How to care for begonias: root, tuberous, hybrid flowers. How to plant a tuberous begonia? Watering and fertilizing: how much, how and why

Begonia - home care �� What should I do if the leaves of the begonia are curled? If they dry and curl lower leaves, then this may be the natural death of old leaves, but if the leaves darken and dry throughout the begonia, it is worth sounding the alarm. Watering should be moderate, do not overdo it, but do not overdry the soil in a pot of begonias. Curling leaves in begonias can be a sign of insufficient soil nutrition. It's time to feed. How often to spray begonias? Begonia loves wet air, but reacts sharply to excessive moisture of the earth in a pot. Varieties of begonias with smooth leaves can be sprayed, begonias with "fluffy" leaves should not be sprayed with water, spots will appear. You can spray the air around the flower. What to do if dark spots and holes appear on a begonia leaf? Very often, begonia leaves become stained when not proper watering: cold water, hard water. Why do double begonias have non-double flowers? This is a common occurrence for this variety. On terry begonias, female (pistil) flowers develop (they are just not terry) and male (staminate). Male flowers have a double surface. Male and female buds open in different time. If desired non-double flowers can be removed, this will save the strength of the flower, and it will bloom with new strength with double flowers. What to do if mealy spots appear on the leaves? It could be powdery mildew or gray mold. Remove diseased leaves, treat the plant with a fungicide. Ventilate the room more often. Why do begonias drop leaves and flowers? Possible reasons a few: the plant got water, the air in the room is too dry, you don’t water your begonia enough. Begonia pests. Most often, at home, begonias are harmed by pests such as aphids and spider mites. When should begonias be transplanted? Better in spring. Where are begonias transplanted? The ideal mixture for begonias: soddy, leafy, coniferous soil, peat + ordinary river sand. Why do begonias drop buds? There are many reasons: waterlogging or vice versa - overdrying of the soil, drafts and even a change in the position of the flowerpot relative to the light source by several degrees, not to mention moving to another room. Why is the begonia not blooming? Perhaps your begonia does not have enough light, the humidity in the room is reduced, it is too hot, cold, you settled it in a draft, or you overfed it with fertilizers. If, despite all your efforts, the begonia will wilt, just in case, root the branch, perhaps your begonia is saying goodbye to you. http://ok.ru/floschool/topic/63522688333151

Exists. To begin with, there are deciduous-decorative species that are valued for the beauty of their leaves. The color of these plants is simply amazing: red, pink, purple, gray, almost black, various combinations of greens, with contrasting edging, and a fancy pattern. The shape of the leaf is irregular, resembling an inverted drop, a circle with a wavy edge, or a maple leaf. Stems are fleshy and thick.

In this article we will talk about another variety - flowering begonias. This plant turned out to be on top here too: red, yellow, purple, pink and white flowers of small size literally strew compact bushes.

The natural habitat of these wonderful flowers is South America, Asia and Africa. They belong to the Begonia family and have over 1000 varieties. Named after the governor of Haiti, Michel Begon Sr., who lived in the 17th century, when the begonia genus was discovered.

The duration of flowering depends on several factors:

On a note. The average flowering time of the most common species is from May to October-November.

About what to do if blooming view plants do not bloom, you will learn in .

Peculiarities

Begonias have heterosexual flowers: there are female flowers with pistils, and male flowers with stamens. How to tell them apart:

• On the back of the flower, female flowers have a bulge - the future boll, the male flowers have nothing there.
• Double flowers in the corresponding species can only be male, female double flowers are not. But male flowers, at the same time, can be simple.
• If you understand what pistils and stamens look like, you can just see them. By the way, some double male flowers can be without stamens at all. It is the modified stamens that make the flower terry.

Interesting fact! Removal of female flowers from their very formation, can significantly increase the flowering period. begonias, as well as enhance its intensity. But only if you don't want the seeds.

From the moment of awakening, the plant begins to accumulate strength and useful substances for the upcoming flowering. Buds are laid, reproductive organs are formed.

When it becomes ready for reproduction, first the male and then the female flowers bloom. If pollination occurs, which is done by hand, then the male flowers wither, and in the female, a fruit box with seeds begins to ripen. This is the time of the highest activity of the plant.

