The Rieger begonia ( Begonia hiemalis ) , a colourful flower that adds plash to the garden year - round , was developed by English plant breeder James Veitch when he foil the Begonia socotrana from the Scootra ( Soqotra ) Island off the sea-coast of East Africa and the tuberous begonia from South America . The Rieger begonia is one of those flowers that looks good with its large and circular scarlet , rose and yellow bloom , but do n’t expect a fragrance because the flush does n’t give one off .
Like the three petty bears , the Rieger begonia prefers temperatures that are not too blistering and not too cold , which makes care of it reasonably slowly .
Either outdoors or in a crapper in your home , keep the heyday well - aired . A fan nearby see to it the movement of air while placed in an indoor location . When planted outdoors , take that it should n’t be shielded by a larger plant . The Rieger begonia flourish in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 - 11 .
Tip
Since Rieger begonia are sensitive to overwatering , feed the pot from the top rather of the bottom . This will prevent the root word from getting root rot .
Choose Your Rieger Begonia
pick out your potted plant at either a big - box store or a smaller garden center but insure the pot for oncoming bud . You do n’t want to pick out one that ’s soon to be in full bloom , as you ’ll need to hit the undercoat running with it .
Check the Moisture of the Soil
Test the wet of the soil to be indisputable it ’s not too squiffy , as root guff or powdery mildew may be set in , agree toHome for the Harvest .
Place in a Spot with Even Sun Distribution
position the container in an east - facing window for even statistical distribution of sun and , if establish outdoors , select a spot that offer partial sun and partial tone .
It ’s best to introduce the Rieger begonia in the winter month when temperatures range from 60 ◦ to 72 ◦ farad , saysPlant aid Today . If you see the flowers bulge to drop off when they do arrive , the temperature is too warm .
Prepare the Soil
Because of their simplicity of care , the Rieger begonia is idealistic for the beginning nurseryman . Dig a kettle of fish that is larger than the begonia ’s flowerpot and fill it with potting soil . If it ’s wintertime , be indisputable not to overwater , as the roots take up moisture more slowly .
When planting in a container , take away the plant from its heap and place it into a pre - dug hole in a clay container that has pot grime . Be certain to sashay the etymon before planting it to let air circulate through the base . bid down and feast the plant some water but not too much .
Add 15-30-15 Fertilizer
If the plant is blooming , add limpid fertilizer with a 15 - 30 - 15 proportion . The high phosphorus ( 30 ) quantity promotes blossom .
Only fecundate every two weeks in the produce time of year and permit the plant rest during its off season .
Be conservative if you see the plant ’s leave turning a blue - dark-green . Too much plant food is the perpetrator .
Warning
If your begonia ’s leave start turning gentle - cat valium , then you ’re using too much fertiliser .
Maintain a High Humidity Level
Humidity is the Rieger begonia ’s ally . If your base has a humidistat , that ’s a plus , as the humidness is constant .
If not , a humidifier near the indoor plant helps , as does becloud the roots . Only mist in the morning and never on the flowers themselves so as to forbid source diseases .
Water Moderately
The Rieger begonia does n’t like a pile of water supply , and it will remind you by its leave turning a copper coloration .
If planted alfresco during the rainy season , watch the soil to be sure it ’s not waterlogged . You may need to cover the plant life to protect it from too much water .
If your Rieger begonia is indoors , H2O passably . Check the dirt by dipping a finger into the pot to at least 1 inch deep . If it comes out teetotal , give the plant a bit of water . It ’s thirsty .
Deadhead to Promote Future Growth
Once the plant life has flowered , transfer the deadened flower and cut back the stalk by about 3 inches . Your Rieger begonia will honor you with more flowers in the months to amount , as energy is directed toward new growth instead of energizing the beat bloom .
