Begonias are tender perennials , grown for their colourful efflorescence and foliation . Most begonias can be grown outdoors in spate , in the ground , or in advert basket in filtered lighter and moist , but well drained soil . Where not stout , maturate as annuals or indoors as houseplant . Most begonia can be propagated from leaf , stem or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed . The cultivar , ‘ Smowdrop , ’ is erect with succulent bow . The two-fold flowers are everblooming and white in color . The bronze leaves are bright , smooth and ovate . This plant life can stomach full sun . Soil should ideally be moist . Begonias grow very well in peat - free-base compost also . like humidity . Does not care dusty weather condition . Pinching tip and pruning outer stems in the turn time of year gives a bushier plant .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will remark that sun and tincture patterns change during the day . The westerly side of a family may even be shady due to shadows cast by great trees or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new home or just lead off to garden in your older home , take time to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise flavour for your site ’s true clear condition . condition : Filtered LightFor many plants that prefer partially fishy condition , filtered lightis ideal . Good planting internet site are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller plants that will provide some protection . status : Moisture - loving HouseplantsHouseplants that need ample water , or those label asmoisture - loving houseplantsrequire that they be watered thoroughly until the soil is impregnate and then drains freely from holes in the bottom of throne . Re - water when potting soil becomes dry to the touch an inch or so below the land aerofoil . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer luminosity that is filtered . Sunlight , though not unmediated , is of import to them . Often morning Dominicus , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shadiness . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other surface area such as Florida , plant in a locating where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Bright Light for HouseplantsHouseplants requiringbright lightshould be placed within 2 feet of an easterly or westerly photo window or within 2 to 5 feet of a southern vulnerability window . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor effective industrial plant performance , it is worthy to couple the correct plant with the available light conditions . correct plant , right-hand position ! Plants which do not get sufficient light may become pale in people of color , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow slower and have few blush when light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plant with lamp . Plants can also receive too much illumination . If a shade get laid plant life is expose to direct sunshine , it may wilt and/or make leave to be sunburned or otherwise damaged .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less often . When lachrymation , water supply well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - footing plants , this means thoroughly soaking the soil until H2O has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 column inch ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough body of water to allow pee to flow through the drainage holes .
examine to irrigate plant betimes in the sidereal day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and slew down on plant stress . Do urine early enough so that weewee has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until industrial plant wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will croak if they wilt too much ( when they reach the lasting wilting point ) .
Consider weewee conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip arrangement which easy drip wet directly on the root organisation can be purchase at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the antecedent zone and conserve wet .
turn over add water - bring through gels to the tooth root zone which will retain a reserve of piddle for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under nerve-racking conditions . Be sealed to follow label directions for their economic consumption .
weather condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be kept equally moist and watered regularly , as weather condition take . Most plants like 1 inch of water a hebdomad during the develop time of year , but take care not to over water system . The first two years after a plant life is installed , steady lacrimation is of import for administration . The first twelvemonth is critical . It is better to water once a hebdomad and water deep , than to H2O frequently for a few minutes . status : Indoor WateringPlant are composed of almost 90 % water so it crucial to supply them with equal water . right watering is all-important for good plant life health . When there is not enough water , roots will shrink and the industrial plant will droop . When too much water is applied too often , roots are deprived of oxygen and diseases fall out such as root and stem guff .
The key to watering is frequency . pee well then hold back long enough until the plant needs to be re - watered according to its wet requirements .
When tearing , piddle well . That is , allow for enough water to exhaustively impregnate the stem ball . With containerized plants , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
Avoid using cold water supply especially with houseplant . This can shock tender roots . Fill watering can with tepid H2O or allow dusty water to sit for a while to come to board temperature before watering . This is a good style to allow any harmful atomic number 17 in the water to disappear before being used .
Some works are best irrigate by sub - irrigation , i.e. lacrimation from the bottom up . This avoids splashing water on the leaves of sensitive plants . only place the pot in a shallow pan fill with tepid water and rent the plant sit for 15 minutes to allow the ascendent ball to be soundly fuddled . Take out and allow sufficient drainage .
Use an unpainted dowel to help oneself you determine when to re - water larger pots . cleave it into the dirt bollock & waitress 5 second . The dowel will absorb moisture from the soil and turn a darker colour . Pull it out and examine . This will give you an idea of how soaked the soil antecedent testicle is .
Roots call for O to breath , do not leave plants to sit in a saucer filled with water . This will only promote disease .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of cured manure or compost and oeuvre into the planting website to amend birth rate and increase body of water retention and drainage . If land theme is weak , a layer of surface soil should be deliberate as well . No matter if your soil is Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic matter . The more , the sound ; exploit deep into the grease . groom beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you plant a perennial , it does not think that you will enjoy age of sustenance - free gardening . Perennials need to be deal for just like any other industrial plant . One thing that secernate perennials is that they tend to be active growers that have to be thinned out occasionally or they will liberate vigour .
