Begonia boliviensis - Bolivian Begonia - Seeds

Description

• Begoniaceae Cucurbitales
• Argentina, Bolivia
• H 50cm x W 70cm
•  Z8 
• Synonyms: Bolivian Begonia, Weeping Begonia, Begonia argentinensis
• 1 packet of 50 seeds

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Detail

Begonia boliviensis comes from the rainforests of the Andean mountains

It is a tuberous Begonia which goes dormant in winter

It produces an uninterrupted profusion of large single flowers of around 10cm, drooping, orange-red, succeeding one another throughout the summer and again until October along erect, then weeping, branched stems

This Cascade Begonia is used in the gardens and on terraces to create large isolated pots which will give a permanent effect throughout the season

It is robust and could not be easier to grow

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Cultivation

The advantage of sowing is to get a significant number of plants at a lower cost, considering the price of tubers or plantlets in nurseries

The seeds are extremely tiny, therefore should never be burried

Sprinkle them on the surface of a soaked potting soil, and place in a warm place (25°C and above) with light but no direct sun

Ensure that the soil is always moist and water by capillary only, so as not to disturb the seeds and tiny seedlings

Begonia boliviensis seeds absolutely need heat to germinate

Either you have a device to provide what is necessary and you can sow from March, or it is better to wait until June to proceed : They will germinate naturally with the heat of summer

Under the right conditions, germination occurs quickly (about 1 week)

Grow for several weeks in a warm place, in a very bright location with subdued sunlight, without strong direct sunlight

When the seedlings have a few leaves and can be handled, transplant them into pots, or several into small pots, in a potting mix for flowering plants

Water abundantly and regularly: the soil must never dry out

Fertilize every 10 days with a liquid fertilizer in the watering water

The first flowers may appear in late August or early September on spring seedlings of the same year

During October, when dyas shorten and temperature drops, the Bolivian Begonia loses its leaves and enters vegetative rest

Stop watering and let the substrate dry

Then take out the small tubers that have formed, clean them, and store them carefully in a cool place, away from light and rodents

After a couple of months, check that they are not drying excessively (if they become soft, it is a good idea to hydrate them by soaking them in cold water for 3h)

The real show will begin on the following year

When the tubers bud in spring, plant them individually or in groups of 3 in fairly large pots filled with moist potting soil and grow them protected from the frost for a few weeks

After the last frost, place the pots outside and admire

By doing this each year, the tubers become larger and larger

So do the plants, and their flowering becomes more and more abundant and spectacular

An easy Begonia that tolerates full sun once adult