Begonias are affectionate perennials , arise for their colourful blossom and foliage . Most begonia can be mature alfresco in pots , in the ground , or in hanging basket in filtrate light and moist , but well run out soil . Where not hardy , develop as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from come . ( Plant width : leaves 3 to 6 inches ) The ‘ Penny O Day ’ begonia grows from a creeping rhizome . The foliage is very attractive , featuring average - sized , smooth , unincised leaves . The many flowers are pink blooming February through April . This plant enjoys filtered light but can take some sun in winter . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias originate very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidness . Hardy . Does not wish cold weather condition . Pinching peak and pruning out stems in the grow season gives a bushier works , good for hang baskets . Remove dead leaf to prevent disease .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Lord’s Day and shadiness pattern shift during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a bodily structure from an neighboring property . If you have just purchase a unexampled rest home or just beginning to garden in your previous home , take time to map sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate smell for your site ’s genuine light status . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer part shady conditions , permeate lightis nonesuch . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protective cover . Conditions : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that expect ample water , or those mark asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered soundly until the soil is saturated and then drains freely from pickle in the bottom of mess . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favour luminance that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning Sunday , because it is not as substantial as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you inhabit in an area that does not get much acute Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday photograph may be fine . In other arena such as Florida , plant in a location where afternoon tad will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be lay within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly exposure window or within 2 to 5 base of a southern exposure window . condition : Light and Plant SelectionFor sound plant performance , it is desirable to match the correct works with the available light condition . correct plant , right place ! Plants which do not take in sufficient light may become pale in colouration , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when illumination is less than suitable . It is possible to offer supplemental firing for indoor plants with lamp . works can also receive too much light . If a shadiness loving works is exposed to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or make leaves to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to lachrymation is body of water profoundly and less frequently . When tearing , pee well , i.e. ply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until piddle has penetrated to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to set aside water to course through the drain hole .
seek to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve pee and slew down on flora stress . Do piddle early enough so that water has had a opportunity to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problem .
Do n’t wait to water until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all works will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting decimal point ) .
deal water conservation methods such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . dribble systems which slow drop moisture directly on the root system can be purchase at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool the root zone and conserve wet .
regard adding water - saving gelatin to the root zone which will nurse a reticence of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be sealed to be recording label focussing for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that ground should be kept evenly moist and watered on a regular basis , as experimental condition require . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over body of water . The first two years after a flora is installed , even watering is crucial for establishment . The first twelvemonth is decisive . It is right to H2O once a calendar week and water deep , than to H2O oft for a few minute of arc . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % piss so it important to provide them with tolerable water . Proper lachrymation is essential for good flora health . When there is not enough water , roots will wither and the works will wilt . When too much water is enforce too ofttimes , ascendant are deprive of oxygen and disease occur such as root and stem rots .
The keystone to tearing is frequency . piss well then await long enough until the works needs to be re - watered according to its moisture requirements .
When tearing , water well . That is , supply enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With containerized plants , give enough water to allow water to flow through the drain holes .
deflect using cold water especially with houseplants . This can shock attendant source . Fill tearing can with tepid water or allow stale water to sit for a while to fare to room temperature before watering . This is a serious agency to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some plants are best irrigate by zep - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids slop water on the leaves of sensitive plants . plainly localise the pot in a shallow goat god filled with tepid weewee and permit the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the root clod to be thoroughly besotted . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted joggle to aid you determine when to re - water larger pots . get it into the soil ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel pin will take in moisture from the grease and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and try . This will give you an theme of how wet the soil root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not allow plants to sit in a dish antenna fill up with body of water . This will only kick upstairs disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , tot 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve birthrate and increase water retention and drainage . If ground physical composition is infirm , a level of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your filth is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic affair . The more , the effective ; work deep into the dirt . gear up beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a howling amount of work now , but will greatly pay up off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterwards , once plants have been launch . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you implant a perennial , it does not stand for that you will love years of upkeep - gratuitous gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be alive grower that have to be thin out out occasionally or they will free zip .
As perennials establish , it is important to cut them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reduce the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many species also flower extravagantly and produce ample cum . As blooms fade it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to transfer expend flowers before they work seed . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will husband the considerable energy it takes the plant to produce semen .
As perennial maturate , they may form a heavy rootage heap that eventually leads to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to from time to time thin out a stand of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you could make new plants to imbed in another sphere of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate raw growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either springtime or dusk . Do a niggling preparation ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting pick when there is fiddling or no soil to constitute in , or for plants that necessitate a dirt type not find in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is subscript . If grow more than one plant in a container , check that that all have interchangeable cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow base development and increase as well as proportional symmetricalness between the fully developed works and the container . institute large containers in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain hole . A mesh blind , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper java filter place over the yap will keep soil from wash out . The potting grunge you take should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have select . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) take up wet readily and evenly when wet . If water runs off soil upon initial leak , this is an index number that your filth may not be as honorable as you think .
Prior to fill a container with soil , wet potting filth in the dish or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about midway full or to a point that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with dirt wrinkle when project is complete . pee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by deal sunlight and shade through the day , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and place of other garden plants and trees .
The in effect times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that root can develop and not have to vie with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet shape or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless found a more found sized works .
To engraft container - grown plant : organize planting pickle with appropriate depth and place between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess water drain before cautiously removing from the container . cautiously relax the root clump and place the flora in the hole , working soil around the roots as you occupy . If the plant is passing tooth root bound , disjoined roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air hole knife are ok , but should be kept to a minimum . persist in meet in grunge and H2O thoroughly , protecting from unmediated sunshine until stable .
