Care and conditions for growing home begonias. Begonia ampelous care at home in winter

14.11.2017 5 998

Begonia, home care - transplantation, propagation, resuscitation

Begonia – blooming indoor plant the begoniaceae family, which includes the following types and varieties:

Ampelous begonia.

Begonia royal- one of the most beautiful varieties begonias that require special care. This begonia should be watered abundantly and thoroughly, especially in spring and summer, but at the same time carefully ensure that water does not get on the leaves, since if this does happen, the begonia will begin to shed leaves and flowers, the same will happen if the flower is constantly maintained in the sun. Begonia got its name from its particularly beautiful leaves, with which it can be easily propagated.

Begonia coral- a plant with leaves covered with white spots and inflorescences hanging beautifully from the pot. Begonia of this variety has many varieties and is extremely popular among gardeners. There are dwarf and giant varieties of coral begonia, the former do not reach 30 centimeters in height, while the height of the latter triples this figure. Begonia loves light, but it is not recommended to keep the flower pot in direct sunlight for more than 4 hours a day; it may bloom prematurely. It is best to grow a flower at a temperature no higher than 24 degrees, and you need to feed it with phosphorus fertilizer at least once a month. It reproduces in the same way as other begonia varieties.

Begonia Griffin- indoor begonia, which is a hybrid of the royal variety of this plant. Begonia has large, wide leaves and its height reaches 42 centimeters. This plant is easy to care for and does not require frequent watering; it can easily be placed in both a winter and a regular garden.

Red leaf begonia is a beautiful deciduous plant, the lower part of the leaves of which has a bright red color, which is why the flower is given this name. The stem of the plant is short, thick, inclined towards the soil, and has a light green tint. Flowering occurs in summer, the flowers have a pleasant pink hue. Begonia of this variety looks beautiful in hanging pots; it is not recommended to plant it in the garden.

Begonia Rex– grows at temperatures from 18 to 20 degrees, requires moderate watering and exposure to direct sunlight for no more than an hour a day, the rest of the time, in order to get a beautiful and healthy plant, you need to provide it with partial shade. It needs feeding, it should be done at least once a month. Propagated by cuttings, tubers, or parts of leaves. Needs year-round watering. It is best to plant Rex begonia in a mixture of humus, deciduous and turf soil with the addition of sand. Under attack powdery mildew And mealybug, including the root one.

Begonia yellow- a plant with yellow flowers, grown in the same way as ordinary varieties of begonia, with the exception that with proper watering it can bloom with early spring until the beginning of winter. Belongs to the tuberous varieties of begonia.

Begonia tiger - decorative variety begonias with bright olive color leaves covered with dark, tiger-like spots located closer to their ends. Caring for tiger begonia is as simple as caring for a regular one, watering the flower in a timely manner and avoiding direct sunlight. With proper care, feeding and preventive measures In order to protect against pests, this variety of begonia reaches a height of 30 centimeters.

Begonia elatior- another begonia variety that differs from the others mainly in that it quite clearly responds to a shortening or, conversely, lengthening of sunny days, which has a significant impact on the duration of flowering. It is not easy to distinguish begonia elatior by color from other varieties, since this variety contains a variety of color shades.

Subtropical forests are considered the homeland of begonias. South America, Africa and Asia. Most varieties of begonias are ever-flowering, and flowering also lasts in winter, stopping for a short moment only in early March. Ever-flowering varieties include, first of all, bush varieties of begonias that reproduce by leaves and cuttings.

Tuberous begonia varieties, primarily ampelous begonia, are propagated both by cuttings and tubers, with the latter method being preferable.

Ampelous begonia: home care

Ampelous begonia is a tuberous garden plant, loved by most gardeners due to its abundant, long-lasting flowering from early summer until late autumn.

This type of begonia is also characterized by color diversity, among hanging plants meet red, pink, yellow, white and orange shades, and the flowers can be either double - large, or regular - small. The height of the shoots of large ampelous begonias can reach a meter, while their smaller counterparts barely peek out from the indoor pot.

Ampelous begonia is quite easy to care for and very beautiful, which is why it can most often be seen on the shelves of flower shops, ready for replanting, or as an adult plant.

Ampelous begonia: growing from seeds

But experienced gardeners It is not at all necessary to buy a ready-made plant; it can be grown from purchased seeds. Ampelous begonia, which is not at all difficult to grow from seeds, grows well and does not require special care.

A peculiarity of this species is the presence of both male and female flowers on one inflorescence.

Terry begonias are distinguished by multi-petaled male flowers and simple female ones, that is, one bush can have both double and completely ordinary flowers.

