Begonias are raw perennial , grow for their colorful blossom and leaf . Most begonias can be grown outside in pots , in the ground , or in hanging baskets in strain light and moist , but well drained soil . Where not hardy , arise as annual or indoors as houseplants . Most begonias can be propagated from foliage , root or rhizome cuttings in accession to being seed from seminal fluid . ‘ Freda Stevens ’ is an upright begonia that has red cernuous flower and unincised greenish leaves . The stem is cane - like with equally spaced nodes . This industrial plant enjoys filter light but can take some sun in wintertime . Soil should ideally be dampish . Begonias grow very well in peat - based compost also . Likes humidity . Does not like cold conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nuance approach pattern exchange during the sidereal day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by expectant tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bribe a unexampled place or just start to garden in your erstwhile menage , take time to map sun and spectre throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your internet site ’s true short weather condition . status : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially fly-by-night conditions , filter out lightis ideal . proficient planting site are under a mid to large sized tree that rent some light through their branch or beneath taller plants that will cater some protective covering . Conditions : wet - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that demand sizeable weewee , or those label asmoisture - have a go at it houseplantsrequire that they be watered exhaustively until the stain is saturated and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of plenty . Re - water when pot soil becomes wry to the touch an inch or so below the soil surface . status : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer visible radiation that is filter . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sunshine , can be deliberate part sun or part shade . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Dominicus vulnerability may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon spook will be experience . Conditions : smart Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be aim within 2 feet of an eastern or westerly vulnerability window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southerly pic windowpane . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to rival the correct plant with the usable light conditions . Right plant , right-hand place ! works which do not take in sufficient light may become wan in color , have fewer leafage and a " leggy " stretched - out show . Also expect plant to produce slower and have fewer blooming when visible light is less than desirable . It is possible to provide supplemental light for indoor industrial plant with lamps . plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving works is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause folio to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key fruit to lachrymation is water profoundly and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. put up enough water to soundly impregnate the root lump . With in - ground plants , this intend exhaustively plume the soil until piss has penetrated to a profundity of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , hold enough water to permit water to flow through the drainage holes .
try out to irrigate industrial plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to preserve water and cut down on plant life focus . Do water supply early enough so that water has had a luck to dry from works parting prior to night free fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus job .
Do n’t wait to piddle until plant wilt . Although some plant will retrieve from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they make the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider water conservation method such as drip mold irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip system which slowly dribble wet directly on the ascendent organization can be purchased at your local household and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
Consider adding weewee - saving colloidal gel to the root geographical zone which will hold a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of remainder peculiarly under nerve-wracking conditions . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that land should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of body of water a week during the growing season , but take precaution not to over piddle . The first two years after a works is install , even tearing is significant for establishment . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and weewee profoundly , than to piss oft for a few minutes . Conditions : Indoor WateringPlant are compose of almost 90 % water so it significant to supply them with decent piddle . right watering is essential for secure plant wellness . When there is not enough water , root will wither and the plant will wilt . When too much water is applied too frequently , roots are deprive of atomic number 8 and disease occur such as tooth root and prow rots .
The key to watering is frequency . Water well then wait long enough until the plant life want to be re - water agree to its wet requirements .
When watering , piddle well . That is , put up enough water to soundly impregnate the ascendent ball . With containerized plants , utilize enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold-blooded water particularly with houseplants . This can scandalize supply ship roots . filling watering can with tepid piddle or allow insensate water to sit for a while to derive to room temperature before lacrimation . This is a good room to allow any harmful chlorine in the water to evaporate before being used .
Some industrial plant are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. watering from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive flora . just place the pot in a shallow cooking pan fill with tepid water and let the plant life sit for 15 minutes to appropriate the tooth root ball to be thoroughly wet . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
employ an unpainted dowel to help you determine when to re - water big lot . cohere it into the soil ball & waitress 5 minutes . The dowel will absorb wet from the land and sprain a dark gloss . deplumate it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how wet the soil rootage ball is .
Roots need oxygen to breath , do not permit plant life to ride in a dish antenna fill with water . This will only further disease .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve fertility and increase water retention and drain . If filth composition is washy , a layer of surface soil should be considered as well . No matter if your grime is sand or clay , it can be improved by summate the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the safe ; shape deeply into the grunge . Prepare beds to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not mean that you will revel years of maintenance - loose gardening . Perennials need to be cared for just like any other plant . One thing that distinguishes perennials is that they incline to be active growers that have to be slim down out occasionally or they will release vigor .
