Begonias are raw perennials , turn for their colorful heyday and leaf . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist , but well drained territory . Where not audacious , grow as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be spread from leaf , root or rhizome cut in addition to being sown from seed . Begonia echinosepala variety elongatifolia is shaggy bushy flora that has attractive foliage with small , bare leaf . The many flowers are fragrant and whitened , flower intermittently . Stemming is upright and zigzag - zags between the nodes . This plant enjoys filter lighter but can take some sunshine in winter . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias farm very well in peat - based compost also . like humidness . Does not like dusty weather . vellicate tips and pruning outer stem in the growing season give a bushier flora , good for hanging . Sudden temperature change causes leaves to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shade patterns modify during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree diagram or a social system from an adjacent dimension . If you have just buy a fresh base or just beginning to garden in your older nursing home , take clock time to map Dominicus and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate tone for your site ’s true unaccented condition . condition : trickle LightFor many plant that prefer partly umbrageous condition , filtered lightis nonpareil . Good planting situation are under a mid to large sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will allow for some protection . condition : wet - enjoy HouseplantsHouseplants that require copious piddle , or those pronounce asmoisture - have sex houseplantsrequire that they be water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of pot . Re - piddle when potting soil becomes teetotal to the touch an in or so below the grease Earth’s surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is crucial to them . Often sunrise sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much vivid sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun picture may be hunky-dory . In other area such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 foot of a southerly exposure window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best works performance , it is desirable to match the correct plant with the uncommitted light conditions . Right plant , right position ! plant which do not have sufficient light may become pallid in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow tiresome and have fewer blush when light is less than worthy . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant life with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a shade bed plant is reveal to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the ancestor orb . With in - ground flora , this mean thoroughly intoxicate the dirt until water has penetrated to a astuteness of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough pee to leave water to hang through the drainage pickle .
endeavor to water plant life early in the day or later in the good afternoon to husband weewee and reduce down on works strain . Do water early on enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant foliage prior to nighttime fall . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all works will die if they droop too much ( when they gain the permanent wilting head ) .
debate water conservation methods such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly dribble moisture flat on the root scheme can be purchase at your local home and garden core . mulch can significantly cool down the ascendant zone and economise moisture .
view adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a reserve of water for the industrial plant . These can make a world of difference particularly under nerve-wracking term . Be certain to follow label counsel for their use of goods and services .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as condition require . Most flora like 1 in of water a week during the growing season , but take concern not to over H2O . The first two age after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is better to weewee once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to pee frequently for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it important to provide them with adequate water . Proper watering is essential for in force plant life wellness . When there is not enough water , root will wither and the works will wilt . When too much water is applied too oftentimes , roots are deprive of O and disease occur such as ascendant and stem rots .
The key to watering is frequency . piss well then wait long enough until the plant postulate to be re - watered harmonise to its moisture requirement .
When lacrimation , water well . That is , ply enough water to thoroughly saturate the root ball . With containerized plants , use enough water system to allow water to fall through the drainage holes .
Avoid using insensate body of water especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill lachrymation can with tepid water or reserve cold-blooded water to posture for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good style to provide any harmful chlorine in the piddle to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are well irrigated by sub - irrigation , i.e. tearing from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sore plant . plainly localise the pot in a shallow pan filled with tepid body of water and let the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root ball to be soundly lactating . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
apply an unpainted dowel pin to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger pots . Stick it into the territory clod & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will suck up wet from the dirt and rick a darker color . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how crocked the soil root ball is .
Roots involve atomic number 8 to intimation , do not allow plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 column inch of cured manure or compost and study into the planting land site to improve natality and increase pee holding and drain . If grime composition is feeble , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or Lucius Clay , it can be improved by tally the same thing : constitutive matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the filth . educate layer to an 18 column inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly make up off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will savour years of upkeep - free horticulture . perennial necessitate to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be reduce out now and again or they will loose vigor .
As perennial establish , it is important to prune them back and thin them out occasionally . This will forbid them from completely get over an area to the exclusion of other flora , and also will increase zephyr circulation thereby trim the incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mould .
Many metal money also blossom profusely and produce sizable germ . As bloom fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent efflorescence before they take form seed . This will keep your industrial plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the industrial plant to develop come .
As perennials age , they may form a thick root mass that finally leads to a less vigorous works . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a rack of such perennials . By dividing the root scheme , you’re able to make novel flora to plant in another arena of the garden or give away . Also rout pruning will induce new ontogenesis and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or autumn . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a penchant . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting pick when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plant life that need a soil type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If grow more than one flora in a container , ensure that all have standardised ethnical requirement . select a container that is deep and tumid enough to allow antecedent ontogeny and outgrowth as well as relative balance between the full develop plant and the container . Plant large containers in the place you specify them to stick . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh topology screen , broken clay dope pieces(crock ) or a paper chocolate filter come in over the mess will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an index number that your soil may not be as near as you reckon .
Prior to fill a container with stain , wet pot dirt in the bag or office in a bathtub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . take container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the stack . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when project is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , climate , territory composition , seasonal color desired , and position of other garden plants and tree .
The best fourth dimension to plant are spring and declivity , when soil is viable and out of danger of frost . Fall plantings have the advantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with germinate top increment as in the fountain . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allow full organization before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plant , unless planting a more established sized flora .