At this time consumed great amount nutrients and micronutrients. A faster metabolism requires more water, sunlight and heat.

What to do next with wilted buds?

Even during the period of active flowering, all faded buds are removed. Someone neatly cuts, someone twists. So gradually you will remove the entire flower part, and by the end of flowering, the question will disappear by itself. Why do it? During flowering in this way, you save the energy of the plant for more lush flowering. At the end of this period, you also help the plant get rid of unnecessary things in order to prepare for a dormant state. And in the end, withered flowers are not aesthetically pleasing, they spoil appearance begonias, make her sloppy, unkempt.

Reference. If you are pollinated female flowers and fruits are formed, then seeds can be obtained.

For this, the largest and healthiest fruits are left, the rest are cut off. In 20-25 days after the end of flowering, the box ripens. It is opened and the seeds are taken. From these seeds, new young plants can be obtained by seedlings.

Home care after this period

During flowering, the plant required a lot of light, water and nutrition, but the energy-intensive process is over and it is necessary to smoothly transfer the begonia to a dormant state. Gradually, it is necessary to reduce the amount and volume of watering, fertilizing and lighting intensity.

How to deal with it when it has faded depends on the type of root system.

How to store begonia tubers in winter:

Varieties with common roots

Non-tuberous begonias can bloom almost until spring. However, it is better to give the plant a rest. For this you need to change the conditions of the flower from November-December, as soon as active flowering has subsided:

• Stop fertilizing.
• Reduce watering as much as possible, watering only when the topsoil is completely dry.
• Trim the plant, remove all unnecessary shoots completely, cut the main shoots to 12-15 cm. Sprinkle the cut points with coal powder.
• Spray the air around the flower, or provide normal humidity another way. You can put a tray with water, but the pot should not be in the water. Pebbles can be poured into the pallet, on which the pot will stand.

  Remember! It is absolutely impossible to spray the plant itself!

• Remove the begonia in a dark corner. Bright lighting provokes the continuation of flowering, and future sprout buds are laid in conditions of short daylight hours.
• The temperature during this period should be lowered to 10-15 degrees.

Transplanting evergreen begonias for the winter:

The most unpretentious begonias are root begonias. They do not need to arrange a dormant period, like a tuber. However, the root ones require care all year round. In winter they are fed, but less often than in summer; pruned in spring. Regardless of the species, all begonias grow well and delight with their decorative effect at high humidity in combination with unfilled soil. In this connection, there are nuances of watering: as the soil dries up, only in the pan, you can not spray the leaves. How to properly care for a flower in order to grow it as beautiful as in the photo in floriculture magazines?

The origin of begonia and distinctive features

In nature, there are more than 1 thousand species of begonias. The largest number of varieties is found in South America, Asia (India, the Himalayas, Sri Lanka) is in second place, and western Africa is in third. There is an assumption that it is Africa that is the birthplace of begonias, from here they spread to Asia and America. In the wild, plants are found in humid subtropics and mountains.

The family was first described by the French botanist Charles Plumier. In 1683, under the leadership of the intendant of the French colonies, Michel Begon, he went on an expedition to the islands of the Caribbean. There, the scientist discovered plants that were not known at that time, gave them a description and named them after the organizer of the trip.

Begonias known today are very different from each other in size, shape, coloring of leaves and flowers. Some are perennial, others are annual. There are herbaceous and shrubby begonias, with a creeping or thickened rhizome. But there is a common thing that unites these plants into one family.

Characteristic features of begonias:

• all types of begonias have an asymmetric, oblique leaf;
• flowers - monoecious;
• perianths - brightly colored, unequal;
• the fruit with seeds has the appearance of a box;
• all begonias grow in approximately the same natural conditions: scattered sunlight, high humidity, temperature +13… +22 ⁰C.

Video: a wealth of types and colors of a flower

Begonias - flowers for apartments, gardens and offices

How decorative culture, begonia has been developing since 1856, when breeders began to create its hybrids. Tuberous large-flowering varieties appeared, the most famous ones were bred in Belgium. Keeping these plants at home is not too difficult, otherwise they would not be so popular. Begonias are grown in open ground and on window sills, they are used for landscaping residential premises and offices, in compositions and separately. Flowers are planted in baskets and planters to decorate walls, furniture, and are also used as ground cover plants. Ever-flowering varieties are suitable for any flower beds, even carpets. Tuberous varieties are grown on balconies, verandas, in closed courtyards.

