The leaves of this Begonia rex variety twist and curl in a
spiral reminiscent of a snail’s shell — thus the name
‘Escargot’. It has a small, white flower but is mainly grown for
its outstanding foliage. The plant was hybridized in The Netherlands and was introduced
into the United States at The Ohio Short Course in 2000.
Escargot is versatile, attractive and tough and was
hybridized to resist diseases. It has been used in hanging baskets, in 8- and
10-inch pots and in combination planters to add a bold texture with season-long
interest. But the primary use seems to be in 4 1/2- to 6-inch pots grown as an
impulse or gift item. Escargot is available year-round and sells at upscale
florists, garden centers and supermarkets.
Culture
Use a well-drained soil and maintain a pH at approximately
6.8. Optimum light levels should be 1,500-2,500 foot candles, with extra shade
provided during the summer. Fertilize with 20-10-20 on a weekly basis. Escargot
is sensitive to accumulations of salts in the substrate, so you should leach
salts periodically or maintain an EC below 2.0. Optimum temperature should be
64° F at night and 75° F during the day. When temperatures are higher,
reduce the amount of nitrogen. Escargot can tolerate ammonium forms of
nitrogen, with total nitrogen not to exceed 240 ppm. In locations with adequate
light, growth regulators are not necessary. However, in low-light locations,
spray Cycocel weekly at a very low concentration, starting at 4 oz. per 100
gallons.
Finishing
A 4 1/2-inch pot with one liner per pot or a 6-inch pot with
two liners per pot each take approximately 6-8 weeks to finish. If you want to
stay at one liner per pot, start the liner in a 4- to 4 1/2-inch pot spaced pot
to pot. When the leaves reach the edge of the pot, transplant into a 6-inch
pot. The total finishing time with this method is 12-14 weeks.
For 10-inch pots, start liners in 4- to 4 1/2-inch pots
spaced pot to pot. When the leaves reach the edge of the pot, transplant three
plants into a 10-inch pot. Finishing time is 10–12 weeks.
RSS: GPN Articles
.gif)
.gif)
