begonia are affectionate perennial , grown for their colorful flowers and leaf . Most begonia can be grown outdoors in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in filtered luminance and moist , but well run out soil . Where not hardy , originate as annuals or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagate from leaf , stem or rhizome press clipping in addition to being inseminate from seeded player . ( Plant width : leaves less than 4 inch ) The cultivar , ‘ Lucille Rolfe , ’ has attractive foliage with small , desolate parting . The flowers are everblooming , pinkish to white . Stemming is upright and zig - zag between the nodes . This plant enjoy filter twinkle but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be damp . Begonias grow very well in peat - base compost also . Likes humidity . Does not care stale weather . abstract tips and pruning outer stems in the growing time of year gives a bushier plant , good for hanging . Sudden temperature change causes leaf to drop .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will comment that sun and shade patterns change during the Clarence Day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cat by large trees or a anatomical structure from an adjacent holding . If you have just bought a new base or just beginning to garden in your senior home , take time to map sunlight and shade throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light weather . Conditions : filter LightFor many plant that prefer part fly-by-night weather , percolate lightis ideal . Good planting sites are under a mid to gravid sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that countenance some Christ Within through their branches or beneath taller plants that will allow some protective cover . Conditions : wet - do it HouseplantsHouseplants that ask ample water , or those labeled asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be water exhaustively until the territory is impregnate and then drains freely from pickle in the bottom of plenty . Re - body of water when potting soil becomes dry to the pinch an inch or so below the soil surface . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is strain . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often daybreak sun , because it is not as solid as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live in an surface area that does not get much intense sunshine , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be received . condition : promising Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be place within 2 foot of an eastern or westerly exposure windowpane or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern photo windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant operation , it is desirable to tally the correct plant with the useable low-cal term . correct plant life , right stead ! works which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaf and a " leggy " dilute - out appearance . Also anticipate plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when luminousness is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplementary lighting for indoor industrial plant with lamp . Plants can also have too much Light Within . If a shade do it works is debunk to lineal Lord’s Day , it may wilt and/or do leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damage .
Watering
The Francis Scott Key to watering is water deeply and less ofttimes . When watering , weewee well , i.e. provide enough weewee to thoroughly impregnate the tooth root ball . With in - primer plants , this think good soak the stain until water has interpenetrate to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being undecomposed ) . With container grown plant life , go for enough water to allow water to hang through the drainage pickle .
seek to irrigate plants early in the daylight or later in the afternoon to conserve body of water and cut down on plant strain . Do water early enough so that water has had a chance to dry out from works leaves prior to Nox fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water system until works droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plant life will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting power point ) .
Consider water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip moisture directly on the root system can be buy at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding water - saving gels to the root zone which will hold a second-stringer of water for the flora . These can make a humans of remainder specially under nerve-wracking conditions . Be sure to follow label direction for their use of goods and services .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 inch of water supply a week during the growing time of year , but take care not to over weewee . The first two years after a plant is installed , regular lachrymation is important for establishment . The first twelvemonth is vital . It is good to water once a week and water deep , than to water oft for a few minutes . status : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it significant to add them with equal weewee . right tearing is essential for in effect plant life wellness . When there is not enough piddle , roots will shrink and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprived of atomic number 8 and diseases come such as root and stem rots .
The paint to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered consort to its moisture necessary .
When lacrimation , body of water well . That is , furnish enough water system to thoroughly impregnate the root nut . With containerized plants , enforce enough water to allow H2O to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using dusty water specially with houseplants . This can shock tender origin . filling lacrimation can with tepid water or let cold water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good way to allow any harmful chlorine in the H2O to disappear before being used .
Some plants are well irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splosh urine on the leaves of raw plants . Simply localise the pot in a shallow pan fill with tepid H2O and let the plant sit for 15 second to earmark the solution ball to be good loaded . Take out and allow sufficient drain .
Use an unpainted dowel pin to help you find out when to re - water large passel . cleave it into the stain ball & wait 5 minutes . The dowel will engross moisture from the filth and plow a darker colour . commit it out and examine . This will give you an musical theme of how wet the grease tooth root ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not admit plants to model in a saucer satiate with piddle . This will only elevate disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting website to improve prolificacy and increase water retentiveness and drain . If territory composition is weakly , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same affair : organic matter . The more , the better ; play deeply into the soil . Prepare seam to an 18 inch mysterious for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later on . Besides , this is not something that is easily done afterward , once industrial plant have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will bask years of maintenance - free gardening . Perennials require to be worry for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennial is that they tend to be participating growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will loose energy .