Care at home has its own nuances, for example, tuberous plants need a dormant period. All begonias love moist air, but do not tolerate damp soil. However, any beginner grower can grow this plant. After all, if something went wrong, and the begonia began to dry out, you can take a cutting or a leaf and start growing the begonia again, taking into account past mistakes. The culture is able to reproduce even with a piece of leaf, which very quickly turns back into a lush and beautiful houseplant.

Varieties of root begonias

everblooming

The main difference between the species is the constant flowering. For the summer, you can plant such a plant in the garden, take it into the house for the winter, and everywhere it will bloom all year round. These are perennial herbaceous begonias. External signs, in addition to constant flowering, there are rounded leaves and a small height: tall ones - up to 36 cm, short ones - from 8 cm. Many varieties have been bred with green or burgundy leaves, white, yellow, pink or coral flowers, which, in turn, are double (in the form of roses) or simple.

Examples of plants in the photo

coral

Indoor herbaceous begonias bloom in early spring and fully justify their name. The flowers are painted in different shades of red, and the flower stalks, branched and hanging under the weight of the buds, are very similar to corals. The leaves also look romantic: elongated, matte, with specks, denticles along the edges resemble the wings of angels. Begonias look most impressive in pots on stands. In care, they are very unpretentious. Bush height - up to 90 cm.

leafy begonias

The species is famous for its decorative leaves, and the flowers of deciduous begonias are small and inconspicuous. Often it is non-flowering perennials. They differ from other species in capriciousness. So, leafy can't be kept under open sky, that is, these begonias love greenhouse conditions, high humidity, diffused light. At the cottage or open balcony they will die. The main feature of the species is large (15–20 cm) and beautiful leaves. They can be decorated with colored pearl spots, exquisite patterns, contrasting colors, silvery sheen or mother-of-pearl tint. The stems are pubescent, the reverse side of the leaf usually has a red tint.

Photo gallery: Deciduous begonias

Varieties of tuberous begonias

These begonias are grown in shady corners of the garden or on balconies. Their flowers are very beautiful, depending on the variety, they look like a rose, carnation, daffodil, peony, camellia. Stems fleshy, translucent; leaves are asymmetrical, heart-shaped. Under the ground, a rhizome that has grown in the form of a tuber is hidden. In the open field, begonias bloom from June to September, and indoors from spring to December, then a dormant period begins. The ground part dries up, and the tuber is stored until the next season.

Photo gallery: Tuberous begonias

Elatior or hybrid begonias

Hybrid begonias were bred in England by crossing two species: the root Socotrans (from the island of Socotra in Indian Ocean) and tuberous. The result was very beautiful plant, similar to tuberous, but with an ordinary root. Blooms in winter. For the compactness of the bush and the abundance of flowers, closely arranged in several tiers, this begonia is called a "bouquet in a pot." With good care, Elatior blooms not only in winter, but almost continuously, for several months in a row. The most famous varieties are Elatior Borias, which delights with pink terry flowers with a white border, and Elatior Baladin, with flowers of different shades of pink: from white to red.

Photo gallery: Begonias Elatior

Ampel begonias

Another type of luxury houseplant that is growing in popularity in last years. This group includes root, tuber, and hybrids. They are united by one sign - hanging shoots strewn with flowers different forms and colors: white, yellow, red, orange, pink. Bright asymmetric foliage also looks impressive. Ampel varieties are planted in balcony boxes, cache-pot, high flowerpots.

Photo gallery: Ampel begonias

Conditions for keeping begonias depending on the season - table

Root begonias in such conditions will bloom all year round or for many months (depending on the variety). For tuberous begonias, this table is only partially suitable. In autumn they are cut off and put away for the winter in a dark and cool place (+12 ⁰C). Water once a month, only slightly wetting a strip of soil along the edge of the pot. At the end of February, they put it out on the window, begin to water and feed, like all other flowering varieties.

