Plant of the Month - Begonia
Begonia
Colourful, large, & in charge
Plant: Tuberous Begonia (Begonia Tuberhybrida Hybrids)
When January comes around, you can be sure of one thing – the Entally Conservatory will be a riot of autumnal colours with our annual begonia display.
Nationally renowned begonia breeder & Friends of Entally volunteer, Peter Bugg, is the one responsible for this incredible showcase of the tuberous begonia. Being a begonia breeder for decades, he’s perfected the art of cultivating the huge flowers to be at their absolute best.
For the rest of us mere mortals, we may struggle - tuberous begonias are notoriously challenging. They demand the greatest amount of light possible but without any direct sunlight. The perfect amount will produce strong plants with an array of flowers, too little and the stem will be green and tall but with no blooms, and too much will become stunted and burnt.
Native to the rainforests in South America, they were further developed in England by James Veitch, becoming the large, flowered begonias we know today. A great choice for pots or hanging baskets, the vibrant colours of their flowers last from mid-December to early April.
Each plant produces three flowers, including a male flower in the centre, with a female flower either side. The male flowers tend to be larger and more impressive, so some growers choose to remove the female flowers. Coming in a range of colours of white, pink, cream, red, yellow, orange, and crimson, they can be single or double forms.
Starting their lifecycle as tubers, these are stored in seed trays until they begin to produce small pink buds (usually mid-winter to early spring). At this time, they can be potted with a generous covering of soil and some slow-release fertiliser. As they grow, repot once they reach 15cm high, and again just before flowering in early December.
As the plant develops the flower, it may be a good idea to stake the plant. This provides crucial support for the large bloom as it grows. Where possible, try to keep the plants growing strongly through May, as during this time the tubers build up reserves of carbohydrates for the next flowering season.
After flowering has finished and leaves turn yellow, reduce watering and allow the pot to dry out completely. Wash off all potting mix and let the tuber dry in the sun for about four days, or until it’s hard and dry, ensuring all dead plant material has been removed. Store well, begin to process again!
Our stunning begonia display will be available in the Conservatory from mid-January to mid-April. They blooms will be at their absolute best in late February, when we are hosting our special Gardenfest featuring these incredible flowers. Pop by and have a chat to Peter – he’ll also have a limited few for sale!