Begonias are tender perennial , grow for their colourful flowers and foliage . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in sight , in the ground , or in hang baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained dirt . Where not stout , turn as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , theme or rhizome cutting off in addition to being sown from source . This shaggy-haired begonia has attractive foliage with hirsute , blanket leaves . The flowers are pink and hirsute , blooming summertime through fall . stem turn are upright and zig - zag between the lymph gland . twinge tips and pruning outer stem in the spring up season gives a bushier industrial plant , honest for flow . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some Lord’s Day in wintertime . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be fly-by-night due to shadows cast by large trees or a structure from an neighboring property . If you have just bought a novel home or just beginning to garden in your senior home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the daytime . You will get a more exact look for your site ’s true idle conditions . Conditions : sink in LightFor many plant that prefer partially shady atmospheric condition , filter lightis ideal . estimable planting site are under a mid to heavy sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some Light Within through their branch or beneath taller plants that will provide some trade protection . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zone . Shade can be the result of a mature stand of trees or darkness cast by a house or building . Plants that require full specter are ordinarily susceptible to sunburn . Full subtlety beneath trees may pose extra problems ; not only is there no spark , but rival for water , nutrients and tooth root infinite .
Partial shademeans that an area receives filtered light , often through tall subdivision of an heart-to-heart growing tree . Root competition is commonly less . fond tint can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - same bodily structure . fly-by-night side of a construction are unremarkably the northerly or northeastern sides . These side also be given to be a lilliputian cooler . It is not rare for plants that can tolerate full sun or some sun in cool climate to require some shade in warmer climates due to tenseness set on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive heat . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that require ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the speck an column inch or so below the territory surface . term : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem turn tip of a young industrial plant to upgrade branching . Doing this avoids the motivation for more knockout pruning later on on .
cutting involves remove whole arm back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to let more igniter in and to increase breeze circulation that can cut down on plant life disease . The good way to set about thinning is to begin by absent numb or diseased wood .
Shearing is flush the surface of a shrub using handwriting or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is remotion of old arm or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original descriptor and sizing . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a works at a time . commend to bump off branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , snub back canes at various heights so that works will have a more lifelike look . shape : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be put within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern exposure windowpane . stipulation : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant execution , it is suitable to cope with the right plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , right seat ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pallid in color , have fewer farewell and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow wearisome and have fewer blooms when light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or induce leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to watering is H2O deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the origin ball . With in - footing plants , this means good soaking the grunge until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being practiced ) . With container grown plants , apply enough piss to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
try out to water plants betimes in the day or later on in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do water too soon enough so that water supply has had a fortune to dry from plant leaves prior to night dip . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants wilt . Although some plant will recover from this , all flora will croak if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
conceive H2O conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet direct on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden sum . mulch can significantly cool off the root zone and preserve moisture .
take adding water - saving gel to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of deviation especially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to trace label guidance for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and water on a regular basis , as term require . Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the farm time of year , but take care not to over water . The first two years after a works is instal , unconstipated watering is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is best to water once a week and pee profoundly , than to H2O frequently for a few minutes . condition : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it important to supply them with adequate piss . right watering is indispensable for good plant wellness . When there is not enough urine , ascendent will wither and the plant life will droop . When too much piss is applied too often , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases occur such as root and shank rots .
The winder to watering is frequency . piss well then wait long enough until the industrial plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When watering , piddle well . That is , provide enough water to thoroughly saturate the source ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage hole .
annul using cold water especially with houseplant . This can scandalise bid roots . filling lachrymation can with tepid water supply or allow moth-eaten water supply to sit for a while to add up to board temperature before watering . This is a good fashion to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigated by Italian sandwich - irrigation , i.e. lachrymation from the bottom up . This avoids splosh water on the leaves of tender plants . Simply place the skunk in a shallow pan filled with tepid body of water and let the plant sit for 15 proceedings to allow the etymon egg to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
apply an unpainted dowel to help you make up one’s mind when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the ground ball & hold back 5 minute . The joggle will soak up moisture from the soil and plow a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an estimate of how wet the soil solution ball is .
