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Think I Have A Mutation/Sport Wax Begonia

18 years ago

I planted a couple of flats of pink wax begonias early this summer, as usual. Right about now, they are all kind of lanky and starting to fall over. In the center is a wax begonia from the same flat that has just been spectacular. It is twice as big, bigger flowers, a more definite serrated edge to the leaves, which are a bit darker green, and thick sturdy stems which show no signs of drooping. How can I tell if they just stuck the wrong cutting into the flat, or if I have what I think they call a sport? If these were all grown from cuttings, how can one be so different? My husband says solar energy can cause these mutations, that they don't have to come from seed? How do I propagate and save this plant over the winter? I have never seen a wax begonia like this before, but maybe they are already selling them somewhere. Is there any commercial value in this plant? I am not a professional and have no idea what to do with this beauty, but I would like to plant nothing but this type from now on and forget those ordinary wax begonias. By the way, it is in the same soil and has received identical fertilizing, watering, and sun.

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Comments (2)

hc mcdole
18 years ago
It could be a sport or the grower stuck a wrong cutting. Sports can occur for various reasons. It would not come from a seed but usually mutate from the original plant. Sports can come from a virus (see the details behind begonia 'Charm'). Anyway if you find it interesting enough, then you may propagate a bunch to carry over and start a new line (if it is truly new). You should be able to take stem cuttings and start some new plants. Not sure if you can propagate semperflorens (wax) from leaves. Seed in this case may not come true as well. If it is a beauty, then I would contact some of the big growers so they can see if they think there is any commercial value, or go it alone.

Good luck and hope to see it in stores in a few years. Post a picture of it.

Butch
greenelbows1
18 years ago
They're really easy to propagate--at least the regular wax begonias are, and if yours is a sport it should be just as easy I would think. You could dig it up and pot it, and cut it back and root the pieces as cuttings, and then cut them all back maybe when you have time after Christmas. My very first propagation effort other than growing from seed was a wax begonia I liked a lot. I was newly married, and in our first home, and had a wonderful big picture window with a very wide window sill, and I filled it with pots of that begonia, and then gave more of them to everyone I thought would hold still for it for Christmas. Really hooked me good!
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Which end of the stems are dying....the tips or at the soil level? If the tips, it might be an easy fix, but if the stems seem to be rotting at the soil level, then that might be a problem. Soil borne fungus diseases are almost always an indication of excess moisture. That can be caused by a dense, mucky potting medium, too frequent waterings, containers that hold water, etc. Sphagnum has natural antifungal and antibacterial qualities, which makes it very useful in preventing damping of diseases in seedlings. I don't believe that it would be useful in your situation and absolutely cannot cure a disease but simply prevent it from occuring in the first place, along with careful attention to correcting the excess moisture issues. Wax begonias are very forgiving, coming back from the roots after a near death experience. On the other hand, they are also pretty inexpensive at the garden center! Just be sure to pay attention to your choice of potting mix...you want something very porous and fast draining.
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