![]() ![]() The leaf should now be sticking out looking like an umbrella or a flag pole. If you want to give leaf propagation a go, remove a leaf including its stem and then push the stem into a moist soil mix (a rooting hormone on the buried end will increase your chances), firming gently to keep everything anchored in place. Pot up in a new container with similar potting mix to the parent and lay the cutting on the moist soil surface, burying it slightly, and in a few weeks you should have signs of new growth.īegonia growth will be moderately fast if given good correct care. This means you can remove a section of the stem complete with roots. Rhizomatous and Cane Begonias often have creeping stems that grow close to the soil surface forming roots as they do so. ![]() You can propagate quite simply through stem/cane cuttings or in some case through leaf cuttings. The Rhizomatous Begonias should be grown in shallow rather than deeps pots, because their roots stay near the soil surface and deep pots will only encourage watering problems. This is primarily to refresh the growing medium, rather than due to their expanding root growth. Young plants and cuttings will need repotting as they grow, but established plants will only need repotting every couple of years at most. Although you must avoid any prolonged exposure to temperatures which are approaching freezing. ![]() The normal usual home temperatures are fine for all Begonias and they aren't overly fussy about occasional highs or lows in temperature. Instead your choice of placement is more important. The normal ways you might increase humidity such as misting the leaves or placing your plant in a steamy bathroom will often not work well, because Begonias dislike intense constant moisture on their leaves. Humidityīegonias do prefer humid locations if given the choice and will often struggle in very dry arid places in your home, such as near fireplaces and by radiators. Most problems that effect Begonias can be traced back to a watering issue. The soil needs to dry out a little between each watering, so when in doubt about whether to water again wait a few more days. They rot easily and diseases like Botrytis can strike. They of course need water like any houseplant, especially when growing strongly, but as soon as you give too much the problems start. Wateringīegonia problems in the majority of cases can be traced back to a watering issue, either too much or too little and often it's the former. No Begonia will be happy for very long if exposed to direct harsh sunlight, so this needs to be avoided. The flowering types struggle in dark or very poorly lit areas where as the Begonias grown purely for foliage fair a little better. This is also the same reason they're grown indoors as houseplants.Īll Begonias types just need a good bright location out of direct sunlight and they're all set to grow, look beautiful and flower happily. The Tuberous Begonias (below) are popular with outdoors gardeners because of the wonderful flower display they put on over the Summer that last for months and months. Flowering is possible at any time of the year but during the Autumn and Winter months are the most common. They can still spread far and wide if you let them however so it's important to keep them pruned and trained if you want to maintain a smaller controlled looking houseplant.Īll the Cane Begonias are typically evergreen meaning they can be kept indoors all year round as permanent house guests without losing leaves in Winter. The variety on offer is huge and thankfully the modern varieties that are commonly sold are often a little more compact and less "leggy". The Cane Begonias were likely the indoor plants grown by your Grandmother, with their brittle thick canes that had slightly hairy knobbly stems giving an almost arthritic appearance, which is not attractive by today's standards. The care requirements are quite similar, but each will have a little difference that you need to be aware of and respect for a successful long term relationship. The most popular types are are Cane, Rhizomatous and Tuberous Begonias. Once you've either a flowering or foliage type of Begonia it's further divided into groups based on how it looks or how it grows. Again pick a plant you like the look of choosing one with only a few flowers open and plenty of buds to prolong the display. The leaves might not be much to look at this time around, but the blooms more than make up for this. The second option are the flowering types with their impressive blooms. There are so many varieties and different looking foliage Begonias to pick from, so just choose the patterns you like best when purchasing. There are the foliage types, which are grown primarily for their aesthetically pleasing and unusual leaf shapes, colorings and markings. Broadly, the type of Begonia you can grow as a houseplant will fall into one of two categories. ![]()
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