Ampelous begonias do not need intense lighting; they prefer partial shade or diffuse sunlight, therefore, when placing the plant in the garden, it is necessary to place it in the shade of other trees.

In summer, begonias feel best on the balcony or veranda, while their should be protected from strong gusts of wind and rain, since the leaves and inflorescences of the flower are extremely fragile and are easily damaged even by the slightest vibration of the breeze.

Watering and care in winter

In winter and autumn, begonias should be watered with warm water, trying not to flood the tubers; in summer, water for watering should also be heated in the sun. Some gardeners manage to keep begonia in bloom all autumn and even winter, but most hanging varieties still need special care for the winter.

In September, pots with begonias from the garden should be moved to an enclosed space - a veranda, a glazed balcony. As it gets colder outside the window, the gardener needs to reduce watering the plant, gradually bringing it to a minimum, and then stopping altogether, which will lead to the death of the upper part of the plant and the transition of its lower part - the tuber - into a dormant state, in which it will remain for about 3-4 month.

Pots with tubers, trying not to disturb them, are transferred to a room with a temperature no higher than 15 degrees and watered occasionally so that the plant does not completely dry out and die.

Tuberous begonia: planting and care

Somewhere in early March, the first buds will begin to form on the tubers, the number of which usually does not exceed 7 pieces. Tuber with a large number buds can be divided and placed in a separate pot, obtaining another new plant, while on the separated part of the tuber There should be no more than 3 buds left.

Buying in the shop granulated seeds having a protective nutritional shell.

Transshipment, video:

Begonia should be propagated by tubers no earlier than the beginning of March, while the first seeds should be planted in the ground no later than December-January, since such early planting will ensure that by autumn the young begonias will bear fairly large and healthy tubers ready for wintering.

Thinking about how to plant tuberous begonia, as well as where to get it for this planting material no need.

Begonia tubers can be purchased at any flower shop, the main thing is that the purchased tubers already have the first eyes had hatched.

It is not recommended to plant purchased tubers in the soil immediately; at home they should be laid out in a dark place on a cloth soaked in water. After the first weak roots appear, the tubers can be planted in a pot, and the planting depth should not be too large, 1–2 centimeters is enough.

Until permanent warm temperatures Begonia tubers should be in a pot on the windowsill, but in early June they can be buried in the pot along with garden plot and admire the first shoots, and then the flowering by autumn.

Not being sure when to plant tuberous begonia in the ground, you should get an ordinary thermometer, which you need to hang outside the window and regularly monitor the temperature.

Tuberous begonia: home care in winter

As soon as garden plants the first frost appears, the begonia along with the tubers should be dug up, cleared of excess leaves and placed in a cool, dark place until the beginning of March. Occasionally, the plant needs to be watered, carefully watching to ensure that the soil around the tubers does not dry out. Begonia overwinters in a pot.

It is important to remember that young first-year should spend the winter on a bright windowsill, that is, not have a well-defined state of rest.

Such a plant needs to be watered at least once every ten days, and it should be located, just like adult begonias, in a room with a temperature of 10–15 degrees.

If you want to grow a plant such as begonia, which is very easy to care for in winter at home, it is important to release it at the end of the cold weather. top part tubers from the ground and wait for the first shoots to appear.

Begonia everblooming

Anyone who loves floriculture, but still doesn’t know how to care for begonia at home, prefers the indoor version of this flower - garden, which refers to everblooming bush begonia.

TO garden variety This plant includes such common varieties as fuchsia, Haga, vermilion and coral begonia.

Ever-flowering begonia, like all other species and varieties of this plant in the garden, prefers to grow in a bright, but not sunny place, with moderate air humidity and watering.

Based on the name of this type of begonia, it follows that it blooms all year round, without interruption, therefore for the winter it should be placed in winter Garden or on a windowsill in a warm, well-lit room.

In spring and summer, bush begonia needs to be watered intensively, carefully observing that its roots do not rot; in winter, watering is not stopped, but the amount of water is significantly reduced, as well as the temperature in the room with begonia, which should not rise above 15 degrees.

Planting, growing from seeds

Ever-flowering begonia is propagated by stem cuttings or by planting seeds. So, for example, the ever-flowering coral begonia, propagation by cuttings of which is considered the most common method, easily tolerates a similar procedure, for which it is necessary to take a cutting of a non-flowering stem and place it in a mixture of peat moss and ordinary sand, taken in equal parts.

After the cutting has taken root, it must be transplanted into a pot, the bottom of which should be filled expanded clay, brick fragments, or pottery , which is necessary to increase stability and drainage.