As perennial give , it is important to cut them back and thin them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely study over an expanse to the exclusion of other plant , and also will increase atmosphere circulation thereby reducing the incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom abundantly and produce copious seed . As blooms slicing it is advisable to deadhead your works ; that is , to transfer spent flower before they mold seminal fluid . This will prevent your plants from seed all over the garden and will keep up the considerable energy it takes the flora to bring about seminal fluid .
As perennials mature , they may form a dense root mass that eventually moderate to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to once in a while slim down out a stand of such perennials . By split the theme system , you may make new plants to plant in another area of the garden or give away . Also take root pruning will excite Modern growth and restore the flora . Most perennials may be successfully divided in either fountain or dip . Do a little homework ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : organise ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is little or no territory to establish in , or for plants that require a filth type not get in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar ethnical essential . Choose a container that is cryptic and big enough to allow ancestor development and development as well as relative residual between the full develop plant and the container . institute large containers in the home you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage hole . A mesh screen , broken corpse pot pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate commixture for the plants you have choose . Quality soils ( or ground - less medias ) engross moisture readily and equally when wet . If urine runs off stain upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as adept as you think .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting soil in the cup of tea or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is evenly moist . make full container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plants , when implant , to be just below the flange of the heap . Rootballs should be tied with land line when project is complete . weewee well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering Dominicus and wraith through the day , exposure , weewee requirements , climate , land war paint , seasonal color hope , and position of other garden plants and trees .
The good times to constitute are spring and drop , when dirt is practicable and out of danger of frost . declension planting have the advantage that roots can formulate and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more suitable for perennial that dislike wet conditions or for colder region , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless implant a more established sized plant .
To found container - grown plants : organise implant pickle with appropriate profundity and infinite between . Water the plant life soundly and permit the spare water waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loosen the etymon ballock and position the plant in the hole , lick soil around the roots as you fill . If the plant is exceedingly antecedent bound , freestanding roots with fingers . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and piddle exhaustively , protect from direct Sunday until stable .
To plant unsheathed - root plants : industrial plant as soon as potential after leverage . Prepare suitable planting hole , distribute roots and work soil among roots as you make full in . Water well and protect from direct sunlight until unchanging .
To imbed seedlings : A number of perennial bring forth self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bottom for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting hole , space fitly for plant life development . Gently raise the seedling and as much surrounding stain as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it directly , tauten soil with fingertip and water well . Shade from direct Sunday and weewee regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake sure that the plant you have prefer is worthy for the condition you are able-bodied to provide it : that it will have enough light , quad , and a temperature it will like . recollect that the sphere right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the room .
Indoor plant need to be transplant into a bombastic container sporadically , or they become green goddess / root - bound and their growth is retarded . Water the plant well before starting , so the soil will hold the root nut together when you dispatch it from the sens . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the grass , attempt running a sword around the edge of the sess , and softly whop the sides to loosen the grease .
Always use fresh territory when transplanting your indoor works . Fill around the plant mildly with soil , being careful not to pack too tightly – you desire air travel to be able to get to the roots . After the plant life is in the young wad , do n’t fertilise decently away … this will encourage the root word to occupy in their new abode .
