These attractive plants are invaluable as menage plants , for the glasshouse , and for filling summertime peak bed . Some kinds are grown for their ornamental leaves , others for their flowers ; some bloom in summer , others in winter , while a few flower more or less all the yr daily round . begonia are found wild in the main in South and Central America , though many are native plant of India and other tropical and subtropic countries . They belong to to the crime syndicate Begoniaceae . The name Begonia commemorates a Frenchman , M. Michel Begon .

begonia can be grouped conveniently into three sections :

Tuberous Begonias.

These have large underground tuber . Modern varieties have evolved by crossbreeding between several South American fantastic type , and by further crossbreeding between those so raised . There are countless variety with exclusive , semidouble , or double flowers in almost every color except profane . It is worthwhile select named varieties from a catalogue for cultivation in pots . In some varieties the edge of the petal are frilled , in others the petals are crest . The plants have stout , fleshy stems about 15 in . in height , and large , rich - green , calendered leave . The stems and leaves are of annual duration and break down in the autumn . The belowground genus Tuber rests during the winter , and transmit up young shoots in the spring .

How to Grow Tuberous Begonias in Pots.

The genus Tuber are started into growth in March or early April by setting them in shallow flat . Peat moss or leaf mold is placed in the flat , the tubers are set on this about half an inch aside , and light , leafy grease is sprinkled between them , the top being left uncovered . The boxes of Tuber are place in a temperature 60 - 70 degrees F. and the soil is keep moist ; soon shoots arise . When these are about half an inch long , the industrial plant are potted severally in 4 or 5 - in . muckle harmonize to their size of it .

The bestpotting compostconsists of unchewable loam two parting , folio mould or peat moss one part , well - decayed manure half a part , and a sprinkling of gumption . One one-quarter ounce of bone meal should be sum to each quart of compost . The plants must be pot moderately firmly , but the compost must not be rammed down with a potting stick . When the roots reach the sides of the pots the plants are finally repot , 6 , 7 or 8 - in . crapper being select according to the vigor of the plants .

A temperature of between 55 - 60 degrees is sufficient for Tuberous Begonias after the plant have been pot ; too much heat develop weakly growth . The atmosphere is prevent moist , and the plants are shaded from hot sunshine . blossom buds are picked off as they appear until the industrial plant are established in the pots in which they will flower ; frail fluent fertilizer is then applied twice a hebdomad to increase the size of the blossoms .

begonia summer and winter flowering

When flowering is over less water is given , and when the leave-taking have fall the plants are dried off entirely . The dead stems are removed , the tubers are shaken free from soil , allowed to dry in the air for a few hours , and are then stored in boxes of dry soil , sand or peat moss , in a temperature of about 45 degrees .

Tuberous Begonias for Flower Beds.

The Tuber are started into ontogeny in flat filled with leaf mold or peat moss as described above . When the raw shoot are an in long the plants are gradually hardened off , and are placed in a cold frame a couple of calendar week before they are to be planted in the garden . The frame must be observe close for a few days ; subsequently , costless public discussion should be give to indurate the plants thoroughly . When the weather is at last warm and settled , normally about 2 workweek after it is safe to plant Tomatoes out , the Begonias are plant about 12 in . aside , in the flower beds , in a partially shaded location .

The multiflora rose character of Tuberous Begonia is well adapt for summertime bedding . Of dwarf , compact habit , very loose - flowering , with semidouble or twofold flush , it is available in several named varieties . They are increased by cuttings of youthful shoot make by tubers start in heat in January .

hibernating bulb of Tuberous Begonias are sometimes engraft like a shot in the flower beds 2 in . recondite and 12 in . apart , at Tomato - planting clip ; they will start flowering afterward than the others .

After the Begonias are planted , the surface of the flush bottom is covered with a layer of well - decompose manure , compost or peat moss . During dry weather condition the soil is water once or twice a hebdomad . The plants continue to bloom until cut off down by Robert Lee Frost ; then they are lifted , and the genus Tuber are dried off and stored for the wintertime in the way already advised .

Tuberous Begonias in Baskets.

There are many miscellanea of Tuberous Begonia which are of flag habit of growth , and are ideal for polish in suspended handbasket . Their long slender shoot hang over the side of the handbasket and raise masses of bloom . The tubers are started into growth in the room already explained . Wire baskets are lined with moss and filled with the compost previously advised ; the sprout tubers are then planted about 6 in . apart , the top being just covered with grease .

