Common name: |
Wax begonia |
Botanical Name: |
Begonia Semperflorens |
Family: |
Begoniaceae |
Foliage: |
It has evergreen leaves which are round, fleshy and waxy in appearance. Leaves may be green, bronze or red. |
Flowers: |
It produces pink, red, white flowers throughout the year. |
Light: |
The plant grows best in semi shaded conditions. |
Temperature: |
It grows best in moderate temperatures. |
Soil: |
The potting medium could be peat or compost or a mixture of peat or compost with sand or other ingredients. |
Humidity: |
Begonias thrive at higher humidity, producing larger leaves and less marginal burning of the leaves. |
Watering: |
The soil needs to be kept moist at all times but not soggy. Avoid excess watering. |
Pest and Problems: |
Begonia relatively pest free. Watch out for mealy bugs. |
Growth habit: |
It is a low growing plant, growing to about 6 to 12 inches. |
Fertilizing: |
Plants should be fertilized every other week all year long with a fertilizer having adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Diluted the fertilizer to ½ the strength recommended on the label. |
Pruning: |
Keep yellowing and dead leaves trimmed off. Make cuttings of long stemmed types to reduce their legginess. Remove spent flowers. |
Propagation: |
Propagation is done through seed and cuttings. |
Special Care: |
Protect the plant from excess water during the monsoon. |
Landscaping Utility: |
It is a compact, bushy plant ideal for beds, low borders and edging. The distance of planting should be 6 in. cc. The plant looks excellent when grown as a mass plantation. |
Uses: |
Ground cover, hanging basket, perenial, potted plant |
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