Begonia × tuberhybrida

Tuberous begonias ( Begonia × tuberhybrida )

Tuberous begonias ( Begonia × tuberhybrida ) (synonyms: . Begonia tuberosa hort, B. gigantea, B. multiflora and B. grandiflora, Begonia tuberhybrida ) belong to the family of skew -leaved plants ( Begoniaceae ).

Tuberous begonias prefer a partial shade to shade and are often planted as bedding and balcony plant.

In garden centers hanging begonia Begonia pendula tuberhybrida are often short or Begonia pendula sold. As houseplants varieties called Duftbegonie Begonia pendula tuberhybrida odorata or short Begonia odorata are sold, often smell strongly of citrus.

Description

There are perennial herbaceous plants with tubers as outlasting. Landscaped they are often as annual plants cultivated, but there are also some varieties to buy the tubers or hobby gardener let the plants move in and overwinter the tubers in a frost -free place. The plants freeze when the temperature drops below zero. The leaves are asymmetrical as is common in the whole family. The unisexual, large flowers are usually filled, but there are also unfilled varieties. The color of the petals has a wide range of colors from white, to yellow to orange to red and pink; blue is missing.

Culture

One gram of seeds contains approximately 45000-60000 grain ( Begonia seeds are tiny). The sowing date is for a bloom in May between the beginning and the end of December. Most of the seed boxes or young plants are obtained from seedlings establishments because the fine seed requires special seeding technique. To be of the seed to the seed boxes as far as are sold, it takes about seven weeks.

At a temperature of 23 ° C germination ( temperatures up to 26 ° C are also possible, which shortens the germination time ) occurs within two to three weeks. There are light to germinate and need high humidity for germination. Immediately after the emergence of the seeds, the temperature is lowered to 20-21 ° C and the humidity. The culture must be protected from strong sunlight.

To the growth and flower induction (stimulus to the development of flowers) need tuberous begonias long-day conditions. If the critical day length is not present 12 hours, the plant is feeding her leaves, or put all their energy into the formation of the tuber. Provision is made for a day length of 14 hours, to reach 40 to 60 watts per square meter, equivalent to 200 to 300 lux at the level of plants.

In terms of the seed boxes tuberous begonias are pricked. After another four to six weeks or after seedlings reference is potted. As the substrate weakly fertilized soils are used. Potted will usually have in 10er or 11er plastic pots or in so-called packs, so planters several small containers, for example, to six or ten plants for sale at the same time. The space required after transplant is approximately 80 plants per m² and at the end of the culture are 25 to 35 plants per square meter. The culture of time from the date of purchase of seedlings of eight to ten 10 weeks.

In the course of the culture temperature from an initial 20 ° C can be lowered until the end of the culture period at 16 ° C. However, the 16 ° C limit should not be exceeded, as this will cause hardening of the plants and Wachstumsstockungen and the plants move in the aboveground plant parts.

Often the plants are " compressed": that is, treatment with Stauchemitteln ( inhibitors ), such as with gardening- Cycocel.

Seedlings and young plants are sensitive to salt, so fertilize very careful. After rooting in the final pot every two weeks as usual, re-fertilized with the irrigating water.

A " brakes " of culture in the spring is achieved by keeping dry the stock. Attention! A decrease in temperature leads to tuber formation and Wachstumsstockungen.

There are also many tuberous begonias varieties that are propagated vegetatively. Some varieties are not sold as green or flowering plants, but as tubers. Like all begonias are tuberous begonias sensitive to frost.

Variety groups (selection)

• ' Non-Stop ' there are F1 hybrids
• ' Royal Picotee ' there are F1 hybrids
• ' Illumination '
• ' Ornament'
• 'Panorama '
• 'Pin - Up'
• ' Multiflora '

Pictures

White Hybrid: Shows the back of the flowers: the left is a female flower with inferior ovary and the right is a male flower to be seen.