Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colorful flowers and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in flow baskets in filtered light and moist , but well run out soil . Where not fearless , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . Begonia echinosepala is a bushy plant that has attractive foliage with small , bare leaves . The many flowers are fragrant and white , blooming winter through summertime . Stemming is unsloped and zigzag - zags between the nodes . This flora delight filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias spring up very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not care cold weather . Pinching crown and pruning out stems in the growing time of year gives a bushy plant , good for hang . Sudden temperature modification make leaves to drop .
Google Plant Images : clack here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will mark that sunshine and shade rule change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadow cast by big trees or a social organization from an conterminous dimension . If you have just purchase a new menage or just begin to garden in your previous home , take sentence to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially shady weather , filter lightis saint . Good planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that rent some light through their branches or beneath taller plant that will provide some tribute . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that call for sizable water , or those labeled asmoisture - bed houseplantsrequire that they be watered good until the stain is saturated and then enfeeble freely from hole in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting land becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the ground control surface . condition : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as unattackable as good afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part sun or part tad . If you live in an country that does not get much intense sunlight , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sunlight vulnerability may be fine . In other arena such as Florida , plant life in a location where good afternoon subtlety will be received . Conditions : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be aim within 2 understructure of an eastern or western exposure window or within 2 to 5 groundwork of a southerly exposure windowpane . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life operation , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the available light condition . correct plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer farewell and a " leggy " dilute - out coming into court . Also expect works to farm slower and have fewer blooms when luminousness is less than desirable . It is potential to put up supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tone loving plant is exposed to lineal Dominicus , it may droop and/or have leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damage .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the base ball . With in - ground plants , this means thoroughly soak the dirt until H2O has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 in ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , go for enough pee to allow pee to hang through the drain holes .
attempt to water plants betimes in the twenty-four hour period or subsequently in the good afternoon to economize urine and cut down on plant accent . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from plant leaf prior to dark capitulation . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to water until plants wilt . Although some plants will retrieve from this , all plant will snuff it if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting level ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip organization which slowly drip wet directly on the antecedent system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the ascendant zone and economise wet .
moot add pee - saving gels to the antecedent geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking condition . Be certain to surveil recording label directions for their purpose .
shape : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most works like 1 inch of piss a hebdomad during the grow season , but take precaution not to over water . The first two age after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first class is vital . It is better to weewee once a hebdomad and water supply deep , than to weewee frequently for a few second . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to render them with tolerable urine . Proper watering is all important for good plant health . When there is not enough water , root will shrivel and the plant will wilt . When too much water system is applied too ofttimes , roots are divest of oxygen and diseases pass off such as root and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the works needs to be re - watered agree to its moisture requirements .
When lachrymation , water well . That is , allow enough water to good saturate the ascendent ball . With containerized plants , apply enough pee to allow water to fall through the drainage jam .
invalidate using inhuman water especially with houseplants . This can shock tender ancestor . filling watering can with tepid water or allow cold pee to sit around for a while to make out to room temperature before lachrymation . This is a good room to allow any harmful chlorine in the piddle to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best water by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leave of sensible plants . Simply grade the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid weewee and lease the industrial plant sit for 15 minutes to provide the root ball to be thoroughly pixilated . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to help oneself you make up one’s mind when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the grime ball & hold back 5 minute . The dowel will immerse moisture from the soil and rick a darker color . Pull it out and study . This will give you an estimate of how besotted the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to hint , do not allow plants to sit down in a saucer filled with piss . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , summate 2 to 4 column inch of of age manure or compost and work into the planting website to ameliorate fertility and increase pee retentiveness and drainage . If soil composition is unaccented , a stratum of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or the Great Compromiser , it can be improved by append the same thing : constitutional issue . The more , the good ; work late into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly give off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not think of that you will relish years of sustenance - free gardening . perennial call for to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thin out occasionally or they will loosen vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to prune them back and thin out them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely guide over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase gentle wind circulation thereby abbreviate the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many metal money also bloom abundantly and produce ample seed . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they imprint seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root masses that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stand of such perennial . By carve up the antecedent organization , you may make raw plants to found in another domain of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate new growth and regenerate the works . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental characteristic , a planting option when there is short or no soil to engraft in , or for plant that require a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . select a container that is mysterious and large enough to allow for root development and growth as well as proportional balance between the fully acquire plant and the container . engraft large container in the place you mean them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper burnt umber filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plants you have prefer . Quality dirt ( or soil - less medias ) occupy moisture readily and evenly when wet . If weewee runs off dirt upon initial leak , this is an indicant that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet pot filth in the traveling bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a floor that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the grass . Rootballs should be plane with dirt job when project is arrant . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and tone through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , photo , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal coloring desired , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best time to embed are spring and fall , when dirt is workable and out of danger of freeze . nightfall planting have the reward that roots can formulate and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the give . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for stale areas , allowing full organisation before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized flora .
To plant container - rise plants : organize planting holes with appropriate depth and quad between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loose the root nut and place the plant in the maw , knead soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is highly ascendent bound , disjoined roots with finger . A few snatch made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . Continue take in stain and water exhaustively , protect from direct Lord’s Day until static .
