BegoniasBegonias Thebegoniagroupisoneofthegreatgroupsofcultivatedornamentalplants.Verymanyspecieshavebeenintroduced,and therearenumberlesshybridsandvariations.Becauseof thegreatnumbersof interestingforms,begoniashaveappealedstronglytocollectors.Thisisaverydiversegroupofplants;manyofthemaregrownprimarily for foliage,others for theshowybloom.Thefirstbegoniawas introduced intoEngland in1777. Since then, they have been improved so rapidly, that there are thousands of variations now incultivations,displayingthemostgorgeouscolorsintheirflowersandbeautifulcoloringintheirleaves.
Thegeographicaldistributionofbegonias isverydisjunctiveand localized.Theyare indigenous toMexico,CentralandSouthAmerica,AsiaandSouthAfrica.
Itisextremelydifficulttoclassifybegoniasintoneat,tidygroups.Usually,they'regroupedbytypeofroot‐bulbous, tuberous, rhizomatous, and fibrous. But this system is not clear cut. Rhizomatousbegoniashavefibrousroots,forexample;arhizomeisnottrulyaroot;manyofthebuterousbegoniasareonlypartiallyso.
Over the years, begonia growers have evolved a kind of classification which seems to work well in everyday use. Plants are grouped according to theirappearanceorgrowinghabit,withafascinatingcatchallclassforodditiesthatdon'tfitanywhereelse.
Rex RexBegoniasarekingsoftheBegoniaWorld,that'swhytheyarecalledREX,which inLatinmeansKING.Thesetypesofbegoniasdisplaywildlyvariedleavesstreaked,bordered,spotted,andsplotchedbymanycolors.Theyalsoflower,butusuallytheflowersareovershadowedbythestrikingfoliage.
Cane Canebegoniashavebeenpopularplants formanyyearsandwereprobablygrownbyyourGrandmotherwhocalled them"AngelWing"begonias.Thereareseveraltypesofcanesinvaryingsizesbuttheyallhaveincommontoughstemsthathaveabambooappearance,whichgivesthemthecanehandle.
Semperflorens Thistypeofbegoniaisprobablythemostwidelygrownbegoniaandinsomepartsofthecountryiscalled"waxtype"becauseofthewaxylooktotheleaves.Allhaveroundleavesandareeverbloomingandtheflowerscomeineveryshadeofred,pinkandwhite.
Tuberous Thetuberoustypeofbegoniaisalsoverypopulararoundtheworldasabeddingplantandalsoasagreenhouseplant.Thetuberoustypesaregrownfortheirflowersalthoughthereareafewvarietiesandspecieswhichhaveinterestingleavesandgrowth.
Trailing Thetrailingtypeofbegoniaaregrownmostlyfortheirtrailinghabitbutputonaspectacularshowofflowers,usuallyinthespring.Someofthenewervarietieshavealongerbloomingperiodorareeverblooming.
Thick‐stemmed Thethick‐stemmedtypesarenotaswidelygrownbutcomeinvariousforms.Thecommonfactorbetweenthemistheirverythickstems.Mostthick‐stemmedtypesdon'tbranchmuchbutsendupnewgrowthfromthebase.Theyalsoshowoffthethickstemsbecausetheydroptheir lower leaves andusually only have leaves on the tips. These can be very attractive and are definitely unusual if you're looking forsomethingdifferenttogrow.
