Decorate your windowsill: how to grow begonia at home?

Begonia is a plant that is used to decorate gardens, parks, squares and window sills. It belongs to the Begoniev family.

It contains about nine hundred species found in the wild, and about two thousand hybrids.

The first person to describe him in the 17th century is Michel Begon.

This amazingly beautiful flower was named after him. Is it difficult to grow begonia at home?

What kind of flower is this?

Ten years after the publication of the description of Michel, who visited and discovered it on the Antilles, published notes on other varieties of begonia: evergreen, royal, tuberous. Today, breeders are experimenting with them, creating more and more decorations for window sills. Among them are those that grow only in greenhouses and those that withstand the vagaries of the weather.

Begonia is a small herbaceous plant with a height of not more than 3 cm or tall shrub. Some species lack stems, while others have only one leaf. Leaf color - all shades of green. The reverse side looks unusual: sometimes its patterns and spots cover it. The color of the buds also varies, but mainly they relate to the warm colors. You can find out about begonia varieties in this article.

Care Features

The main feature of begonia is careful care. Only if the grower will strictly follow all the rules and comply with all conditions, the begonia will bloom for a long time and plentifully. What are you talking about?

• A place. Indoor begonia will delight in blooming if you put the pot on a well-lit window sill on the east or west side.
• Temperature. She loves heat, but not heat. The optimum temperature is + 18-23 ° C.
• Humidity. The plant is not sprayed in order to create a high level of moisture so that brown spots do not appear on the leaves. Since it needs high humidity, put it on an inverted tray with wet expanded clay.
• Shine. Direct sunlight in the summer is contraindicated, as burns on the leaves will be due to them.
• Neighborhood. Begonia does not like "neighbors": the farther the pots with other plants stand, the better.
• Ventilation. She needs fresh air, but only if there are no drafts. From him, she improves the appearance of the plant.

Breeding methods

There are many types of room begonia: tuberous, ever flowering, ampelous, royal, etc. Is it easy to propagate it?

Five reproduction methods:

1. Cuttings.
2. Seed.
3. Use parts of a rhizome or bush.
4. Using parts of the leaves.
5. Stem cuttings.

Cuttings are a breeding method that many growers choose. It is applicable to begonia in the first place. To propagate it, cut the stalk with a sharp knife.

The optimum height is 100 mm, the presence of two pairs of leaves is mandatory. The lower ones are cleaned, and the large ones are cut in half.

Slices should dry, and while they dry, they prepare the soil (anyone will do, but mix it with sand 1: 1). When the slices are dry, a recess is made in the pot of earth. A stalk is inserted into it, deepening to the leaves. After watering and top-dressing with the stimulator Kornevin, the plant is covered on top with a plastic bottle cut in half.

Winter begonias and Mason begonias breed in leaves, since they do not have a stem. Florists choose a strong sheet, which is cut with a sharp knife. They also use it to cut triangular pieces, separating them from the midrib to the edges. On one piece should be two veins.

After preparation, they are stuck in wet sand, and from above they cover the landing with a bag of cellophane. To make roots appear, maintain high humidity under the bag. To do this, constantly spray the space under it with water from a spray bottle. A plant is transplanted into normal soil after 2-3 months.

The seed method is the easiest. In the store they buy seeds and soil without weeds. The soil is mixed with sand. It is moisturized, and then deeply without deepening, the seeds are pressed into the soil. Top cover the pot with a plastic bag and put in a bright place. The first shoots will appear after 2 weeks, if aired and watered correctly. When they get a little stronger, you can transplant them into glasses.

An overgrown plant is rejuvenated by dividing a bush or rhizomes. A sharp knife is used for separation, they are carefully monitored so that on each new part there is a sprout or kidney. It is planted in a pot after dusting with charcoal.

The tuberous method is not laborious. As soon as sprouts appear on the tubers in spring, you can plant them in the ground. First, they are divided into sprouts, the sections are treated with ash and each is planted in its own pot. Read about how to care for room begonia in a pot, and about why begonia in a pot wilt, you will learn in this article.

How to breed?

