Begonia Elatior

Begonia Elatior is probably the most common and favorite kind of begonias , which is very often confused with tuberous. In fact, this is a hybrid species resulting from the crossing of Socotran and tuberous begonias.

The result, it should be noted, turned out to be amazing: graceful, bright flowers against a background of glossy green leaves look amazingly impressive. Often this plant is presented as a gift instead of a bouquet of flowers for the holidays - a non-trivial, wonderful way to please the heroes of the occasion. Below are photos of Elatior begonias, which, of course, can only partially convey all the stunning beauty of the grace of this flower.

Elatior begonia care at home

Begonia Elatior requires rather painstaking care, she is gentle, very susceptible to deterioration of conditions of detention, does not tolerate stressful situations.

It prefers loose light soils that are easily permeable to air and water; when planting, you should take care of high-quality drainage in order to avoid stagnant moisture. The root system of this plant is very fragile - the roots are thin and brittle, easily damaged during transplantation, therefore, it is best not to separate the old soil from the root ball, but to transfer the plant from the old pot to a new one, adding fresh soil mixture.

Watering should be very moderate, in the summer-spring period it should be done only after the soil in the pot is almost completely dry, and in the autumn-winter period, not only the watering frequency should be reduced, but also the volume. In summer, the flower responds well to spraying on the leaf mass, but keep in mind that it should be carried out only in the evening.

When organizing the care of Elatior begonia at home, it should be borne in mind that this flower belongs to a very thermophilic plant that does not tolerate frost, low temperatures and cold drafts. The most acceptable temperature range is 21 - 25 ° C.

As for the light mode, there is something to puzzle over. And all because for the abundant flowering of this begonia, bright, but diffused light is needed, while direct sunlight must be avoided, which can cause traumatic burns to leaf plates even in the evening.

Too strong lighting can lead to crumbling of the flowers, and if the hybrid produces double and double flowers - a decrease in the number of petals in them.

In order to provoke friendly flowering and the formation of new buds, do not forget to remove faded flowers.

Top dressing also needs to be done very carefully. For this purpose, only mineral fertilizers are suitable, organic fertilizers can have an undesirable effect on the condition of the stems and cuttings - the abundance of organic nitrogen can make the stems and petioles brittle, transparent, watery, prone to mechanical damage, as well as rot. In this case, the buds and flowers will not look so impressive, and the flowering itself may become scarce.

Reproduction of Elatior begonias can be done in several ways:

• Seeds;
• Cuttings
  .

Seeds can be sown all year round, but the most successful period for this is early spring.

It is better to take mature cuttings for propagation, they are more resistant to the effects of fungal and bacterial microorganisms, in order to accelerate the process of root emergence, cuttings are placed not in water or soil, but in vermiculite, perlite or sphagnum, which has some antibacterial properties.
Reproduction by cuttings is carried out in the spring and summer. It is also a great way to renew your plant. When growing a young plant from a cutting, pinching should be used to form a more lush and beautiful bush.

As for pests and diseases, it is worth noting separately powdery mildew, which very often affects this species begonias, especially with high humidity.

If you notice the first signs of this disease, do not delay and immediately start processing with special fungicidal agents.

Too much moisture in the soil can lead to root rot. And not removed in time, faded flowers - to gray rot. For the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases, phytosporin solutions can be used for irrigation.

How to care for Elatior begonia during rest period?

When growing this indoor flower, the most important question is how to care for the Elatior begonia in winter.

First, you need to properly organize the temperature regime, that is, maintain it within 18 - 20 ° C, without lowering it below 18 ° C, otherwise the plant will simply die.

Secondly, the irrigation regime should be very poor, the frequency of irrigation should be reduced by three times in comparison with the active growth period. It is very important to remember that spraying on the leaves during the dormant period is strictly not recommended.

After wintering, the begonia bush can lose its visual appeal, in order to return the plant to its former attractiveness and decorative value, it is necessary to prune in the spring, leaving cuttings 7 - 8 cm in length.

Also, it will not be superfluous to use growth stimulants and immunomodulators, such as "Epin", "Zircon" in early March. Using them alternately (spraying with "Epin" and watering with "Zircon" solution), you can avoid a lot of problems with Elatior begonia.

So, if you are planning to replenish your collection of indoor plants with this begonia, get ready for careful care and vigilant control over all environmental factors, but all these chores will not be in vain - Elatior begonia is very responsive, and in return will give you a hat of chic bright graceful flowers.

Video: about the beauty of begonia