It should be noted that ever-flowering begonia, which is very easy to grow from seeds, is the only type of this plant, in addition to decorative flowering varieties, capable of producing almost 100% germination upon planting.

Growing begonia from seeds, video:

Propagation of begonia by seeds, due to their small size, is an easy procedure, but requires a lot of concentration, therefore gardeners plant begonia seeds only when it is necessary to preserve the varietal qualities of the plant - color, growth, shape of stems and flowers.

Seeds should be planted in the soil in February, no earlier and no later, since planting too early or too late will not allow the begonia to grow stronger until the fall.

Seeds are sown in containers filled with sand, peat and leaf soil, trying to plant in such a way that they are not covered with earth, but only slightly pressed into it.

Containers with seeds are covered with glass or regular film, which will prevent them from drying out. Plantings should be watered with great care, using a spray bottle or a drip irrigation system, otherwise the seeds may be washed away with water and they will not germinate.

From the time of planting until the appearance of the first shoots, it usually takes no more than a week, after which the first small shoots appear, they will all have different size, but soon they will stretch out and become almost identical.

After the first shoots appear, the glass needs to be lifted, making room for their further growth. After about 2–3 weeks you should pick young begonias, freeing up 2 centimeters of space between them.

By the time of the first picking, the ever-blooming plant must have at least two leaves.

After a month, the sprouts can be planted in pots, where they will remain until the next transplant.

It's important to remember that large plants need to be replanted every spring, choosing a pot for them that is larger and more stable than the previous one.

In the summer, begonia can be planted in the ground, but for the winter the plant must be in a pot. With timely and correct transplantation Begonia will begin to bloom in May.

Planting begonias outdoors, video:

The begonia flower is very beautiful, so it is best to replant it correctly, and then the gardener will have a very real opportunity to admire it on his own windowsill, and not in someone else’s garden.

Pay attention to this material -

Pests, diseases

Begonia is a plant that, regardless of the method of reproduction, prefers to spend the warm season in the open air - a veranda, balcony, garden, that is, where the possibility of infection of both the flower itself and the pot with various pests is more than high.

Most often, begonias suffer from attack gray rot, the causative agent of which is botrytis mushroom.

The first sign of the disease is the appearance of white spots on the leaves and stems, which at a later stage turn into brown rot and even mucus.

Affected leaves, stems and flowers begin to break off, and the plant dies.

The only way to fight the disease is spraying begonia with a solution based on laundry soap And copper sulfate , but if these actions do not have the desired effect, you should spray the flower with a one percent solution of foundationazole.

The second most severe disease affecting begonias is considered bacterial and ring spot, accompanied by the appearance of various spots on the leaves of the plant brown, white, red and brown colors.

The carrier of the disease is aphids; it cannot be treated, so the plant should be isolated from the rest and destroyed.

Caring for begonias will not be difficult even for a novice gardener. Give her just a little attention and she will delight you with her beauty.

Begonia. Types and varieties

Begonia was discovered by the French botanist Charles Plumier, who took part in a scientific expedition organized by Michel Begon in 1687 in the Antilles. This plant got its name in honor of Begon.

There are now more than 2,000 species of begonias. All types of begonia are divided into 3 groups:
— tuberous begonia (reproduced by tubers);
- leaf begonia (has a thickened root, which is used for propagation);
- bush begonia (reproduced by apical shoots and seeds).

Begonia is also divided into subshrubs, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Most often used for growing at home hybrid varieties, which in turn are divided into decorative flowering and decorative deciduous.

The most popular species among gardeners are tuberous, decorative-flowering begonias. They have beautiful, large flowers of various shades: from white, pink to red. Most types of begonias bloom all summer, but when creating for them favorable conditions, can please you with their beautiful flowers both in autumn and even in winter.

Indoor begonia, home care

Indoor begonia is the most unpretentious plant and resistant to various diseases of indoor plants. Caring for it at home will not cause much trouble, but still, it must be done competently so that your indoor plant develops correctly and has a beautiful, well-groomed appearance.

The begonia flower is a heat-loving plant, and the temperature for it must be maintained within +15+20°C, and in winter time— not lower than +15°С. But you should not place it near batteries and electric heaters.

The lighting should be bright, but without bright sunlight, so in the summer the flower should be shaded.

Watering and spraying

In spring and summer, begonias require abundant watering, but the plant should not be flooded, as it does not like stagnant water. In winter, the flower should be watered sparingly. When watering, it is necessary to avoid getting water on the leaves of the begonia, otherwise brown spots will form on them. Soft, settled water should be used.

