Fact Sheet: Creating Begonias
Presenter: Colin Campbell, 18/04/2009
SERIES 20 Episode 12
Joan Taylor has been gardening since she was in primary school. When she moved to Maleny on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Joan discovered begonias and they captured her imagination. "Id collected about twenty begonias and I thought I had the whole lot. I joined the Begonia Society and found out there were thousands more."
Begonias are set into different groups, according to their growth habit or root system.
Cane Begonias: These produce long bamboo-like canes from a central clump, and pendulous clumps of showy flowers. They are best grown in the garden.
Shrub Begonias: Have denser stems and foliage than cane begonias, and although they may not flower as much the varied foliage is spectacular all year. These are also best grown in the garden.
Tuberous Begonias: Often classed as the most spectacular of the begonias due to their incredible flowers, tuberous begonias are usually grown in pots. As the name suggests, tuberous begonias are grown from tubers (a swollen underground stem) or seed. They dont usually like high temperatures or humidity.
Climbing Begonias: These can be used in the garden as traditional climbers, as scramblers amongst other plants, and even in hanging pots.
Rhizomatous Begonias: This is the largest group of begonias, identified by their rhizomatous root system, and mostly grown for their amazing foliage.
Rex Begonias: These also have a rhizomatous growth system, and are also grown for and distinguished by their stunning coloured and patterned foliage. They prefer high humidity and are ideal for growing in glass and shade-houses. Joan says, "Rexs need more protection than the others. They dont like frost or dry winds." For this reason, Joan grows her rex begonias in a shade-house to protect them from the rain which can tend to rot the leaves.
Joan enjoyed growing Rex begonias so much she began propagating them herself. She explains the process:
Use either a single piece of rhizome (stem) with a few nodes or, as Joan does, a stem section with leaf attached.
Cut a leaf with about five centimetres of stem
Cut away at least half of the leaf to reduce transpiration
Plant it upright, a couple of centimetres deep, in a sandy media
The new plants will form from the section of stem in the sand.
Leaf cuttings this is what Joan uses for her rex begonias
Cut a leaf with about three centimetres of stem
Remove most of the leaf to reduce transpiration
Insert the stem so that the leaf is actually touching the sandy propagating media
The new plant will grow from where the leaf touches the media.
Hybridising this method is used for creating new cultivars
Choose two plants you want to breed
Remove a male flower (these have pollen but no seed pod at the back of the flower)
Select a female flower (these have a seed pod behind the flower)
Rub the male flower onto the female flower
If pollinated, the petals of the female flower will die and fall off after a few days
Seeds will form in the pod over a few weeks or months, depending on the variety
Plant the seeds, which take about a week to germinate
Joans cross-pollination has produced some spectacular varieties, including one multiple prize winner. She recommends growing them in "open, well drained soil" with added charcoal and peat moss to allow the water to drain quickly. Joan also advises growing rex begonias in shallow pots, and feeding with fish emulsion.
Colin says, "I dont care if certain elements of the fashion police make pronouncements about begonias being old fashioned. I think their variety and beauty transcends any passing fads. What do you reckon?"
Information contained in this fact sheet is a summary of material included in the program. If further information is required, please contact your local nursery or garden centre.
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