Trailing Begonias – Extraordinary Beauty for Sun and Shade

Trailing Begonias – Extraordinary Beauty for Sun and Shade

For many years, our market has offered a vast array of well-known begonias. Begonias are available in many colors, varieties, and shades. Everyone can surely recall the beautiful trailing begonias in numerous windows or in planters on balconies, verandas, and gardens. The beauty of trailing begonias lies in their abundance of striking flowers on vigorous plants, combined with their ability to grow in both sunny and shaded locations. The Bolivian begonia has been a bestseller for many seasons and is a hit among new annual varieties.

This Bolivian begonia originates from the Bolivian Andes, where it grows at altitudes up to 2,000 meters. Thanks to this, this species tolerates direct sunlight better and requires less regular watering. These very characteristics sparked the interest of flower breeders, and gradually varieties began to emerge that were propagated through cuttings. Now around twelve varieties have been bred, with some plants being lower-growing, beautifully trailing, compact, and suitable even for smaller containers. A garland of attractive flowers is formed by their unique vigorous growth. Trailing begonias in garden beds can reach heights of around 35 cm. On the other hand, there are also begonias suitable for planters and large containers, as well as for planting in beds. These plants also grow vigorously and create a magnificent crown of flowers. The most common colors are salmon, orange, white, yellow, and red.

Trailing begonias can be obtained in two ways. Growing from seed is more demanding, but the magic of what you've grown yourself is all the more impressive. Begonia seed is very small and requires high humidity and temperatures around 22-24°C. The sowing substrate is also very important. Then there is, of course, the option to buy begonias as seedlings. Always choose compact seedlings with undamaged leaves. If seedlings are sold with at least their first flower, then we also have the option to select the color shade. However, beware of late frosts, as these can damage the plants.

We always plant trailing begonias in containers and various pots according to the size of individual varieties. Choose larger containers according to our possibilities, so that seedlings have more water and nutrients available. If we have a lighter-colored container, it's more suitable for growing begonias, as the light color prevents the container from overheating in the sun. Self-watering planters can also be used for begonias, which have the advantage that we don't need to water the plants as often. If we have more vigorous seedlings or plants, it's advisable to get a larger planter that the plants won't tip over. Here, however, we must also consider cooler and wet weather, as plants tend to rot, so we need to pour off excess water from the planters.

Some types of begonias are demanding when it comes to fertilizing, so we need to feed them twice a week. Fruit and flower type fertilizer is suitable in summer, while at the end of August and in September we fertilize with fertilizer with a higher potassium content. This protects plants well during cold periods. Begonias are resistant to diseases, including grey mold. We don't always have to remove spent flowers from the plants, as they fall off and dry up on their own.

A great advantage of begonias is that they bloom continuously throughout the entire growing season. Trailing begonias are most beautiful in autumn, when the summer heat ends and the flowers create a monolith of their beauty. Although begonias don't mind sun and heat, you'll appreciate their beauty at the end of summer. This is because many annuals are already finishing their bloom and stop flowering at this time. Begonias, however, are still in full bloom and we can enjoy their beauty for many more weeks.

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