La begonia darthvaderiana It has become, without a doubt, one of the most sought-after begonias by collectors of this genre. Either because of the association of this Begonia with one of the most popular sagas such as "Star Wars", or because of the striking black color of its leaves, the begonia darthvaderiana It continues to attract attention since its discovery in 2014.
In this post we will analyze the origin of this peculiar species, as well as its main cares and some curiosities.
Description of the begonia darthvaderiana
begonia darthvaderiana CW Lin & C.-I Peng, is a shrubby and perennial Begonia, with an erect stem, with a maximum height of 70 cm. Its alternate and asymmetric leaves, oblong-oval in shape, have a very dark violet or intense red to almost black color, with a striking yellowish-silver border. The maximum length of its leaves is 22 cm and its maximum width is 13 cm.
Fully developed adult specimen of B. darthvaderiana
Its inflorescence is composed of a terminal panicle (structure similar to the inflorescence in a cluster), 11 to 20 cm long. The staminate flowers (male flowers or male flowers) contain two elliptical, coral-pink, almost red, 6 to 8 mm long tepals. The pistillate flowers (female flowers or female flowers) contain five elliptical reddish-pink tepals, 7 to 9 mm long. The fruit is composed of a capsule 1,8 cm long and 2 cm thick. This species is considered monoecia, since it has male and female flowers on the same plant, without emargo, the female flowers mature earlier than the male ones, and they are not usually found at the same time on the same plant.
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Left: pistillate flower showing the style of the branched ovary. Right: male inflorescence with staminate flowers
Etymology: Its specific epithet refers to the character "Darth Vader" from the "Star Wars" movies, perhaps due to the deep dark black color that this species presents.
B. Darthvaderian is closely related to B. Chlorosticta, with which it can hybridize, giving rise to an exceptionally beautiful cross that is valued by collectors.
Origin and geographical distribution
Our protagonist Begonia was discovered in 2013 by researcher Che Wei Lin in the state of Sarawak, island of Borneo. The specimen described in original post It was located at an altitude of 140 meters, in very humid forests, along with herbaceous vegetation and shady scrub characteristic of the base of the cliffs in the area.
State of Sarawak, island of Borneo and example of understory habitat in Sarawak
Caring for the begonia darthvaderiana
It is not an easy Begonia to grow, so in Begoniasymas we do not advise its acquisition unless there is previously a suitable installation for its correct maintenance, such as terrariums, greenhouses or glass domes that guarantee optimal environmental conditions. for this species.
But don't panic! Since its entry into the plant market, many collectors and growers agree on a series of aspects related to its care, which, if properly followed, give very good results for the growth of this species.
Below we detail these cares so that any fan can acquire and successfully grow this incredible plant.
Temperature, light and humidity
To know the basic care of any plant, it is very useful to look at its natural habitat and the environmental data of your area of origin. In this case, the begonia darthvaderiana It grows in the tropical understory of the island of Borneo near streams and waterfalls, that is, in an extremely humid environment, with almost 100% constant relative humidity and with warm temperatures that rarely drop below 20ºC. In its habitat it receives very little light, due to the shadow generated by the taller trees and plants, filtering only those longer wavelengths, in the blue spectrum. Based on these data, it is easier to get right with the care of this species:
La average temperature ideal for growing this begonia is 25 ° C. It can develop in a range from 20 ºC to 27 ºC, but below 17 ºC its growth stops and it begins to suffer damage. To achieve this constant temperature from Begoniasymas we recommend the use of thermal blankets, aquarium heaters or heating cables connected to a thermostat located at the base of the plant, which allows maintaining a constant and stable temperature throughout the year. If the environment has to be cooled, the most useful thing is to provide indirect ventilation in the container where we have the plants.
La humidity should be similar to that found in its habitat, in a range between 90 and 100% relative humidity. As we have mentioned previously in this post, terrariums, greenhouses or glass domes allow to maintain said environmental humidity as they are closed environments, where the constant evaporation of a thin layer of water at the base of them provides the necessary humidity to this species. We recommend including a hygrometer in our installation to be aware of changes in relative humidity.
Left: Terrarium equipped for growing Begonias and other tropical plants. Right: Glass dome with moss for growing delicate begonias
La Luminous intensity To maintain this species, as it is an umbrophilic begonia, it must be low, from about 500 to 1000 lux. This species will develop its color more under conditions of low light intensity. A sign that the light intensity is too high is usually the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves and a paler red color on the underside of the leaves. Indirect luminosity from a north-facing window is usually sufficient, however, it is possible to accompany this light with some grow light with a slightly cold temperature (6000 K) and low power (10 W).
