Begonias

Cascading Begonias make a highly impressive display of colour. They will produce an avalanche of enormous cascading blooms in a range of stunning colours from mid-summer right up until the first frosts.
This video talks through every detail of planting these terrific begonias for a truly beautiful hanging basket or window pot display you can create for yourself.

On first planting begonias the compost just needs to be moist and not too wet. As the begonias start to grow shoots then you will need to water more regularly to ensure that the shoots grow. It is very important at this stage to ensure that the conditions are kept warm, as too much of a drop in temperature at night will cause the begonia shoots to fail.

Types Of Begonia

Angel Wing Begonia

Several species are commonly called angel-wing begonia. They are upright growing, sometimes reaching 6 feet tall. But by pinching back tall stems you can keep plants bushy and in the 2- to 3-foot range. In addition to having attractive green, silver, and maroon foliage, angel-wing begonias freely bloom with clusters of red, pink, or white blossoms. Its beautiful wing-shaped leaves are just as attractive as the blooms so it’s pretty all year long.

Name: Begonia coccinea

Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; keep soil evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed by children or pets.

Rieger Begonia

Rieger begonia is one of the winter-blooming begonias. It has fibrous roots with a swollen tuber-like base. Clusters of camellia-like blossoms in warm colors ranging from yellow to orange and red appear on top of glossy green foliage. Rieger begonia looks good as a tabletop plant or in a hanging basket. It’s an easy-to-grow plant with gorgeous, rose-shaped blooms.

Name: Begonia x hiemalis

Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; keep soil evenly moist
Size: To 18 inches tall and wide
Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed by children or pets.

Wax Begonia

Popular as an outdoor bedding plant, you can also grow wax begonia indoors where it will bloom all year if it has enough light and good air movement. Simply take cuttings of your plants in the garden for your indoor garden. The cuttings root quickly in water or moist potting soil. Make sure it has good air circulation, otherwise it may be attacked by fungal diseases. It’s an easy bloomer with waxy foliage and colorful red, white, or pink flowers.

Name: Begonia semperflorens

Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; keep soil evenly moist
Size: To 18 inches tall or wide
Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed by children or pets.