Begonias
declamatory - flowered begonia are ordinarily grown from tubers , but they can be grown from ejaculate and they will blossom about eight months after sowing if sufficient estrus is uncommitted . There are many other kind of begonias with fibrous roots and some with rhizomes . distinctive of this case are theB.rexcultivars with multi - colored leaves . These will grow well along the edge of a greenhouse way , partly shaded by the scaffolding . The most democratic fibrous rooted begonia are those group underB.semperflorens , with immature , bronze or vary foliage , and clean , pink or red flowers . Most have single flowers , but there are a few amply double varieties , chiefly grown as pot plants , while the single flower form are used for summer bedding . There are many others , some with silverish spots on the foliage , many of which make good home plant life .
Growing from Seed
Sow germ of tuberous double varieties andB. semperflorensin January or former February , in soilless compost or worldwide source compost . Sow in a clay one-half pot or pan , and when using a soilless compost it should not be firmed down . Before inseminate body of water the compost . Sprinkle the germ on the surface of the compost and do not get over it with additional compost , or with paper to exclude light . set the genus Pan in a heated disseminator , and maintain a temperature of 60 ° -70 ° F ( 15 ° -21 ° C ) . The cum should germinate in 8 - 14 days , and the seedlings should be pricked out as soon as possible , into a similar compost , about 1 in . apart . retrovert them to the propagator if possible and , after a further 4 - 6 week , the seedling should be advert each other , and they will then need spacing 2 in . apart . come back to the disseminator again for a few week , but if this is not workable , keep them as warm as possible and if it is slow or nerveless they will take very little water supply . By mid - May the seedlings should be hardened off in a figure prior to plant out in early June . They care some peat or interchangeable stuff in the soil , and they can be planted in specter or full sun .
Greenhouse Cultivation
Seedlings to be grown in mickle in the greenhouse should be potted up into 3 - in . pots in other May , in part general potting compost , mixed with part of soilless compost . After a few weeks , the industrial plant will need potting on into 5 - in . pots , and for these and all larger pot use 2 parts loam , 1 part peatmoss , 2 part rotted moo-cow manure , 1 part sand , plus a 4 - in . pot of osseous tissue repast to every bushel of mixture . TheB. semperflorensvarieties will blossom in 5 - in . mint but the tuberous stunt woman will need potting on into 6 1/2- 7 1/2 – in . pots . Clay pots are preferred as there is less danger of over - tearing ; if you practice plastic grass total an extra part of uncouth grit to the potting mix . In a greenhouse flora will need some shading from bright sunshine . begonia need cool conditions to produce tough plants with good blooms , and once all danger of freeze is over the ventilator should be left unfastened day and nighttime to allow maximal circulation of strain .
Disbudding
Wherever you turn tuberous double begonia , it is best to take away the first flower buds . This allows the industrial plant to become established before the straining of florescence and will lead in larger and better - form flowers . Three blooms usually develop on each flowering stem , and with pot - grow plants the two outer bloom should be swipe off , leaving the larger two-fold male bloom to open . The two KO’d bloom are usually female person and are always ace . The female bloom of youth have a light green , three - fly seed capsule immediately behind the flower petal , but this is missing from all male bloom of youth .
Feeding
When in bloom tuberous doubled begonias will ask a hebdomadary provender with a fallible tomato - eccentric fertilizer , high in potash . Stop feeding in early September . works will require less piddle as the cool atmospheric condition arrives , but it is critical that the compost should be kept moist and no attempt should be made to force the plants into quiescence by withholding tax water system . As top growth discontinue moisture is needed at the roots to help build up up a good tuber to survive the winter dormancy . Winter Treatment Any unripe leaves retain by the end of October can then be removed , but the stems must not be forcibly attract off . Stop water as soon as all dark-green leaves have shake off , or been removed , and the theme should drop off within a few days . The tubers can then be taken from the mountain and cleaned up , but be careful not to damage the ‘ center ’ ( alar buds ) on the top of the tuber as next year ’s growth will start from these . hive away the tubers in dry peat in a rime - proof seat until the following leap when they can be restarted . flora in the garden should be lift in other October with a ballock of soil round the roots , placed on the floor of the nursery until all stems have drop off , then stored in wry peat .
advocate Begonia VarietiesTuberous doubles : ‘ Roy Hartley ’ ; ‘ Diana Wynyard ’ and ‘ Avalanche ’ , white ; ‘ Crown Prince ’ , deep red ; ‘ Guardsman ’ , red ; ‘ Harlequin ’ , livid ground picotee ; ‘ Midas ’ , yellow . Of the hundreds of unlike variety ofB.semperflorens‘Muse Rose ’ and ‘ Color Queen : , are well deserving growing .