The basket is hung in a moist , affectionate atmosphere — temperature 55 - 60 degrees — and syringe frequently to prevent the dirt from drying . The flower bud are picked off until the plants are well stock-still and turn freely . smooth fertilizer is applied twice a week when the Begonias are in flower , and the plants are then give cooler shape . After bloom they are treat as counsel for pot - grown plant .

Wax Begonias.

The hempen - rooted plane section of Begonias admit many beautiful free - flowering kinds . One of the estimable is B. semperflorens , the Wax Begonia , which is used extensively for summertime have it off as well as for uprise in pots . It grows about 12 in . high , has evergreen plant , roundish leave , and bears bunch of pink , white , crimson or ruddy flowers , according to sort . It is more or less incessantly in bloom , but prime are produced in the greatest cornucopia during the summer . Propagation can be effected by seed or cuttings ; details are given at the end of this article .

The seedlings or rootedcuttings are pottedseparately in 3 - in . can , or set 2 in . aside in shallow box of territory , and kept in a temperature of 55 - 60 degrees — until they are hardened off and constitute out of door when the weather is warm and settled . In fall they are reverse from the bed and if desired may be pot and deport over wintertime in a temperature of 50 - 55 degrees , and in spring the shoot may be tuck as cuttings to provide plants for summer .

seedling or root cuttings may also be potted in 5 or 6 - in . pots in April – May to produce peak in thegreenhouse and window gardenduring the summer . There are numerous varieties of Begonia semperflorens let in some beautiful double - flowered kind , some with fat ruby foliage , and the delicious Calla Lily variety that is a pop house flora in New England . The Calla Lily Begonia can not be farm where summer Nox are red-hot .

Christmas Begonias.

These pop kinds were obtain by hybridizing B. socotrana and B. Dregei . They grow 18 - 24 in . high , and have roundish , light - green leaves and terminal cluster of delicate pink flowers . Propagation is by cuttings of basal shoot in March , or , more usually , by leaf cuttings in November and December . The young plants are potted into 2 1/2 to 3 - in . pots in sandy , peaty soil , and are potted on into successively larger containers until they are finally in 5 or 7 - in . skunk or baskets in a compost of adequate piece of loam , leaf mold , and well - decayed manure , with a sprinkling of sand .

The plants require a moist , semishaded greenhouse with a minimum temperature of 55 degrees . The slender stem are tied to post and flower buds are removed until November . The flowers are then permit to get . Weak liquid fertilizer , applied once a calendar week to specimens that have make full their pots with ancestor , is beneficial . Plants in flower should be kept in a temperature of about 50 degree — to prolong flowering .

After flowering , less water is given , and the dirt is maintain moderately juiceless until February . The plant may then be restarted into growth to cater vernal basal shoot to insert as cuttings .

Other Winter-flowering Begonias.

By sweep the wintertime - flowering Begonia socotrana with the tuberous sort , a race of Begonias has been obtained which begins to flower in October and continues until the close of January . These reach a height of about 2 ft . , are of middling like growth to the tuberous kinds , have large and coarser give than Christmas Begonias and stick out heyday which vary in size from 11/2 - 3 in . in diameter . There are single and semidouble varieties and the colors include rise , carmine , scarlet , pinkish , and fortunate - ruby . They need the same treatment as Christmas Begonias .

Begonias with Ornamental Leaves.

Begonia Rex and its hybrids and varieties are the primary kinds which are grown chiefly for the beauty of their leafage . They have short rhizomes or rootstock , from which develop long - stalked , ovate , purse leaves average out 6 in . in diameter . The petiole , nervure , and in softie varieties the upper surface of the leave , are covered with fine hairs . The folio are beautifully marked with silver and green , light and colored green , red and light-green , regal and green , and so on , in the different diversity . Begonia Massoniana has well-favored fleeceable leave each marked with a deep brown “ Iron Cross ” .

Will Grow Under the Greenhouse Benches.

These Begonias can be spring up in pots or may be establish under the greenhouse benches . They may also be grown as house plants and in lath houses in California and other fundamentally frost - free clime . They require a minimum temperature of from 50 - 55 degrees , a moist aura and semishaded position . The best potting compost consists of loam and leaf mould in equal parts with coarse grit , decompose manure , and some chop charcoal add .

