Annuals Dictionary: Begonia
Begonia family
Begoniaceae
Bee-go’ni-a. An immense genus of tropical herbs with soft or succulent stems.
Description
Leaves alternate, often brightly colored or with colored veins. Flowers red, pink, yellow, or white, slightly irregular, the male and female separate.
How to Grow
Sow seeds indoors 4-6 months before last frost. Press gently into a fine potting medium. Keep moist and provide light. Germinate at 70-80°F (21.0-26.5°C), and keep above 50°F (10°C) at night. When large enough to handle, transfer seedlings to individual pots. Then plant outdoors after frost danger is past. Where summer sun is intense, provide shade from the afternoon sun. If planted in moderate to deep shade, begonia plants will elongate and set fewer flowers. For houseplants, dig up before first frost. Prefers warm weather.
Begonia – semperflorens-cultorum
Wax Begonia . A group of hybrids and cultivars. Usually 8-12 in. (20-30 cm) high. Leaves bronzy-green or green. Flowers white, pink, or red, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, blooming continuously outdoors in summer. Many varieties, with single or double blossoms, some with large flowers, others have many more clusters of small flowers. South America. Tender perennial grown as a tender annual.