Begonias Are Colorful Flowers for the Shade

Begonias are a good choice for shady areas that need colorful flowers. They are good growing in beds or in hanging pots.

Wax begonias are common garden plants.

The begonia most often grown in the garden is the wax begonia. They have shiny green leaves with some varieties having leaves that are bronze colored. Bronze leaf begonias are bred to grow in full sun, but they are best growing in about four to six hours of direct sun.

Growing only six to 14 inches tall, begonias are generally grown at the front of a flowerbed. Begonias can be grown from seeds but they get off to a slow start. The plants are usually purchased in six packs or in individual pots in the spring. Flower colors for wax begonias are white, red, coral, and pink.

Some types of begonia are used as house plants.

Angel wing begonias are taller (20 inches) with bigger leaves (shaped like an angel's) but are usually grown in pots as houseplants. Other begonias grown indoors are rieger begonias and Rex Begonias. They are available as gifts in florist shops, nurseries, or garden centers.

Any begonia grown inside can last more than a year but may need an occasional trimming. Begonias prefer light shade and a little more than average watering. In the garden, they will bloom until frost.

Cuttings can be used to make new begonias by cutting off pieces of stems, pulling off the lower leaves and rooting in moist soil or sand. Begonia likes rich soil. To keep the plants attractive, pick off dead flowers and any leaves that are turning brown.

Brown leaves may indicate too much sun with too little water. Yellow leaves may indicate soil that has been kept too wet.

Insects may also cause brown leaves on begonia. Aphids sucking on the plant can be controlled with sprays containing pyrethrum or Malathion. White spots that look like powdery flour are mealy bugs, remove the affected parts or discard the plant. Spider mites, small bugs with some cob webbing, will cause plant leaves to have small spots, treat with insecticide or discard plant.

Holes in leaves may mean slugs are lunching on your garden flowers. Place small pots upside down in the garden to attract them. Check the pots every few days and dispose of the slugs.

"Hardy Begonias" are available through mail order companies.　

Botanists have discovered more than 1000 species of begonia nearly all in the in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, or America, but the Chinese species "Begonia grandis" is known as the "hardy begonia. It can survive temperatures down to about ten degrees Fahrenheit. The plant can be obtained through mail order or e-Bay.