How to care for begonias: root, tuber, hybrid flowers

The most unpretentious begonias are root. They do not need to arrange a period of rest, like tuberous. However, root care requires year-round care. In winter they are fed, but less frequently than in summer; pruned in the spring. Regardless of the species, all begonias grow well and delight with their decorative effect at high humidity in combination with non-poured soil. In this connection, there are nuances of watering: as the soil dries, only in the pan, you can not spray the leaves. How to care for a flower correctly in order to grow it as beautiful as in the photo in flower magazines?

The origin of begonia and the distinguishing features

In nature, there are more than 1 thousand species of begonias. The largest number of varieties is in South America, Asia is second (India, Himalayas, Sri Lanka), and western Africa is third. There is an assumption that Africa is the birthplace of begonias, and from here they spread to Asia and America. In the wild, plants are found in humid subtropics and mountains.

Begonia in the wild

The family was first described by the French botanist Charles Plumier. In 1683, he led an expedition to the islands of the Caribbean, led by the commander of the French colonies Michel Begon. There, the scientist discovered plants that were not known at that time, gave them a description and named after the organizer of the trip.

Begonias known today are very different from each other in size, shape, coloring of leaves and flowers. Some relate to perennial, others to annual. There are grassy and shrub begonias, with creeping or thickened rhizomes. But there is a common thing that unites these plants into one family.

Characteristic features of begonias:

• in all species, begonias are asymmetric, oblique leaf;
• flowers - monoecious;
• perianth - brightly colored, uneven;
• the fruit with seeds looks like a box;
• all begonias grow in approximately the same natural conditions: diffused sunlight, high humidity, temperature + 13 ... +22 ⁰C.

Video: a wealth of species and colors of the flower

Begonias - flowers for apartments, gardens and offices

As a decorative culture, begonia has been developing since 1856, when breeders began to create its hybrids. Large-flowering tuberous varieties appeared, the most famous were bred in Belgium. Keeping these plants at home is not too difficult, otherwise they would not have been so popular. Begonias are grown in open ground and on window sills, they are used for landscaping residential premises and offices, in compositions and separately. Flowers are planted in baskets and flowerpots to decorate walls, furniture, and also used as ground cover plants. Everblooming varieties are suitable for any flower gardens, even carpet. Tuberous varieties are grown on balconies, verandas, in closed courtyards.

Begonia, as a decoration of buildings

Home care has its own nuances, for example, tuber needs a rest period. All begonias love moist air, but do not tolerate moist soil. However, any beginner grower can grow this plant. After all, if something went wrong, and the begonia began to dry out, you can take a stalk or leaf and begin to grow begonia again taking into account past mistakes. The culture is able to multiply even by a piece of leaf, which very quickly turns back into a lush and beautiful houseplant.

Varieties of root begonias

Everlasting

The main difference between the species is constant flowering. In the summer you can plant such a plant in the garden, in the winter take it into the house, and everywhere it will bloom all year round. These are perennial herbaceous begonias. Outside signs, in addition to constant flowering, are rounded leaves and a small height: tall - up to 36 cm, undersized - from 8 cm. Many varieties with green or burgundy leaves, white, yellow, pink or coral flowers, which, in turn, are grown Terry (in the form of roses) or simple.

Examples of plants in the photo

Coral

Indoor grassy begonias bloom in early spring and fully justify their name. Flowers are painted in different shades of red, and the stalks branched and hanging under the weight of the buds are very similar to corals. The leaves also look romantic: elongated, matte, with specks, cloves at the edges resemble the wings of angels. The most spectacular begonias look in pots on coasters. In leaving very unpretentious. Bush height - up to 90 cm.

Peduncles in shape and color resemble corals

Varieties of tuberous begonias

These begonias are grown in shady corners of the garden or on balconies. Their flowers are very beautiful, depending on the variety, they are similar to a rose, clove, daffodil, peony, camellia. The stems are fleshy, translucent; leaves are asymmetric, heart-shaped. Hiding under the ground is a rhizome that has grown in the form of a tuber. In the open ground, begonias bloom from June to September, and in the room from spring to December, then a rest period begins. The ground part dries up, and the tuber is stored until the next season.

Photo Gallery: Tuberous begonias

Elatior or Begonia hybrid

Hybrid begonias were bred in England by crossing two species: the root Socotran (from Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean) and tuberous. The result was a very beautiful plant, similar to a tuber, but with the usual root. It blooms in winter. Due to the compactness of the bush and the abundance of flowers, closely spaced in several tiers, this begonia is called a "bouquet in a pot." With good care, Elator blooms not only in winter, but almost continuously, for several months in a row. The most famous varieties are: Elatior Borias, pleasing with pink terry flowers with a white edging, and Elatior Baladin with flowers in different shades of pink: from white to red.

