Champion 7 pot Foliage Begonias 2024.
Photo 1.
Propagation of foliage begonias.
This cutting was taken in April last year. Potted on in June, into a 4″ pot, and kept over winter to develop.
The root system had developed well, and on the 12th, May, was potted up into a 6-inch pot as shown.
Ready to be potted on into a 6″ pot, as the root system has filled the pot.
This cutting was rooted in peat based Bulrush, with added Perlite mixed in.
Begonia cuttings are easy to propagate. This size 12cm pot if bought commercially would cost £12 to buy.
These were the cuttings ( one in each corner), that were taken late Summer early Autumn, 2024.
They were potted up from a 4″ square pot to a 5″ round pot on the 28th, March, this year.
Today, 17th, April, twenty days later, I knocked them out to examine the root systems.
As you can see, there has been good root growth, but not sufficient to pot on.
At this stage, rather than potting up, as there are roots showing at the bottom of the pot, I added a half inch of Bulrush at the bottom of the pot
However, I put a half inch of Bulrush compost on the bottom of the pot to introduce some additional feed, as roots were beginning to show at the bottom and around the sides.
1. Potted from a 4″ to a 5″.
New growth appearing after placing on heat. This pot was potted up from a 4inch pot on 28th, March, three weeks ago.
Rex pot coming to life, after winter dormancy, being kept at about 5C. The rhizome, has lost its leaves and new shoots are appearing.
2. In twenty days, roots beginning to appear on sides and bottom. Insufficient though to pot up.
4. New growth showing, shoots beginning to grow from the base.
5. Last year’s pot of Rex, looking a little bedraggled, having lost its foliage , however, new shoots showing in abundance.
New growth appearing after placing on heat. This pot was potted up from a 4inch pot on 28th, March, three weeks ago.
I’m not too worried, as Rex plants lose many of their leaves naturally, especially if they have been kept on the dry side and overwintered in cool conditions at around 5C.
To date all Rex pots, have been given one weak balanced feed nothing else, apart from the fresh compost used when potted up.
A continuation of the foliage begonias.
The cultivation of Begonia Rex Plants.
On my return from holiday, I altered the temperature of my thermometers on my hot beds from 16 to 20C.
I also gave the Rex cuttings, taken last year, a balanced feed, to start them and hasten growth.
We’ve also had sunny days, that had spurted growth.
Photo 3
This pot had four leaf cuttings ( stem and leaf ), taken from the rhizome at the base).
Each cutting was placed in each corner of the pot.
As you can see, the base of the cuttings, had produced multiple shoots, that have completely, covered the surface area of the pot.
2. A close up of the plant, knocked out from the pot showing the multiple stems growth.
3. Potted up from a 4″ pot into a 5″ pot.
I chose not to split/ divide the four separate original cuttings, preferring to keep the multiple growth of the emerging stems intact.
The reason for this, is that the dencer growth of the pot, is better for the show bench.
There will be gaps between the foliage, when judged.
I always, write the date on the pot when potted up.
Dorothy and I have been busy potting- up some Rexes today.
Also some of the larger Devotion- tubers.
I potted up some Rex cuttings today, as it was time to do so.
As stated previously, Rex plants, including cuttings don’t like their roots disturbed.
However, in order to show the root development, I knocked them out.
My compost mix was 4 to 1, peat based Bulrush/ Singletons JI2, plus 10% added Perlite.
This is an ideal open compost. The JI2, added is for water retention and retains nutrients for longer.
Of course, later, feed will be needed.
These, were leaf plus stem cuttings, placed on the side of a four-inch square pot.
The veins were punctured, with a pin before planting.
Roots emerged from the punctured areas of the veins, plus from the bottom of the stem.
As you can see, on some cuttings, multiple, stems were produced, from both veins and bottom of stems.
When growth in the form of roots first emerge, they throw multiple stems, from these stems, leaves emerge at the top.
At this stage, no rhizomes are visible, just roots.
Rhizomes, develop from the bottom of the root stems, much like the tubers that form on a Double Tuberous Begonias.
These rhizomes, as the plant ages, on a Rex swell, on top and below the compost, and provide starches, providing food for the plant much like the D/T does.
The rhizomes, keep the plant alive over winter and during drought in the wild.
Rooted Rex cutting overwintered and ready to be potted into next sized pot.
. The leaf cuttings have made two ‘root balls’, that can be potted up separately.
. This is a Rex plant that is a year old. It had formed rhizomes above the surface. When potting up, the rhizomes are buried deeper in a larger pot and covered with compost. This results in more stems establishing from below the compost.
Photo of last year’s plant with rhizomes placed deeper, in the next size- up pot, which will be covered with compost.
. Potted up into one size pot larger. Rexes, don’t like being over potted- up.
An excellent example of a well- established leaf Rex cutting, that has thrown multiple leaf stems.
The above potted up. This will make an excellent pot plant.
Dorothy Mary Williams.
