Diverse begonia: care in the garden and on the windowsill
In culture, there are about 125 species of begonias. Today, there are more than 2,000 varieties and hybrids. This is not only a beautiful, but also a very grateful plant: decorative flowering begonia, which is properly cared for, throws buds all year round, and deciduous varieties amaze the imagination with the shape and color of the plates.
The inhabitant of the tropical regions of South America, West Africa, South and Southeast Asia is widely used in the pot culture. For many decades, begonia has been one of the leading places in the hundred most popular indoor plants. In Russian flower beds it grows like an annual.
The simplest classification of begonias
If desired, begonias can be chosen for every taste - the culture is striking in its variety. But the species and varieties have what unites them:
- unisexual flowers;
- asymmetrical leaves, called "elephant ears" - the central vein divides them into 2 unequal parts.
Flower lovers have dozens of classifications of begonias in shape, color, size of flowers or leaves.
There are four large groups used for decorative purposes:
- deciduous;
- tuberous;
- flowering;
- shrubby.
By and large, begonias can be with beautiful large leaves and nondescript buds, or with decorative flowers and unremarkable small plates. Equally combining both, there are not yet, some shrub varieties approach them.
Just as begonias are diverse, care for them is also very different. Before buying, you should make inquiries about the species - perhaps it is so capricious that it simply cannot survive in normal indoor conditions.
Ornamental leafy begonias
An extensive group with graceful leaf plates of a bizarre shape, of various colors. There are types intended only for greenhouses with high humidity orflorariumoin. Some grow on ordinary windowsills.
Imperial
Begonia imperialis is a rather capricious begonia. Forms rhizomes - rhizomes, which are modified creeping stems. Loves light and warmth, requires high humidity, but does not tolerate spraying of the aerial part.
Very beautiful. A plant up to 40 cm high, forms a lush bush with good care. Leaves are asymmetrical, 10 cm in diameter, with a heart-shaped base and a sharp tip. The upper part of the plate is velvety, silvery, decorated with radial green stripes directed to the edge, the lower one is red.
Royal or Rex
Begonia rex is a rhizomatous begonia, which is considered one of the most difficult houseplants to care for. Designed for growing in forariums. There are many varieties and hybrids - all incredibly beautiful, but very moody.
The stem is lodging, thick, under ideal conditions (which are very difficult to ensure), the old species plant can reach a maximum size of 1.5 m. The flowers are small and do not represent decorative value.
Leaves are asymmetric, covered with sparse long hairs, in the representatives of the group they can reach a diameter of 5 to 20 cm, shape: round, elongated, dissected to varying degrees, twisted along the central vein by a snail.The plates are decorated with a variety of striking patterns.
It usually combines several colors from so dark green that it appears black to silvery, the surface appears velvety, in fact, covered with short, tight-fitting bristles.
Bauer
Begonia bowerae is not the most capricious species and has produced some excellent varieties. It is a small bush up to 25 cm high with a creeping stem and cordate, elongated leaves up to 10 cm long and 4-6 cm wide.
Depending on the variety, the plates can be smooth or covered with hairs. The upper side is green with black spots along the edge and along the veins, the lower side is light, with reddish veins.
Sizemore
Begonia sizemoreae is one of the hardiest ornamental foliage begonias. It grows up to 40-60 cm. The flowers are pretty, pink, small, gathered in panicles.
Leaves in the form of an asymmetric oval with a rounded or pointed tip, the surface is wrinkled, old plates are covered with long sparse white hairs, deep venation. The upper part is dark green with a silvery circular stripe, the lower one is crimson.
Red-leaved or fista
Begonia erythrophylla is shade-tolerant, relatively non-capricious, suitable for northern windowsills. The stem is creeping, thick, the flowers are inconspicuous. The leaves are almost rounded, green with a bronze tan above, and red below.
Hogweed
Begonia heracleifolia is a variable species that has produced many varieties. It is a rarity among decorative leaf begonias - care is within the power of even novice growers.
The stem is long. If not trimmed, it can be grown as an ampelous plant. Leaves are relatively symmetrical, up to 25 cm in diameter, strongly dissected, similar to maple. Petioles up to 40 cm. The species plant has a green color.
The varieties can be two-colored, bronze, with a reddish or purple tint, different in the depth of dissection of the plates.