Photo Gallery: Begonia Elator

Ampel begonias

Another type of luxurious indoor plants, the popularity of which has been growing in recent years. This group includes both root, and tuber, and hybrids. They are united by one sign - hanging shoots, strewn with flowers of various shapes and colors: white, yellow, red, orange, pink. Bright asymmetric foliage also looks spectacular. Ampel varieties are planted in balcony boxes, flowerpots, high flowerpots.

Photo Gallery: Ampel begonias

Begonia conditions depending on season - table

In such conditions, root begonias will bloom all year round or for many months (depending on the variety). For tuberous begonias, this table is only partially suitable. In the autumn they are cut off and cleaned for the winter in a dark and cool place (+12 ⁰C). Watered once a month, only slightly moistening a strip of soil along the edge of the pot. At the end of February they put it on the window, begin to water and feed, like all other flowering varieties.

Video: Tuberous begonias: dormancy and growing

Begonia planting

In Europe and the USA, it is customary to buy blooming begonia, and after it fades - throw it away. But for Russians this option is not suitable, we like to transplant, feed, change pots. Begonias are transplanted in the spring, it is in this season and you need to buy them. Without transplanting into the nutrient soil, purchased begonia will soon die. Indeed, in the store version, the soil is peat, and the plant lives off of nutrient solutions. Therefore, immediately after the purchase, begonia needs to be transplanted.

In the same place in the store along with the flower you need to purchase:

• drainage (expanded clay pebbles);
• soil (for begonias, violets or universal for flowering crops based on peat);
• perlite, or vermiculite, or sphagnum moss (for additional loosening of the soil, but not necessary);
• a pot 3-4 cm wider and deeper than the one in which begonia is sold; Mandatory: drain pan and drainage holes.

From excess water in the pot, begonias rot their roots, the flower dies. Therefore, the soil needs loose, breathable, water in it should not stagnate. In addition, begonias love acidic and fertile soil. It is not recommended to take soil at home, in the country or in the forest. Such land is almost always infected with diseases and insects, and its acidity is unknown.

Photo Gallery: What you need for a begonia transplant

Begonia transplant stages:

1. Take a new pot and pour 2-3 cm of drainage into it.
2. If there is an additional baking powder (sphagnum, perlite, vermiculite), then add a few spoons to the pot (depending on the size of the pot and begonia).
3. Remove the begonia from the old pot, shake off the peat or soil from the roots a little.
4. Set the flower so that it is at the same depth and fall asleep with fresh soil.

Video: How to transplant begonia

After transplanting home rather than shop begonias that wintered in the apartment, a cardinal pruning of the bush is necessary. Remove all shoots, leaving three to four. In some varieties, only one stem grows, so you do not have to remove the excess, you just need to shorten it. Strongly elongated bare stems with leaves on the crown, cut to a third. After that, the lower sleeping buds will wake up, and young shoots will also begin to grow. As a result, a lush bush will grow again.

Begonia Care

Watering

The upper dried layer is loosened. And only when the earth dries to a depth of 1-2 cm, you can pour into the pan. The ideal way is to put the pot in a container of water until the earth is fully saturated. Then the pot is returned to the pan, the excess water flowing into it is drained. The frequency of watering depends on the conditions in which begonia is found: on a sunny window, open balcony, in the garden. In the open air they watered every day, in an apartment, on a shady, closed balcony - every 2-3 days. The reference should be the condition of the soil. Water must be softened. To do this, it is filtered, defended.

Water for irrigation of begonias can be softened and made acidic using peat: 1 kg of peat in a fabric or gauze bag is infused for 10 days with 10 liters of water.

In addition, begonia is demanding on air humidity, but its leaves can not be sprayed. There are several ways to more gentle moisturizing: put cups of water next to the flower or pour sand, peat, expanded clay, moss in the pan and always keep this filler moist. In winter, put a damp cloth on the nearest heating battery.

Top dressing

Even evergreen begonias respond to changing seasons. In autumn and winter, it becomes darker and cooler on the windowsills. The plant slows down growth. If you feed it during this period, then the stems will stretch very much, the leaves will become tender and sensitive to diseases and pests. Therefore, begonias are often fed in the summer, and once a month in the winter.

The frequency of dressing, depending on the season - table

Video: How to care for begonias

Why is begonia not blooming?

This question will never arise with a grower who follows all the above rules. If begonia has all the conditions: scattered light, watering without waterlogging and drying out the roots, the right temperature, regular top dressing, then it will bloom exactly as much and even longer than the variety should. That is, ever-flowering flowers are decorated all year round, Elator - in winter, all other varieties begin to bloom in spring throughout the summer.

