begonia [Elegance]

Under glass requires a light, well-drained, neutral to acid, loamless or loam-based soil (JI No2), in bright light with shade from direct sun. Provide moderate water when in growth and dry off tubers in winter, storing at 5-7°C. See Begonia: outdoors for further advice.

Remove old stems and foliage as plant dies back for the winter

Propagate by seed at 21°C (70F) in spring. Root basal or stem-tip softwood cuttings in spring and leaf cuttings in late spring or early summer using a propagating case

Susceptible to mealybugs, caterpillars, glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, vine weevils and aphids

Prone to powdery mildews and stem-rot