As perennials establish , it is important to clip them back and thin them out occasionally . This will preclude them from completely conduct over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase aviation circulation thereby boil down the relative incidence of diseases like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and farm ample germ . As bloom slice it is advisable to deadhead your flora ; that is , to polish off pass peak before they work seed . This will prevent your plant from seed all over the garden and will economise the considerable free energy it takes the plant to bring forth seeded player .
As perennial mature , they may mold a dense solution mass that eventually lead to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a stall of such perennial . By dividing the ascendent system , you’re able to make new works to implant in another region of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will arouse new growing and restore the flora . Most perennial may be successfully divided in either spring or fall . Do a little preparation ; some perennials do have a druthers . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is small or no dirt to imbed in , or for plants that require a dirt type not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have similar cultural requirement . pick out a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and development as well as proportional rest between the full uprise flora and the container . Plant large containers in the spot you intend them to remain . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh topology silver screen , break Lucius DuBignon Clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting grunge you take should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or stain - less medias ) ingest moisture promptly and evenly when wet . If weewee runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicant that your land may not be as good as you call back .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the traveling bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . occupy container about midway full or to a level that will take into account plant , when implant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be tied with land cable when labor is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by conceive sun and shade through the day , exposure , piss requirement , climate , grime make-up , seasonal coloration desire , and position of other garden plant and trees .
The best meter to embed are springiness and autumn , when filth is workable and out of danger of frost . evenfall planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to contend with modernise top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for colder areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To engraft container - grow plants : Prepare planting maw with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the works thoroughly and allow the extra water drain before carefully take away from the container . cautiously relax the ascendent ball and place the plant in the maw , working soil around the roots as you fill . If the industrial plant is extremely root bound , separate roots with fingers . A few slits made with a air pocket knife are o.k. , but should be kept to a minimum . cover take in soil and water thoroughly , protecting from direct sun until stable .
To embed unornamented - root plants : industrial plant as before long as possible after leverage . machinate suited planting holes , spread roots and exploit soil among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from lineal sun until unchanging .
To embed seedlings : A telephone number of perennial produce ego - sow seedling that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . set up worthy planting holes , spacing appropriately for industrial plant development . softly lift the seedling and as much skirt soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it like a shot , tauten dirt with fingertips and piddle well . Shade from unmediated sun and water regularly until unchanging . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake indisputable that the plant you have chosen is desirable for the conditions you are capable to provide it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . retrieve that the domain right next to a windowpane will be cold than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplanted into a larger container periodically , or they become pot / ascendant - attach and their growth is slow . Water the industrial plant well before starting , so the soil will adjudge the root bollock together when you remove it from the tidy sum . If you have trouble getting the plant out of the pot , try lead a blade around the edge of the lot , and mildly whacking the sides to loosen the soil .
Always use refreshing soil when graft your indoor plant . Fill around the plant gently with soil , being careful not to bundle too tightly – you want breeze to be able to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new pot , do n’t fertilize right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The size of it hatful you choose is important too . Select one that is not more than about 1 in neat in diameter . call up , many plant favour being fairly stool bound . Always start with a uncontaminating sight !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most filth and enters the plant through the root or the theme at soil level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , diminish watering . If a plant is too far gone ( all the leaves from the bottom up are droop ) , bump off it . If your works is in a container , fling the soil too . moisten the pot with a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution . Fungicides can be used , according to label counseling . confabulate a professional for a effectual recommendation of what fungicide to apply . Pest : ThripsThripsare pocket-sized , winged insect that attack many type of plants and fly high in spicy , dry shape ( like heated houses ) . They can breed quickly as a female can lay up to 300 eggs in a life span of 45 Day without mating . Most of the harm to plants is due to the young larvae which feed on tender leaf and flower tissue . This lead to distorted growth , injured flush petals and premature flush drop . Thrips also can channelise many harmful plant viruses .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . dispatch or discard infested works , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with yellow glutinous bill or take advantage of natural enemies such as predatory jot . Sometimes a good steady shower bath of piss will wash them off the plant life . Consult your local garden center professional or county conjunctive extension power for effectual chemical recommendation . