Image – Wikimedia/James St. John
The begonias we are used to seeing are almost always herbaceous plants that do not grow much, but Did you know that there are shrubby species? These are not grown as much and are therefore harder to find in nurseries unless they specialize in exotic plants.
But if you are curious about their names and how they are maintained, in Jardinería On We will tell you everything so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.. Precise.
Contents
How are the bush begonias?
Image – Wikimedia/Le Titou
Bush begonias are those with cane stems and a fibrous root system; In addition, they can measure from 1 to 2 meters, unlike other begonias which are herbaceous and rarely exceed 30 centimeters in height.
Its leaves are large, about 20 centimeters long, and green or with a few whitish dots or spots. And the flowers are grouped in inflorescences that grow at the top of certain stems, in spring and summer.
What care do they need?
Shrubby begonias are plants that require a series of care to thrive. For this reason, we advise you to take into account what we are going to tell you next:
Location
They need (natural) light, although they should not be exposed to direct sunlight during the central hours of the day. because they are not plants that tolerate it well. For this reason, it is best to put them in partial shade if kept outdoors, or in a very bright room if kept indoors.
Also, if you’re going to be home, it is very important that they stay away from draftsbecause otherwise the leaves would dry out, starting with the tips.
soil or substrate
these plants they need quality, light soil that facilitates water drainage. For this reason, if they are going to be in the ground, avoid planting them in land that easily waterlogs, otherwise the roots will rot.
If they are going to be in pots, they should be planted in those that have holes in their base, with quality substrates such as Universal Flower or BioBizz.
Irrigation and fertilization
Image – Wikimedia/Yercaud-elango
As they are not tolerant to excess water but also not tolerant to drought, we recommend watering them two to three times a week as long as the good weather lasts and temperatures stay above 20 °C. But in autumn and winter we water less, because they require less water.
As for the subscriber, must be paid in spring and summer, using a liquid flower plant fertilizer like the one you can buy here. If you want to pay them with natural products, we recommend using guano, also liquid. Of course, no matter what you are going to use, you must follow the instructions for use.
Transplantation
bush begonias they should be planted in larger pots every 3 or 4 years, throughout the spring. Also in this season, they should be planted in the ground as long as the weather is warm all year round and there are no frosts at any time. And it is that these plants are very, very sensitive to the cold.
hardiness
The lowest temperature they can withstand is 10ºC. Some other non-shrubby begonias, such as B. semperflorens, will last a bit longer, down to 5°C, but even then it’s not good to have them outside if it’s cold.
Types of Shrub Begonias
The genus of begonias includes about 1,500 species, to which are added about ten thousand varieties and hybrids. The vast majority of them are low-growing herbaceous plants, but there are some that grow a little taller, such as the following:
Begonia aconitifolia
The Begonia aconitifolia It is a fast growing perennial plant reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 meters. It has green leaves with white dots, and produces flowers grouped in pink clusters. It is a rare species that adapts well to pot life.
large begonia
Image – Flickr/James St. John
The large begonia it is a grass reaches an approximate height of 60 centimeters, although it can reach one meter if the climate is warm all year round and it lacks neither water nor nutrients. The leaves are green and although they are perennial, they can drop off if winter temperatures drop below 15 ºC. Its flowers are pink or white and bloom in spring.
begonia maculata
Image – Wikimedia/GCornelis
The begonia maculata It is a plant that has different names, such as tamaya begonia, angel wing begonia or spotted begonia. It can reach a height of about 1 meter and has bright green succulent leaves with white spots.. The flowers are grouped in pink or reddish-pink clusters which are pendulous.
What do you think of bush begonias? I hope you now know how to take care of them in the best possible way.