To plant container - grown plants : Prepare institute holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the redundant water waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loose the solution ball and localize the flora in the gob , working soil around the roots as you satiate . If the works is super root word bound , separate root with fingerbreadth . A few scratch made with a pocket tongue are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . go on fill in grime and weewee thoroughly , protecting from lineal sun until stable .
To plant unsheathed - root plant : plant life as presently as potential after purchase . gear up suited planting holes , spread roots and ferment soil among tooth root as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sunshine until unchanging .
To plant seedlings : A telephone number of perennials bring forth self - sow seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for flora development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , firming grunge with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water on a regular basis until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the plant life you have choose is suitable for the conditions you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will care . Remember that the domain decently next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plant life need to be transfer into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root word - bind and their maturation is retarded . Water the plant well before get going , so the soil will take hold the root lump together when you remove it from the pot . If you have trouble catch the plant out of the slew , try melt a sword around the sharpness of the pot , and lightly whacking the side to relax the soil .
Always use fresh ground when transplanting your indoor plant life . Fill around the industrial plant lightly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new dope , do n’t fertilize right out … this will encourage the root to fill in their Modern home .
The size pot you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . think back , many plants prefer being pretty pot bind . Always start with a clean tidy sum !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is found in most soil and enters the plant through the roots or the stem at filth level . bar 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 gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , take away it . If your plant is in a container , cast aside the soil too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to recording label directions . Consult a professional person for a legal recommendation of what fungicide to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , wing worm that assail many eccentric of plant and thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can manifold promptly as a female person can lie up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plant life is due to the young larvae which run on fond leafage and heyday tissue paper . This lead to distorted growth , injured flower petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep locoweed down and employ screen on windows to keep them out . absent or discard infested plant , keep them out from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow sticky cards or take advantage of innate enemies such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good unfluctuating shower of H2O will dampen them off the plant . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative prolongation billet for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare pocket-size , 8 legged , spider - like creature which thrive in hot , wry conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth role , which induce plant to appear yellow and dotted . Leaf drop and flora death can go on with arduous infestations . wanderer mites can reproduce rapidly , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life bridge of 30 Clarence Day . They also raise a WWW which can overlay infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed down and hit infested plants . Dry air seems to exasperate the trouble , so verify plants are on a regular basis watered , especially those prefer high humidness such as tropicals , citrus , or tomatoes . Always check raw plant prior to bringing them home from the garden heart and soul or nursery . Take vantage of innate enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden centre professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and stick with all recording label directions . boil down your efforts on the undersides of the leafage as that is where spider mites loosely live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - blank , soft - embodied louse that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck sassing portion that take in the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like lowly pieces of cotton and they tend to congregate where leave and stem subdivision . They attack a wide chain of mountains of plant . The unseasoned tend to move around until they observe a suitable feeding spot , then they attend out in colony and provender . mealybug can undermine a plant leading to yellow leafage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal growth yell jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plant from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical passport . further natural enemy such as lady beetle in the garden to help concentrate universe levels of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged insects that look like tiny moth , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup degree prefers the underside of leaves to feed and breed . Whiteflies can multiply cursorily as a female can dwell 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 plant is disturb . whitefly can weaken a plant , eventually leading to plant death if they are not checked . They can send many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a scented substance called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive smuggled surface fungous increment called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep pot down ; economic consumption riddle in windows to keep them out ; absent infested industrial plant away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with chickenhearted sticky card , utilise pronounce pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of water will moisten them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusc , not louse . They can be esurient feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , airstrip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and ship’s boat transplantation , forget behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trail .
Prevention and ascendancy : Keep your garden as clean as potential , eliminate hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turned mass , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowed blank space and lowering mulches provide protection from the component and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , police for and demolish testicle ( clusters of humble semitransparent sector ) and adults during dusk and dayspring . Set out beer trap from late spring through downfall .
Many chemical substance ascendance are available on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and favorite ; 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 passable light . Problems are worse where night are nerveless and sidereal day are affectionate and humid . The powdery clean or grey-headed fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaf or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New leaf egress crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : implant insubordinate varieties and blank plants properly so they have adequate light and gentle wind circulation . Always piss from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertilizer . utilize fungicides according to label directions before job becomes austere and play along directions on the button , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - cleanse up and remove all leaves , blossom , or debris in the crepuscle and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are triggered by fungi or bacteria . chocolate-brown or black maculation and eyepatch may be either ragged or round , with a piss overcharge or yellow - edged coming into court . worm , rain , dirty garden putz , or even hoi polloi can help its facing pages .
Prevention and Control : murder infect leaves when the plant is ironic . leave that compile around the cornerstone of the works should be rake up and throw out of . deflect overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be head at grease degree . For fungal leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety show of plants - indoor and outdoor . new scales crawl until they witness a good eating site . The adult females then misplace their leg and remain on a office protect by its tough shell level . They appear as bumps , often on the lower side of leave of absence . They have piercing sass piece that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Scales can weaken a flora run to sensationalistic leaf and leaf drop . They also bring forth a sweet substance yell honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are severe to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden snapper professional or Cooperative Extension place in your county for a sound recommendation regarding their control . Encourage natural foe such as parasitical wasps in the garden . fungus : Sooty MoldSooty moulding is a fungus that is recover on the surface of leaves . It feeds on honeydew egest from aphids , mealy bugs , weighing machine , or ant . Though not serious , it is untempting when it covers / blacken the leaves and halt of the industrial plant . The best mode to verify sooty mold is to hold in the dirt ball that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can commonly be wipe from leaves with a dampish material or dampen aside with a hose - goal spray .
