HIGH QUALITY BEGONIAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 26 December 1936, Page 13

HIGH QUALITY BEGONIAS

SUCCESS FOR AMATEURS In spite of their exotic appearance there is nothing in the way of cultural peculiarities to deter even the veriest novice from growing good tuberous begonias. The fact that in some places they are extensively used for summer bedding can be taken as ar indication of their simple tastes. Some allowance must, however, be made for the different conditions which prevail under glass and in open air. In the former case high summer temperatures will create an extremely dry atmosphere. Begonias refuse to grow freely under such conditions. Once the leaves slop developing, the case is hopeless, for some insect pest or other will se that’ recovery does not take place. Extreme dryness must be kept at bay by employing shading for the roof glass, and creating moist surroundings for the plants by damp-ing-down the paths and benches at least two or three times a day in hot weather. The pots are all the better for being stood on some moist-retain-ing material, or the appetites of the plants will be almost insatiable lor water when the pots become filled with roots. If the plants are neither over-potted nor over watered throughout the summer, and cool, moist, airy conditions are main-tained, there is not the slightest fear of the highest quality. Begonias resent a contmuously-soaden soil, and overpotting is an error to be always guarded against. A 3in. or 4in. pot is quite large enough for the initial potting once the tubers have started into growth. When these pots are nicely filled with roots a move can be made to a sin. or 6in. size, and from these again to a still larger size. The essential point is that the shifts should be small ones each time, so that a large bulk of soil unpermented with roots does not lie round the plants for some time before the roots have taken hold of it. Such a bulk of soil soon becomes sour with the watering. If the soil is in good condition at potting—that it, neither too wet or too dry, but just sufficiently moist to hold together when squeezed in the hand no water should be given until the pots ring dry when struck smartly with the knuckles. Then give enough to pass right through the ball of soil. A good soil mixture Is composed of three parts of fibrous loam, one part of well-decayed manure, one part of wood ashes and sufficient coarse sand Lo render the whole compost open in texturt.