Begonia Cultural Information for Greenhouse Growers
Immediately Upon Arrival:
Even moisture, never dry.
Water:
Keep plant liners at the same soil level as they arrived
Soil:
900 ft candles, deep shade.
Light:
Mildly warm, 65-75F nights, like a humid fern house.
Temperature:
Transplantation:
Rex Begonia roots are delicate, brown in color, with tan tips.
Roots:
Level with soil height, no more than 1/8th inch below. Planted too high and the plug will wick the water, building up salts that burn the roots. Planted too low will rot the rhizome.
Plug Height:
Next Two Weeks:
Even moisture, never dry. Keep leaves dry to avoid disease.
Water:
900 ft candles, deep shade.
Light:
65-75F nights, like a humid fern house.
Temperature:
High, 70% RH.
Humidity:
When Roots are Well Established:
Move the pots to a cooler, drier, brighter production house for finishing alongside shade perennials, for example.
Environment:
Even moisture, never dry. Keep leaves dry to avoid disease.
Water:
1200 to 1500 foot candles.
Light:
Day: 70-95F. If > 80F, reduce light to 1200 ft candles.
Night: 65F+ to establish. 55-65F to finish.
Temperature:
150-180 ppm N constant feed.
Fertilizer:
Never exceed an EC of 2.4. An EC of 1.5 is ideal.
Salinity:
Aphids and mites.
Pests:
Botrytis, Xanthemonas Bacterial Leaf Spot. Apply a preventative spray of any metallic fungicide every two weeks to avoid these problems.