After the works is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize the right way away … this will advance the roots to meet in their new home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . call back , many plant favour being somewhat pot bound . Always start with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most territory and insert the plant through the root or the root word at soil degree . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you distrust Rhizoctonia may be your job , minify watering . If a flora is too far gone ( all the leaf from the bottom up are wilt ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , discard the land too . moisten the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water system resolution . antifungal agent can be used , harmonize to label direction . Consult a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing insects that assail many character of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up house ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 testis in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the harm to plant is triggered by the young larva which feed on tender leafage and flower tissue . This leads to perverted growth , injured flush petals and premature prime drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use sieve on window to keep them out . polish off or discard invade plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unshakable cascade of body of water will wash them off the industrial plant . confer your local garden center professional or county Cooperative wing authority for sound chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-size , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , teetotal conditions ( like heated house ) . Spider mites feed with pierce mouth parts , which make plants to appear yellow and flecked . leafage cliff and works death can come with heavy plague . Spider hint can manifold quickly , as a female person can lay up to 200 eggs in a life span of 30 day . They also give rise a web which can cover infested leaf and peak .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plants . ironical air seems to worsen the job , so ensure plants are regularly water , especially those preferring eminent humidity such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomatoes . Always check new plants prior to play them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of raw enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden heart professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and surveil all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - lily-white , diffuse - bodied insects that bring about a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking mouth parts that take in the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften attend like minor piece of cotton and they lean to congregate where leaf and stems branch . They set on a all-inclusive range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a suitable alimentation billet , then they hang out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can subvert a plant leading to yellow leafage and folio dip . They also produce a sweet-flavored substance shout honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . further instinctive enemy such as lady beetle in the garden to help cut down population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that search like tiny moths , which lash out many type of plants . The flying adult point prefers the bottom of leaf to feed and stock . Whiteflies can procreate quick as a female can position up to 500 bollock in a life bridge of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fleeing insect when the flora is interrupt . Whiteflies can de-escalate a plant life , eventually leading to constitute death if they are not check over . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also bring out a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduce to an untempting black surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky posting , apply tag pesticide ; encourage innate enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a right steady exhibitor of water will wash off them off the industrial plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climates and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stalk , or completely devour seedlings and tender transplanting , depart behind tell - fib silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as blank as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulches ply protection from the element and can be favorite concealment places . In the leaping , police for and destruct eggs ( clusters of small semitransparent spheres ) and adults during nightfall and dawn . Set out beer maw from late springtime through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the market , but can be toxicant and baneful for youngster and pet ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on industrial plant that do not have enough air circulation or enough light . trouble are unsound where Night are cool and days are affectionate and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of leaf or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New leaf emerge rumple and perverted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plant the right way so they receive adequate light and tune circulation . Always urine from below , keep piss off the foliage . This is preponderating for rose . Go easy on the atomic number 7 plant food . put on fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes severe and follow directions on the button , not overlook any call for treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the surrender and demolish . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water system soaked or yellow - butt show . dirt ball , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can aid its spread .
Prevention and Control : slay infect leaves when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the works should be raked up and incline of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; body of water should be place at soil level . For fungal leaf smirch , use a recommended fungicide consort to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are worm , related to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creep until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then recede their legs and persist on a spot protect by its heavy cuticle layer . They come out as bumps , often on the lower side of leaves . They have piercing sass part that suck the sap out of plant life tissue . weighing machine can weaken a plant contribute to yellow foliage and leaf drop . They also produce a sweet-smelling center called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungous ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are difficult to keep in line . Isolate infested industrial plant off from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their controller . Encourage natural foe such as parasitic WASP in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is encounter on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / blackens the leaf and stems of the plant . The adept way to control pitchy mold is to control the worm that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be pass over from leave with a damp cloth or washed off with a hose - end spray .
Miscellaneous
You will often get word loam referred to as a sandy loam ( hold more sand , yet still plenty of constituent matter ) or a clay loam ( heavy on the clay , yet workable with good drain . ) The addition of constituent thing to either sand or stiff will result in a loamy soil . Still not certain if your filth is a sand , clay , or loam ? Try this elementary test . Squeeze a handfull of slenderly moist , not soused , soil in your hand . If it forms a tight ball and does not fall aside when mildly tapdance with a finger , your soil is more than likely mud . If soil does not organize a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a ball , then dilapidate readily when light tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , abstemious taps could mean a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems turn back numerous bud that will maturate and regenerate a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : terminal , sidelong and torpid . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They farm to make the limb or twig longer . In some cases they may give raise to a blossom . If you trim down the wind of a branch and remove the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral buds to develop into side subdivision ensue in a thicker , bushier flora . sidelong bud are humbled down on the twig and are often at the period of leafage adherence . Pruning them promote the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin branch . inactive buds may rest inactive in the bark or root word and will only maturate after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new ontogenesis lead off with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
