Wax begonia is a hardy perennial that brings vibrant blooms to your domestic and backyard for the majority of the year. There are greater numbers of species of begonias, and they come in many shapes, colours, and sizes. They are handy to develop and can be in the middle of any garden, and they even develop nicely indoors.
In this guide, we are going to talk about how to care for and hold wax begonias so that you can have a colourful backyard this spring and summer.
For many gardeners, wax begonias – so named for their waxy leaves – have fallen out of want and are the concept of as an alternative old-fashioned. However, it’s challenging to beat these candy little vegetation when you’re searching for a space-filler that provides a beneficial dose of colourful single or double plant life in pink, white, or red.
And while some sorts have inexperienced foliage, the sorts with bronze-reddish leaves add any other attractive punch of distinction to flower beds. Native to Brazil, Begonia semperflorens can be iciness hardy in zones 10-11, however, they are grown as annuals in most of the United States.
Sometimes referred to as fibrous begonia, these deer-resistant, non-invasive flowers structure small clumps that develop somewhere from 6 to 18 inches tall and unfold 6 to 12 inches.
Growing Zone
The wax begonia is a plant that prospers in developing zones 10 and eleven as perennials, however, they can additionally develop in different zones inside u. s . as annuals. They additionally flourish in containers and flower pots, so they make a remarkable indoor plant as well. This plant has been famous considering the fact that the Victorian age and it is nonetheless famous in gardens and houses today.
Depending on the species, this plant can develop somewhere from six inches tall up to two feet. Blooms are red, white, yellow, and pink, and there are variants in the foliage. These waxy florae are associated with pumpkins and melons; in fact, these suitable for eating flora even have a citrus taste to them.
How to Plant and Care
Begonia seeds are some of the smallest flower seeds that you will find, so when you plant them, be conscious that a small seed pod that weighs solely about an ounce can create as many as three million seedlings. Once you have a plant developing in your garden, you will locate that wax begonias develop first-rate with these conditions:
Sun – In most areas, this vegetation will develop first-rate in full sun, however, if you stay in the extratropical areas of the country, some colour can also be required from the warm afternoon sun. If you discover that the plant life is now not blooming, then extra daylight is recommended.
Temperature – This is a plant that does no longer do properly in bloodless or freezing temperatures, so you will choose to plant it the place the temperature will be at least about 60 ranges Fahrenheit. Temperatures that are up to seventy-five levels will assist motivate blooming.
Humidity – Wax begonias like to develop in an exceedingly humid environment, so if you can’t preserve the humidity above 50 per cent, a small humidifier may additionally be beneficial for indoor plants.
Water – Make positive to maintain the soil moistly, however no longer dripping wet.
Soil – Any light, well-draining soil is going to be right for this plant.
Fertilizer – A pretty vulnerable fertilizer fed month-to-month need to work properly for wax begonias.
Pruning
When your plant is growing, you will no longer want to prune it for the most part. Simply trim the leaves and the branches that develop in a curve or overgrow. In fact, in most cases, you will solely want to pinch the stems to do away with the useless and motivate growth.
This will want to be accomplished about as soon as a month, however, it will make the plant seem to be tons fuller as a result. Sometimes a begonia can also get leggy, which capacity that it is accomplishing for a precise path the place the mild tends to be. Pruning the plant is an outstanding way to pressure it to develop from a positive phase of the stem, which can right the legginess and create a fuller plant.
Winterizing
Since wax begonias do now not develop in bloodless climates, many gardeners will do away with the flowers from the floor and region them in a planter so that they can come indoors for the winter.
Once inside, they will want heat and lots of daylight to grow, however, as lengthy as the temperature is above 60 degrees, it will live in the winter.
Frost can kill wax begonias, so make positive that you preserve the plant indoors till nicely after the frost is a threat. We wrote an extraordinary article with recommendations on how to overwinter your Begonias.
Propagating wax Begonia
The nice way to propagate a wax begonia is to take a stem reducing from the plant. This slicing has to be taken in the spring, and every slicing needs to be about three to 4 inches in length.
Place the slicing about two inches into the soil. While the slicing is forming roots, you will want to preserve the soil moist, and the air around the plant life humid.
