2009
Begonia tuberosa
"NonStop® Mocca Mix"
Flowering period: April - October
Height 25 - 50 cm
Spread: 25 - 50 cm
Habit: Spherical
Flower type: Double
Leaf Color Dark
Placement: Full sun to partial shade
Water Average
Fertilizer need: Average
Plant type: Annual
Class Best seller 2009
BEGONIA TUBERHYBRIDA, TUBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIA, BEGONIA TUBEROSA 'Nonstop® Mocca Mix'
The world's best known and most trusted tuberous begonia series now boasts a superior chocolate leaf colored companion. Like the original green leaved 'Nonstop'® Begonias, the 'Nonstop® Mocca' series has 10 cm fully double flowers, the highest quality in the industry. The six vibrant colors, provide a rich contrast with the dark coffee colored foliage of the 'Nonstop® Mocca' series.
** Benary Specialties **
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Life Cycle: Annual
Familiy, Origin: Begoniaceae, South America
Sitelocation: Full sun (Northern Europe) to Partial shade to shade
Crop Time: Plug crop: 8-10 weeks, Flowering pots (from sowing to flower): 18-20 weeks, Hanging baskets (from sowing to flower): 23-25 weeks
Sell Period: April-July
Seed Form: Raw Seed and Pelleted Seed
Seed Count: 50000 K/g
Sowing Time: November for flowering pots from April onwards, December-January for flowering bedding plants from May onwards
Sowing Method: 1-2 seeds per plug
Germination: 7-14 days at 23-25 °C with a relative humidity of 95 % or higher.
Plug Culture: From Stage II reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry and cultivate under long day (14 h). Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III+IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm.
Growing On: 6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (4x4 - 6x6 cm) and 12 weeks later transplant 1 plant into a pot (10-12 cm) or 3-4 plants into a hanging basket (20-30 cm). Avoid cool substrate for transplantation. Two time transplantation support root development and young plant quality.
Media: Use a well-drained, growing substrate, pH: 5.5-6.2.
Photoperiod / Light: Long day plant. Keep light levels moderate (min. 550 lx) and long day (14-16 h) for flowers initiation and vegetative growth. In winter assimilation light is recommended for the good plant development and quality. The assimilation light will shorten the crop time. Night interruption is possible. Do not stop the exposure to assimilation light before March. Protect the plants in summer with a shading against high sunlight. Short days will result in tuber formation.
Temperature: Grow at 16-18 °C. 10 days before selling the temperatures can be decreased to 16 °C. Temperatures below 14 °C will result in tuber formation and crop delay.
Fertilization: Moderate fertilization levels are required. At high nitrogen levels the foliage can become very big. Avoid pH above 6.0, as high pH causes iron deficiency. Apply chelated iron, if chlorosis becomes a problem. Avoid high salt levels in substrate. It is advisable to fertilize several times with low concentrations weekly.
Cultural Hints: For selling harden the plants at 16 °C and UV light. Do not cultivate the plants too wet, because the roots are sensitive and become severely damaged. Avoid high relative humidity in greenhouse.
* Germination Stages (from seed to finished young plant)
Stage I: Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II: Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III: Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV: All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.
Hint:
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
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