Masson
Begonia masoniana is a very beautiful sprawling rhizome begonia 45 cm high. Rounded wrinkled leaves 15 cm in diameter are covered with a velvety downy. The plates are light green, along the large veins are located resembling a Maltese cross, so dark that wide stripes seem black.
Beautiful flowering begonias
The main advantage of these begonias is the flowers that completely cover the bush, because of which no one pays attention to the small leaves. With good care, it can last all year round, but it is still recommended to give the plants a rest.
Is that begonia is grown at home as a kind of bouquet - it faded and went to the trash can. Of course, no one does this with hybrid varieties.
Always blooming
Begonia semperflorens - home, garden begonia, for growing in hanging containers outdoors. It is a perennial plant, but it is often used for only one season, especially when planted in a flower bed. Unpretentious, not capricious, suitable for novice florists. Has many varieties, participated in the creation of hybrids.
Bushes are small, from 8 to 30-40 cm high. The plant is completely covered with flowers up to 5 cm in diameter in all shades of red or pink, or white. The leaves are small, rounded, usually green, red and bronze shades, rarely white, brown. There are varieties with spotted plates.
Tuberous begonias
Begonia tuberhybrida is used as a pot and garden plant. It is represented by a variety of hybrids from 20 to 80 cm high with erect or hanging shoots.
Flowers from 1.5 to 20 cm in diameter, double, simple, semi-double. Coloring - any, except for shades of violet, blue or light blue.
Tuberous begonia is a hybrid. Botanists themselves do not know how many natural species were involved in its creation, but claim that from 6 to 9.
Lorrain
Begonia x Lorrain - a group of hybrids up to half a meter high. Form a bush with thin, slightly downward curving shoots.The leaves are round, green, with a winding edge, no more than 10 cm in diameter. The flowers are small, simple, pink or white, gathered in panicles. The buds open in autumn or in the first half of winter.
Elatior
Begonia x Elatior is another hybrid group. Flowers can be simple or double, up to 5 cm in diameter, collected in loose panicles. Coloring - any, except for shades of blue. The buds open regardless of the season. The leaves are rounded, with a jagged edge.
Shrub (shrubs) begonias
An interesting group, though not as impressive as the previous two. Care - medium difficulty, can be grown on a not too sunny windowsill.
There are dozens of species of shrub begonias grown in a pot culture. Each is interesting in its own way. This sample is intended simply to give an idea of the group.
Fuchsia
Begonia fuchsioides is perhaps the most famous type of shrub begonias among non-fanatic growers. Forms an ascending bush up to 90 cm high. The leaves are small, up to 2 cm long, oval, tapering at the ends, serrated along the edge, green, shiny.
Flowering is long, with good care - from late winter to autumn. Buds of bright pink shades, 1.8-2.5 cm in diameter, collected in brushes of 7-11 pieces. Sometimes the species is classified as flowering - the plant really resembles fuchsia.
Reed (Kane)
Cane-like begonias is a group of cultivars with rigid, erect stems that have thickening at the nodes, like bamboo. The height of some varieties can reach 4.5 m, and the length of the leaves is 35 cm. The plates are asymmetric, pointed.
Some varieties are grown only because of the leaves and the original shape of the plant. Others draw attention with their pretty fragrant flowers.
Spotted
Begonia maculata includes coral begonia, previously considered a separate species. This is a beautiful herbaceous shrub, growing up to 45-60 cm with a crown diameter of 1 m.The leaves are smooth, with a winding edge, up to 15 cm long, no more than 5 cm wide.The upper part of the plate is dark green, covered with silvery specks, the lower part is reddish.
Begonia: plant care
Just as the appearance of begonias with decorative leaves and flowers differs, so does the care for them. It can be described as difficult (Begonia rex) or easy with little difficulty (Begonia semperflorens). But there are a number of requirements that remain unchanged for culture.
To make caring for begonias not too burdensome, the culture must create the right conditions. For whimsical views such as Royal, Imperial or Massona, they should be ideal.
Care after purchase
The first thing to do with begonia after purchase is to quarantine it for 2 weeks. It can contain pests or diseases unnoticed or washed away without the use of chemical means of protection. All indoor plants are likely to be infected.
From Holland, Poland and other countries begonias come in transport containers filled with peat. This substrate is poorly suited for growing plants and must be replaced immediately after quarantine.
Exception - the flower is going to be thrown away immediately after the buds fall. Any transplant is associated with a temporary loss of decorative effect. If begonias are intended only to decorate a holiday or impress guests, it is better not to touch it, but to intensively feed it with fertilizers for flowering crops.