Video: Tuberous begonias: rest period and cultivation

Planting begonias

In Europe and the United States, it is customary to buy a blooming begonia, and after it has faded, throw it away. But for Russians, this option is not suitable, we love to transplant, feed, change pots. Begonias are transplanted in the spring, it is in this season that you need to buy them. Without transplanting into nutrient soil, purchased begonia will soon die. Indeed, in the store version, peat serves as soil, and the plant lives due to nutrient solutions. Therefore, immediately after the purchase, the begonia needs to be transplanted.

In the same store, along with a flower, you must purchase:

• drainage (expanded pebbles);
• soil (for begonias, violets or universal for flowering crops based on peat);
• perlite, or vermiculite, or sphagnum moss (for additional looseness of the soil, but optional);
• a pot, 3-4 cm wider and deeper than the one in which the begonia is sold; Mandatory: pallet and drainage holes.

From excess water in a pot, begonias roots rot, the flower dies. Therefore, the soil needs loose, breathable, the water in it should not stagnate. In addition, begonias love acidic and fertile soil. It is not recommended to take soil from the house, in the country or in the forest. Such soil is almost always infested with diseases and insects, and its acidity is unknown.

Photo gallery: What you need for a begonia transplant

Drainage is essential for root respiration
Perlite serves as an additional baking powder Vermiculite is used instead of perlite or sphagnum to loosen the soil
Sphagnum moss, along with perlite and vermiculite, additionally loosens the soil Ready-made soil for begonias. If it is not available, soil mixture for violets is suitable.
All-purpose soil for flower crops The new pot should be large enough to fit the old one freely.

Begonia transplant steps:

1. Take new pot and pour drainage into it with a layer of 2-3 cm.
2. If there is an additional baking powder (sphagnum, perlite, vermiculite), then add a few spoons per pot (depending on the size of the pot and begonia).
3. Remove the begonia from the old pot, shake off the peat or soil a little from the roots.
4. Set the flower so that it is at the same depth and fill it with fresh soil.

Video: How to transplant begonia

After transplanting a home begonia, and not a shop begonia that has wintered in an apartment, cardinal pruning of the bush is necessary. Remove all shoots, leaving three or four. In some varieties, only one stem grows, so you don’t have to remove the excess, you just need to shorten it. Strongly elongated bare stems with leaves on top, cut off by a third. After that, the lower dormant buds will wake up, and young shoots will also begin to grow. As a result, a lush bush will grow again.

Begonia care

Watering

The top dried layer is loosened. And only when the earth dries out to a depth of 1-2 cm, you can pour it into the pan. The ideal way is to put the pot in a container of water until the earth is completely saturated. Then the pot is returned to the pallet, the excess water that has leaked into it is drained. The frequency of watering depends on the conditions in which the begonia is kept: on a sunny window, an open balcony, in the garden. Under the open sky, they are watered every day, in an apartment, on a shady closed balcony - once every 2-3 days. The condition of the soil should serve as a reference point. Water must be softened. To do this, it is filtered, defended.

Water for watering begonias can be softened and made acidic with peat: 1 kg of peat in a fabric or gauze bag is infused for 24 hours in 10 liters of water.

In addition, begonia is demanding on air humidity, but its leaves cannot be sprayed. There are several ways to more gentle moisturizing: put cups of water next to the flower or pour sand, peat, expanded clay, moss into the pan and always keep this filler moist. In winter, a damp rag is placed on the nearest radiator.

top dressing

Even forever blooming begonias respond to the change of seasons. In autumn and winter, the windowsills become darker and cooler. The plant is slow growing. If you feed it during this period, the stems will stretch out a lot, the leaves will become tender and sensitive to diseases and pests. Therefore, begonias are often fed in summer, and once a month in winter.

The frequency of top dressing depending on the season - table

Video: How to care for begonias

Why is the begonia not blooming?

This question will never arise from a grower who follows all the rules described above. If all conditions are created for begonias: diffused light, watering without waterlogging and drying out of the roots, desired temperature, regular top dressing, then it will bloom exactly as much and even longer than it should be for the variety. That is, ever-flowering ones are decorated with flowers all year round, Elatior - in winter, all other varieties begin to bloom in spring throughout the summer.

