The Royal One
The name Begonia brings to mind the word ‘royal’.
With its large leaves, often seen having a metallic sheen and its beautiful
flamboyant flowers, this plant is one royal treat to the eyes. Earlier known
for its pendulous flowers (in the case of Tuberous Begonias), today this
species is mainly known for its foliage variety which can be grown as
ornamental potted plants in a greenhouse or at home.
With 1,795
species, the genus Begonia is one of
the largest genera among the Angiosperms. The genus was first identified and
documented in 1700 and named in honour of Michel Begon, a French botanist and
administrator of Santo Domingo in the West Indies. Begonias are widespread in
the world, and have adapted to varying conditions, resulting in the extensive
variety seen in the species. They occur in tropical and temperate climates of
South America, Central America, Africa and South Asia. Some of the different
types of Begonias are:
·
Tuberous with large flowers
·
Rhizomatous with their thickened stems
·
Rex Begonias, also a type of Rhizomatous Begonias,
but with more showy, larger and more colourful leaves
·
Semperflorens, or the wax Begonias
The botanical
details of this plant are as follows:
Kingdom:
Plantae
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
Begonias can
be reared to give colourful flowers throughout the year, provided a few of
their requirements are taken care of.
Temperature requirements
·
Begonias
grow best in the temperature range of 18°C-22°C. They cannot tolerate very low
temperatures.
·
Lower
temperatures will result in the soil being wet and the plant rotting or
exhibiting slow growth.
·
If
temperatures begin to soar, the leaves start to dry up and drop. In cases of
very high temperatures the plant should be put under the shade of a tree or any
place with a cover.
Light requirements
·
Begonias
prefer a few hours of sunlight every day. The beautiful foliage patterns on the
Begonia rex come out in their full
splendour when the plant is placed under bright indirect light.
·
You
can know if the light is too much for the plant, when the leaves turn pale and start
showing signs of getting burnt. In spring, the plant can tolerate the morning
sun; however, once the summer gets stronger, the plant should be moved to a place
with shade.
·
Low
amount of light can cause increase in length of the stems as the leaves begin
to search for sunlight. The long stems then turn limp and the Begonia loses
its bushy appearance. Low light also decreases the frequency of flowering.
Soil requirements
·
Begonias
grow well in well-drained soils. Potting mixes generally used in containers
seem to work as the best soil for Begonias. Peat moss, perlite or vermiculite
can also be used in their soil.
·
Some
experts suggest placing of Begonia potted plants in a shallow tray filled with
pebbles and water. Water maintains humidity while pebbles prevent the roots
from coming in direct contact with the water.
Irrigation requirements
·
Begonias
are susceptible to rotting, hence over-watering should be avoided. They should
be watered only when the soil feels dry to touch.
·
The
foliage should be avoided during watering of the plant, since excess water on
the leaves may lead to a fungus attack.
Pest control
·
Begonias
are susceptible to aphids and mealybugs. A diluted soap solution smeared over
the affected parts should take care of the pests.
·
Begonia rex is prone to attacks from soil
parasites like nematodes. Placing mothballs on the soil surface while watering
the plant can take care of these parasites.
The vast variety of
foliage patterns seen in Begonias make them very interesting ornamental plants
to have around the house. They are infamous for being fussy about the
conditions required for their growth; but once settled they look great in your
garden! Keep gardening!
Comments
Post a Comment