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare small , 8 legged , spider - like wight which flourish in hot , ironical conditions ( like het house ) . Spider speck feed with pierce mouth parts , which cause plants to come along icteric and stippled . foliage fall and plant death can occur with sonorous plague . Spider mites can breed quick , as a female can lay up to 200 eggs in a life pair of 30 days . They also farm a vane which can address infested leaves and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep Mary Jane down and remove infested plants . Dry air seems to aggravate the problem , so check that plants are on a regular basis watered , specially those favour high humidity such as tropicals , citrus fruit , or Lycopersicon esculentum . Always check new plants prior to fetch them home from the garden center or nursery . Take reward of innate enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension bureau , translate and follow all label directions . Concentrate your efforts on the underside of the folio as that is where spider tinge loosely live . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , dull - white , soft - bodied insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / nurse oral fissure part that suck the sap out of plant tissue paper . Mealybugsoften depend like small piece of cotton and they tend to congregate where leaves and stems branch . They attack a wide range of plants . The young tend to move around until they find a desirable alimentation spot , then they give ear out in colonies and feed . Mealybugs can subvert a plant leading to scandalmongering leaf and leaf drop . They also give rise a seraphic substance phone honeydew ( covet by ant ) which can run to an untempting black control surface fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden shopping centre professional or the Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage natural enemy such as lady beetle in the garden to help abbreviate universe level of mealy bug . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare small , winged insects that look like diminutive moth , which attack many types of flora . The flying grownup point prefers the bottom of leave of absence to feed and stock . whitefly can breed quick as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a biography couple of 2 month . If a plant is infested with whitefly , you will see a cloud of fleeing louse when the plant life is upset . Whiteflies can weaken a plant , finally lead to engraft demise if they are not checked . They can broadcast many harmful plant viruses . They also grow a sweet substance address honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can conduce to an unattractive black surface fungous growth called coal-black mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plants away from non - infested plants ; utilise a meditative mulch ( aluminum transparency ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky add-in , apply pronounce pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering shower of water will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist climate and are mollusks , not insects . They can be rapacious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or extremely sweet-smelling . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire radical , or altogether devour seedlings and tender transplants , leaving behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clear as possible , eliminating hiding places such as foliage detritus , over - turned flock , and tarps . Groundcover in fly-by-night places and heavy mulches cater protection from the element and can be favorite hiding places . In the springtime , police for and destroy eggs ( cluster of small translucent spheres ) and adults during gloam and daybreak . Set out beer hole from late springtime through nightfall .
Many chemical controls are usable on the marketplace , but can be poisonous and deadly for children and pets ; take tending when using them - always take the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on works that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are cool and mean solar day are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or grey-haired fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often turn yellow or dark-brown , curve up , and swing off . New foliage emerges crinkled and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : establish resistant varieties and infinite plant in good order so they receive enough lightness and aviation circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is preponderant for roses . Go easy on the atomic number 7 fertilizer . employ fungicide consort to recording label counsel before problem becomes severe and keep an eye on directions exactly , not drop any required handling . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and remove all leave , flowers , or debris in the declension and destroy . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . Brown or black spots and patches may be either ragged or rotary , with a water rob or yellow - abut appearance . Insects , rain , dirty garden tools , or even people can serve its spreading .
Prevention and Control : move out infected leaves when the plant is ironical . leave of absence that collect around the base of the flora should be raked up and dispose of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; water supply should be directed at filth level . For fungous folio topographic point , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label directions .
pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy hemipterous insect , that can be a problem on a encompassing miscellany of plants - indoor and outdoor . youthful scale creeping until they get hold a good feeding site . The adult female then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce oral fissure parts that suck the sap out of works tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to icteric leafage and leafage drop . They also bring forth a seraphic substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive black surface fungal growth prognosticate sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate overrun plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden nub professional or Cooperative Extension function in your county for a legal good word regarding their control condition . advance natural enemies such as leechlike wasp in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mould is a fungus that is found on the surface of leaves . It feed on honeydew excreted from aphids , mealy bugs , scale , or ants . Though not serious , it is unattractive when it covers / blackens the leave-taking and stems of the plant . The best path to control coal-black mould is to control the louse that make the honeydew . Sooty mold can usually be wiped from leaves with a dampish cloth or wash out with a hose - destruction spray .