For full care Begonia requires air high humidity, but it is not recommended to spray the plant. Most the best option is to place pots of begonias on a tray of wet peat or moss.

Begonia, propagation at home

Begonia can be propagated at home, depending on the species, by leaf or tuberous cuttings.

Reproduction tuberous begonia, must be done as follows. In the fall, you need to remove the tubers, clean them from the ground, cut off the stems and store them in sand (peat), at a temperature of +8 +10 ° C. In February, the tubers are planted in moist soil.

Watering should be done moderately. It will take several weeks for the sprouts to germinate. As soon as shoots appear, the tubers should be cut into pieces and the cuts should be processed charcoal and dry.

Plant the separated tubers in small boxes, deepening the tubers only halfway. After 20-25 days, you can plant them in pots with a mixture of peat and leaf humus and place them in a bright place. During active growth, young begonias should be fed with organic fertilizers.

Leaf cuttings are best done in the spring. To propagate by leaf cuttings, it is necessary to cut off a leaf at the very base of the begonia stem, at least 5 cm long. Bury the cuttings into the prepared soil carefully so that the leaf does not come into contact with the soil, which must be well moistened after planting.

If you use a stem cutting rather than a leaf cutting for planting, then its length should be more than 7 cm. The cuttings must be planted as quickly as possible so that the cut does not have time to dry out.

Begonia transplant

Begonia transplantation is needed annually, it is better to do it in early spring. If you replant less frequently, the leaves of a begonia in a cramped pot begin to turn pale and lose their decorative effect.

To replant, you must first select a pot. When using a plastic pot, you will need to put a layer of expanded clay on the bottom, which absorbs excess moisture well. And sprinkle shells or coarse sand on top of the expanded clay to make the pot more stable.

You can also use a ceramic pot, which does not allow waterlogging and allows air to pass through well. But here you need to take into account that over time the roots will occupy all the space inside the pot and begin to grow to its walls. When transplanting from such a pot, the roots will be severely damaged.

When replanting, the soil should not be damp or too dry. The plant should be carefully removed from the pot, the soil should be removed and placed for 10-15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then carefully examine the roots, cutting off small tangled or large rotten roots and sprinkle the cut areas with charcoal.

The soil for begonias should be nutritious and slightly acidic. It is better for begonias to use a mixture of peat, leaf and turf soil, and you can add a little coniferous land and coarse sand. It is advisable to prune the plant after replanting so that it recovers and grows faster. The transplanted plant needs to be sprayed and watered daily as soon as the top layer of soil begins to dry out. It is also recommended to keep the begonia in the shade for several days.

Growing begonia from seeds

It is best to start growing begonia from seeds in early January. To do this, you can use boxes with sifted peat mixture, leaf soil and sand. Moisten the soil for disinfection with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate. It is better to keep the crops under glass and evenly moisten them with heated water.

Such boxes with plants should be kept on the windowsill so that the plants have enough sunlight. When shoots appear after 2 weeks, the glass is removed. Plants should be picked at the stage of appearance of 2-3 leaves. A month later, carry out a second pick. At the beginning of May, young plants will need to be planted in separate pots.

Peculiarities home care behind the begonia

From spring to mid-autumn it is necessary to feed begonia with liquid complex fertilizers for ornamental plants.

After the plant has flowered, it should be dried without cutting the roots and stems by placing it in a dark place. Within a month, everything in the stems and roots, nutrients will enter the tuber. You need to dig up the resulting tuber about two weeks after the above-ground part of the plant has completely died off.

In winter, the tubers are placed in boxes with sand. The temperature in the room where the tubers are stored should not exceed +15°C. To prevent the tubers from drying out, they should be watered periodically.

Indoor begonia and its diseases

Why doesn't begonia bloom?

If the begonia does not bloom, then the reason for this may be that it was transplanted into a pot that is too spacious. Therefore, when replanting, it is important to take into account that the new pot in diameter should be no more than 2 cm wider than the old one. In order for begonia to bloom more luxuriantly, faded flowers should be carefully removed, as they interfere with the development of new buds. Flowering plant should be fed regularly.

Why do begonia leaves dry out?

If there is insufficient soil or air moisture, begonia leaves begin to dry, and flowers and buds begin to fall off. There is an urgent need to establish an irrigation system. If the leaves become pale or yellow, this indicates a lack of light for the flower. The appearance of brown edges on the leaves indicates dry air or exposure of the begonia to sunlight.

Over-watering the plant can cause gray rot, in which case light mold appears on the leaves. The affected parts must be removed, and the plant itself must be treated with a fungicide.

