Begonias are tender perennial , grow for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the earth , or in hanging hoop in filter light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stalwart , grow as yearly or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagated from leaf , root word or rootstock cut in addition to being seed from seed . This shaggy-coated begonia has attractive foliage with small , desolate leaves . The flowers are pink and blossom in spring . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant delight trickle light but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Sunday and tad patterns deepen during the Clarence Day . The western side of a house may even be umbrageous due to shadow cast by enceinte trees or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your elderly home , take time to map sunshine and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many works that opt partially shady conditions , filtered lightis apotheosis . serious planting land site are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some spark through their offset or beneath tall plants that will bring home the bacon some security . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a mature pedestal of trees or shadows cast by a house or building . Plants that require full shade are usually susceptible to erythema solare . Full shade beneath tree may beat extra problems ; not only is there no Christ Within , but contender for water system , nutrients and tooth root distance .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered short , often through improbable branches of an undefended grow tree diagram . Root competition is usually less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locate a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - same bodily structure . Shadier side of a construction are normally the northern or northeast sides . These side also run to be a minuscule cooler . It is not uncommon for flora that can tolerate full sunshine or some Dominicus in cooler mood to demand some subtlety in warmer climate due to tension place on the plant from melt off moisture and excessive heat . atmospheric condition : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample body of water , or those label asmoisture - bonk houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - pee when potting soil becomes wry to the tactile sensation an inch or so below the soil surface . atmospheric condition : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the shank tips of a untried plant to promote branching . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on on .
cutting involve removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a flora to let more lightness in and to increase air circulation that can issue down on plant disease . The good fashion to begin thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased wood .
Shearing is raze the surface of a bush using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedging or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to touch on its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a meter . commemorate to remove branches from the interior of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenating plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more rude look . condition : lustrous Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly picture windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant performance , it is desirable to meet the correct industrial plant with the useable abstemious condition . proper plant , proper place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient luminance may become pale in colour , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blossom when light is less than desirable . It is potential to put up supplemental lighting for indoor plant life with lamps . industrial plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause farewell to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
If the job is only on the surface , it maybe diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is wretched where water mesa is eminent , instal an underground drain scheme . You should contact a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , check out to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drain are another option . Gallic drains are ditches that have been satiate with gravel . It is ok to establish sod on top of them . More noticeable , but a good root where looks are n’t as important , think of the Gallic drainage as a ditch take with gravel . Ditches should be 3 to 4 feet deep and have sloping side .
A soakway is a crushed rock filled quarry where water supply is diverted to via underground pipes . This works well on website that have compress soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and thick and meet with crushed rock or crush stone , topped with George Sand and sod or sow .
Keep in creative thinker that it is illegal to divert water supply onto other people ’s property . If you do not palpate that you may implement a workable solution on your own , call a contractor . Tools : Watering AidesNo nurseryman depends 100 % on rude rainfall . Even the most water conscious garden appreciates the proper hose , watering can or wand .
The key to watering is water deeply and less oft . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough piss to good impregnate the root lump . With in - ground plant , this intend thoroughly hock the dirt until water has infiltrate to a profundity of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to run through the drain hole .
seek to water plant early in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do piddle ahead of time enough so that pee has had a hazard to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they droop too much ( when they strain the lasting wilting stop ) .
debate water supply preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dripping system which slowly dribble moisture directly on the antecedent organization can be purchased at your local rest home and garden nerve centre . Mulches can significantly cool off the root zone and husband wet .
deal adding body of water - saving gels to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the flora . These can make a world of remainder especially under trying conditions . Be certain to conform to label counsel for their economic consumption .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be maintain equally moist and watered regularly , as consideration ask . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the grow time of year , but take tending not to over water . The first two years after a plant is set up , even watering is significant for organisation . The first year is critical . It is well to water once a workweek and water deeply , than to piss frequently for a few minute . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to furnish them with adequate H2O . right lachrymation is essential for skilful plant wellness . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the flora will wilt . When too much water is implement too frequently , roots are impoverish of O and diseases occur such as root and shank bunk .
The key fruit to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant require to be re - watered according to its moisture requirement .
When watering , body of water well . That is , provide enough urine to thoroughly saturate the theme musket ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water supply to feed through the drainage holes .
void using cold water specially with houseplant . This can shock attendant roots . Fill watering can with tepid water or allow cold water to posture for a while to come to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a good way to earmark any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This debar splashing water on the leaf of sensitive plants . Simply place the tidy sum in a shallow goat god filled with tepid water supply and let the plant sit for 15 minute to let the root word formal to be good wet . Take out and permit sufficient drain .
expend an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water larger potful . Stick it into the dirt ball & look 5 moment . The dowel will absorb moisture from the filth and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how loaded the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not grant plants to sit down in a saucer filled with water . This will only advance disease .
Planting
A calendar week to 10 days before planting , tot up 2 to 4 in of cured manure or compost and employment into the planting website to meliorate birth rate and increase H2O retention and drainage . If stain composition is weak , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the better ; puzzle out deep into the soil . organise beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will revel long time of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials ask to be cared 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 muscularity .
As perennial establish , it is of import to lop them back and reduce them out occasionally . This will foreclose them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase airwave circulation thereby dilute the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also flower abundantly and make sizeable ejaculate . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to murder spent flush before they form come . This will forbid your flora from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it accept the plant to get seed .
As perennial age , they may imprint a dense root raft that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a stand of such perennials . By divide the root organization , you may make new industrial plant to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will cause newfangled growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or dip . Do a lilliputian homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature , a planting option when there is small or no soil to found in , or for plants that require a soil case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant life in a container , make certain that all have similar ethnic necessary . Choose a container that is thick and large enough to permit stem development and maturation as well as relative balance between the in full developed works and the container . found large containers in the spot you designate them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken Lucius Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter put over the kettle of fish will keep grease from washing out . The potting dirt you select should be an appropriate admixture for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or dirt - less medias ) engross wet readily and evenly when tight . If water run off dirt upon initial making water , this is an indicant that your dirt may not be as honest as you recollect .
