| I checked 3 categories above because I do not know what category a Rieger Begonia falls under. Do you treat them like any other begonia? Are they annuals, perennials, tubers? They grow so much bigger than the regular hardy begonia and I cant find out anything about them. |
| The Rieger (hiemalis) begonia was originally developed with the tuberous begonia in its parentage; it has been around since the 1880's but became popular in the greenhouse industry in about the 1970's. It makes a lovely houseplant and should be kept in an east window, kept moist but not sopping wet, and fertilized per label recommendations. Ideally they like cool termperatures of between 60 and 65 degrees at night and between 65 and 70 degrees during the day, (but in any case above 40 degrees if you put them outdoors.) After growing well for several the months the plant may need to be rejuvenatd by cutting it off short to about three inches. You may need to flush away fertilizer salt accumulation periodically and be careful not to wet the leaves when you water as it is prone to fungal infection. The plant is also day length sensitive and requires short days to set bloom. Finally, it is propagated by seed and by cuttings. |