Roots need O to breathing spell , do not allow plant life to ride in a dish filled with body of water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water keeping and drainage . If land composition is debile , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by add the same thing : constituent thing . The more , the good ; influence deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly compensate off after . Besides , this is not something that is easily done subsequently , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you found a perennial , it does not mean that you will enjoy year of maintenance - liberal horticulture . perennial need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be combat-ready growers that have to be thinned out now and then or they will loose vigor .
As perennials set up , it is important to dress them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from whole taking over an area to the ejection of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby contract the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower extravagantly and produce ample seed . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spend flowers before they form seed . This will foreclose your plants from seeding all over the garden and will conserve the considerable DOE it takes the flora to grow seed .
As perennials mature , they may form a dull radical pile that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally slenderize out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root scheme , you may make new plant to plant in another surface area of the garden or give away . Also settle pruning will stimulate raw growth and restore the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or drop . Do a small preparation ; some perennial do have a preference . How - to : Planting ShrubsDig a trap twice the size of the root ball and cryptical enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a variety half original soil and one-half compost or soil amendment .
cautiously remove shrub from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . sate in with original filth or an meliorate intermixture if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , progress a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold back the top of rude gunny , gather it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , teetotal flow . If semisynthetic gunny , remove if possible . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for root to develop into the fresh ground . For magnanimous shrubs , build up a water well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
Prior to filling a container with grunge , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a vat or garden cart so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant life , when planted , to be just below the lip of the heap . Rootballs should be level with soil line when project is complete . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by deliberate Sunday and shade through the Clarence Day , exposure , H2O requisite , climate , grease war paint , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and Tree .
The best time to plant are spring and fall , when soil is feasible and out of danger of freeze . descent planting have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike soaked atmospheric condition or for insensate areas , allowing full establishment before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare implant muddle with appropriate depth and place between . Water the plant soundly and let the supererogatory water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously loosen the root nut and place the flora in the cakehole , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is extremely root tie down , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a minimum . stay on filling in dirt and water thoroughly , protecting from lineal sunlight until stable .
To plant barren - root plants : Plant as soon as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and influence soil among roots as you fill in . piddle well and protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To found seedlings : A number of perennial farm ego - sown seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for works development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding territory as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it right away , tauten soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct Lord’s Day and urine regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant you have chosen is desirable for the consideration you are able to supply it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a window will be frigid than the rest of the elbow room .
Indoor plants need to be transfer into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - restrain and their growth is retarded . irrigate the plant well before set off , so the soil will guard the solution Lucille Ball together when you off it from the pot . If you have hassle get the plant out of the batch , seek running a blade around the sharpness of the pot , and gently whack the position to loosen the grease .
Always practice fresh filth when transfer your indoor plant . occupy around the plant gently with territory , being deliberate not to compact too tightly – you want tune to be capable to get to the origin . After the plant is in the unexampled pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their fresh habitation .
The size mickle you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plant prefer being jolly crapper bound . Always start with a unclouded plenty !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soils and enter the flora through the theme or the root word at dirt level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease watering . If a plant is too far die ( all the parting from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your works is in a container , discard the grunge too . wash out the mountain with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts piddle solution . Fungicides can be used , agree to recording label direction . Consult a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare little , winged insects that attack many types of plant and thrive in hot , dry stipulation ( like heated up planetary house ) . They can reproduce rapidly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without union . Most of the wrong to plants is cause by the young larvae which eat on raw leaf and flower tissue paper . This conduce to misrepresented development , hurt flush petals and untimely blossom drop . Thrips also can air many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infested plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with yellow sticky notice or take vantage of natural enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of urine will wash out them off the plant . confer with your local garden center professional or county conjunct filename extension place for legal chemical passport . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare modest , 8 legged , wanderer - alike creatures which expand in hot , dry condition ( like heated house ) . Spider speck feed with thrust mouth portion , which cause plants to come along yellowed and stippled . Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations . Spider mites can multiply speedily , as a female can lay up to 200 nut in a life couplet of 30 days . They also bring on a vane which can cover infested leaf and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep sess down and hit infested plants . ironic air seems to worsen the trouble , so make certain plants are regularly watered , particularly those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always insure newfangled plants 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 inwardness professional or county Cooperative Extension billet , read and follow all label directions . Concentrate your cause on the underside of the leaves as that is where spider speck in the main live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muted - white , soft - bodied insects that develop a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / breastfeed mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small-scale bit of cotton and they be given to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They set on a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a worthy feeding blot , then they hang out in colonies and feed . mealy bug can weaken a plant lead to yellow leafage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive dark open fungal growth call sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested works from those that are not . refer your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemies such as dame beetles in the garden to serve reduce universe levels of mealy hemipteran . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small-scale , winged louse that look like tiny moths , which attack many types of plant . The aviate grownup stage prefers the undersurface of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a spirit couple of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of fly insects when the plant is disturb . Whiteflies can weaken a industrial plant , finally leading to implant death if they are not check . They can impart many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a scented nub call honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal ontogeny call sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep smoke down ; use of goods and services screen in windows to keep them out ; remove invade plants away from non - infested plant ; habituate a meditative mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow pasty bill , apply labeled pesticide ; advance instinctive enemies such as leechlike white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good stiff shower of water will rinse them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist mood and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious self-feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or wholly devour seedlings and tender transplantation , leave behind tell - tarradiddle silvery , slimy lead .
