The Many Faces Of Begonia

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

Among the great variety of representatives of the begonia family, each florist will find a houseplant to his liking. After all, it is famous not only for the fact that it decorates our houses with its flowering almost all year round, but also for a wide variety of species. Among the varieties there are flowering plants, and decorative deciduous bushes, and ampelous - curly and hanging flowers

Tenderness and charm of begonia flowers

Flowering varieties are herbaceous plants. According to the color of the leaves and the breadth of the spectrum, they can compete with their decorative deciduous counterparts: they are brownish and red, often two-colored. Moreover, pairs of shades are the most unexpected: green and red, gray and pink.

Tuberous plants are distinguished by the largest flowers. From July to December, they are covered with large buds that bloom huge petals. The diameter of the flowers sometimes reaches 20 cm, and they look no less impressive than roses or peonies. However, in terms of decorative appearance, small-flowered varieties are not inferior to them. After all, there are so many buds on the bush that sometimes the green foliage is completely hidden behind the blossoming flowers.

A place for flowering begonias is set aside at the east and west windows. The plant loves good lighting and fresh air, therefore it will be grateful for regular ventilation of the premises. The optimum air temperature is + 15 … + 18 ° С.

Flowers are watered abundantly during the growing season. This procedure must be carried out very carefully with plants that have an edge on the leaves - if drops of water fall on such, they begin to become covered with ugly brown spots. From mid-autumn, soil moisture is reduced, and at the end of the season, it is reduced to a minimum.

Reproduction in indoor conditions is carried out by dividing rhizomes, leaves and cuttings. The optimal breeding season is early spring.

To plant a tuber, the nutrient substrate is made up of:

• clay-sod land - 2 parts;

• deciduous land - 2 parts;

• peat land - 2 parts;

• sand - 1 part.

They are immersed in the pot to such a depth that the top of the tuber is only slightly covered with earth. Watering is carried out with water, the temperature of which is slightly higher than room temperature.

In addition, tuberous begonias are propagated by seeds. You can start doing this already in February. The difficulty of caring for them lies in the fact that it will be necessary to dive the seedlings 2-3 times before the plant acquires a full-fledged individual pot. To obtain their own seed, tuberous begonias manually carry out artificial pollination.

Luxurious bushes of decorative deciduous varieties

For propagation of luxurious decorative deciduous varieties, cuttings are used. They are rooted in a sand pot under glass. For this:

1. Choose healthy, large leaves.

2. The bottom of the leaf is cut off, exposing the veins.

3. The cut side is laid on the surface of the sand and pressed with a load.

4. Watering is carried out along the edge of the pot so as not to wet the leaf plate.

5. Shoots are formed after 4 weeks, they are separated from the leaf and transplanted into individual pots.

Ampel varieties of begonias propagate in the same ways as bush varieties. You should also be prepared to replant it at least once a year in order to maintain the health of the plant and maintain its viability.

Of the blooming varieties, they are distinguished by special beauty:

• tuberous begonia with double flowers;

• begonia is always blooming.

Those who prefer ampelous plants should pay attention to:

• glaucous-green-leaved begonia;

• hanging begonia;

• bindweed begonia.

Of the decorative deciduous bush varieties, broad-leaved begonia is considered the most effective.