One trick that many gardeners use to provide a plant with extra humidity is to cowl the leaves with a plastic bag. It will take some time for the plant to start developing again, however with the proper care, it will thrive quickly enough.
You can additionally begin a plant shape the seeds of a mature plant. The seeds have to be planted about 12 weeks earlier than the first frost of the year. They will want a lot of mild to grow, so do now not cowl them at all. They will develop excellent between 70 and seventy-five tiers Fahrenheit, and you have to begin to see an increase in about 15 to 20 days.
Problems In Growin Wax Begonia
One of the most frequent issues that you will ride with a wax begonia is root rot. This is due to the fact the plant requires a lot of humidity and moisture to grow, however when the moisture units in the soil, it can reason root rot, which can be quite negative to the plant. When the leaves of the plant are wet, the fungus can additionally structure on the leaves.
This will seem like powdery mildew, however, it can without problems be corrected with the aid of adjusting the moisture degree and watering the plant from beneath the leaves.
Spots can additionally structure on the leaves. Pests are no longer frequent trouble with wax begonias, however, there are a few to maintain at bay like spider mites, whiteflies, aphids, and scales, which can all motive discolouration and deformities in the leaves.
VARIETIES
The variety of commercially on hand cultivars is expansive. The ‘Big’ series, for example, aspects cultivars that produce giant plants in a range of colours and leaf shades. ‘Bada Bing’ is a sequence of long-blooming, sun-tolerant wax begonias that are on hand in pink, red, and white.
If you’re searching for large leaves and flowers, the ‘Dragon Wing’ red begonia is properly chosen, and it’s handy from Nature Hills Nursery. This range is additionally accessible in red. If you’re inclined to take on the task of developing wax begonia from seed (see greater below), you would possibly strive for this variety, which produces rose-coloured flowers.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME
Wax begonia can be very intricate to develop from seed. The seeds are tiny – like particles of dirt – and have a very long germination period.
Growing from seed additionally requires cautious interest to lights and temperature requirements, and the use of very unique soil.
Fortunately, it’s very effortless to discover this plant at backyard centres. Or you can propagate from cuttings from your very own or a friend’s begonias. Cut a stem that has various nodes (places from which leaves grow), however, has now not bloomed.
Cut your stem about a half inch under the lowest node you favour to encompass on your cutting, cast off the decrease leaves, and area your slicing in water in a small container, such as an infant meals jar.
Keep the cuttings in a warm, well-lit spot. When the roots are about an inch long, you can transplant them into the good-quality potting medium in a small pot. Bury at least one node. When the flora is 5 to 6 inches tall and all hazard of frost has passed, you can plant them exterior in well-drained, damp soil.
Many gardeners like begonia as a border or edging plant. In cooler areas of the country, plant wax begonia in full sun, and preserve in thought that sorts with bronze foliage have a tendency to do higher in full solar than those with inexperienced leaves. Gardeners in the south may additionally want to supply this vegetation with some afternoon shade.
Save the tubers in the fall and replant in spring, or reduce the plant back, dig it up, and plant in a container to revel in indoors over winter.
WATER CAREFULLY
Begonias don’t require a massive quantity of care. You’ll choose to deadhead spent blooms to inspire greater flowers, and if you desire compact plants, pinch them again regularly.
Keep the soil moist, however water at the base of the plant to keep away from leaf spot and the opportunity of fungal diseases.
Fertilize each and every two to 4 weeks throughout the developing season with a 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer. For potted plants, we like this fertilizer from Bonide. Water the flowers earlier than and after making use of the fertilizer. Luckily, B. semperflorens doesn’t go through from any serious insect problems.
Keep an eye out for mealybugs and get rid of them by means of dipping cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol and making use of the alcohol to the bugs. Alternatively, combine an instruction of three cups of alcohol with an equal quantity of water and a tablespoon of dish soap, and spray on the plant.
OLD IS NOW NEW AGAIN
Does this old skool charmer deserve a location in modern-day gardens? We suppose so! Its subtle vegetation and eye-catching foliage are statement-making and invaluable of inclusion in a border or as a specimen grouping.