How to Grow Angel Wing Begonias

Angel wing begonias' spotted foliage adds texture and color to gardens and their pendulous clusters of flowers delight gardeners everywhere. They can be planted directly in the ground or in containers and grow easily from seeds or cuttings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Organic Compost
• Spray Bottle
• Peat Moss
• Pruning Shears
• Peat Moss
• Pruning Shears
• Plastic Bag
• rooting hormone
• trowel
• pot
• plant stakes or tomato cages
• slow release fertilizer

1. Select a planting site where the angel wing begonias will receive bright, indirect light or diffused sun and absolutely no wind.

2. Amend the soil with peat moss or other moisture retaining organic material. Begonias are shallow rooted, the amendments only need to be incorporated into the existing soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.

3. Plant angel wing begonias in the spring from rooted cuttings or 4-inch pots. Plant 8 inches apart in rich, fast draining soil.

4. Water immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

5. Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season (spring - fall); reduce water in the winter.

6. Provide proper drainage. Although angel wings love moisture, they require well-drained soil. Organic compost provides both moisture retaining and draining qualities.

7. Fertilize with a slow release product for best results. Slow release products vary in application rates, so read the label carefully. Begonias thrive on a continuous source of nutrients.

8. Support tall plants with bamboo or plastic stakes or tomato cages. In ideal conditions, angel wings will grow up to 5 feet tall.

9. Tip prune angel wing begonias during the active growing season to keep plants bushy and full. Remove the last two sets of leaves from the ends of long branches. Tip pruning forces multiple growth tips to emerge further down the stem resulting in more branches.

10. Protect angel wing begonias from frost. Cover or bring indoors until the danger of frost is past. Unlike tuberous begonias, there is nothing below the ground except roots - no tuber or bulb to support the plant over the winter. If the foliage freezes to the ground, you will loose the plant.

11. Prune old canes that have stopped blooming back to two leaf joints in early spring. Leave the juvenile growth in place, removing only the older canes. New growth will sprout from the remains of the old stems.

12. Propagate angel wing begonias from stem cuttings in the spring. Cuttings should have at least 4 leaf joints, two of which will be planted under ground. Remove the bottom leaves and add a rooting hormone to encourage new roots to grow from the leaf joints. Place cuttings in a clean pot filled with loose, rich soil and cover with a clear plastic bag to retain moisture. Mist inside the bag once a week, or when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Angel wings are a member of the cane-type begonia family which get their name from the long stems which have bamboo-like joints. Cane-type begonias come in a wide variety of colors and sizes including ‰??Bubbles', ‰??Honeysuckle' and ‰??Irene Nuss'.
• Angel wing begonias add an interesting contrast in texture when planted in mixed containers.
• In dry climates, provide humidity to container angel wings by adding pebbles to the saucer under the plant.

[pze29]

on 6/1/2009 I, too, have a large Angel wing and can't get it to bloom. It is in a large room with a lot of light - huge windows from floor to ceiling facing north and south - I had it in the north facing window, not wanting it to get too much direct sunlight. It grows like a weed, but, alas, no flowers. What can I do? Thanks in advance

[lindamurphey]

on 11/13/2008 I need help, I have an dark leaf angel wing, that I con not get to bloom. It is in mostly shade but gets filted sun, I have repotted, fertilized and watered well, it has good drainage. Now, I have another pale green leafed one, that same conditions that has bloomed all summer! suggestions, Thanks
[e-mail]

on 7/24/2006 We live in Sacramento, California, where heat spells (dry) of over 100 degrees for a week at a time are common in summer. We grow Angel Wing begonias in 10 hours of sunshine, wind, nonuniform watering and occasional feeding.

They are lush, bloom profusely most of the year, and haven't been taken into the house in winter.