BegoniaBasicsBegoniaBasics Ofthemorethan1,000speciesofbegoniasknowntoman,thetuberousbegoniasmustbeconsideredthemoststunning.Withupto8‐inch,showyflowersthatbloomfromsummertofall,tuberousbegoniasprovidenon‐stopcolorwhenplantedincontainersandbeds.Breedershavecreatedvariousclassesof tuberousbegonias,whicharedistinguishedby the flower's form.Flower color ranges from pure white to the deepest crimson. There are even Picotee types that featurecontrastingcolorsonthepetaledges.Thetypeyouchoosetogrowispurelyamatterofpersonaltaste.Thecamellia‐typetuberousbegonias,suchasDoublePastelBegonias,featuredouble,vividly‐colored,6‐inchflowers.Theplantsgrow12to15inchestallandlookstunningplantedaloneinlargecontainers.Picoteebegonias, suchas those found in thePicoteeBegoniaMix, feature two‐tone flowerson12‐ to14‐inch‐tallplants.Theylookespeciallynicewhenplantedwithsolid‐colored,doublebegonias.Cascadingvarieties,suchasthescarlet‐colored,single‐flowered ‘Skaugum’andthecream‐colored,double‐flowered'Champagne',feature10‐to12‐inch‐tallplantsthatlookbeautifulplantedinbasketshungondecksorpatios,orsuspendedfromthebranchesofalargetree.
Carnation‐typebegonias,suchasthosefoundintheCarnationBegoniaMixture,have4‐inchfringedflowersincolorsrangingfromwhitetored.Growingamere1foottall,thisgroupworkswellwhenplantedtoedgeawalkorwhencombinedinsmallflowerbedswithotherannuals,suchasageratumanddustymiller.TuberousbegoniasarenativetohighaltitudesgrowingconditionsintheAndesMountains.Theyperformbestwhengrowninasimilarenvironmentwithhighhumidityandcoolnights.Tuberousbegoniasdonotgrowwellinhot,aridenvironmentswithoutspecialcare.Thoughtheyneedtobeshadedfromhotsunlight,theydoneedsomesuntoflowerbest.Morninglightorlightthatisfilteredthroughleavesoralatticeroofisbest.Itmaytakeuptothreemonthsfromplantingthetubertofullbloom,sotubersshouldbestartedindoorsatleastamonthbeforethelastfrostdate.Settubers1inchapart,hollowsideup,inshallowpotsfilledwithmoistenedpottingsoilina70‐degreeroom.Covereachtuberwithaboutaninchofpottingsoil.Waterthoroughlyonlyoncetostimulategrowth,butdonot let thesoildryoutcompletely.Again,ahumidenvironment isbest.Oncethesproutsare1to2 inches long,re‐potthetubers in6‐inchpots,or theirpermanentcontainers.Usealight,moisture‐retentivegrowingmixandcoverthetuberswithnomorethan2inchesofsoil.Toproducefewer,butlargerflowers,pinchoffallbutafewoftheyoungstems.Forabushierplant,allowallthebudstodevelopintostems.Afterdangerof frosthaspassed,movecontainers toapartly shadedoutdoor locationaway fromanystrongwinds. Ifplanting inbeds, setbegonias8 to12inchesapart. Plant in a location that getsearly‐morningor late‐afternoon sun. Fertilize regularly. Keep containersmoist, but avoidoverwatering,whichmaycausethestemstorot.Begoniafoliageshouldbekeptasdryaspossible.Overheadwateringcanleadtopowderymildewdisease,sousedripirrigationorself‐wateringcontainers.Deadheadplantsregularlytoreducethethreatofdisease.Foranexoticeffect,snipaflowerandfloatitinabowlofwaterindoors.Tuberousbegoniasarecoldsensitiveandwillsurviveoutdoorsonlyinfrost‐freeareasofUSDAhardinesszones9and10.Inmostareas,comefallbeforefrosthasnippedtheplants,removetubersfromcontainersorbedsandletthemdryinanairy,shadyplaceindoors.Afterthetopsdry,removethemandstorethetubersindrypeatmossinacool,darkplacewithtemperaturesbetween35and45degreesF.Inlatespring,beginthecycleagainstartingtubersindoorsaboutamonthbeforelastfrost.