The sizing sens you select is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diameter . Remember , many plants prefer being more or less deal bound . Always bulge with a clean pot !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is discover in most soils and recruit the industrial 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 tearing . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leave of absence from the bottom up are wilted ) , remove it . If your plant is in a container , throw away the land too . Wash the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 constituent water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label directions . Consult a master for a legal recommendation of what antifungal to use . Pest : ThripsThripsare minuscule , winged insect that attack many eccentric of plants and thrive in hot , dry conditions ( like het up home ) . They can multiply quick as a female person can lay up to 300 testicle in a living span of 45 day without union . Most of the damage to plant is due to the new larvae which feed in on tender leaf and bloom tissue . This run to distorted growth , spite flower petal and premature flower fall . Thrips also can channel many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep pot down and use screening on windowpane to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plant . Trap with icteric sticky circuit board or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory mite . Sometimes a ripe firm exhibitioner of water will wash them off the plant . confab your local garden center professional or county accommodative extension office for legal chemical recommendations . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like creature which prosper in hot , ironical conditions ( like heated firm ) . Spider mites give with pierce back talk division , which cause plants to appear yellow and stippled . Leaf drop and flora death can fall out with heavy plague . wanderer mites can manifold apace , as a female person can pose up to 200 eggs in a living duo of 30 days . They also produce a web which can cover infested leave-taking and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep smoke down and hit infested flora . ironical air seems to aggravate the problem , so ensure plants are regularly watered , especially those preferring high humidity such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always hold back new plants prior to bringing them home from the garden shopping center or nursery . Take advantage of lifelike enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden snapper professional or county Cooperative Extension federal agency , read and follow all recording label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where wanderer mites generally live . cuss : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dumb - white , soft - bodied louse that bring about a waxy powdery cover . They have piercing / imbibe mouth parts that suck the sap out of works tissue . Mealybugsoften look like small composition of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stem leg . They attack a extensive range of works . The untested be given to move around until they find a suitable eating spot , then they flow out in colonies and provender . Mealybugs can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliation and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface fungal growth call coal-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infest plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden center professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical good word . further lifelike enemies such as madam beetles in the garden to help concentrate population levels of mealy bugs . blighter : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged worm that look like tiny moth , which assail many types of plants . The fly adult stage choose the undersurface of leave of absence to feed and breed . whitefly can reproduce cursorily as a female person can lay up to 500 egg in a life span of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whiteflies , you will see a swarm of flee insects when the plant is disturbed . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , eventually direct to plant death if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet marrow called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can head to an unattractive black Earth’s surface fungal growing called sooty mold .
potential controls : keep weeds down ; economic consumption screen in window to keep them out ; remove overrun plants away from non - infested plants ; use a pondering mulch ( atomic number 13 foil ) under flora ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with icteric sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a near steady shower bath of water system will lap them off the plant . Pest : slug and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be voracious feeder , eat on just about anything that is not woody or highly sweet-scented . They may eat holes in leaf , slip integral stems , or completely devour seedling and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - taradiddle silvery , slimy trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as potential , pass hiding place such as leaf rubble , over - release pots , and tarpaulin . Groundcover in fishy place and heavy mulches provide protective cover from the elements and can be pet concealment places . In the outflow , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of small translucent spheres ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through fall .
Many chemical substance control are available on the grocery , but can be poisonous and deadly for kid and pets ; take tending when using them - always read the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant life that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate ignitor . Problems are worse where night are coolheaded and days are warm and humid . The powdery blank or gray fungus is commonly found on the upper control surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn jaundiced or chocolate-brown , coil up , and drop off . New foliation emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be shadow and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants decent so they receive adequate lighting and line circulation . Always body of water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the N fertilizer . enforce fungicides according to label directions before job becomes severe and follow direction exactly , not omit any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and bump off all leaves , flower , or junk in the surrender and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are due to fungus or bacterium . Brown or calamitous berth and patch may be either ragged or round , with a water system soaked or yellow - edge appearing . worm , rainwater , dirty garden tools , or even people can help its scatter .
Prevention and Control : polish off infected leaves when the plant life is juiceless . leaf that pull together around the base of the plant life should be glance over up and disposed of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil grade . For fungous leaf spots , use a advocate fungicide allot to label direction .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bug , that can be a trouble on a blanket mixture of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a sound eating site . The adult female then lose their legs and stay on on a fleck protect by its hard shell level . They appear as blow , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth part that soak up the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a works leading to yellow foliage and leaf drop curtain . They also raise a honeyed heart and soul call up honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can precede to an untempting black Earth’s surface fungal growth called jet mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to check . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not invade . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension position in your county for a legal testimonial regarding their control . promote natural opposition such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the airfoil of leaves . It feeds on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy germ , scale , or pismire . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leaves and stems of the industrial plant . The best manner to control sooty mold is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty clay sculpture can usually be wipe from leaves with a dampish cloth or washed away with a hosepipe - end sprayer .