Begonia is a classic favorite among gardeners. Under a number of conditions, she will always please with an abundance of flowers. different colors. It is grown in the garden or hanging flowerpots on the windowsill.

How to breed indoor begonia? Attention. Having bought begonia, it is better to study the rules for caring for it. She does not tolerate wet soil at the roots. So that it is not like this, the transplant pot is chosen carefully (about choosing a flowerpot and begonia in a pot read here). It should be small so that there is little space for the growth of rhizomes. When the rhizomes fill the pots, the plant is transplanted. Read about planting, transplanting and subsequent care of begonias after purchase here, and we wrote in another article about how and when a plant transplant is needed.

Priming

Although many flower growers say that begonia is unpretentious to the soil, they form it from:

• peat;
• perlite;
• sphagnum;
• good land.

When mixing take one equal part of the above types of soil. You can do differently by buying a finished peat-based substrate in the store. Its use is possible only after soaking for several hours. The better it is saturated, the faster the begonia will take root. What to do if your pet does not take root well, we talked about in a separate article.

Temperature and lighting

The plant does not like direct sunlight. Light should be bright and rarefied.

In summer, a pot with it is placed on the west / east window, and in winter - on the south window (you will find out about caring for begonia in winter here). If the flower grows up, and not in breadth, it does not stand in its place.

The main problem is with lighting, or rather with its insufficiency. They also remove it from one window and look for another if the leaves dry. The optimum temperature is + 18-23 ° C.

Watering

As soon as the soil dries 2-3 cm deep, water it. The best way to water is to soak the pot in water for several hours. After that they wait for all the excess glass water in the pan and only after that return the pot to its original place. All the details of proper watering can be found here.

Air humidity

As soon as the heating is turned on with the onset of cold weather, so many indoor plants wither away at once. Problems arise with begonia. She does not like dry air and does not tolerate spraying with water from a spray bottle. Only the space next to it is sprayed with water or a cache-pot with wet gravel is placed near it.

Fertilizer

Once a week or twice a month fertilize begonia using a weak solution of mineral fertilizer. Fertilizing is not needed from mid-autumn to early spring, as the plant needs rest. How to feed begonias for abundant flowering, you will learn here.

Pruning

1. Thick-leaved begonias, in which shoots are terrestrial, are cut off when they see the need for it.
2. Ampelic pruned to stimulate the growth of lateral shoots. To achieve this, shorten the tip.
3. Shrubs cut each spring so that they grow and stretch faster.

You can find out how to prune begonia for lush flowering in a separate article.

Diseases and Pests

Florists encounter pests and diseases when growing begonias rarely. According to the condition of the leaves and appearance, the problem is determined and the optimal method of treatment is selected.

Disease

• Gray rot. The causative agent is the fungus Botritis. On flowers, leaves and shoots, watery spots of white color with a gray coating are formed. Timely treatment with a 1% solution of Bordeaux fluid or a copper-soap solution will save from the spread of the disease.
• Bacterial spotting. Defeat - the lower surface of the leaves. It is impossible to cure, therefore it is better to destroy the affected specimen and acquire a new one.
• Ring spotting or tomato virus. Again, cure is impossible. In order not to encounter this disease, weeds are removed in a timely manner, and they are dealt with aphids and thrips by modern means of treatment.

The most common problems are rotting, drying out and curling around the edges of the leaves. in begonia (why do the leaves dry on the edges and the flowers suffer at the same time, read here). Noticing them in time and treating the plant with a fungicide (or a home-made solution: 2 grams of copper sulfate, 20 grams of tar soap and 1 liter of water), it will again delight with the brightness of the buds and the "healthy" green leaves. You will find all the details about the diseases and pests of begonia here, and about why the leaves turn yellow and dry on the plant, read in this article.

Conclusion

Begonia is a frequent guest in the homes of Russians. Everyone who loves bright lush flowers of yellow, pink or red, occupying the empty spaces between graceful leaves, will buy it. Having mastered the simple rules of care, they will not regret their decision to plant a flower.

Watch the video: Indoor Begonia Care Guide . Garden Answer (May 2024).