This potted flower is a hundred times prettier than pothos

This potted flower is a hundred times prettier than pothos

Care and management:

Light, water, fertilizer, temperature and pinching are the keys to growing good wax begonias.

Sunlight: Wax begonias like a mild climate and a humid environment; they are not cold-tolerant and dislike intense heat. In hot weather they need to be placed in a spot with light shade and cool conditions, and in winter when temperatures are low they need plenty of light. After planting out, wax begonias can take direct sunlight in early spring, but as the sunshine intensifies they must be shaded appropriately.

Water: The rule for watering is "two more, two less" - that is, spring and autumn are the growing and flowering seasons, so the water should be a little more generous and the potting soil slightly moist; summer and winter are the semi-dormant or dormant periods for wax begonias, so the water can be reduced and the potting soil kept a little drier. In winter especially, water even less and always keep the potting soil slightly dry. In winter, water around midday in the sunshine; in summer, it is best to water in the morning or evening. The principle for watering is "do not water until dry, and when dry, water thoroughly."

Fertilizing: During the spring and autumn growing seasons, wax begonias should be fed by the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, mainly with diluted, well-rotted organic liquid fertilizer that has no off-odor, or with a soak solution of inorganic fertilizer. During the seedling establishment stage, apply more nitrogen fertilizer to promote the growth of branches and leaves; at the bud-forming and flowering stage, apply more phosphorus fertilizer to encourage more buds and more, brighter flowers. If fertilizer is lacking, the plant will wilt and may even die.

For summer fertilizing of wax begonias, new and old plants must be treated differently. For new plants propagated in the autumn of the previous year, after each flush of flowers apply some well-rotted, diluted cake fertilizer water, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:5, once a week for two consecutive applications, and they can bloom again two weeks later. For perennial old plants or weak-growing plants, when the temperature is above 25°C, fertilizing must be stopped and resumed after the dog days have passed, to welcome a second peak flowering season.