A Detailed Guide to Wax Begonia Seed Prices and Planting Methods
Wax begonia, also known as perpetual begonia, clam-flesh begonia and so on, is a succulent herbaceous plant of the genus Begonia in the family Begoniaceae. In China it is very likely to become one of the most important flowerbed plants, with advantages such as a neat and rounded plant shape, abundant and dense flowers, great ease of combining with other flowerbed plants, and a long ornamental period, and it is therefore becoming increasingly popular. Let us take a look below at wax begonia seed prices and planting methods!
How much do wax begonia seeds cost?
The price of wax begonia seeds is about 0.6 to 1 yuan per bag, each bag containing 20 seeds, but prices vary slightly depending on seed quality, variety, market and purchase quantity. The wax begonia has a graceful plant form, glossy dark green leaves and delicate, charming flowers, and is widely loved by the public. It has been kept as a potted ornamental for a thousand years; placed on a table in the cold season it can fill a room with the feeling of spring, and in spring and summer placed on a balcony under the eaves it shows even more lively vitality. Wax begonia is propagated by sowing, cuttings, division and other methods.
How do you sow wax begonia seeds?
1. Substrate selection: For sowing wax begonia, choose a shallow pot with strong air permeability and water permeability. The substrate should be loose and fertile; you can mix leaf mold, rice husk ash and garden soil, expose it to strong sunlight or sterilize it at high temperature, and after screening separate the coarse and fine parts.
2. Pre-sowing treatment: Wash the sowing container for wax begonia thoroughly, cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with a clean piece of tile, put coarse substrate in the lower half of the pot and fine substrate in the upper half, then place the pot in a water container, and sow once the potting soil is moist.
3. Sowing time: Wax begonia is generally sown from September to March of the following year, with sowing from December to January of the following year being ideal, because at this time the temperature is low, room temperature is easy to control, pests and diseases are not likely to breed and spread, and the seedlings grow robustly.
4. Sowing method: Mix the wax begonia seeds with fine garden soil and scatter them evenly over the surface of the pot; no soil covering is needed. Cover with glass to keep in moisture and place in a cool, ventilated spot. At 15 to 22°C, they will germinate in a week.
5. Seedling management: About one month after the wax begonia seedlings emerge, when they have two true leaves, carry out the first pricking out, using the same soil as for sowing. Afterwards a second pricking out can be done according to growth, and for the final potting the soil should be mixed with dried manure or fertile soil.
Planting methods for wax begonia
1. Potting soil: For wax begonia, the ideal potting soil is a mix of river sand, leaf mold and snake fern shavings; alternatively mix leaf mold, rice husk ash and garden soil in equal parts and add an appropriate amount of barnyard manure, bone meal or superphosphate.
2. Temperature: In the hot midsummer season, wax begonia needs measures to avoid strong direct light and to lower the temperature, creating a small environment below 30°C for its care. In winter, as long as the temperature is kept above 10°C, it can overwinter safely.
3. Watering: Wax begonia likes a moist environment, and in the hot summer it is best to keep the potting soil slightly moist. Do not water a fixed number of times per day or per several days; instead, always observe the wet and dry condition of the potting soil, and water when the soil turns pale.
4. Light: Wax begonia likes a mild climate and a moist environment. In hot periods it needs to be placed in a spot with dappled shade and coolness; in winter when temperatures are low it needs ample light. In early spring it can take direct sunlight, and as sunshine intensity increases it must be shaded appropriately.
5. Fertilizing: During the growing season, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer about once every 10 days. In summer and winter, when growth is slow, fertilize less or stop fertilizing, to avoid rot diseases caused by tender stems and leaves and weakened heat and cold resistance.
6. Pests and diseases: Wax begonia diseases include leaf spot disease and bacterial diseases, which should be controlled with thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil, jinggangmycin and so on. Pests are mainly various insects that harm leaves and stems, including slugs, thrips and leaf miners, and should be treated with targeted pesticides.
7. Pinching: Like jasmine, Chinese rose and other flowers, wax begonia must have spent flowers trimmed and the growing tips pinched in time after blooming, so as to encourage more branching and more blooming; otherwise the plant tends to grow thin and leggy, with an unattractive shape and fewer flowers.
Points to note for wax begonia
1. Commercial cultivation of wax begonia all uses propagation by sowing. When buying seedlings, choose seedling plants with large, complete basal leaves and buds or branches at the leaf axils; such seedlings have strong growth vigor, many branches and abundant flowers.
2. Wax begonia is afraid of cold. Before frost descends, move the pot indoors to a sunny spot facing south; when a cold wave arrives, cover it with a plastic bag and remove it the next day after the sun comes out. It must not be placed next to a heater, otherwise the leaves will be scorched.
3. In summer, wax begonia pots should be placed in a cool, ventilated spot with the temperature kept below 30°C, and must never be exposed to strong direct light, which causes sunburn. Keep the potting soil neither too wet nor too dry; too wet easily causes root rot, and too dry makes the leaves wilt.
4. When wax begonia flower buds form, apply additional quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to make the flowers vivid. Watering should follow the rule of watering thoroughly once the soil looks dry, and attention should be paid to maintaining humidity, frequently spraying water on the leaves, especially in the hot summer and dry winter; in summer and winter it is better to keep things slightly on the dry side.