In the presence of drafts, dry air or temperature changes, a white coating may form on the leaves - powdery mildew. In this case, the plant should be treated with ground sulfur or sprayed with a 1% solution of colloidal sulfur.

Of the pests, begonias are most often attacked by spider mites or aphids. They should be combated by spraying the underside of the leaf with soapy solutions of tobacco. Or you can treat the begonia with preparations containing pyrethrum or an insecticide.

What to look for when buying begonias

When purchasing a begonia, it should be carefully examined so as not to purchase a plant with a “bouquet” of diseases or pests. Pay attention to the healthy and bright color of the leaves, their normal turgor, the absence of plaque and dry spots.

Flower growers always place special hopes on begonia. They expect extravaganzas of flowering, well-developed bushes, and beautiful decorative leaves. For this reason, tubers are carefully stored until spring, seedlings are grown, and they are carefully looked after.

Conditions for home growing

Illumination

Begonias are photophilous, but do not tolerate direct sunlight. In summer, for begonias, you should choose well-lit places, but away from direct sunlight. They will feel best on east or west windows. On southern windowsills, these plants must be shaded during the midday hours to avoid burns on the leaves.

In winter, on the contrary, it is necessary to provide them with maximum light and place them in sunny places in the morning. With strong shading, plants stretch out their shoots and produce few flowers. In winter, for those who bloom at this time, hybrids Lorraine and Elatior There is little natural light; it is advisable to provide them with additional lighting.

Humidity

Begonias prefer high air humidity, as wildlife These flowers grow in tropical forests; when cultivated, they also require high air humidity of 60-70%. You can increase it at home by spraying. The air around the plants should be humidified, but not the leaves themselves. These plants need to be sprayed very carefully using the smallest spray nozzle - drops of water leave unsightly spots on the leaves. It is better to place these plants on trays with damp expanded clay, in a group of plants, or use a humidifier.

If the begonia is kept too dry, the tips of the leaves dry out, the buds fall off, and the plants lose their decorative properties. Also, do not place them near central heating radiators.

Temperature

Begonias are heat-loving and do not tolerate negative temperatures. They cannot be grown on cold windowsills. It is important to maintain temperature balance: in summer the room should be between 20-24°C, in winter – 16-18°C, but not lower than 15°C.

The soil

Light, slightly acidic soil with good air and water permeability is suitable for plants. The soil mixture is prepared from 2–3 parts of humus soil, 1 part of high-moor peat, which has an acidic reaction, and 1 part of coarse sand.

Care

Watering

Begonia does not tolerate too wet soil. Overmoistening is especially dangerous for tender seedlings; plants “suffocate” from lack of air and may die from root rot. The substrate should be moist, but not wet. Watering should be avoided cold water, below 12°C, so that the roots do not die off. During the flowering period, begonias should not experience a lack of moisture, otherwise the leaves will lose their decorative effect, and the buds and flowers will begin to fall off.

These plants have a delicate root system that is sensitive to overdose of fertilizers and improper watering. From spring to autumn, begonias are watered abundantly, after the top layer of soil has dried. Once every 10 days, complex fertilizers are added to the water for irrigation. In autumn and winter, they are transferred to moderate watering, preventing the earthen clod from completely drying out. Excess or lack of moisture leads to the fall of leaves and buds, and can cause various diseases and even the death of the plant.

Top dressing

For normal growth and development, plants need balanced nutrition. When feeding, seasonality, the age of the plant, and its characteristics are taken into account. During spring growth, plants need nitrogen. With its deficiency, begonias lag behind in development, the leaves become pale green. With an excess of nitrogen, plants do not adapt well to unfavorable conditions.

From mid-summer, flowers are prepared for the autumn-winter period. In fertilizers, the amount of nitrogen is reduced and the proportion of phosphorus and potassium is increased. For fertilizing use organic and mineral fertilizers. Frequency – once every 10-14 days. Do not feed sick or dry plants.

Transfer

Begonias can be replanted throughout the spring, or at least until mid-summer, so that the plants have time to get stronger by autumn. This procedure is carried out annually, sometimes twice a year if the bushes and roots have grown quickly and the pot has become cramped. There is no need to take a new container that is too large. The begonia roots should fill the entire volume of the pot, so it is better that the new pot is not much larger than the previous one.

Begonias are watered before transplanting. The soil should not be too wet. In a new pot, a layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom for drainage, then the flower is transferred along with a lump of earth. If necessary, add soil to the container and compact it around. Transplantation can be combined with dividing the plant. An important point when planting tubers is that they should not be planted too deeply. This will negatively affect flowering, the bush will be lush and flowering will be sparse.

