Is wax begonia easy to grow? Analysis of care difficulty

Other names for wax begonia

Clam-meat begonia, glass begonia, glass emerald, four-season begonia, melon-seed begonia, rose begonia, saxifrage begonia

Morphological characteristics of wax begonia

Wax begonia is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant with an upright, slightly succulent stem, 25 cm to 40 cm tall, and well-developed fibrous roots; the leaves are ovate to broadly ovate, with an oblique base, green or purplish red; it is monoecious with unisexual flowers, and the cymes are axillary. Flower colors include red, pink, and white, with single or double petals, and there are many varieties.

Growth habits of wax begonia

Wax begonia likes sunlight and is slightly shade-tolerant. It is relatively afraid of cold and likes warmth, a slightly shady and humid environment, and moist soil, but it fears heat and waterlogging. In summer, pay attention to shading, ventilation, and drainage. Wax begonia is very sensitive to sunlight. In summer, adjust the lighting time well, create a suitable growing environment, and provide shading. Plants cultivated indoors should be placed in a location with sufficient scattered light and good air circulation, and windows should be opened at night for ventilation.

Varieties of wax begonia

The leaves of wax begonia can be divided into two major types: one turns red-green after receiving sunlight, and the other is copper-red. Flower colors include red, peach, white, bicolor, and more. Flower forms are also divided into double-petaled and single-petaled. Double-petaled varieties are not easy to seed and are mostly propagated vegetatively by cuttings. Commercially sold varieties are almost all hybrid F1 varieties, which are vigorous in nature.

Common varieties include: Olympia series, Hi-Fi series, Lorrain series, Copper Leaf series, Ambassador series, Olympic, Dance series, Fax, Pink Sensation, Vodka, and others.

Application value of wax begonia

Wax begonia is used very widely internationally. In addition to potted ornamental use, it is also a material for flower beds, hanging baskets, planting troughs, window boxes, and indoor arrangements. The quantity and quality of its use have developed rapidly. In the United States, besides potted ornamental use, it is often used for flower bed appreciation, and many new varieties with strong adaptability, heat resistance, and moisture tolerance have been bred. In Northern European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, high-quality potted ornamental types are mainly produced and exported to Western European countries. Among them, the Danish company Dæhnfeldt is famous for producing wax begonia. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries also have a certain amount of production. In short, wax begonia is still quite popular in the European market. Japan has a certain amount of production, mainly to meet domestic market demand. Seeds rely on imports from the United States and Denmark.

In traditional production, wax begonia is a perennial greenhouse potted flower. In recent years, people have applied it to flower bed arrangements with excellent results. With the emergence of some relatively heat-tolerant varieties, wax begonia is very likely to become one of the most important flower bed flowers in China, with advantages such as a rounded plant shape, abundant and dense flowers, easy combination with other flower bed plants, and a long ornamental period, so it is becoming increasingly popular. It is generally cultivated in spring and autumn.

Flower language of wax begonia

Wax begonia is suitable for giving to children, and its flower language is: happy and intelligent; it can also be given to adults full of childlike innocence, implying spring in all four seasons and becoming younger.