Begonia Hiemalis was once the darling of old-time estate gardeners, its culture a closely guarded greenhouse secret. Nov that we have discovered its simple requirements, we find it relatively easy to grow.
We root plants from stem cuttings (instead of from leaves) in January or February. These are taken from top growth with about three leaves to each cutting. We place them in a mixture of peat moss and sand and give them bottom heat.
When cuttings are rooted, we pot them up in 2-inch pots of light, friable soil made by mixing one-third of each compost, garden soil, and sharp sand, and adding a 3-inch potful of organic plant food to each bushel of soil. A little charcoal helps sweeten the soil and aids drainage.
We make sure the base of the stem is close to the soil surface and that the soil is loosely packed. Begonias do not thrive in hard-packed soil. After a week of shade, we move them to a well-lit window and water only when the topsoil is slightly dry. They should never stand in water, nor should they dry out completely.
As soon as roots fill the pot, we repot the plant, making sure it always has good drainage. We never use a pot too large for the roots, just one size larger each time. Until about the middle of August we pinch plants to make them bushy and to produce more flowers—taking out the top two or three leaves. The flowering season lasts from October to February.
Fine Colors
There are many fine colors in both the single- and double-flowered forms of B. hiemalis. Some of the single flowers measure 3” inches across and the ultra-double forms are as beautiful as the finest hybrid tea roses.
Here are some old-time varieties:
- Emily Clibran, double salmon-pink
- Lady Roberts, a sport of Emily Clibran in old ivory
- Marietta, double apricot
- The President, double glowing red
- Man’s Favorite, large single white dogwood flower
- Exquisite, single pink dogwood flower
- Snowdrop, pure white double
- Pink Perfection, double delicate rose-pink
- Altrincham Pink, perfect double rosebud pink
- Rose Queen, semi-double rose suffused with red
Our new insecticides and fungicides easily conquer any pests that bother begonias. If the mite curls the new leaves, spray with an insecticide containing malathion. Treat mildew promptly with Miltex.
44659 by Joy Logee Martin