Features of care in winter

Wintering conditions for different species have their own characteristics, for some it is a period of relative rest, while others need a full winter rest. Watering and room temperature are important factors for keeping plants during the cold season.

Plants with decorative leaves in winter they can develop as well as in summer. But in conditions of short daylight hours and a lack of natural light, the shoots stretch out, become thin and fragile. Plant growth is regulated by watering. In winter, it is reduced and watered when the top layer of soil dries out. The temperature is also reduced to 16-18°C. You cannot place pots of flowers close to heating devices and batteries. It is advisable to provide additional lighting for the flowers.

In begonias Elatior They have a year-round development cycle; they can delight you with their flowering all winter long. To make it lush, artificial lighting is provided for 14 hours of daylight. Watering should not be excessive. Experienced flower growers still advise giving Elatior begonias a rest between winter blooms. By pinching the tips of the shoots you can regulate the flowering time.

For tuberous begonias after the end of summer flowering, reduce watering, trim the shoots and move the pots to a cool place - to the basement, glassed-in loggia, veranda.

Tubers can be preserved in another way. At the end of September, after pruning, they are removed from the ground, cleaned, dried, placed in a bag of peat and placed on winter storage. The tubers will remain dormant until the end of winter. The tubers are checked regularly, at least 1-2 times a month. When root rot appears, the affected areas are cleaned and then treated with sulfur. If the infection has spread to large areas, the tuber is thrown away to save other plants.

It is not advisable to store tubers in the refrigerator; it is too cold for them. The buds will take a long time to wake up in the spring.

Reproduction

Propagation of begonia seeds, leaves and stem cuttings, dividing tubers and bushes.

Cuttings

The advantages of this method are the preservation of varietal characteristics and the speed of reproduction. Most suitable period- it is spring. Young shoots with 1–2 internodes are cut from the top of the plant. Remove flowers, buds, lower leaves, the upper ones are shortened by a third to reduce evaporation.

The cuttings are planted in mini-greenhouses with good drainage. The rooting mixture is prepared from peat, sand and vermiculite. Planted cuttings are regularly sprayed, ventilated to prevent rotting, and protected from the hot sun.

Begonia cuttings can be rooted in water, and plants can also be propagated by leaf cuttings. For this purpose, not old leaves with petioles 2–3 cm long are suitable. They are planted in a pot with a substrate, deepening the leaf to the length of the petiole. Small leaves For cuttings they are taken whole, large ones are divided into parts. The leaf fragment should have a piece of petiole and a vein. Transplantation of rooted leaf petioles begins only after the appearance of new young plants. Typically this period is 4–6 weeks. Feeding begins a month after transplantation.

Dividing tubers and bushes

This method is suitable for tuberous begonias and for plants that form large bushes. Its advantage is that begonias begin to bloom earlier.

At the beginning of spring, the plants, together with a lump of earth, are divided into parts and planted in containers. The tubers are cut into pieces so that each has buds. Then the cuttings are slightly dried and planted in light soil. To form new roots, tubers need access to air and moisture. Overmoistening should not be allowed; the soil should be in a semi-moist state, since at first there is a high risk of tubers rotting.

Propagation by seeds

Propagated by seeds ever-flowering begonia, ampelous and tuberous.

In this way you can immediately get more plants than with cuttings or division.

In the middle of winter, shallow containers are filled with an earthen mixture consisting of equal parts compost, leaf soil, peat and sand. For disinfection, the soil surface is spilled with a solution of fundozol. Begonia seeds are small; they are not buried in the ground, but are sown on the compacted surface of the substrate. The containers are covered with transparent glass or plastic bag and place in a warm place with a temperature of 21–23°C. The seeds germinate within two weeks. Further - routine care for seedlings: daily ventilation for 1–2 hours, careful watering from a spray bottle, control over the formation of condensation on inside glass or film. After 12–14 days, the cover is removed. During this period, the temperature of the seedlings is reduced to 17–19°C and the plants are protected from direct sun. The seedlings are ready for picking after the formation of 2–3 true leaves.

Pests and diseases

Diseases

Most often, begonias suffer from powdery mildew and gray mold.

– fungal disease. Appears as a white coating on the leaves. Reduces the decorative value of the plant and can spread to all above-ground parts. The leaves begin to turn brown and dry out. Control measures - treatment with fungicides. In the room you need to reduce the air humidity and ventilate it more often.

Gray rot appears in damp and cool conditions. Fungi attack leaves, shoots, and flowers. A gray fluffy coating forms on them. Help you cope with the disease systemic fungicides. In addition, reduce watering and ventilate the room.