If only one nuance. Begonias are not long-lived, they delight with beautiful foliage and abundant flowering for only 2–3 years, and then you need to take a cutting or leaf and plant a new begonia. The old one will no longer grow and bloom.

Reproduction of begonias

cutting

1. Cut off the stalk with the top 6–10 cm long.
2. Powder the cut with crushed wood, activated carbon or ash.
3. Plant in moist loose soil for begonias and cover with a jar.
4. Water when the soil dries up in the pan, like a regular begonia.
5. With a favorable outcome, the cutting will take root and grow in 2-4 weeks.
6. Gradually accustom the plant to the air in the room. You can put a peg under the neck of the jar so that at first you only ventilate the mini-greenhouse, and after 2-3 days completely remove the jar.
7. If the cutting is dry or rotten, repeat the experiment with another cutting.

This method can propagate all begonias that have stems.

leaf

1. Cut with a sharp knife healthy leaf at the cutting itself.
2. Put the leaf in water with activated charcoal (1 tablet per glass of water).
3. If the petiole began to rot, you need to cut it to a healthy place and change the water.
4. As soon as young roots form, plant in a permanent pot.
5. When a new begonia begins to grow, the leaf will dry out.

The method is good for begonias with small leaves. Large ones take root very poorly, because they need a lot of food, and young roots do not cope with this task. Therefore, begonias with large leaves are propagated by leaf segments.

Part of a leaf

First way

1. The leaf is cut into segments in the direction from the central vein to the edges. Each segment should have 1-3 veins.
2. Spread pieces of the sheet on top of wet sand or peat, you can stick them into the ground with the cut down.
3. Cover with a plastic bag or plant each segment in a separate container and cover with jars.
4. Keep soil moist.
5. The first sprouts may appear in 1-3 months.
6. Gradually accustom the begonia to the air in the apartment and remove the shelter.

Second way

1. Make cuts across the central vein and the thickest veins.
2. Spread the leaf over the damp soil for the begonias.
3. Press down with stones.
4. Cover the pot with cling film and place in the same place where adult begonias grow.
5. Keep the soil moist.
6. When sprouts appear, gradually remove the shelter.

tuber

Tuberous begonia is also best propagated by cuttings or leaves. Manipulations with tubers are very risky, you can lose the whole plant.

1. At the end of February, after a dormant period, remove the tuber from the pot.
2. If there are children, separate them and plant each in a separate pot.
3. If there are sprouts on the tuber, it is divided with a sharp knife so that each segment is with a sprout.
4. Sections are dusted with coal or ash.
5. Deepen the tuber pieces in half (sprouts up, cuts down).
6. Cover with a jar, keep the soil moist.
7. When the stems grow 7 cm long, bury the tuber completely.

seeds

Against the background of the fact that begonias reproduce perfectly vegetatively, growing from seeds is an illogical solution. However, flower growers also use this method if neither at home nor with friends they have the desired variety. Then you can buy seeds in a store or from breeders and try to grow a gorgeous flower from the smallest seed. Sowing seeds is done in December-January, so that begonias bloom by spring-summer.

1. Spread the seeds on the surface of the moist soil for begonias or in peat tablets. Press the seeds to the ground, but do not bury.
2. Arrange a mini-greenhouse: cover with a film, place in a disposable container with a lid, etc.
3. After 2 weeks, if the soil has not dried out and is not waterlogged, shoots will appear.
4. Seedlings transfer to the most bright window or illuminate with lamps. Gradually remove cover.
5. When 2-3 true leaves appear, each plant can be transplanted into a pot.

Video: Reproduction of begonias by seeds

Begonia is a plant species that belongs to the Begonia family. There are a large number of species and subspecies, but conditionally they can be divided into two large groups: decorative and indoor, which in turn are divided into beautifully flowering (differ in abundant flowering) and decorative leafy (the flowers are mediocre, but the foliage has unusual shape and bright saturated color).

Most often, flowering begonias are grown at home, which manifests itself in three forms:

• evergreen;
• tuberous, having falling leaves;
• bushy, requiring time for hibernation.

Home conditions are especially suitable for elatior begonias.