When buying varietal or hybrid begonias at the exhibition, you should take instructions for further cultivation from the seller.
Quite often they sell barely rooted cuttings or unpicked seedlings, transplanting can destroy them. And amateurs are unlikely to plant in clean peat.
Temperature and lighting
All begonias are short-day plants. They feel comfortable on the northern windowsill. In the south, they often get sick and lose their decorative effect, they require protection from the direct rays of the midday sun anywhere.
This does not mean that begonias can be grown in complete darkness or in the back of an apartment without lighting. Plants need more light during flowering than during dormancy.
In the garden, begonias cannot be planted in an open area. Part of the day, especially at noon, they must be shaded by other plants, buildings or small architectural forms (benches, fountains, gazebos, trellises, etc.). This will somehow protect the culture from the summer heat.
The most comfortable temperature for begonias:
- in summer - 20 ° С;
- in winter - not lower than 15 ° C.
When the regime is violated, capricious decorative leafy forms especially suffer. Shrubs and flowering flowers usually tolerate warmer content more easily - up to 26 ° C. It is categorically not recommended to lower the temperature even for a short time beyond the permissible level.
Watering and feeding
Begonias, especially those with decorative leaves, require high humidity, but do not tolerate spraying of the aerial part. The ingress of water on the leaves often causes the loss of decorativeness, and at the Royal Plate, it can generally rot, and the plant will die.
You need to increase humidity in other ways:
- often spray the air, preventing water from getting on the plants;
- place the pot on a pallet filled with damp pebbles;
- especially capricious ornamental-leafy begonias are grown in florariums (terrariums or aquariums adapted for plants);
- place a container with a flower in a larger planter, fill the free space with sphagnum moss, and moisten it constantly.
Watering should be abundant and regular, clean, settled water without chlorine at room temperature or slightly higher. It is impossible to allow stagnation of water in the pot - this is guaranteed to destroy the plants. After watering, the liquid flowing down from the substrate is left in the pan for 30-40 minutes, then removed.
Begonias are fertilized during the growing season every 2-3 weeks, depending on the decorativeness with preparations for flowering or deciduous plants. It is better to leave universal ones for simpler crops.
Shrub begonias, from which they want to achieve lush flowering, are fed with drugs with increased doses of potassium. To build up the leaf mass, fertilizers are given in which nitrogen.
The time for feeding is not necessarily spring-summer. Winter flowering begonias Elatior and Lorrain rest at this time, and in autumn and winter they require increased nutrition.
Formation
All types of begonias need formation. Some sources claim that this is not done with the Royal (Rex) and Everflowering species. This is a mistake.
Without pruning begonia:
- stretched out;
- the bush becomes loose;
- flowering worsens;
- deciduous species expose the lower part of the stem and lose their decorative effect.
Pruning is the partial or complete removal of individual stems in order to:
- form a beautiful bush;
- restrain growth;
- improve flowering.
It is carried out at the beginning of the growing season, which in some begonias falls in the spring, in others, which open their buds before winter, in autumn. The younger the plant, the easier it tolerates peration.
Formation of a bush of decorative flowering begonia:
- When the height of the seedling becomes 6-10 cm, or a new growth of the cutting reaches the same size, the crown with a couple of leaves is cut off with sharp scissors.
- Lateral shoots are shortened as soon as they stretch up to 10 cm. The cut is made 5 mm above the outward-facing bud (leaf).
- From the grown bush, the branches thickening the crown are removed, or too long are cut.
Ampel varieties the tops of the shoots are cut at the beginning of each growing season by about 1/3. So the bush will retain its attractive shape longer.
If an adult bush begonia is strongly stretched, growth is restrained by pruning. The plant is shortened, and the cut is sprinkled with crushed activated carbon so that infection does not get there. The apex can be rooted.
Rex begonias and other deciduous forms are considered the most difficult to grow, they are required to be in perfect shape.Usually they are kept for 3 years, and as soon as the stem begins to stretch, the top is cut off and re-rooted.
The tips of the shoots of flowering begonias are pinched at the beginning of the growing season or immediately after flowering. This stimulates tillering and the formation of more buds.
The operation on the Always-flowering begonias is usually not carried out - a young bush is already compact and beautiful. And after flowering, it is most often replaced with a new plant.