GrowingBegoniasIndoorsGrowingBegoniasIndoors byBradbyBrad
ThompsonThompson Thisarticleistogiveyouinfoonhowtogrowbegoniasindoorsandinterrariums.Exceptforthemembersthatareblessedwithaclimatewheretheycangrowbegoniasoutdoorsyearround,mostgrowershavetolearnhowtogrowbegonias indoors.Sometimes it'sonlyforthewintermonths,butforsomeplantsandpeopleit'sayeararoundproposition.Mosthouses,especiallythosewithforcedairheat,arenotperfectlysuitedforgrowingbegoniasindoors.Mostbegoniascanbegrowninyourhome,however,ifyouarecarefultoprovideeachwith itsparticular requirements.Therearealsoa few tricks thatwillhelpmakegrowingtheminthehousemoresuccessful.Thefirstconsiderationiswhereexactlythebegoniasgoingtolive.Thebestlightforgrowingindoorsistouse fluorescent lighting. Thiswill give you themost control over the amount of light your plants get. Itdoesn'thavetobeanexpensiveorlavishsetup.Evenasimpleshoplightwithordinarycoolwhitetubeswillsufficeifyouwanttosavemoney.Amoreexpensive,butpossiblymoreusefulideaifyouplantostartalargercollectionofplantsistopurchasealightstand.Thesecanbeboughtfrommostmailordercatalogs.Thelightsshouldrunabout14hoursaday,butIhaveleftlightson24hoursadayandtheplantsdidfine.Thetubesshouldbejustacoupleinchesabovethetallestplantontheshelf.
Theplantsdidfine.Thetubesshouldbejustacoupleofinchesabovethetallestplantontheshelf.Mostofusalsohavenaturallightthatwewouldliketotakeadvantageof.Therearebegoniasthatwillgrowinnearlyeverywindowlocationexceptprobablynotwellinanorthwindow.Someplantsinterrariumsmaygrowfineinanorthwindow,however.Differentareasofthecountryvaryasfaraslightintensityduringthemonthsoftheyear.Youmighthavetoexperimenttofindwhichplantsgrowinwhichwindows.Ifyoufindthattheplantsarestretching,theyneedmorelightandiftheyarestuntedandburningthentheyneedtobefartherfromthewindowormovedtoawindowwithlesslight.Agoodshareofbegoniaswillgrowinasouthwindowandmostwillgrowineitheraneasternorwesternexposure.Howyourplantsarepottedandwhatsoilmixyouusewillhavealottodowithhowsuccessfulyouare.Begoniashatetobeover‐pottedorover‐watered.Itishardtokillanunder‐pottedbegonia,buttheycandieprettyfastifover‐potted.Don'tmovebegoniastoalargerpotuntilrootshavefilledthecurrentpot.Ifyoufindthatacertainplantneverseemstodryout,itisprobablyintoolargeofapot.Moveitdowntoasizethatfitstherootballafteryou'veremovedallthesoggywetmix.For growing indoors you should always use a soil‐less mix. Nearly all soil‐less mixes aremostly composed of peat moss with additions of perlite and/orvermiculite.Youcanalsomakeyourownbymixingtwothirdspeatmossorapeatbasedmixwithathirdpartperlite.AcoupleofcommonlyavailablepeatbasedmixesareSunshineandFafard.Ifyouuseplainpeatmossyoushouldpremoistenitbeforeusingbecauseitcansometimesbehardtowetinthefirstplace.WhenIusepeat,Iwetitwithboilingwatertogetitslightlydampandthenuseitafteritcools.Iwouldn'trecommendusinganyamendmentsyouwouldcommonlyuseoutdoorssuchasleafmoldormanure,orevengardensoil.Thesewillcauseyourmixtostaytoowetindoorsandalsoinvitediseases.Apeatmixistheperfectmixforindoorssinceitdrainswell,butholdstheperfectamountofmoisturefortheplantwithoutstayingtoowet.Iwouldusethesamemixforbegoniasinterrariums.Asfaraswateringgoes,agoodpotforusingindoorsisthetypecalledaself‐wateringpot.Therearemanybrandsandtheyworkwellformostbegonias.Youshouldalsoonlyuseapeat‐basedmixforthesetypesofpots;anythingelsewillstaytoowet.Allowthemixtodryoutslightlybeforerefillingthereservoiragain.