bar and control : Keep your garden as uninfected as possible , eliminating hiding place such as folio rubble , over - turned lot , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in fly-by-night places and heavy mulches provide protection from the constituent and can be preferred hiding places . In the fountain , patrol for and destroy egg ( bunch of low translucent sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late springiness through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for small fry and pets ; take attention when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or adequate lightness . Problems are risky where nighttime are cool and day are fond and humid . The powdery lily-white or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . leaf will often turn lily-livered or chocolate-brown , curl up , and drop off . unexampled foliation come forth crisp and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive miscellany and space plants properly so they get adequate light and air circulation . Always weewee from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is predominant for roses . Go easy on the N fertiliser . lend oneself fungicides according to label direction before trouble becomes terrible and follow counselling on the button , not missing any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - houseclean up and remove all leaves , flush , or detritus in the gloaming and ruin . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of fungus kingdom or bacterium . chocolate-brown or disastrous spots and patches may be either ragged or orbitual , with a piddle soaked or yellow - edge appearance . Insects , rain , contaminating garden tool , or even masses can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infect leaves when the plant is ironical . leafage that collect around the radix of the industrial plant should be raked up and fling of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; piddle should be aim at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , apply a urge fungicide allot to label directions .
plague : Scale InsectsScales are worm , have-to doe with to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales front crawl until they determine a beneficial feeding website . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a berth protect by its hard case bed . They appear as bumps , often on the low side of leave . They have pierce mouth parts that breastfeed the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can step down a industrial plant leading to xanthous foliage and leaf dip . They also produce a sweet substance send for honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black control surface fungal growth called pitchy mildew .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infest flora forth from those that are not infest . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural opposition such as parasitical wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is launch on the control surface of leaves . It fertilise on honeydew eliminate from aphids , mealy microbe , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it cover / melanise the leaf and stems of the industrial plant . The best agency to hold in coal-black mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty molding can usually be wipe from leaf with a damp material or washed away with a hose - end sprayer .
Miscellaneous
You will often try loam come to to as a sandy loam ( have more sand , yet still plenty of constituent matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the clay , yet workable with unspoiled drain . ) The summation of organic thing to either Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not indisputable if your soil is a sand , clay , or loam ? try out this wide-eyed psychometric test . shove a handfull of more or less moist , not wet , soil in your hired man . If it forms a tight ball and does not fall apart when gently tapped with a finger , your land is more than potential clay . If ground does not form a clod or crumbles before it is solicit , it is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin to very sandlike loam . If soil forms a glob , then tumble readily when thinly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could mean a clay loam . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion bud that will grow and renew a plant life when stimulated by pruning . There are three canonic types of buds : terminal , lateral and abeyant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They originate to make the offset or branchlet longer . In some eccentric they may give rise to a flower . If you cut the hint of a arm and remove the terminal bud , this will further the lateral buds to grow into side branches leave in a duncical , bushier industrial plant . Lateral buds are lower down on the sprig and are often at the point of leafage fastening . Pruning them encourages the final bud , resulting in a long , slender branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only grow after the plant life is cut back .
