PROPAGATING BEGONIA SEMPERFLORENS
I know I have mentioned Begonia semperflorens 'Heaven White' before, and how wonderful it is, but I want to say how odd I find it that two plants, bought at the same time, grown in the same soil, dug up and potted in the same way, and overwintered side by side in the same position, with the same light and warmth, and the same care, should grow so differently. While one has rich growth with very healthy, with rather compact and strong leaf growth (right image), the other is leggy, paler and has produced a lovely display of white flowers (left image). It seems clear that individual plants are every bit as individual and different as we are. They have a 'mind' of their own. I should mention that I have pinched out the tips of both plants during the winter to try and keep them compact and promote bushier growth.
How special begonia semperflorens are, or wax begonias as they are also called, that we can grow them in the garden for months (and they tolerated all that rain last year and so little sunshine) bring them in and enjoy the pretty flowers indoors, then plant them outdoors again; not to mention propagate them so we can have more of the same. They say they are the most popular of bedding plants. Hardly surprising. While I love these white ones, I would love it if I could find some in yellow. Do Begonia Semperflorens in yellow exist? I think not. I have only been able to find yellow tuberous begonias. Semperflorens are fibrous rooted.
I read that they like full sun or partial shade. Those above, they have been on an east facing window all winter long with only short periods of sun. I have, I admit, grown them as near to the kitchen window as I can. They like low humidity, they say. Maybe so, but my kitchen can get pretty steamy yet here they are, still growing well, with no sign of disease like powdery mildew, or insect invasion.
I would usually taking my cuttings by severing the stem below a leaf joint with a sharp knife and removing the lower leaves completely. And I would pinch out the top of the stem to just above a leaf joint so that my cutting would have just a couple of leaves at the top. The cutting would be about 4" all together. I've never used rooting powder. I just take plenty of cuttings and stick them in a pot of damp potting compost and I make sure the compost doesn't dry out, watering from below rather than from the top by putting water into the saucer, leaving it until it is drawn up by capillary action, and then discard any excess water. That's it. Some cuttings may die but usually not many if any. I do the same with pelargoniums. I don't put a plastic bag over the top, and I don't have a propagator. I give them partial light, not full sun, a moderately warm room, and let them get on with it. I'll probably be propagating those plants above in a week or two. Watch all my cuttings die now that I've been so blasé about it all!
How special begonia semperflorens are, or wax begonias as they are also called, that we can grow them in the garden for months (and they tolerated all that rain last year and so little sunshine) bring them in and enjoy the pretty flowers indoors, then plant them outdoors again; not to mention propagate them so we can have more of the same. They say they are the most popular of bedding plants. Hardly surprising. While I love these white ones, I would love it if I could find some in yellow. Do Begonia Semperflorens in yellow exist? I think not. I have only been able to find yellow tuberous begonias. Semperflorens are fibrous rooted.
I read that they like full sun or partial shade. Those above, they have been on an east facing window all winter long with only short periods of sun. I have, I admit, grown them as near to the kitchen window as I can. They like low humidity, they say. Maybe so, but my kitchen can get pretty steamy yet here they are, still growing well, with no sign of disease like powdery mildew, or insect invasion.
I would usually taking my cuttings by severing the stem below a leaf joint with a sharp knife and removing the lower leaves completely. And I would pinch out the top of the stem to just above a leaf joint so that my cutting would have just a couple of leaves at the top. The cutting would be about 4" all together. I've never used rooting powder. I just take plenty of cuttings and stick them in a pot of damp potting compost and I make sure the compost doesn't dry out, watering from below rather than from the top by putting water into the saucer, leaving it until it is drawn up by capillary action, and then discard any excess water. That's it. Some cuttings may die but usually not many if any. I do the same with pelargoniums. I don't put a plastic bag over the top, and I don't have a propagator. I give them partial light, not full sun, a moderately warm room, and let them get on with it. I'll probably be propagating those plants above in a week or two. Watch all my cuttings die now that I've been so blasé about it all!