The soil for these plants was a mixture of two parts compost, one 

 part leafmold, and one part sand. Begonias should have a well-drained 

 soil to lessen the danger from overvvatering. 



Window exposure 



Those varieties grown primarily for their flowers were most suc- 

 cessful when grown in sunny windows. Two plants of Westport Beauty, 

 grown in north windows, were unsatisfactory. One of these made 

 healthy growth but failed to flower. Too much sun coupled with drying 

 caused the foliage to take on a reddish hue with marginal scorching of 

 the leaves in several instances. 



Fig. lla (left) — The popular wax begonia (single flower). 

 Fig. lib (right) — A well-grown wax begonia (double flower) 



Since the Calla begonia is decorative for its foliage formation, it is 

 not absolutely necessary to have it flower. Although the majority were 

 kept in sunny windows, some successful plants were grown in all win- 

 dow exposures. Good north light is sufficient to make an excellent fo- 

 liage plant of the Calla begonia providing other growth factors are fa- 

 vorable. During winter months the amount of sunshine received regu- 

 lates greatly the extent of flowering of begonias. 



Container 



Porous and glazed pots were used in about equal numbers. More 

 care in watering is necessary, especially with the double-flowered va- 

 rieties, when begonias are growing in glazed pots. A begonia plant 

 should never be allowed to stand in water once the ball of soil is thor- 

 oughly wet. 



Feeding 



Regular feeding will not take the place of other necessary care nor 

 will it prevent failures. A majority of the successful growers fed their 

 plants from two to four times during a season. Most growers either 

 used liquid fertilizer or dissolved the chemicals in water and used the 

 solution for watering their plants. A decided improvement in general 

 vigor and number of flowers could be noted on plants that were fed 

 regularly. Especially was this true with the double-flowered varieties. 



Twenty 



