BEGONIA HIEMALIS 
(Winter Flowering Socatrana Hybrids ) 

CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
SOCATRANA HYBRIDS... The culture of the Soca- 
trana hybrids differs slightly from the summer-flowering tu- 
berous Begonias. Originally they were produced by crossing 
Begonia Socatrana with tuberous Begonias. All the offsprings 
are sterile and have to be propagated artificially by cuttings. 
PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS .. . Young shoots, 
formed in the axils of the leaves in April and May when the 
resting period is over, may be cut when approximately two to 
three inches long with the basal ring and rooted in sand. If 
bottom heat is available, they will root within two or three 
weeks. Under cooler conditions they will.root a little slower 
but very freely. They should be kept close and heavily shaded 
but as soon as they begin rooting, ventilation should take 
place. Potted up in three-inch pots, they will begin growing 
freely if kept either in the greenhouse or out-of-doors in a 
lath house. Before becoming pot-bound they should be trans- 
planted into larger pots, as necessary during the summer, and 
pinched once or even twice to prevent them from blooming 
too early and to form a nice, bushy growth. In this manner cut- 
tings rooted in June will require approximately six- to seven- 
inch pots by September. Those rooted in July will finish in 
smaller pots. 
FLOWERING SEASON ... By 
October the plants will commence to 
bloom and will continue to do so 
throughout the winter, if kept at a 
temperature of 60 to 65 degrees, which 
suits them best during the flowering 
season. When the flowering period is 
over, the plants rest from the end of 
January until the end of March. At this 
time water should be given very care- 
fully, just sufficient to retain the stems 
and leaves; if too much is allowed, rot 
may set in.On the other hand, if insuffi- 
cient water is given, the stems and 
leaves fall away and the plant is much 
less ready to commence growth when 
required. Early in April, when growth 
recommences, water can be given more 
freely. 
HOUSE CULTURE .... Those who 
have no greenhouse facilities may grow 
these Begonias in pots out-doors well 
protected against the sun but giving 
sufficient light to prevent them from 
being spindly. When cool weather ap- 
proaches in October they may be trans- 
ferred into the house where if given 
sufficient light they will bloom very 
freely, especially if kept in a cool, dry 
temperature. 
TUBERS . . . When plants attain an age of two years the 
tubers are sufficiently large to shake out of the soil for a resting 
period. These can be restarted in May in a mixture of coarse 
sand and leafmold and potted up later as described for cut- 
tings. Several shoots will appear on the tuber, some of which 
may be cut off with the basal ring and rooted in the same man- 
ner as the shoots from leaf axils. Individual leaves can be cut 
off and rooted in sand but the percentage of them forming 
plants is comparatively small and varies with the variety. 
SOIL... The mixture best suited for these Begonias consists 
of two parts of loam, two parts of leafmold and one part of 
sand. A sprinkling of bone meal added will be beneficial. For 
the final planting one part of well rotted manure can be incor- 
porated into the soil. Always see that the soil mixture is coarse 
and light, and pot lightly at all times. 
PESTS... Rusty foliage is a sign that the mite is present, or 
a species of thrip. Both can be exterminated by fumigation or 
spraying with nicotine. Aphis will attack some of the varieties 
under greenhouse conditions; these too can be exterminated 
in the same manner. Syringing twice a day during the summer 
growth will keep these pests down if grown out of doors. Un- 
der greenhouse conditions keep the temperature quite moist 
with good ventilation, seeing that the foliage is always dry 
before evening, otherwise rot may take place. 
| PAGE FOURTEEN | 