In order for begonia to grow and develop correctly, it is necessary to provide it with competent care:

• regular, at least twice a week, watering with pre-settled water;
• natural sunlight exposure. This will provide rich colors of leaves and flowers;
• natural organic fertilizer, which can help the plant during the flowering period, providing it with the necessary nutrients;
• temperature is about 20 degrees.

Note! Even with proper care, problems can occur, such as lack of flowering.

When and how long does begonia bloom

How much begonia blooms depends on its type:

• the flower bed begins to bloom in June and this period can last until September, after which it can be transplanted into a home pot and brought into the room.
• homemade begonias, in particular Elatior, begin to bloom in autumn and the process continues throughout winter period.

Flowering depends solely on proper care and plant variety.

Begonia has a different flowering, depending on the individual characteristics of the plant.

Why is the begonia not blooming?

Answering the question why begonia does not bloom, it is worth considering the main reasons:

• improper lighting, which is not enough for the flower to carry out the process of photosynthesis;
• unsuitable soil (correct soil - slightly acidic, loose and nutritious);
• incorrect transplant;
• insufficient amount of fertilizer;
• too dry indoor air or climatic influences, such as periods of drought;
• exposure to microorganisms that harm the root system or foliage;
• insufficient watering (this reason is the most important, because the roots of plants are most susceptible to moisture and its level should always be sufficient).

What to do to make the begonia bloom again

First of all, gardeners have the question of what to do to make the begonia bloom. The answer is simple: change the conditions of care and cultivation.

Begonia not blooming

Very rarely, the age of the plant itself or the illiterate planting of the bush can be the reason for the lack of flowers. In addition, when buying, you should carefully study the variety to which the begonia belongs, because the decorative leafy species, in principle, cannot bloom.

So, how to make a flower bloom - you need to provide the plant with enough moisture, but not too much. Introduce mineral nutrients into the soil - top dressing. Begonia will begin to grow more actively and will soon give flowers. After that, transfer the plant to the windowsill, providing it with enough sunlight. It is worth protecting the begonia from hypothermia, as well as from dryness. Room temperature will be just the way.

Now it’s clear why the begonia does not bloom and what to do about it. But this applies mostly to domestic, ever-flowering plants. But caring for a flower bed is a little different:

• it should be noted that flowerbed begonia does not tolerate frost well, so planting should begin no earlier than May;
• it is necessary to protect the plant from drought, while not neglecting the impact of direct sun rays in moderation;
• need to get rid of the plant a large number moisture, do not place it near Wastewater or descending from the roof of a building.

Often the question arises as to why tuberous begonia does not bloom in a pot. The answer is simple and consists in proper watering, which is carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried.

What to do if the begonia does not bloom with double flowers

The double flower is truly beautiful and unique, which is distinctive feature begonias. But it happens that instead of the expected flower, the simplest ones grow. This problem is especially common in tuberous plants. There are several main reasons why this may be due:

• the tuber has insufficient strength, especially for young plants that bloom for the first time. This is due to an insufficient dormant period of the plant and improper reproduction.
• lack of strength in the plant itself due to illiterate care.
• one should not exclude such a sign as an error in production, especially for those seeds that were purchased in a store. Therefore, it is better to purchase the plant itself.

Note! It is worth reviewing the care and waiting for the next flowering period, perhaps the begonia will gain strength and give flowers of the desired properties.

Preventive measures

It is advisable not to bring the problem to treatment, because you can prevent abnormal development by observing simple rules for prevention. The main points of the activities are aimed at pest control, because the main parameters of care have already been presented.

• rotten and yellow leaves should be regularly removed;
• perform the spraying procedure by using a spray gun. Water should be clean, preferably separated and at room temperature;
• if there is a tendency to increase yellow, dry or rotten leaves - start the introduction of dressings rich in vitamins and minerals. Before that, having carefully studied the rules of administration and dosage;
• if there is a smell of rot or a whitish coating, you need to treat the plant with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• harmful bacteria can cause loss of strength of the stems, to avoid this, it is necessary to periodically treat the begonia with a solution of Bordeaux liquid;
• prevention viral diseases also carried out with a weak solution of manganese.

