Care for and plant Elatior begonias properly: Expert tips for beautiful indoor begonias with information on the most beautiful varieties.

The beautiful Elatior begonias are particularly popular as indoor plants.

Elatior begonias (Begonia x hiemalis) are unbeatably likeable housemates. They flower all year round and all they really want in return is a nice place to hang out, water and the occasional fertilizer. Unfortunately, they are often not thanked for this frugality, because many of the begonias (Begonia) end up in the compost after the first flowering in winter. But the plant is a perennial and, with the right care, will produce numerous flowers again next year.

Elatior begonias: origin and characteristics

As a group of hybrids, Elatior Begonias are not really a species. Four Begonia species are the ancestors of Elatior Begonias: Begonia socotrana, Begonia veitchii, Begonia boliviensis and Begonia rosaeflora. Each of the four has immortalized something of themselves in the Elatior Begonia. Sometimes this piece is larger, sometimes smaller, because not every Elatior begonia variety was bred in equal proportions from these original species. What Elatior begonias have in common, however, is that they bloom beautifully. The flowers in a wide variety of colors grow in clusters together. Overall, the plants grow up to 40 centimeters tall, but have a rather compact habit.

The most beautiful varieties of Elatior begonia

Each of the Elatior Begonias is different, descending from the four ancestral species in different proportions. Even if one variety has all four original species as grandparents, it is possible that another variety also descends from all four species, but the proportion of one species predominates in genetics. This results in a literally colorful variety of Elatior begonias.

The colorful variety of Elatior begonias does not make it any easier to decide on a variety

Nice varieties of Elatior Begonia:

  • 'Clara': This variety has double flowers in brilliant white
  • 'Camilla': The single flowers of 'Camilla' appear in beautifulShades of pink
  • ‘Barkos’: The variety is considered one of the most beautiful among the Elatior begonias and has deep red colored and double flowers
  • 'Yellow Stone': With its intense yellow flowers, the 'Yellow Stone' variety brings variety to the rather white-pink-red world of begonias
  • ‘Carneval’: The double flowers are a real eye-catcher with their deep yellow inside and intense red outside

Besides the Elatior begonias, there are numerous other species belonging to the genus of begonias. You can find interesting species of begonia in this article.

Buy Elatior Begonias

Choose a vigorous and he althy-looking plant. If you want to enjoy the begonia for a long time, you should also watch out for signs of too fast growth. Tall begonias are susceptible. In order to rule out an infestation with fungi, you should take a close look at the selected begonia again before buying it, especially for powdery mildew (Erysiphaceae). We have prepared further tips for buying begonias for you here.

Elatior begonias are available in most flower shops in a wide variety

Planting Elatior Begonias in Pots

Elatior begonias are mainly offered in spring - which is also ideal because this is the right time for transplanting. In principle, the plants should be kept in a pot, as they are very sensitive to cold.

For planting, be sure to use a flowerpot with a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging. As an extra measure, you can put a few pebbles on the bottom of the pot to help drain excess water. Nutrient-rich soil such as our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil serves as a substrate.

Before planting, loosen the root ball slightly so that the plant can root more quickly in the new pot. Now pot the begonia with the help of the soil and then press the whole thing down lightly. Water a little and the Elatior begonia is ready to be planted. You only need to repot the plant every few years to refresh the soil and eventually give it a little more space.

You can find out more about planting begonias here.

Caring for Elatior Begonias

They love temperatures between 16 and 22°C, which is why Elatior begonias don't do well outdoors either. A place in the apartment is just right for them. These temperatures are also optimal over the winter, because as tropical plants these begonias have even temperatures throughout the yearused. Place the beautiful plant in a bright place out of direct sunlight. Withered flowers should be removed regularly. This not only helps the aesthetics, but also prevents infestation with fungi. Elatior begonias need a lot of nutrients. An organic-mineral fertilizer like our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is just the thing. This type of fertilization has a pronounced long-term effect and also contains nutrients that are readily available.

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Garden Design