Contents
Many decorative indoor plants came to us from hot tropical countries. Growing exotic flowers on windowsills has become commonplace for flower growers around the world. You will learn how to care for begonia in a pot, and how to grow it correctly, from our article.
Types and varieties of begonias for home breeding
The subtropics are the birthplace of “girlish beauty”, as the people called begonia, but for a long time it has been decorating gardens and window sills of flower growers in all countries of the world. The botanical reference book has almost 800 species, from which breeders have bred about 2000 varieties. All of them fall into three categories:
- Everblooming. Differ in a bright various palette of shades. The most famous varieties are: Volumia, Senator, Olomouc.
- Decorative leafy. The visiting card of this group is large leaves of an unusual shape with original colors. Popular varieties among flower growers: Royal, Mason, Bauer.
- Tuberous. In summer, begonias are covered with multi-colored large flowers up to 15 cm in diameter. The most successful varieties: Marmorata, Pikoti, Fimbriata.
Plant adaptation after purchase
So that after buying a begonia does not wither in a new place, you should follow a few simple rules:
- Avoid heavily lit areas. In the warm season, the north side is suitable for the flower, and in autumn and winter it is better to put the flowerpot on the western or eastern window sills.
- Avoid drafts.
- Do not moisten the soil for the first five days. It is better to place a bowl of water next to the pot so that the begonia does not suffer from a lack of moisture.
- Do not transplant a new “pet” immediately after purchase, especially if it has already begun to bloom.
- Keep the flower away from other indoor plants for the first 14 days. Quarantine is necessary to reduce the risk of infection and insects.
Video “Begonia care at home”
This video talks about the features of caring for an indoor flower.
Optimal conditions for home growing
Breeding “maiden beauty” is a simple process, but it requires certain conditions.
Lighting
Light day for indoor flower should last 12-14 hours a day. Having placed a flowerpot on a bright window, it is shaded with blinds or newspapers. In winter, when daylight is not enough, special fitolamps are installed that give diffused light.
Temperature
Begonia does not like sudden changes in temperature. In the warm season, begonia feels comfortable at + 20 … + 22 ° С. In autumn and winter, it is better to lower the degree to + 15 … + 19 ° С. If the indicator is less or more, the flower will begin to wither, drop leaves, and may even die.
Humidity
Growing “girl beauty” also involves a high level of humidity (60-80%). In order for the moisture-loving plant to grow well, the flower pot is placed on wet fine gravel or expanded clay. Nearby place a bowl of water, an aquarium or a humidifier.
flower pot and soil
Begonias grow best in round ceramic pots with drainage holes. It is impossible to grow a flower initially in a large pot, as there is a risk of developing root rot. As the size of the containers grows, they must change:
- for a young seedling, a diameter of 5-6 cm is enough;
- six months later, a stronger plant is transplanted into a larger pot (8–10 cm);
- a year later, the volume is increased by a third of the previous one.
Indoor flower prefers a nutritious, light soil with good throughput. The acidity should be at pH 5,5. Before use, the substrate is calcined in an oven to kill pathogens.
Rules for caring for begonia at home
Even a beginner in floriculture can take care of the “girlish beauty”. It is enough just to follow simple rules.
Watering and top dressing
A tropical flower needs abundant and regular watering. From early spring to late autumn, it is moistened every three days, preventing the substrate from drying out by more than 1,5 cm. In extreme heat, the procedure is carried out daily. In winter, watering is reduced to 1 time per week. For irrigation use soft purified water at room temperature.
Florists strictly forbid spraying the plant on the leaf, as the green part begins to become covered with red-brown spots.
Author’s advice
Fertilize begonia every 15 days, starting from the budding period and until the end of flowering. Ever-flowering varieties are fed with potassium-phosphorus compounds, and decorative leafy varieties prefer nitrogen-containing preparations.
Trimming
Experienced flower growers recommend pruning in two stages:
- When the shoots of a young plant stretch 6–7 cm.
- When the lateral processes reach a length of 10 cm, they are cut off to the upper bud, and unnecessary shoots are also removed to form the correct crown.
Winter Care
Care for evergreen and decorative leafy begonias in winter is practically the same as in summer. The flower is provided with additional lighting, the temperature is lowered, watering is reduced, and it is removed away from the batteries. In specimens that bloom all year round, pinch the tops of the shoots.
Tuberous varieties are dug up before wintering. The bulbs are well dried, and then covered with sand or peat. It is best to store them on the balcony or in the basement, periodically checking for negative phenomena.
Features of transplantation and reproduction
Some flower growers prefer to propagate the “maiden beauty” themselves. They grow an indoor flower from seeds, cuttings, or separate from a donor plant.
Seeds
Planting material for seedlings begins to be sown from the end of February – the beginning of March. It is scattered over the surface of the substrate, without falling asleep on top of the soil. The containers are covered with polyethylene or glass and placed in a lighted place in a warm room. When the soil dries out, it is moistened with a spray bottle.
The first pick is carried out after the appearance of 2-3 leaves. The procedure is repeated after another 2 months, after which the seedlings are planted in separate pots.
Cuttings
A branch 7–8 cm long is cut off from an adult plant. The lower leaves are removed, leaving only 2–3 upper ones, which are slightly cut. Sprinkle the places of cuts with an antiseptic and insert the process into the soil. From above, the seedling is covered with a plastic bottle or jar. Begonia will begin to bloom within 2 months after planting.
To prevent the stalk from suffocating, it must be regularly ventilated.
The division of tubers and bush
The method is good only for bush varieties. The donor bush is carefully dug up, the rhizome is soaked and cut into pieces. Dried leaves, faded part, damaged areas are removed from the shoots. Places of cuts are sprinkled with activated charcoal, and then seated in separate flowerpots.
Dangerous pests, diseases and other problems
To keep the begonia healthy, it is necessary to regularly inspect the flower for diseases or pests. Timely noticed symptoms are much easier to eliminate than to treat a neglected form. Most often, the plant is subject to:
- rot (gray, black, brown);
- botrytis;
- powdery mildew.
Directional fungicides or Bordeaux mixture can help to cope with pathogenic fungi.
Plants affected by a bacterial infection are dug up and destroyed.
Also, insects often appear on begonias:
- aphid;
- mite;
- nematode.
You can get rid of pests with the help of “Aktellik” or “Karbofos”.
If there are no signs of infection or parasites, and the flower dries and sheds leaves, then the cause may lie in too dry air or insufficient watering. If the temperature is too low and moisture stagnation, yellow spots may appear on the leaf plates.
Sometimes it happens that the “maiden beauty” stops blooming. There may be several reasons for this:
- bad light;
- moisture stagnation;
- drying out of the soil;
- temperature drops;
- irregular feeding;
- insect pests;
- continuous flowering until then;
- inappropriate size of the flowerpot;
- drafts;
- frequent change of places.
If, after correcting the problems, flowering did not occur, then you can force the flower to “wake up” forcibly. For this:
- pinch the plant;
- reduce daylight hours to 9 hours until buds begin to form;
- fed with complex compounds;
- increase daylight hours to 18 hours.
Do not be afraid to grow begonias at home. It is enough to provide the plant with the necessary care for it to reciprocate.