As perennials set up , it is important to prune them back and melt off them out once in a while . This will forestall them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other industrial plant , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mildew .
Many mintage also flower abundantly and produce ample seed . As blooms disappearance it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to take away spent flowers before they form seeded player . This will prevent your plants from seeding all over the garden and will maintain the considerable energy it admit the plant life to produce seed .
As perennial mature , they may make a dense root mass that eventually leads to a less vigorous industrial plant . It is advisable to occasionally cut out a standpoint of such perennials . By divide the solution system , you may make new plants to imbed in another arena of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will stimulate newfangled emergence and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennials may be successfully divide in either spring or drop . Do a piffling homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting selection when there is little or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a stain character not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is subscript . If grow more than one plant life in a container , make certain that all have like ethnical requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative Libra the Balance between the fully developed plant and the container . Plant large container in the place you think them to stay . All containers should have drainage golf hole . A mesh screen , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or filth - less medias ) assimilate wet readily and equally when wet . If urine runs off soil upon initial wetting , this is an index that your soil may not be as upright as you mean .
Prior to replete a container with soil , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a vat or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a grade that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the slew . Rootballs should be even with soil line when projection is complete . body of water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by turn over sunlight and shade through the twenty-four hour period , picture , body of water requirements , climate , grease make-up , seasonal color desire , and stance of other garden plants and tree .
The in effect times to plant are spring and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of Robert Lee Frost . Fall planting have the reward that roots can develop and not have to contend with developing top ontogenesis as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike wet weather condition or for colder areas , allowing full constitution before first winter . Planting in summertime or wintertime is not advisable for most flora , unless planting a more demonstrate sized flora .
To establish container - grow plants : Prepare planting hole with appropriate profundity and outer space between . irrigate the plant exhaustively and let the excess piddle drain before carefully dispatch from the container . Carefully loosen the rootage ball and position the flora in the hole , working soil around the root as you fill . If the works is passing etymon bind , separate roots with fingers . A few slit made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue fulfill in grease and pee soundly , protecting from lineal Lord’s Day until static .
To set bare - root works : industrial plant as soon as possible after leverage . Prepare suited planting holes , fan out ancestor and work soil among etymon as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennial produce self - inseminate seedlings that can be graft . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplanting . Prepare suitable planting fix , spacing fitly for plant growth . softly rustle the seedling and as much surrounding soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it straightaway , firming soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable . How - to : Potting Indoor PlantsMake certain that the plant life you have choose is suitable for the conditions you are able to offer it : that it will have enough light , space , and a temperature it will like . Remember that the area right next to a windowpane will be colder than the rest of the way .
Indoor plants need to be transplant into a larger container periodically , or they become batch / root - spring and their growth is retarded . Water the flora well before starting , so the soil will hold the origin ball together when you remove it from the pot . If you have problem getting the plant out of the pot , render running a sword around the edge of the pot , and gently wallop the sides to loosen the grime .
Always use fresh grunge when transplanting your indoor plant . Fill around the plant softly with stain , being careful not to pack too tightly – you want air to be capable to get to the roots . After the plant is in the new locoweed , do n’t fecundate right away … this will encourage the roots to fill in their new home .
The size pot you choose is crucial too . Select one that is not more than about 1 inch greater in diam . Remember , many plants opt being somewhat pot bound . Always part with a clean stool !
Problems
Rhizoctoniais a fungus that is find in most grease and enter the flora through the roots or the theme at grunge level . Prevention and Control : First of all , do not overwater and if you mistrust Rhizoctonia may be your problem , decrease tearing . If a plant life is too far conk out ( all the farewell from the bottom up are droop ) , take out it . If your plant is in a container , discard the soil too . wash off the pot with a 1 part whitener to 9 role water solution . antimycotic can be used , according to label directions . confer with a professional for a legal testimonial of what antimycotic agent to employ . Pest : ThripsThripsare small , winged dirt ball that attack many types of plant life and thrive in red-hot , dry conditions ( like heated house ) . They can multiply chop-chop as a female can lay up to 300 egg in a life sentence span of 45 days without mating . Most of the damage to plants is do by the young larvae which bung on tippy leaf and flower tissue paper . This head to distorted growth , injure blossom petal and premature flower drop . Thrips also can beam many harmful industrial plant virus .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down and use screening on windows to keep them out . Remove or discard infest plants , keep them away from non - infested plants . Trap with chicken sticky visiting card or take advantage of lifelike foe such as predatory mites . Sometimes a good steady shower of water will wash them off the works . Consult your local garden midpoint professional or county Cooperative reference office for effectual chemical testimonial . Pest : Spider MitesSpider mitesare lowly , 8 legged , wanderer - similar creatures which expand in red-hot , dry conditions ( like het up houses ) . Spider mites feed with piercing mouth share , which stimulate flora to appear yellow and flecked . Leaf driblet and plant death can occur with heavy infestation . wanderer mites can procreate quick , as a female can put down up to 200 eggs in a life-time twosome of 30 twenty-four hour period . They also produce a web which can overlay infested foliage and flowers .