Sanitary measures
Old, beginning to dry out, or heavily diseased leaves are cut out without waiting for the process to reach the petiole. The wounds are dusted with crushed activated carbon. Firstly, the plates that have begun to disappear reduce decorativeness, and secondly, pathogens from the leaves that have begun to rot can destroy the entire plant.
For the treatment of wound surfaces on indoor plants, it is better to use activated carbon rather than ash. Except that the wood residues were specially burned for sanitation on a clean surface.
Beautiful begonia: care and transplant
Young plants are usually transplanted annually, adults - every 2-3 years. The signal to replace the substrate and move to a larger pot is the roots that have escaped into the drainage holes, or a completely braided earth lump.
It is recommended for beginner growers to find ready-made Begonia soil for transplanting in flower shops.
Experienced growers make up the substrate on their own, after sifting, disinfecting and mixing the components:
- leaf humus - 2 parts;
- sod land - 1;
- garden land - 1;
- sand - 0.3.
Begonia is transplanted, not transplanted:
- Drainage is placed at the bottom.
- Fall asleep with a thin layer of pieces of charcoal.
- Place a little substrate on top.
- A begonia is taken out of an old pot along with an earthen lump.
- Gently clean off a layer of earth with a wooden stick, which is easily separated from the total mass.
- A flower is placed in the center of the new container so as to deepen the trunk by 2-3 cm.
- Fall asleep with earth. Seal so that dips do not form on the sides.
- Watering. It is very helpful to use a rooting solution.
For rhizome begonias, take low wide pots. Tuberous fit the usual form. If the design of the room requires the use of tall containers, most of the pot is filled with drainage - plants in a large amount of undeveloped land will hurt.
The first pot for a cutting or seedling should be 5-6 cm in diameter. Each next pot for the first 2-3 years is a third larger. In the future, the size of the container is increased by about 4 cm.
Begonia - care depending on the type of plant
There are differences in caring for begonias with decorative leaves and flowers. The main thing is that the former are much more whimsical and capricious, they initially require special conditions of detention.
Beautifully blooming
The only feature in caring for flowering rhizome begonias grown on window sills is that stamping (factory varieties) were not originally intended for growing for several seasons. In all countries, except for Russia and neighboring countries, they are thrown away after flowering.
But the flower growers of the post-Soviet space are trying at all costs to keep cheap flowers. And they are very surprised when next year they cannot achieve either lush flowering or a decent bush shape. By and large, such plants are suitable as a mother plant. They are kept until the next season, and then cuttings are taken to grow new bushes.
Collectible varieties and hybrids will delight the owners for several years. But all the same, they will have to be updated often, rooting the apical cuttings.
Ornamental deciduous
When buying begonias with decorative leaves, you should look for information on each species, variety or hybrid separately. The group includes incredibly finicky plants, and those that can survive even on a kitchen windowsill (this is the worst place for indoor flowers).
Begonias Rex (Royal), Imperial, Masson will be best felt in a greenhouse or florarium. To do this, you can independently equip an aquarium or terrarium. It is easier to maintain high humidity there - even a single "puncture" can dramatically reduce decorativeness in room conditions. It will no longer be possible to restore the lost leaves.
Tuberous
The only begonia with a pronounced dormant period. Seedlings and rooted cuttings of the tuber do not yet, they are left in the same place and continue to be looked after as for rhizome species.
Only plants that bloom in the current season or earlier are sent for wintering. To maintain a viable tuber, it needs to be allowed to rest.
At the end of the season, watering is reduced, the plant is placed in a dark place with a temperature of no more than 16 ° C. When the aboveground part is completely dry, cut it off, leaving 2 cm stumps.
Further, the opinions of experts diverge. Some people advise leaving the begonia in the pot. Others - take out the tuber, shake off the substrate and place it in sand or sawdust. Both are correct.
Store from November to the end of February at 7-9 ° C, watering about 1 time per month. Small (up to 2 cm in diameter) nodules dry out faster, they are moistened more often. You can keep planting material in the cellar, basement, lower section of the refrigerator.
Several times during the winter nodules are ventilated and sorted out. Dried or rotten ones are discarded.
At the beginning of March, they are exposed in a bright place, they begin to water. After the sprouts appear, they are transplanted into a fresh substrate.
