![]() ![]() Flowers reliably bloom throughout the growing season (May to October). It is a compact, bushy, mounded, fibrous-rooted plant that features fleshy stems, waxy dark green to bronze leaves and loose clusters (cymes) of single or double flowers in shades of white, pink or red plus bicolor versions thereof. Semperflorens Cultorum Group, often called wax begonia, is an extremely popular garden annual. Begonias can be divided into 7 informal groups by growth habit: cane-like, rex-cultorum, rhizomatous, semperflorens, tuberous, trailing or scandent, thick-stemmed and shrub-like. They are grown for their showy flower or colorful leaves some for both. Some produce underground tubers or rhizomes. Propagation from seed can be difficult due to the small size of the seed, and seed should not be sown directly in the garden.īegonia is a genus of about 1,300 species of annuals, perennials, shrubs and climbers. Container plants may be cut back in fall and overwintered indoors a cool location with reduced watering. Space plants well (8” for dwarfs and 12” for taller ones) to promote good air circulation and to reduce potential fungal disease problems. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date, purchase starter plants or take cuttings from overwintered plants. Plants are best with consistent moisture throughout the growing season, but tolerate periods of drought due to their thick and waxy leaves which help minimize water loss in hot weather. Plants tolerate considerable shade, but are generally less floriferous therein. Bronze-leaved varieties are more tolerant of full sun. Prefers sun dappled part shade and a good mulch in hot summer climates such as St. It is easily grown in average to moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It is noted for its tolerance to hot and humid summers. You can sow seeds in spring, but they can take several months to grow and bloom.Tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. Wax begonia seeds are tiny and slow to germinate. ![]() Cover the whole container and plant with a plastic bag or cloche to hold in humidity. Propagation: Take 3- to 4-inch (8-10 cm) stem cuttings in spring and root in fresh potting mix. Feed monthly with a high-phosphorus (10-20-10 NPK) water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half. African violet potting mix is ideal.įertilizer: A steady diet of weak fertilizer will keep begonias happy. Soil: Peat moss based potting mix with added perlite for faster drainage. If you moved your plant outdoors for the season, overwinter it indoors. Begonias will tolerate a minimum winter temperature of 55☏/13☌. Temperature: Cool nights (60☏/16☌) and warm days (65-75☏/18-24☌) will trigger flower buds. ![]() Keep pot on a tray of wet pebbles to increase humidity. Humidity: Try to maintain 40-50% relative humidity around your begonias. Use a pot with a drainage hole and allow top 1-inch (2.5 cm) of the potting mix to dry before watering again. Overwatering will cause leaves to turn yellow. If you move your begonia outdoors for the summer, keep it shaded from hot, direct sun. Begonias grow well under fluorescent lights, too. Plants that don't bloom aren't getting enough sunlight. Give your begonia plenty of bright light year-round. Spray an affected plant with a fungicide and keep it away from other plants to prevent it from spreading. The moist conditions begonias love make them prone to powdery mildew - a powdery white fungus that appears on the foliage. ![]() Cut off brown, wilted leaves because they may attract fungus. They're likely to rot and attract fungus.īrown leaves? Cool temps and soggy soil will cause leaves to become soft and turn brown. Cut off any affected leaves as soon as you notice them. Overwatering your begonia will cause leaves to wilt and turn yellow. Allowing it to dry out will leave it susceptible to disease. Caring for Wax Begonia Indoors: Solutions and Special Helps These prolific bloomers stay small, so grow several in a large pot for big impact. Some hybrids have burgundy leaves or are variegated with white. They're typically dark-green and may be tinged with bronze. Round, thick, waxy leaves give this beautiful flowering plant its common name. ![]()
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