Begonia look like exotic flowers when grown from good tubers. The colours are vibrant and varied although the above white is one of my favourites.
- Popular in the USA but less so in the UK, Begonias make good cut flowers – give them a long drink immediately after cutting then they will stay firm for several hours without flagging and last for many days in an arrangement. Float them in large bowls or on top of brandy glasses as a different way of displaying them. Even the small end of season flowers or the smaller male and female flowers either side of the main male flower will hold their rigidity.
- Picotee Begonias are not a different variety but differ only in the petal colouring which is edged with Red or Pink. this has produced some good hybrids such as Corona, and Harlequin. Wedding Day is white with slightly pink outer petal blush that can give a Picotee effect.
- Tip – Begonias are asymmetrical so they have a definite front and back. So I recommend staking them from the back, with a thicker than normal cane, sloping about 10° from the vertical so that when it is tied with a flat tie it draws the stem into the vertical. Take care not to put the stake so close that it goes through the tuber.
- Tip - First flowers in a season are often produced before the Begonia has enough stamina to sustain them, so if you want great blossom be ruthless and disbud the first flowers to divert energy into later flowers.
- Tip – Vine weevil grubs are a great pest eating the tubers from Autumn. The egg laying brownish beetles like ferns so watch out if you grow them in close proximity otherwise a chemical treatment will be needed. Water can be a barrier method and I guess the little grubs can’t swim.
please send any details re the purchase of begonia show tubers the large blooms,
and how to purchase some winter pot plants. . and any information on the care and gorwing of the show plants including propagation .
thank you
Don Wethyerly
Tel. 01923 855608
14 Craigweil Ave
Radlett
Herts WD7 7WX
I do not know any specialists. Can anyone help?