If you find it too complex or you simply do not have time to make your own terrarium, at Begoniasymas we build from scratch and 100% custom terrariums of all kinds, either for growing delicate plants or for the maintenance of tropical animals. If you want to see some work that we have done for our clients, click here and contact us to obtain a personalized quote without obligation.
Substrate, irrigation and fertilizer
Being a Begonia that grows in the tropical understory, surrounded by leaf litter and decomposing organic matter, the substrate for B. darthvaderiana It should contain a high percentage of slightly acidic organic matter such as peat and / or sphagnum moss. To avoid root rot, promote oxygenation and provide the necessary minerals and micronutrients to this plant, as well as clays that contribute to cation exchange, we recommend adding mineral material such as pumice, perlite, arlite or Japanese clay.
The subscriber in this species is controversial. While some hobbyists recommend fertilizing periodically, others consider the use of fertilizers very risky, since a minimum excess can cause the death of this species. In our experience, it is best to use a quality substrate, previously fertilized with micro and macronutrients such as our premium substrate, and go replacing it when we begin to notice a lack of growth or some lack in the plant.
If you find it tedious to make your own substratum for this type of begonias or you do not have the necessary components, at Begoniasymás we have a substrate for premium begonias It contains the necessary nutrients for the optimal development of tropical begonias.
Premium substrate specifically formulated for growing Begonias in humid climates.
Regarding irrigation it is advisable that the substrate is permanently humid, but not flooded. This is achieved by keeping a container of water just below the plant without touching the roots. As with the rest of begonias, we recommend avoiding direct watering on the leaves as it can cause fungal infections and bacterial rots. The water to be used should be water of weak mineralization or even distilled water, with a pH between 6,5 and 7 and at room temperature. Chlorinated tap water, as well as very cold water, can cause a general weakening of the plant or even its death due to damage to the roots.
Main deficiencies, pests and diseases in B. Darthvaderian
This species is known worldwide both by its particular name and by its tendency to "melt”From one day to the next for unknown reasons.
This "necrosis" of the plant tissue usually occurs from the tips of the leaves and inexorably spreads to the entire surface if we do nothing to prevent it. The causes are still unknown, since they depend on many factors. However, according to experiences collected from various growers, it is a sudden change in environmental conditions that usually causes the onset of necrosis.
Spontaneous necrosis in young plants of begonia darthvaderiana kept with 100% healthy specimens.
Our own experience has shown us that growing this species on 100% sphagnum moss, although possible in the short term and as a method of propagation, usually causes nutritional deficiencies that end up causing this melting of the leaves. A change to a well-balanced substrate can not only stop the problem without affecting all the leaves, but also enhances the coloration and vigor of the plant in general. If you begonia darthvaderiana it begins to melt, calm / a, because it has a solution.
In these cases, it is advisable to remove all the tissue or leaves affected by this necrosis as soon as possible and spray the plant with a broad spectrum multipurpose fungicide (diluted to 1/4 of the recommended dose) to avoid the appearance of fungi. Although it may seem like a good idea, it is not advisable to reduce the humidity in these cases, since it negatively affects the hydration of the plant and can cause a general weakening that does not help in its recovery.
Like all tropical Begonias, the begonia darthvaderiana is susceptible to attack by fungi such as powdery mildew begoniae, so we will avoid touching its leaves directly with our hands and keep its environment as sterile as possible while the plants are young and therefore more delicate.
The main pests that can kill your begonia darthvaderiana in a single night it is slugs and snails. There is no 100% effective method to avoid these undesirable inhabitants of our terrariums, other than keeping the area where we have our begonia as clean as possible and sterilizing any substrate or plant that we put together our Begonia.
Slug eating a young Begonia darthvaderiana leaf in a terrarium with other plant species
In future blog posts we will talk more in depth about other pests (such as nematodes, planarians and algae) that can affect our plants, as well as remedies to combat and avoid them.
Presence in collections and specifications
Currently there is a preserved specimen de begonia darthvaderiana at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium, specifically a isotype (fraction of the holotype) dated July 2013.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium. Retrieved from: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4411492
We hope that you have found the information about this popular species useful or interesting, which, even being a delicate plant, can be perfectly cultivated and give many joys under basic care.
If you dare to include it in your Begonias collection, you can purchase a copy of begonia darthvaderiana in perfect condition since here.
References:
- begonia darthvaderiana CWLin & CI Peng in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2022-01-05.
- Lin, CW, Chung, SW, & Peng, CI (2014). Three new species of Begonia (sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from Sarawak, Borneo. Phytotaxa, 191
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