Many growers consider elatior begonia a “disposable” plant. Indeed, after flowering, it completely loses its decorative effect. However, do not rush to get rid of it. Simple care will help to completely “rejuvenate” the plant. Cut off the extra branches, leaving 5–7 cm tall stumps. If necessary, transplant the begonia into a slightly larger pot. After a while, it will begin to grow overgrown with new shoots, which must be pinched to form a neat, lush bush.
Flowering
To ensure long-term and abundant flowering of elatior begonias, a “short daylight” method is used: within two weeks, the daylight hours are artificially reduced to 9 hours, covering the plant with a black film. This stimulates bud formation. To prevent the begonia from stretching, during this period it is necessary to treat it 1-2 times with growth retardants (for example, the “Athlete” drug) or pinch it 2-3 times.
After two weeks, daylight hours must be increased again to 16 hours. Additional lighting will be required in winter. After 2–2,5 months, the plant should bloom. To prolong flowering, do not forget to prune withered flowers in time.
Methods of reproduction
Elatior begonia is easiest to propagate vegetatively – with mature leaves and stem cuttings. They should be cut at the very beginning of spring or autumn. It is not recommended to cut the plant in summer, as the bushes bloom quickly and turn out to be very short.
For successful rooting, cuttings must have two leaves and a pair of axillary buds. Place them in a moist peaty substrate with the addition of sand, cover with transparent film and provide good lighting and a temperature of at least 20 degrees. A month later, when the plants take root, they will need to be transplanted into pots 10–12 cm in diameter with loose nutrient soil. After another month, you can apply the above-described “short daylight” technique to young begonias in order to stimulate flowering.
Some species of Elatior begonias, such as F1 Charisma, are propagated by seed. The seeds can be sown in a damp, under-film substrate all year round. To obtain seedlings, a temperature of 25-27 degrees is required.