Grooming Begonias
During this time of year, the outdoor gardens at my farm are pretty bare, but there's a lot of work to do in the greenhouses, including grooming my large collection of begonias. And this week, we have an extra set of hands helping out.
Wendy Norling is one of my gardeners at Skylands, my beloved home in Maine. She's visiting New York this week to help with some of our indoor chores. On the list - carefully inspect each begonia plant, trim any dead or discolored leaves and stems, remove any crisscrossing canes, top dress with fresh potting mix, and feed, feed, feed.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- My growing collection of begonias is one of the first you see when entering my main greenhouse. I keep my begonias on a long, sliding table, so each plant is within easy reach. They are also placed where they get bright, indirect light.
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- Rhizomatous begonias range from small, delicate plants with one-inch wide leaves to large, robust specimens with 12-inch wide leaves or more.
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- All begonias have oval-shaped leaves that can be spade-like with a pointed tip in some varieties. The leaves grow from the main stem in an “alternate” structure. This means they never grow opposite one another, but instead, each individual leaf emerges slightly higher on the stem than the previous one.
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- Begonias are native to tropical and subtropical climates, so many specimens are kept indoors as ornamental houseplants.
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- They come in many colors and textures, and can be smooth or veiny, decorated in bold accents of red, copper and silver or subtle shades of green.
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- Here’s Wendy tending the many plants. I have been collecting begonias for years. The genus begonia contains about 1500 different plant species and hundreds of hybrids.
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- As part of the grooming process, using sharp snips Wendy gives the plants a slight pruning to encourage new growth and aeration.
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- Any viable leaves that are trimmed or fall off are always saved for future rooting purposes. Begonia leaves root easily – just push its stem into potting soil, and keep it moist. After a few weeks, new leaves emerge.
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- She uses these large tweezers to carefully pluck any weeds growing under the plant.
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- Begonias grow best in a light well-draining potting mix. Wendy top dresses each pot with a fresh layer. Any good quality light potting mix will work well. We use one from Miracle-Gro, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor container plants.
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- Wendy also gives each plant a sprinkling of fertilizer. This is Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus.
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- Osmocote is an all-in-one solution containing essential nutrients in tiny resin-covered prills.
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- Because these plants store water in the rhizomes, which are their thick, fuzzy stems, it is important not to overwater them. Only water these plants when the top one-inch of soil feels dry. This is Begonia ‘Northern Lights.’ The stems are exceptionally thick and show the scars of felled leaves.
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- This interesting begonia has dark green leaves and white markings.
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- This is Begonia ‘Soli-mutata’. It is a compact medium-sized species from Brazil. The heart-shaped leaf colors vary depending on its exposure to bright light, which is why its common name is Sun Tan Begonia. Several of my ‘soli-mutata’ plants were grown from leaf cuttings off one parent plant.
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- The undersides are a dark pink with light green veining.
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- Begonias dislike wet feet. Between waterings, let the soil dry out slightly. And for the best results, repot begonias every couple of years – potting mix elements break down over time and lose draining qualities and airspaces to hold oxygen.
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- Begonias are considered cool temperature plants and do best in temperatures ranging from 58 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
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- They are remarkably resistant to pests primarily because their leaves are rich in oxalic acid – a natural insect repellent.
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- There is no end to the variety of leaf shape, color and texture in the begonia. Begonias make wonderful year-round houseplants. My collection of begonias continues to grow.
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