Garden Chronicles of James David: Black Velvet Begonia Collection - Different Cultivars & Varieties (In Hanging Pot)

INTRODUCTION:

This is basically my Black Begonia Collection which I had found worked well fastened as hanging garden pots - these get indirect bright light and sheltered from direct sun and rain. Also - I found that these liked the hoisted factor where the medium doesn't get too wet when watered.

It lasted well for me for almost 2 years until I made a huge mistake in applying a wrong type of fertilizer and they slowly succumb to rot and some dried up totally before I can rectify it.

However, I had realized that coming to begonia set-up

These loved the snugged features where their root-ball is tight and compress together with coconut chip

Also I have noticed that these seemed to focus their foliage display towards the sunny area for maximum light exposure - something that I noticed that regardless these are shade loving plants - they still require indirect bright sunlight for photosynthesis.

CHARACTERISTICS:

I had noticed that in comparison to other types of rhizome begonias - the black colored types seemed to be more hardy and durable in my garden conditions in comparison to the colored types - especially the ones that are cultivated in the highlands.

I must say, most of the begonias supplied here from the nurseries are the highland types and not suitable in the lowland conditions - however, some do acclimatize but some types does succumb to stress and dormancy & in some cases - dead.

Here in this Collection:

I have managed to put together some of these Black Colored Begonias which I find they had done well as Hanging Potted Plants.

1) Black Velvet Begonia - Green Clouded Variety

2) Begonia - Bethlehem Star

3) Begonia Chivalry

4) Begonia - Mazae F Nigricans

5) Begonia Bunchii / Beefsteak Hybrid

6) Begonia Tiger Paws

7) Star Begonia 'U578'

GENERAL BEGONIA PLANT CARE:

Plant Care is very similar like most Rhizome Begonia Care & Cultivation Needs. This depends in different garden or indoor conditions - its all depending on getting the right balanced conditions.

Depending on the Begonia adaptation and its ability to handle hardy conditions - if the plant is stress it may drop all it's leaves before regeneration - hence more care is required to ensure the right balance of watering and humidity verse root and stem rot.

Medium:

Fast Draining - Soil Based / Sometimes Sphagnum Moss with Perlite is used.

Watering
Water only when the Medium is Dry

Feeding
Foliar Fertilizer - Once a Week with 1/2 Dilution Strength.

(Depending on what works best in your garden conditions - some gardeners use chicken/goat manure,
coffee based fertilizer, organic fertilizer - test out and see on a trial basis to see what works best in your garden conditions)

Light

Place in Bright, Indirect Light - Shaded from direct hot sun areas - Ideal like a Balcony Plants.