In the garden and in the flowerbed
For outdoor cultivation, 2 types of begonias are used: Always-flowering and Tuberous. They try to keep the latter in the ground as long as possible, but dig it out before the first frost. Store as described above.
The ever-blooming begonia may have to be thrown away. If it tolerates the transplant well into the ground, then it is problematic to put the flower back into the pot. The root system has grown, damage before the dormant period is likely to lead to death.
If you need to save the uterine specimen for grafting in the spring, the begonia is dug up with a pitchfork and placed in a special bag along with a large clod of earth. You can do it yourself - take a very dense cellophane bag, make holes at the bottom the size of a little finger nail.
Then the bag with begonia is placed in a box so as not to litter, and cut off. Store in a cool room with minimal watering and light access. In the spring, they are rearranged into a bright, warm room, fed. The flower will quickly begin to grow, it will be possible to cut the cuttings.
Reproduction of begonias
Propagating begonias is not that difficult. It is recommended for novice growers to start cultivating a crop with apical cuttings - this is the easiest thing.
Seeds
Begonia seeds are small and inconvenient to work with. They are sown in a light substrate, sprinkled with earth a little, covered with glass, kept in a warm place. Ventilate and check humidity daily. If necessary, watered from a household spray bottle.
After the emergence of shoots, the shelter is removed, exposed to the light. They dive into individual containers of small diameter in the phase of 2-3 true leaves.
Begonia will bloom about 4-5 months after germination.
Cuttings
This breeding method is not only the easiest. It allows you to breed hybrids while maintaining the characteristics of the mother plant.
Apical
Cuttings are taken after pruning, or from queen cells specially left for this purpose. They should have at least 2-3 buds, the best length is 8-15 cm. The lower leaves are removed, leaving 2-3 on top. The cut is dried in the shade until the callus is formed.
Germinated in water, peat-sand mixture, perlite, light substrate. After the roots appear, they are transplanted into light soil, for example, intended for seedlings.
You can also propagate cuttings of tuberous begonias taken in August after flowering. They are planted in individual pots to a depth of 4 cm.
Leafy
Healthy plates from the middle layer are used for rooting.The old ones are sometimes able to give roots, but this is all over, the young are likely to simply rot.
From well-ripened leaves that have not lost growth hormones, many children get at once:
- The plate can be planted entirely in light soil or pre-rooted in water.
- The central vein is removed from the leaf with a sharp blade, the halves are planted with a cut down in a light substrate.
- Most of the planting material can be obtained by dividing the plate into fragments, making cuts between large veins. Or make a lot of notches on the whole sheet.
Pieces of leaves are dried for about 20 minutes and planted in a light substrate. Placed in an aquarium, covered with glass jars or cellophane to create a greenhouse effect. Often sprayed and ventilated, kept warm (20-25 ° C).
Tiny plants will appear from the cut veins after a while. When they grow up a little, they are carefully separated and transplanted into containers of a small diameter.
Tubers
Only old large tubers can be propagated this way. When, after the resumption of growth after a dormant period, new shoots reach 5-6 cm, they are cut into pieces, sprinkled with crushed activated carbon on the wound surface. Allow to lie down so that the cut is corked. They are planted in a light substrate.
Pests, diseases and possible problems when growing begonias
The best prevention of disease is proper care. Treatment - treatment with appropriate fungicides.
Most often begonias are affected by:
- powdery mildew - white, indelible dust on vegetative organs;
- gray mold - brown spots and gray bloom on stems and leaves;
- various spots - marks can be of different colors, oily, rust-like.
Insecticides help fight pests. The greatest danger in room conditions are:
- shield;
- thrips;
- nematodes.
Often mushroom mosquitoes (sciarids) appear in pots. By themselves, they are unpleasant, but they are not dangerous for begonias. These insects signal that something is wrong with the substrate, most likely it is waterlogged or sour.
In the open field or greenhouse, the following may appear:
- aphids;
- whitefly.
Problems caused by care errors:
- the tips of the leaves become dry - insufficient moisture;
- whitish spots on the side facing the sun - a burn;
- plates dry and curl - low humidity;
- buds fall off - the same thing;
- slowing growth - lack of nutrients;
- buds are not formed - the plant is too young or there is not enough potassium in the dressing.
Begonia, which can be fun to care for and reproduce, is very popular all over the world. To take care of the culture bring pleasure, and not become a heavy burden, the plant must immediately create suitable conditions. And not to grow varieties for which there is no way to care for the way they require.