Pests

Aphid – a small wingless sucking insect of green or yellowish color. The pests are very prolific, multiplying quickly and sucking the juice out of the plant. The leaves turn yellow, the flowers fall off. Destroy pests by spraying plants soap solution, tobacco infusion, chemicals.

Spider mite, like an aphid, a sucking small insect. It depletes the plants, begonia leaves become deformed, and the buds fall off. Affected bushes are washed with soapy water and treated with insecticides.

Root nematode – a microscopic worm that settles on the roots and lower on the stems. Growths form on them in which larvae develop. Plants are stunted and rot. Sick plants are destroyed.

Blooming begonias will decorate the house, plants with colorful leaves unusual shape will enliven any interior. Looking at begonias, one cannot help but believe that “beauty will save the world.”

How to properly care for begonias? And interesting tips from experienced flower growers, you will find out by watching the video.

Begonia is a beautiful and vibrant representative of the begonia family, which is the most popular plant among gardeners and has a large number of annuals and perennial species herbs, shrubs and subshrubs.

The first to describe begonia was a botanist, a Frenchman by birth, Charles Plumier, who was part of an expedition organized to the Antilles in the 16th century by Michel Begon.

It was in honor of this organizer that the plant got its name - begonia.

The plant is often used in folk medicine, it is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Features of growing begonia at home

Important points proper cultivation begonias at home:

Begonia, grown at home, prefers to do without any proximity to other flowers, since it loves space (for example, on the windowsill) and cannot stand it when someone or something touches, touches, or disturbs it - it touchable!

Begonias require a room with high humidity air.

It is better to water the begonia with settled water, but so that the moisture does not linger in the drainage hole.

The soil for begonias needs to be loosened more often, and the plant needs to be fed with a balanced fertilizer and watered with warm water.

Begonia: home care - types and propagation of plants

Begonias grown at home are purely symbolically divided into two groups - flowering and deciduous plant varieties.

Deciduous varieties are distinguished by their unusual shape and original coloring of the leaves.

Flowering specimens are divided into the categories of tuberous, evergreen and bushy plants.

The most popular types begonia:

Tuberous variety– has simple and double petals of flowers of various colors from bright white to red and orange color. Petals can combine two colors or be framed with a border. The sizes of the inflorescences range from 5 to 18 centimeters, and their shape is very similar to roses, peonies or carnations.

Ever-blooming variety- the most common specimen belonging to bushy plants. This variety is grown as garden culture, so they plant houses in room conditions. At home, this variety of begonia can bloom all year round, delighting its household with glossy leaves of red and Green colour. This homely beauty blooms small flowers in bright colors - red, pink and white.

Royal variety- refers to deciduous specimens of begonia and has a striking difference in the form of leaves of various colors, shaped like a heart and reaching a length of 30 centimeters. The green, brown and red tones of the leaves of this variety delight and surprise at the same time.

Ampelous subspecies of tuberous begonia- looks like ivy, which is covered with small flowers that have white, yellow, ruby ​​and orange shades. Hanging garlands of this begonia provide gardeners with flowers throughout the growing season.

Elatior- a tuberous begonia hybrid that is grown only at home. This species begins to bloom in autumn. Flower petals come in a variety of shades. It has round, shiny green leaves.

Seed propagation It is more advisable to carry out begonias at the end of the year, or rather, in December. Begonia seeds are delicate and sensitive, as a result of which there is no need to use any substrates when planting them in the ground. After half a month, the seeds planted in the soil will sprout. During maturation and growth, the shoots must be pruned and gradually accustomed to sun rays.

Also, begonia grown at home can easily be propagated by cuttings of stems or leaves. To do this, you will need to select a strong and healthy specimen of the plant, at least 10 centimeters in size, and plant it in moist soil made of sand or peat. For better rooting of begonias, you can resort to the use of phytohormones.

Important! To prevent the seedling from rotting, the plant must be planted in such a way as to completely exclude its contact with the ground.

Begonia: home care - soil, lighting, necessary environment for flowering

Soil and lighting necessary for begonia

The choice of soil for begonia must be approached with the utmost seriousness, since this plant has a fibrous rhizome with a decent number of thin and vulnerable roots.

When choosing soil, you need to consider:

Low level of acidity.

Lightness and looseness of the soil.

The ideal combination to obtain the required soil composition would be a 1:2 mixed proportion of sand and peat with an admixture of leaf soil, as well as cow manure.

To plant begonias in a pot, you need to fill three quarters of the container with leaf soil, as well as 1:1 chernozem and peat. In this case, you must not forget to add sand to the above components.