Prevention and Control : Keep gage down and dispatch infested plant life . Dry melody seems to worsen the problem , so make trusted industrial plant are regularly water , specially those preferring high humidness such as tropicals , citrous fruit , or tomato plant . Always check Modern plant life prior to bringing them home from the garden center or greenhouse . Take reward of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden sum professional or county Cooperative Extension situation , read and watch over all recording label directions . centralise your efforts on the bottom of the leaf as that is where wanderer mite loosely exist . Pest : MealybugsSmall , wingless , muted - white , soft - corporate insects that produce a waxy powdery covering . They have pierce / sucking lip percentage that blow the sap out of plant life tissue paper . Mealybugsoften see like modest spell of cotton plant and they lean to congregate where leafage and stems branch . They assail a wide kitchen stove of plant . The youthful tend to move around until they find a suitable feeding spot , then they hang out in colonies and provender . mealy bug can undermine a works leading to xanthous leaf and leaf drop . They also bring forth a cherubic substance called honeydew ( covet by emmet ) which can chair to an untempting opprobrious surface fungous growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Isolate infested plants from those that are not . Consult your local garden centre professional or the Cooperative Extension part in your county for a sound insecticide / chemical substance recommendation . Encourage rude enemies such as ma’am mallet in the garden to aid reduce population layer of mealy bugs . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare modest , winged insects that front like midget moth , which attack many type of plants . The flying grownup stagecoach prefers the underside of leaves to fee and stock . whitefly can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 eggs in a sprightliness yoke of 2 calendar month . If a plant is invade with whitefly , you will see a swarm of fleeing dirt ball when the plant is disturb . whitefly can weaken a flora , finally leading to constitute death if they are not checked . They can transmit many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet gist called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can run to an untempting black surface fungal ontogenesis called sooty mold .
Possible ascendence : keep weeds down ; use screening in windows to keep them out ; withdraw infested plant off from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum foil ) under works ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with white-livered sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage natural enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden ; and sometimes a good steadfast rain shower of water will rinse them off the plant . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist mood and are mollusks , not worm . They can be ravening affluent , eat up just about anything that is not woody or extremely scented . They may deplete holes in parting , comic strip entire stems , or completely devour seedlings and cutter transplants , leaving behind tell - story silvery , despicable trails .
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating hiding places such as leaf rubble , over - turned pots , and tarps . Groundcover in shadowed places and heavy mulch provide protective cover from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the bound , patrol for and destroy egg ( clustering of small translucent celestial sphere ) and adults during dusk and dawn . arrange out beer traps from later spring through fall .
Many chemical substance controls are useable on the market place , but can be poisonous and pestilent for children and pets ; take maintenance when using them - always register the recording label first!Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually found on plant that do not have enough atmosphere circulation or adequate lighting . Problems are worse where nights are cool and Day are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray-headed fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leafage or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkle and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistive varieties and space plants properly so they receive enough light and atmosphere circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the foliage . This is predominant for rose . Go tardily on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes severe and trace directions just , not missing any required treatment . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leave , flowers , or debris in the fall and destroy . fungus kingdom : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are have by fungi or bacterium . Brown or disastrous smirch and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , pelting , dirty garden tools , or even multitude can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leave when the plant is dry . leaf that amass around the base of the plant should be graze up and toss away of . keep off overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at ground level . For fungous foliage spots , apply a advocate fungicide accord to recording label directions .
Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , associate to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide diversity of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales creep until they find a expert feeding site . The grownup females then lose their branch and remain on a spot protect by its arduous shield level . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that fellate the sap out of flora tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant life leading to sensationalistic foliation and folio drop . They also make a sweet core called honeydew ( coveted by emmet ) which can lead to an unattractive opprobrious surface fungal growing promise sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are voiceless to control . Isolate infested industrial plant away from those that are not infested . refer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual passport regarding their ascendency . promote natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Fungi : Sooty MoldSooty mold is a fungus that is found on the surface of leave . It feeds on honeydew melon eliminate from aphids , mealy microbe , scale of measurement , or emmet . Though not serious , it is untempting when it cover / blackens the leaves and halt of the plant . The best agency to control coal-black mould is to control the insects that make the honeydew melon . Sooty clay sculpture can unremarkably be wiped from leaves with a damp cloth or moisten off with a hosepipe - closing sprayer .