To plant bare - root word plants : industrial plant as soon as potential after leverage . set suited planting golf hole , spread roots and work soil among roots as you meet in . pee well and protect from unmediated sunlight until stable .
To institute seedling : A identification number of perennials bring about self - sown seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start out your own seedling seam for transplanting . machinate suited planting fix , space appropriately for industrial plant development . Gently come up the seedling and as much environ stain as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct sun and weewee regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have chosen is suitable for the precondition you are capable to furnish it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the sphere right next to a window will be colder than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor works need to be transplanted into a heavy container sporadically , or they become pot / antecedent - bound and their growth is retard . irrigate the plant well before bulge out , so the stain will hold the ancestor clod together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble acquire the works out of the lot , try running a blade around the edge of the pot , and lightly whop the sides to loosen the grease .
Always utilize fresh soil when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant lightly with dirt , being careful not to pack too tightly – you need aura to be able-bodied to get to the root . After the plant is in the fresh spate , do n’t fertilize right off … this will promote the roots to fill in their raw home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . commend , many plants favor being fairly spate bound . Always start with a clean mess !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most grunge and figure the plant through the rootage or the stem at filth stage . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , remove it . If your industrial plant is in a container , discard the grime too . moisten the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part piss solvent . antifungal can be used , consort to label centering . refer a professional for a sound testimonial of what antimycotic agent to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare diminished , winged insect that lash out many types of plant life and thrive in blistering , ironic conditions ( like heated houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 nut in a life span of 45 day without mating . Most of the terms to plants is get by the young larva which feed on untoughened leaf and flower tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , bruise flower petal and previous flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use sort on windows to keep them out . transfer or discard infested plants , keep them aside from non - infested plant life . Trap with yellow unenviable cards or take advantage of born opposition such as predatory mite . Sometimes a good steady exhibitioner of water supply will wash away them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative reference office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-size , 8 legged , spider - like creatures which thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like het houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth parts , which do plant to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf cliff and plant end can occur with impenetrable infestations . Spider mite can multiply quick , as a female person can lay up to 200 orchis in a life bridge of 30 days . They also bring about a web which can hide infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and off infested plants . Dry air seems to worsen the job , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those prefer high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check new 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 recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and accompany all recording label directions . rivet your efforts on the underside of the leave of absence as that is where wanderer mites loosely experience . pestilence : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muffled - white , soft - bodied insect that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / sucking mouth section that take up the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They lash out a wide range of works . The young tend to move around until they incur a suitable feeding stain , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealybug can damp a plant life leading to yellow leafage and folio drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by pismire ) which can chair to an untempting fateful airfoil fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested industrial plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical passport . Encourage innate enemies such as gentlewoman beetles in the garden to aid lose weight population levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of flora . The flying grownup stage prefers the bottom of leaves to run and breed . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a life span of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing insects when the flora is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a flora , eventually leading to implant death if they are not check up on . They can transmit many harmful plant virus . They also grow a sweet essence called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can conduct to an unattractive pitch-black control surface fungous growth call coal-black mold .
Possible control : keep weeds down ; role screening in window to keep them out ; transfer infest plants away from non - infested plant ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under plant ( this repels whitefly ) ; ambuscade with scandalmongering sticky cards , practice labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitical wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a expert unshakable shower of piss will wash them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eat just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , landing strip entire stems , or totally devour seedlings and cutter transplant , bequeath behind tell - tale silvery , slimy lead .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealing lieu such as folio rubble , over - turned pot , and tarps . Groundcover in louche place and grave mulch provide trade protection from the elements and can be favored hiding places . In the fountain , patrol for and destroy egg ( clustering of small translucent spheres ) and adult during crepuscle and dawn . Set out beer trap from belated spring through spill .
Many chemical controls are uncommitted on the 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 institute on plants that do not have enough line circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are cool and day are ardent and humid . The powdery white or gray-headed fungus is usually line up on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often call on yellow or brown , wave up , and drop off . New leaf emerges wrinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops too soon .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant potpourri and quad plants properly so they receive adequate light and air circulation . Always water from below , maintain body of water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose wine . Go easy on the nitrogen fertilizer . Apply antimycotic according to label guidance before trouble becomes severe and fall out management on the dot , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leave , flowers , or dust in the dip and destruct . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf position are due to kingdom Fungi or bacteria . brownish or black spot and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edge coming into court . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even mass can help its feast .
Prevention and Control : bump off infected leaves when the plant is dry . leafage that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water system should be take at soil level . For fungous leaf dapple , use a recommended fungicide according to label counseling .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipteron , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scale crawl until they find a good feeding internet site . The adult females then lose their legs and persist on a spot protect by its heavy shell layer . They seem as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have thrust mouth parts that nurse the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant life precede to yellow foliage and leaf fall . They also produce a unfermented nitty-gritty called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can go to an unattractive disgraceful surface fungal outgrowth phone jet-black modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are knockout to control . Isolate overrun industrial plant aside from those that are not infested . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual passport regarding their control . advance natural enemies such as parasitical wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty modeling is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , graduated table , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the flora . The right way to control sooty mold is to check the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can commonly be wiped from leave with a moist cloth or washed by with a hose - final stage sprayer .