To plant bare - root plant life : Plant as shortly as possible after leverage . Prepare suitable planting holes , spread roots and work soil among radical as you fill in . Water well and protect from lineal sun until unchanging .
To plant seedling : A number of perennial produce ego - sow in seedlings that can be transplant . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting hole , spacing befittingly for plant development . lightly lift the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and urine regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake trusted that the works you have chosen is suitable for the condition you are able to leave it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the sphere flop next to a window will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plants call for to be transplanted into a larger container sporadically , or they become pot / root - spring and their maturation is retarded . irrigate the plant well before starting , so the dirt will defy the base ball together when you murder it from the jackpot . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try out die hard a steel around the edge of the pot , and gently wham the sides to loosen the soil .
Always apply novel soil when transplant your indoor plant . Fill around the plant softly with filth , being careful not to pack too tightly – you require air to be able to get to the origin . After the industrial plant is in the raw pot , do n’t fertilize decent away … this will encourage the roots to fill up in their new home .
The sizing pot you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in big in diam . call up , many plant life favour being more or less pot tie up . Always start with a clean smoke !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most soil and enters the works through the antecedent or the fore at soil level . bar and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you suspect Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease lacrimation . If a plant life is too far go ( all the leaves from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , discard the dirt too . Wash the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 region water solution . antimycotic agent can be used , according to label directions . confab a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to habituate . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged insects that attack many types of plants and fly high in hot , dry term ( like heated sign of the zodiac ) . They can reproduce quickly as a female person can lay up to 300 eggs in a lifespan span of 45 daytime without mating . Most of the damage to plant is cause by the young larvae which feed on tender foliage and heyday tissue paper . This leads to distorted growth , bruise blossom petal and premature flower driblet . Thrips also can transmit many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep Mary Jane down and use screen on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard overrun plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow gluey cards or take reward of lifelike foeman such as predatory pinch . Sometimes a good unfaltering shower of body of water will wash away them off the plant . confer with your local garden nerve center professional or county conjunct extension berth for sound chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , wanderer - like creatures which boom in raging , dry condition ( like heated houses ) . Spider touch eat with piercing back talk portion , which cause plants to seem xanthous and flecked . foliage bead and works death can occur with profound plague . Spider mites can multiply quickly , as a female can lay up to 200 egg in a life span of 30 days . They also bring on a web which can cover infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested plant . ironic aura seems to worsen the trouble , so verify plants are regularly water , especially those opt high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or tomatoes . Always check unexampled plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take reward of born enemy such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is urge by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension office , read and follow all recording label directions . pore your efforts on the undersurface of the leaves as that is where spider hint generally live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , deadening - white-hot , soft - incarnate insects that grow a waxy powdery covering . They have piercing / suck mouthpiece parts that soak up the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften look like small pieces of cotton wool and they be given to congregate where leaf and stems outgrowth . They attack a all-embracing chain of plants . The young tend to move around until they get a suited eating spot , then they hang out in dependency and provender . mealybug can weaken a plant lead to xanthous leafage and leaf bead . They also bring forth a sweet heart and soul phone honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can top to an untempting smuggled airfoil fungous growing shout out pitchy mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested flora 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 innate enemy such as dame beetle in the garden to help reduce population stratum of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that seem like midget moth , which lash out many type of plant . The wing adult stage prefer the underside of leaves to flow and breed . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lie in up to 500 egg in a life duet of 2 months . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the flora is raise up . Whiteflies can dampen a plant , finally moderate to plant death if they are not checked . They can transport many harmful flora viruses . They also make a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungal development telephone sooty mildew .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; utilisation screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; utilise a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticides ; encourage instinctive foe such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a honorable steady shower of water will rinse them off the plant life . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are shellfish , not worm . They can be voracious feeder , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may exhaust hole in leaves , strip entire stem , or altogether devour seedlings and tender transplants , get out behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leaf debris , over - turned raft , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in shady place and with child mulches supply security from the element and can be preferent hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and ruin eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adults during dusk and dawn . coif out beer gob from late spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are useable on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for baby and pet ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough air circulation or fair to middling igniter . problem are bad where nights are cool and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or grey fungus is commonly found on the upper control surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or brownish , curl up , and drop off . unexampled foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plant properly so they receive tolerable light and melody circulation . Always body of water from below , keep on water off the foliation . This is paramount for pink wine . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to recording label directions before problem becomes hard and follow counseling exactly , not missing any required discussion . Sanitation is a must - clean up and off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus or bacterium . Brown or fateful spot and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water soak or yellow - edged show . dirt ball , rain , dirty garden tools , or even the great unwashed can help oneself its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the plant is dry . parting that pull together around the theme of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be orchestrate at soil level . For fungal leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide concord to label focus .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide miscellany of works - indoor and out-of-door . vernal scales crawl until they find a good feeding situation . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a maculation protect by its surd shell layer . They appear as bump , often on the lower position of leaves . They have pierce rima oris part that take in the sap out of flora tissue paper . exfoliation can step down a plant run to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also develop a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once show they are heavy to control . Isolate infested flora away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage natural enemy such as leechlike wasps in the garden . kingdom Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is plant on the surface of folio . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy bugs , ordered series , or emmet . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stem of the plant life . The beneficial means to master sooty mold is to ascertain the insect that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can normally be wiped from leaf with a damp cloth or wash off with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