Important to remember, what if, in accordance with all the rules, the ground is prepared for indoor begonia it will grow well and please the eye.

If such a need arises and the begonia needs to be replanted, for example, its root system has become too crowded in the pot, then this must be done in accordance with all existing rules:

The plant must be removed from the pot and the root system must be cleared of old soil.

For a while, begonia should be placed in a container with potassium permanganate.

Clean the begonia rhizome from all rotten or moldy parts.

Pour into a new pot required composition¾ of the soil, no more, and plant begonia. Subsequently, when the rhizome of the plant gets stronger and grows, you can add more soil.

The transplanted plant needs regular and frequent watering, as well as safety from exposure to direct rays of the sun.

The best lighting for begonias is daylight with diffused sunlight. It is recommended to place begonias on window sills with windows facing east or west. Lighting should exclude direct exposure to the sun. Some partial shade is better for begonias, but in winter for good development and plant growth, of course, additional lighting.

It is important to know that begonia reacts poorly to changes in lighting brightness - it may even develop burns or the plant may die completely.

Bloom

On home windowsills, begonia blooms with great intensity and brightness. But this is if the plant is provided with the necessary and proper care. Then, in gratitude, the begonia will delight its household with flowering from spring until the autumn frosts.

In order to extend the flowering time in the initial stage of plant development, it is necessary to remove female flowers.

Begonia flowers are similar in shape to other types of flowers - carnations, roses, daffodils and others. Bright colors When flowering, petals can decorate any room and lift the mood of its owners.

If the begonia does not bloom, then you need to change the conditions under which the plant is kept and plant the flower in new soil and a pot. The absence of flowering may indicate that the begonia needs to be rejuvenated.

Begonia: home care - feeding and watering

How to water begonia correctly?

Watering

In order for watering to be correct, two special considerations must be taken into account: important factors:

Good soil moisture.

No water stagnation in plant pots.

In summer, begonia needs to be irrigated so abundantly that excess water completely drains out. drainage hole, and after some time it is necessary to permanently remove unnecessary liquid from the pan.

It is best to set a certain watering regime for your pet and irrigate it at the same time. In summer, it is recommended to water begonia at least a couple of times a week, and if the weather is hot, then it must be irrigated as the soil dries out.

IN autumn period The plant needs to be watered less often, and with the onset of winter, when the begonia is in dormant mode, watering should be reduced to a minimum.

With the arrival of warm days and spring, the plant needs to be brought out of dormancy, thereby increasing the dose and frequency of watering.

Important to remember, that excessive watering can lead to the appearance of powdery mildew, which can destroy the plant.

Watering is best done with settled and lukewarm water, or boiled water.

In addition, many types of begonia do not perceive direct contact with water on the trunk or leaves of the plant when sprayed; this may cause brown spots to appear in some specimens, which indicate burns from the liquid.

Top dressing

As soon as on such a luxurious ornamental plant When the begonia buds appear, this will mean one thing - it’s time to feed.

For domestic flowering beauties, fertilizing in the form of liquid complex fertilizer is advisable. This fertilizer must be introduced along with some water when watering once every half month.

As soon as the plant has flowered, the fertilizing process must be stopped. And in winter, when the plant is resting, you cannot feed it at all.

Begonia: at home - why it dies

Incorrect care, ignorance, mistakes in growing and maintaining such a flower as begonia lead to the fact that your favorite plant gets sick, sheds leaves and buds, or even dies.

You need to keep an eye on your pupil, so to speak. It is necessary to take a close look at the begonia:

If the leaves of the plant turn brown in places and begin to fall, this can only mean one thing - the begonia does not have enough water and air humidity.

If the leaves become faded, this means that the plant does not have enough light.

Excess moisture and low temperature lead to the appearance of a fungus on the plant that affects the leaves and shoots of begonia. With such a misfortune, you need to immediately treat the begonia with fungicides.

Dry air and temperature changes are an excellent environment for the appearance of powdery mildew on a plant. She's in the form white plaque destroys the plant. Therefore, a diseased begonia should be immediately treated with colloidal sulfur.

The main pests of begonia are organisms such as mites (spider mites) and aphids. They are located on back side begonia leaf and take all the juices from it. You can destroy the tick by spraying it with a solution of soap and tobacco. Aphids are destroyed with special preparations, for example, pyrethrum.

Take care of your begonia and provide it with decent and proper care, then the plant will definitely repay it with kindness. With its excellent property of purifying the air from various types pollution, toxins, chemicals and dust - begonia will make the home of its amateur gardener clean and safe.