Tuberous begonias
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Tuberous Begonia ( Begonia × tuberhybrida ) |
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| Begonia × tuberhybrida | ||||||||||||
| Voss |
Tuberous begonias ( Begonia x tuberhybrida , . Syn : Begonia tuberosa hort. B. gigantea , B. multiflora and B. grandiflora , Begonia tuberhybrida ) belong to the family begoniaceae (Begoniaceae).
Tuberous begonias prefer a partially shaded to shady location and are often planted as bedding and balcony plants.
Hanging Begonia Begonia tuberhybrida pendula or Begonia pendula for short are often sold in garden centers .
As houseplants, varieties with the name scented begonia Begonia tuberhybrida pendula odorata or Begonia odorata for short are sold, which often smell strongly of citrus.
description
They are herbaceous plants of several years , with tubers as permanent organs. In horticulture they are often cultivated like annual plants , but the tubers of some varieties can also be bought or hobby gardeners let the plants move in and overwinter the tubers in a frost-free place. The plants freeze to death as soon as the temperature falls below zero. The leaves are asymmetrical, as is common in the whole family. The unisexual, large flowers are mostly double, but there are also unfilled varieties. The color of the petals has a wide range of colors from white, through yellow and orange to red and pink; blue is missing.
Culture
One gram of seed contains around 45,000 to 60,000 grains (begonia seeds are tiny). The sowing date for a flower in May is between the beginning and the end of December. Most of the time, seed boxes or young plants are obtained from young plant operations because the fine seeds require special sowing technology . It takes about seven weeks from sowing to the time the seed boxes are ready to be sold.
At a temperature of 23 ° C, germination takes two to three weeks (temperatures up to 26 ° C are also possible; this shortens the germination time). They are light germs and need high humidity to germinate. Immediately after the emergence of the seed is the temperature to 20 to 21 ° C. and the humidity lowered. The culture must be protected from strong sunlight.
For growth and flower induction (stimulus for the development of flowers), tuberous begonias require long-day conditions . If the critical day length of 12 hours is not available, the plant pulls in its leaves or puts all its strength into the formation of the tuber. A day length of 14 hours is provided, 40 to 60 watts per m² are sufficient, which corresponds to 200 to 300 lux at the height of the plants.
When purchasing seed boxes, the tuberous begonias are pricked out. After a further four to six weeks or after the young plants have been purchased, potting takes place. Poorly fertilized soils are used as the substrate . Most pots are made in 10 or 11 plastic pots or in so-called packs, i.e. planters that have several small containers, for example to sell six or ten plants at the same time. The space required after potting is around 80 plants per m² and at the end of cultivation there are 25 to 35 plants per m². The cultivation period from the date of purchase of young plants is eight to ten 10 weeks.
During the course of the culture, the temperature can be reduced from initially 20 ° C to 16 ° C at the end of the culture period. The 16 ° C limit, however, should not be fallen below, otherwise the plants will harden and growth stagnation and the plants will pull in the above-ground parts of the plant.
The plants are often "compressed": this is a treatment with compressing agents ( inhibitors ), for example with horticultural Cycocel.
Seedlings and young plants are sensitive to salt, so fertilize them very carefully. After rooting in the final pot, the irrigation water is fertilized every two weeks as usual.
"Braking" the crop in spring is achieved by keeping the crop dry. Attention! A decrease in temperature leads to tuber formation and growth stoppages.
There are also many types of tuberous begonia that are propagated vegetatively. Some varieties are not sold as green or flowering plants, but as tubers. Like all begonias, tuberous begonias are sensitive to frost.
Variety groups (selection)
- 'Non-Stop' they are F1 hybrids
- 'Royal Picotee' are F1 hybrids
- 'Illumination'
- 'Ornament'
- 'Panorama'
- 'Pin-up'
- 'Multiflora'
photos
In this pink variety, the male flowers are double and the female flowers are unfilled.
White hybrid: shows the reverse side of flowers: on the left is a female flower with ovaries below and on the right a male flower.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Begonia × tuberhybrida in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
- ↑ Culture report.