Watering 



Overwatering, resulting in crown rot or a rotting of the roots, 

 caused two-thirds of the failures. This trouble may be avoided by allow- 

 ing the soil to become slightly dry before each watering, then wetting 

 the ball of soil thoroughly. Some growers advocate growing begonia 



Fig. lie — The Calla begonia is not so hard to grow 

 as many people believe 



plants on the dry side, but this is confusing. Plants can easily get too 

 dry, especially in very sunny weather. Two plants of the group under 

 observation were unsatisfactory because of inadequate soil moisture. 



Fig. lid — A lack of light may cause shoot buds, in- 

 stead of usual flower buds, to form on begonia 



Twenty -one 



