If you want to achieve lush flowers with as little work as possible, then the ice begonia, also known as slate leaf or god's eye, could be the ideal plant for your purposes. It is extremely easy to care for, very frugal and extremely floriferous.
Ice begonia is impressively easy to care for
location and soil
Ice begonias do not make great demands on their location. They even thrive in deep shade, but prefer a partially shaded spot. Here they bloom particularly profusely. Since they grow compactly, ice begonias are often used for planting graves, but are also well suited for balconies or as potted plants. The soil should be slightly damp.
Different varieties and types
Ice begonias offer you a wide range of species and varieties in different sizes and with different flower and foliage colors. Small varieties reach a height of about 20 centimeters, medium ones between 25 and 30 centimeters and large varieties up to 40 centimeters high. The growth is always quite compact, the foliage green or dark with a reddish touch.
Plant ice begonias
Ice begonias are basically perennial, but not hardy. Therefore, they should only be planted in the garden after the ice saints. Repotting or planting in a balcony box is possible until autumn. Make sure that rainwater or excess irrigation water can drain out of the box.
Water and fertilize
The fleshy ice begonias need a certain amount of moisture, but don't like waterlogging. Allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering the begonias again. From time to time add a little liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water if you have not already put enough compost in the planting hole when planting. However, the ice begonia does not need much fertilizer.
The essentials in brief:
- very easy to care for
- Location: semi-shady to shady
- Flowering time: from May to the first frost
- perennial, but not hardy
- Flower color: white, various shades of pink and red, also two-tone
- Foliage color: green or reddish
- compact growth
- Growth height: between 20 and up to 40 cm depending on the variety
tips
Ice begonias can be excellently combined with other plants such as verbena, hard-working Lizzies or lilies.