How to Grow Cane Begonia: A Complete Guide, Plus Propagation by Cuttings
Cane begonia is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Begoniaceae family, with stems that have distinctly bamboo-like nodes, leaves that are dark green on the surface and deep red on the underside, and pale red or white flowers. Its flower shape and leaf color are delicate and charming, and many people want to grow one. Below we introduce how to grow cane begonia.
I.How to grow cane begonia
1. Soil: loose, fertile, neutral soil.
The soil for growing cane begonia should be loose and fertile. Compost soil, leaf mold and peat soil can be used, with a pH of 6.5-7.5 neutral soil. Alkaline soil or heavy, easily compacted soil should not be used, as it is unfavorable for new root growth, causing short stems and leaves, dull color, and easy susceptibility to chlorosis.
2. Sowing: April-May in spring or September-October in autumn.
Sow in a shallow clay pot or a seeding box as the sowing container, either indoors or in a greenhouse, preferably in April-May in spring or September-October in autumn; fill the pot with soil, scatter the seeds evenly, and press lightly with a wooden board. Soak the bottom of the pot in water, remove it once moistened, then cover the mouth of the pot with translucent glass to maintain relatively high humidity inside the pot. Then place it in a semi-shaded spot at a room temperature of 18-22°C for care. Germination generally takes 7-30 days.
3. Temperature: a warm environment, warm in winter and cool in summer.
Cane begonia grows rapidly in a warm environment, with lush stems and leaves and bright flowers. The optimal growing temperature is 19-24°C, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C, otherwise the leaves are prone to freezing, though the rhizome is relatively cold-hardy.
4. Light: partial shade and partial sun, avoiding strong light.
Cane begonia generally suits growing under morning light and diffused light; under strong light the leaves are easily scorched. Its response to photoperiod is also very obvious: under short-day conditions and a nighttime temperature of 21°C, the flowering period is noticeably delayed.
5. Water: supply sufficient water, mist several times a day.
Cane begonia needs sufficient water and relatively high air humidity. The water supply should not be too little, lest the stems and leaves wilt and fall over, nor too much, lest the roots rot. In winter the water supply should be reduced accordingly; in addition, mist several times a day and keep the relative humidity at 56%-60%.
6. Fertilizing: by drip irrigation or subsurface irrigation.
Fertilizing can be done by drip irrigation or other subsurface irrigation, which can reduce the occurrence of diseases such as bacterial leaf spot. The fertilizer ratio is best at N:P:K of 3:1:2 or 2:1:2, supplemented with trace elements. The fertilizer concentration must not be too high, lest it burn the roots.
7. Diseases: treat promptly, and do a good job of prevention normally.
Diseases of cane begonia include leaf spot, gray mold, root rot, damping-off, and fusarium wilt. After onset, promptly use the corresponding medication to prevent the disease from spreading. Once diseased plants are found, promptly destroy them in a centralized manner. Do a good job of prevention normally to reduce and suppress the occurrence of diseases.
II. How to propagate cane begonia by cuttings
Besides sowing seeds, cane begonia can also be propagated by cuttings, including stem cuttings, leaf cuttings and rhizome cuttings.
1. Stem cuttings: can be done year-round under greenhouse conditions, but April-May is best. Take a robust stem tip 10-15 cm long with 2-3 buds as the cutting, without flower buds, so as not to affect rooting; the cutting should not be buried too deep, insert only half, and maintain relatively high air humidity and a room temperature of 20-22°C. Rooting occurs in 9-27 days.
2. Leaf cuttings: can be done year-round under greenhouse cultivation, but summer and autumn are best. Lay a fully developed mature leaf flat on a sand bed, cut a 1 cm slit at the central midrib of the leaf with a blade, fasten the leaf tightly to the sand surface with “n” wire, then maintain suitable temperature and humidity.
3. Rhizome cuttings: carried out in spring and autumn. Cut the lower rhizome into 3-5 cm sections, insert them obliquely or lay them flat on a sand bed, maintain a room temperature of 20-22°C and relatively high indoor humidity. Adventitious roots grow in 15-20 days, adventitious buds sprout in 30-40 days, and once several small leaves have formed they can be transplanted.
The above is an introduction to how to grow cane begonia and how to propagate it by cuttings. We hope it is useful to you.