If only one nuance. Begonias are not long-livers, they delight with beautiful foliage and abundant flowering for only 2-3 years, and then you need to take a stalk or leaf and plant a new begonia. The old one will not grow anymore and will not bloom.

Begonia propagation

The cut

For rooting, cut the apical stem 6-10 cm long

1. Cut the stem with a tip 6-10 cm long.
2. Powder the cutting area with crushed wood, activated carbon or ash.
3. Plant in a moist loose soil for begonias and cover with a jar.
4. Water when drying the soil into the pan, like a regular begonia.
5. With a favorable outcome, the stalk will take root and will grow in 2-4 weeks.
6. Gradually accustom the plant to the air in the room. You can put a peg under the neck of the can, so that at first only aerate the mini-greenhouse, and after 2-3 days completely remove the can.
7. If the stalk is dry or rotten, repeat the experiment with another stalk.

In this way, all begonias that have stems can be propagated.

Leaf

If the begonia leaves are small, you can grow a new plant from the leaf

1. Cut a healthy leaf with a sharp knife near the cuttings.
2. Put a leaf in activated carbon water (1 tablet per glass of water).
3. If the petiole begins to rot, you need to cut to a healthy place and change the water.
4. As soon as young roots are formed, plant in a permanent pot.
5. When a new begonia begins to grow, the leaf will dry.

The method is good for begonias with small leaves. Large ones take root very poorly, because they need a lot of food, and young roots can not cope with this task. Therefore, begonias with large leaves are propagated by leaf segments.

Part of the sheet

First way

The leaf is cut into segments, each has at least one vein

1. The leaf is cut into segments in the direction from the central vein to the edges. Each segment should have 1-3 veins.
2. Lay out pieces of the sheet on top of wet sand or peat, you can stick them into the ground with a slice down.
3. Cover with a plastic bag or plant each segment in a separate container and cover with jars.
4. Keep the soil moist.
5. The first sprouts can appear in 1-3 months.
6. Gradually accustom begonia to the air in the apartment and remove the shelter.

On the sheet are cuts across the veins

Second way

1. Make cuts across the central vein and the thickest veins.
2. Spread leaf over wet begonias.
3. Press with pebbles.
4. Cover the pot with foil and put in the same place where adult begonias grow.
5. Keep the soil moist.
6. When sprouts appear, gradually remove the shelter.

In the places of incisions appeared young plants

Tuber

Tuberous begonia is also best propagated by cuttings or leaves. Manipulations with tubers are very risky, you can lose the whole plant.

1. At the end of February, after a period of rest, remove the tuber from the pot.
2. If there are children, separate them and put each in a separate pot.
3. If there are shoots on the tuber, they divide it with a sharp knife so that each segment is with a shoot.
4. Slices are dusted with charcoal or ash.
5. Deepen the tuber slices in half (sprouts up, slices down).
6. Cover with a jar, keep the soil moist.
7. When the stems grow 7 cm long, bury the tuber completely.

Begonia tubers with sprouts

Seeds

Against the background of the fact that begonias reproduce well vegetatively, growing from seeds is an illogical solution. However, flower growers also use this method if neither at home nor acquaintances have the right variety. Then you can buy seeds in a store or from breeders and try to grow a gorgeous flower from the smallest seed. Sowing seeds is done in December-January, so that begonias bloomed by spring-summer.

1. Spread the seeds on the surface of wet begonias or in peat tablets. Press the seeds to the ground, but do not bury.
2. Arrange a mini greenhouse: cover with foil, place in a disposable container with a lid, etc.
3. After 2 weeks, if the soil does not dry out and is not wet, seedlings will appear.
4. Transfer seedlings to the brightest window or fill up with lamps. Gradually remove the shelter.
5. When 2-3 true leaflets appear, each plant can be transplanted into a pot.

Video: Begonia propagation by seeds

Begonia Diseases - Table

Photo Gallery: Begonia Diseases

Begonia pests - table

Photo Gallery: Pest Begonia

The spider mite settles on the back of the leaf. This microscopic pest can kill the whole plant.

Scabies live on stems and leaves, covered with wax shells resembling shields

Consequences of Improper Begonia Care - Table

Photo Gallery: Consequences of Improper Begonia Care

Although begonia is demanding in care, this is the plant on which beginners can learn. If you make a mistake and the flower dies, you can always cut a stalk or leaf and grow a new begonia. But even with proper care, these plants do not live long. After 2-3 years of active growth, decorative properties are lost: the stems are exposed, the leaves become small, dry, the begonia does not bloom. Rejuvenation or planting of a new young plant is required.