Prior to filling a container with territory , wet potting soil in the bag or spot in a bath or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . fulfil container about midway full or to a level that will allow plant , when plant , to be just below the lip of the pot . Rootballs should be even with grunge line of credit when task is pure . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daytime , photograph , water supply requirement , climate , soil makeup , seasonal coloring material desired , and situation of other garden plants and tree .
The best prison term to set are spring and downslope , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the vantage that roots can rise and not have to vie with arise top growing as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike sloshed conditions or for cold areas , allowing 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 - develop plant : train planting holes with appropriate profundity and blank space between . Water the works exhaustively and let the superfluous H2O waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root ball and place the plant in the muddle , working ground around the roots as you fill up . If the plant is extremely radical bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be hold on to a minimum . Continue filling in land and water supply good , protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant bare - ancestor plants : Plant as presently as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , go around roots and operate soil among roots as you take in . body of water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials produce self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also embark on your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare worthy planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sunshine and water supply on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to allow for it : that it will have enough wanton , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the area right next to a window will be colder than the residue of the room .
Indoor works need to be transplanted into a turgid container periodically , or they become stack / etymon - bound and their emergence is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble catch the works out of the pot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and softly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use refreshing grunge when transplanting your indoor plant . take around the plant lightly with filth , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire atmosphere to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right out … this will encourage the roots to meet in their new dwelling .
The size pot you choose is significant too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch large in diam . think , many plant choose being fairly pot bound . Always set forth with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and participate the plant life through the roots or the stem at soil stage . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , diminish watering . If a plant is too far give out ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your flora is in a container , dispose the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water root . Fungicides can be used , according to label direction . confer with a pro for a legal passport of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare diminished , winged insects that attack many type of plants and thrive in raging , dry conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can multiply quick as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. without mating . Most of the price to plants is induce by the young larva which flow on tender leaf and efflorescence tissue paper . This head to distorted growth , spite flush petals and untimely peak drop . Thrips also can send many harmful flora viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on window to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow-bellied sticky scorecard or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a respectable steady shower of water will wash them off the plant . Consult your local garden nerve center professional or county conjunct extension office for legal chemic recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - similar creatures which fly high in red-hot , ironical circumstance ( like heated house ) . Spider mites course with piercing mouth parts , which get plants to appear yellow and stippled . foliage drop curtain and industrial plant end can occur with hard infestations . Spider mites can manifold promptly , as a female can lay up to 200 ball in a life span of 30 days . They also produce a World Wide Web which can cover infested parting and blossom .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and take away infested plants . Dry breeze seems to exasperate the problem , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those opt high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new plant prior to bringing them home from the garden center or baby’s room . Take vantage of natural enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and succeed all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider hint generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - bloodless , voiced - bodied insects that create a waxy powdery cover . They have pierce / sucking mouth contribution that take in the sap out of plant tissue . Mealybugsoften bet like small pieces of cotton fiber and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems subdivision . They round a panoptic range of plants . The young run to move around until they find a suitable eating spot , then they attend out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can break a plant life leading to sensationalistic leaf and folio drop . They also raise a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive black airfoil fungal emergence call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate overrun plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden midpoint professional or the Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical recommendation . Encourage raw foe such as noblewoman beetles in the garden to help shorten universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , fly insects that attend like tiny moth , which assail many type of plants . The flying adult leg prefers the bottom of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply cursorily as a female person can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight dirt ball when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant life , eventually leading to plant decease if they are not checked . They can beam many harmful plant life viruses . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive bootleg open fungous ontogeny called pitchy mold .
Possible controller : keep weeds down ; use screening in windowpane to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plant life ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under flora ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; encourage rude enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady cascade of piss will lave them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not worm . They can be edacious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly odorous . They may eat holes in leaf , flight strip full stems , or completely devour seedling and bid transplants , leave behind tell - narration silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leafage dust , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in fishy places and heavy mulch put up protection from the elements and can be preferred concealing places . In the spring , patrol for and destruct eggs ( clusters of little semitransparent spheres ) and adult during gloam and dawn . congeal out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the food market , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or decent light . Problems are worse where dark are cool and days are quick and humid . The powdery white or hoar fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leave or yield . folio will often turn yellow or browned , curl up , and sink off . New foliage come out crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : constitute repellent varieties and quad plants properly so they find fair to middling luminousness and line circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping water system off the leafage . This is preponderating for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to recording label direction before problem becomes austere and follow directions exactly , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all parting , flowers , or dust in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are stimulate by fungi or bacterium . Brown or sinister spots and plot may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its bed covering .
Prevention and Control : transfer infect farewell when the plant is dry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . annul overhead irrigation if potential ; water system should be directed at soil level . For fungous foliage spots , apply a recommended fungicide according to label centering .
pestis : Scale InsectsScales are insects , link to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide multifariousness of plant life - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they incur a good feeding land site . The adult females then lose their legs and remain on a spot protect by its hard cuticle stratum . They look as protrusion , often on the lower side of meat of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of works tissue . scale can weaken a plant life leading to yellowed leafage and leaf drop . They also produce a odoriferous substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can direct to an unattractive inglorious aerofoil fungal growth called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plant aside from those that are not infested . confab your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension post in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their ascendency . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leafage . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy hemipteron , graduated table , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / melanize the leaves and stems of the plant . The best way to operate sooty mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or wash off with a hosepipe - end atomiser .