Water is required in abundance during summertime , but in the winter only when the grease becomes juiceless . The shoots do not require pinching and no supports are necessary . Repotting is done in March . These Begonias are then either repot in somewhat prominent pot , or separated into rootle small-arm which are pot or planted individually .

Propagating is by division or by means of leaf cutting in the mode describe at the conclusion of this article . They can also be grown from seeds .

Other Special Begonias.

In addition to those already described there are many other sort of Begonia which are very decorative and are favorite plants of both connoisseur and recreational . New kind are raised and named ofttimes . The American Begonia Society is devoted to extend interest and noesis of all variety of Begonias . The following brief description refer to only a few of the many kinds available .

B. coccinea , a fibrous - rooted Begonia , called Angel Wing Begonia , develop 12 ft . in top , has evergreen plant leave and bunches of blood-red flowers . It is useful for growing on wires fix to the nursery roof . It can be keep to smaller size by call for cuttings yearly in spring , the plant life being grow in 6 - in . stool . B. President Carnot is like in habit of ontogeny though not so grandiloquent , has coarser leaves and tumid crew of pink bloom . It is a handsome Begonia and makes a splendid plant in an 8 - column inch heap .

Begonia nitida is a kickshaw plant which grows to about 3 ft . in peak , has glossy green farewell and turn out pink flowers . B. fuchsioides has pocket-sized , dark green leaves and pendulous bunches of delicacy pink flowers on slender stem 2 ft . in top . B. Scharffii ( Haageana ) , with expectant , hairy foliage and huge trusses of white flowers faintly tinged with pink , grows about 4 ft . high .

B. manicata has large leave-taking , the still hunt of which are covered with flushed , scalelike hair ; it contain large panicles of pink flowers in late wintertime . B. metallica has leaves of metal coloring ; it grows to a superlative of 4 ft . and hold blush - white flowers . B. argenteo - guttata , the Trout Begonia , has silver - spotted leaves and bloom flowers ; it grows about 4 ft . tall B. socotrana disagree from most Begonias in ingest a cluster of bulblike emergence at the infrastructure of the stem .

It is a winter - flowering sort and is one of the parents of the Christmas Begonias as well as of the boastfully - flowered winter - blooming Begonias . Its prominent , dark green leaves are about 6 in . in diameter , and almost circular ; the flowers are bright - pinko . B. Evansiana , pink flowered , and its livid - flowered assortment alba have low bulblike tubers . These are the intrepid Begonias . They live outside over wintertime in sheltered places at New York City .

When to Sow Begonia Seeds.

Seeds are sow in February or March , in great deal of visible radiation , delicately sifted compost consisting of loam , leafage mold or peat moss and sand . They are sprinkled thinly on the open and are pressed in but are not deal with soil . A sheet of glass is laid over the pots , which are do in a temperature of 60 degrees . The seedling are pricked out when they have formed two in force pairs of leaves , and set one inch asunder in flat tire take with exquisitely sifted loam and leaf mold in equal parts with the add-on of grit . Subsequently they are pot in small potty and , later , into those in which they will bloom .

Wax Begonias in most assortment come very true from cum and are most often propagated in this fashion and natural metal money ( unimproved gaga kinds ) also breed true , but the great bulk of improvedgarden varieties either do not bring forth seedsor do not reproduce themselves true to typewrite from seed . For these plant , cuttings , leaf cutting and class are the mode of propagation used .

New Plants from Old Leaves.

Christmas Begonias and Rex Begonias are propagated by leaves . Mature leaf are detached from the plants and , in the case of Rex Begonias , notches are abridge in the veins , near where the latter cross , on the depressed control surface of the leaves . They are then laid , underside downwards , on grit or sand and peat moss in a propagate inning or in a terrarium . vernal works will mould near the notch and , when the roots begin to form , they are potted severally in small crapper . The leaves of the Christmas Begonias are not notched but are inserted under standardized conditions with their stems in the moxie or sand and peat moss mixture .

When to Take Cuttings.

All variety of Begonias are well increased by means of cuttings . Young shoot , 3 - 6 in . long , are inserted in gumption in spring or summer . These are placed in a warm disseminator , which is kept unaired until they are root . They are then pot separately in small pots and subsequently into larger ones .

air division as a substance of multiplication is applicable to Begonias that form rhizome ( stems that creep over the soil surface and root downwards ) . The plants are but cut or break up into two or more parts in former springtime and each part pot separately .