B. ‘Shadow King series ‘Lava Red’

Culture

Propagation Method

tissue culture or cutting

Cultural Requirements

Crop Culture Report : Begonia Rex Shadow King ® Recommended Containers: 4” to 8” pots, hanging baskets and mixed patio containers Consumer Uses: Hanging baskets, mixed patio containers, window boxes Crop planning from cell packs: Pot size: Plants per pot (pp) Crop Time (weeks) 4” pot (10cm) 1 pp 7 to 9 weeks 6” pot (15cm) 1 or 2 pp 8 to 14 weeks 8” to10” pot (20-25cm) - 3 or 4 pp 11 to 16 weeks Temperature Requirement: 63° to 65° F (17 to 18° C) night temperatures with a minimum of 68° F (20° C) days. These varieties will grow quickly at the above temperature regime but be cautious not to grow too cool. Media and pH Requirement: Water thoroughly and allow soil to dry between irrigations. Plants should not wilt but do not keep consistently wet or root rot problems may develop. The first signal of damp conditions would be yellowing of foliage and weak growth. The pH of the soil should be maintained at 5.8 to 6.2. Fertilizer Requirements: Feed with a balanced fertilizer at 100 to 150-PPM Nitrogen. Soil EC should be maintained between 0.8 to 1.2 in a soil-less mix. A clear water irrigation may be necessary to keep salts lower to insure quality plant growth. Light Level/Shade Level: Grow in lowered light levels. Be sure that the first 2 weeks of growth are in low light situation. 800 to 1000 foot-candles is ideal. After 2 weeks, grow on at 1200 to 1500 foot-candles. In western Oregon, we grow in full light till April 1, then 50% shade till May 10, then 75% shade the rest of the summer. Light levels higher than this will stunt the plant, even if you see no burn. Growth Regulators: PGR’s should not be necessary. Proper soil moisture is the best way to control growth. Disease and Insect Pests: Aphid, Mites and Mealybug Pythium and Phytophthora: Provide air movement around plants. Do not transplant rooted cells to deep so to cover stem of plants. Allow soil to dry between irrigations and drench with preventative fungicides. Preventative sprays for Botrytis and Powdery Mildew is suggested during damp/low light conditions.

Comments

As with all commercial series the individual colors change or are improved on a continual basis. An entire series may disappear if sufficient improvements are made in a new line of genetics and when the company removes a series from the market they also clear as much old information about the series from any web based sources. They do this to avoid confusing their customer, nothing nefarious, but it makes it difficult to see changes in series over time, so this entry is merely a place marker showing the series at this point in time 2015.

Original Botanical Description or Link to

http://www.green-fuse.com/index.php/begonia-shadow-king