Begonia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Begonia belongs to the eponymous family of begonias. It should be noted that there are about one and a half thousand species of these flowers, and the number of hybrids is simply incalculable. The birthplace of begonias are the tropics and subtropics: America, Asia and Africa.

Description of begonias

Begonia are of both decorative deciduous and decorative flowering species. These incredibly beautiful houseplants are endowed with succulent leaves and fleshy and sometimes fragile stems. Many begonias have leaves clothed in asymmetrical shapes, which are sometimes called angel wings. The plant itself can be either bushy, with drooping or erect stems, or ampelous. It is worth noting that begonias have a well-developed root system, however, there is also a whole group of so-called tuberous begonias, which have only a tuber and are grown seasonally.

The inflorescence in begonias is presented as a complex panicle, and both male and female flowers are on the pedicels. In female flowers, above the petals themselves, the formation of a triangular seed capsule is observed. Most of the species of begonias bloom in the summer, however, subject to a favorable temperature regime and proper care, begonias can bloom literally all year round. Begonias should be divided into the three most basic groups: decorative leafy, decorative flowering, and tuberous begonias.

Caring for decorative flowering begonias

These plants will require a moderate temperature, while the thermometer should not rise above twenty-six degrees. In winter, the optimal temperature regime for these plants will be about eighteen degrees, and temperatures below fifteen degrees can be detrimental to begonias.

As for lighting, begonias need fairly bright lighting, but at the same time, during especially hot hours, protection from direct exposure to direct sunlight is imperative. Begonias can be grown in both the east and south-east, west and north-west windows. During flowering, begonias should stand at a distance from each other, thereby not blocking neighboring flowers. In order to maintain the correct growth of the plant, the pots need to be rotated from time to time.

In the spring and summer, begonias will need a fairly abundant watering, but they should not be flooded too much. This plant does not like both stagnant water and drying out of the earth, therefore it is recommended to carefully monitor watering. Water for irrigation should be very soft; it is best to use pre-settled water for this purpose. In the event that water enters the sump, then it will need to be drained immediately. It is important to remember that begonias respond more vividly to excessive watering than to prolonged lack of water. Tuberous begonias should not be watered in winter.

Begonia like high air humidity, but spraying these plants is absolutely not suitable. In the event that moisture somehow gets on the leaves of the flower, then the risk of brown spots is very high. In particularly hot and dry weather, the plant pots can be placed in a container containing wet moss or peat.

In the spring, the tubers should be transplanted into fresh soil, and the rhizome plants should only be transplanted as needed when the pot becomes too tight. Plants will need a nutritious bud, which is a mixture of humus, leafy and soddy soil, to which very small amounts of river sand and coniferous soil have been added. The soil should not be filled up at full strength, so that, as additional roots are formed, it will be possible to fill up the soil to the required level.