Regardlessofwhatyouhavereadinindoorgardeningbooks,therearefewplantsthatwanttostayconstantlymoist.Besides,constantlymoistisnearimpossibletoachieve.Allowthesurfaceofthemixtodryoutslightlyandthenwaterthoroughlytillwaterrunsoutthebottomwhenusingconventionalpots.Don'tusesaucersunlessyoufillthemwithpebblessothattheplantdoesn'tsitinwater.Youcanusebottomwatering,butemptythewateroutofthesaucerafteracoupleofhours.MostbegoniaswillalsogrowwellusingwickwateringsuchasisusedforAfricanvioletsandgesneriads.Humidityisthebiggestproblemwithgrowingbegoniasindoors.Althoughbegoniasdon'tliketobeinwetsoil,theydolikehumidityintheair.Youcanachieveenoughhumidityformanytypesofbegoniasbysimplymistingthemdaily.Youcanalsouseahumidifier.Ifyouaregrowingplantsunderfluorescentlightsasimplewaytokeepgoodhumidityistocovertheplantstandwithaplastictent(makesuretousenonflammableplastic).Theywillstillusuallybenefitfrommistinginsidethetentbecauseifthelightfixturesareinsidethetenttheytendtokeepitwarmerandtheairwilldryoutfaster.Therearemanybegoniasthatareeasiertomaintainandthatyouwillhavegreatersuccesswithiftheyaregrowninterrariums.It'spossiblethatyourpastattemptswithterrariumshavesouredyouonthem,butifyoufollowafewsimplerulesyoushoulddowellwiththem.Mostpeoplekeeptheirterrariumstoowetandthisisthemostcommonreasonforfailure.Youshouldonlyuseasterilemediumforgrowingandthisshouldonlybedamp.Thetwomostcommonmediumsarethepeatmixlistedaboveorplaingreensphagnummoss(don'tusethebrownfloristtypesphagnum).Ifyouusepeatmoss,firstputinalayerofperliteorpebblesinthebottomcoveredbyathinlayerofmix.Thiswillallowanyextrawateraplacetodrain.Ifyouusesphagnum,wetitfirstwith
hot water and squeeze out the extra water before using. Peat and sphagnum arealready basically sterile and if you take the added precaution to wet with boilingwater before use, itwill be evenmore so. Therewill always be some glass foggingafterplanting,butifit'sexcessive,crackthelidopenuntilithasdriedoutenoughthatyou can close tightly. Terrariums require less light than plants in pots and shouldnever get direct sun. They should also not be fertilized often. Since the soil in aterrarium never gets flushed, the salts will build up and damage the plant.All plants that are actively growing do bestwith regular fertilizing. There aremanybrandsoffertilizerformulatedsoyoucanfertilizeeverytimeyouwaterbyaddingafewdropstothewateringcan.Youcanalsojustmixyourownweakfertilizersuchasquarterstrengthanduseonceaweek.Begoniasgrown indoorscanbepinchedorprunedany timeof theyear.Anyplantsyoubringindoorsfromoutsidewillprobablyadjusteasierifyoutrimthemback.Thiswillalsogiveyoucuttingstostartabackupplantincaseyourplantdoesn'tdowellwiththechangeofconditions.Indoorplantsinnicewarmconditionsareverypronetomealybugs.Theeasiestandleasttoxicmealybugkillerisplainrubbingalcohol.Youcanbrushthemealybugswitha cue tipor artist brushdipped in thealcohol and theydieon contact. For abadlyinfestedplantyoucanalsoputthealcoholinaspraybottleandspraytheentireplant.Itwon'tharmtheplant.Avoidsprayingthesoildirectlyasaprecaution.