By observing preventive measures, the gardener will save himself from questions about why the begonia does not bloom and what to do. Caring for begonias is quite simple and does not take you much time, while flowers of various colors (red, orange, yellow) in combination with emerald greenery will delight throughout the winter period or will be a great addition. landscape design garden.

The begonia family is the most diverse and numerous in the entire vast and densely populated kingdom of indoor plants. Begonia is a kind of station wagon. She has both wonderful colors and incredible decorative leaves. It can enliven a large-scale hall and decorate a bookshelf or festive table. After all, this plant family combines crumbs that fit in a glass, and giant bushes that occupy entire walls. Begonia can grow all year round on the windowsill and bloom in the summer in the garden. Man has been intimately familiar with this queen of flowers for more than 300 years. And until now, flower growers do not get tired of admiring the beautiful begonia. Caring for a plant is not difficult at all.

Difficulties in describing begonias

The first scientist to describe begonia was Michel Begon. It was his name that immortalized an incredible tropical flower. A new plant was found at the end of the 17th century in the Antilles. Then an ever-flowering relative of the Antillean begonia was found in the forests of Brazil, in India - royal, and the first tuberous species is of South American origin.

At first, begonia was bred only in winter gardens and greenhouses. But the breeders were so carried away by the many-sided and supple plant that they somehow imperceptibly brought out about 2 thousand hybrid varieties. Among them are those that can live in the garden, and those who are registered on the windowsill. There are begonias that bloom all year round, and without flowers at all, completely falling asleep in winter, and evergreen, miniature and huge, ampelous and upright. As they say, there is a begonia for every, even the most demanding taste. But all, sometimes not very similar begonias, have several common features:

• the presence of same-sex flowers located in groups (usually 1 female and 2 male);
• fleshy stems;
• asymmetrical leaves.

Professionals have adopted the classification of begonias according to the type of root:

• tuberous, they bloom beautifully and spend the dormant period in the form of a tuber (begonia elatior);
• with a thickened rhizome that is easily divided, these are species with variegated leaves (royal begonia);
• bushy plants that do not reproduce by dividing the root (evergreen begonia).

This method of classification is complicated and not always convenient. In amateur floriculture, it is customary to divide begonias according to the type of use of plants: decorative flowering potted, decorative leaf and decorative flowering indoor.

Decorative flowering pot begonias usually have a tuberous root, the stems can be straight and drooping in ampelous forms. The leaves are juicy, often one-color, serrated or wavy along the edge. These begonias are bred to see wonderful flowering.

Flowers are striking in color: different shades of white, yellow, pink, red, orange - there are two-color varieties. The shape is also varied: simple, semi-double, terry. The peculiarity of this group is that after flowering, the plant is either thrown away or sent to rest: the tuber is dug up and stored.

Decorative leaf begonias will not please with flowers. But beautiful plentiful foliage will decorate your house all year round. And the choice of leaves is huge. Size - from one and a half to 35 cm.

The shape is an asymmetric heart, an elongated oval, like a grape leaf or a star. The texture is smooth and glossy, matte, with hairs or warty. Variegated coloring includes the whole spectrum of greens, red, yellow and orange colors with transitions and halftones, spots and speckles.

Begonia leaves contain phytoncides. They purify and revitalize the air, destroy harmful microorganisms. Begonia is especially effective against staphylococcus aureus.

Decorative flowering begonias are evergreens that combine the beauty of leaves and bright, though not as magnificent as those of tuberous, flowering. These are tall bushes (up to one and a half meters) or ampelous forms. The beauty of plants is that they do not need to rest, but grow and often bloom all year round.

Begonia - not the best capricious flower It is easy to take care of her if you know her habits. And they are not so exotic for a Tropican. The only difficulty is fiddling with tubers.

Begonia improves immunity and performance, and also helps relieve fatigue. This flower is planted not only at home, but also in the office. Begonia activates and enhances mental activity.

And I must also say that begonias do not belong to long-lived plants. They will not live next to you for 10 years, like a ficus or a palm tree, they are too tender. But on the other hand, begonia reproduces easily and willingly. So you can always continue the life of your favorite flower in its offspring.

Some members of the Begonia family

Begonia is almost a thousand full-fledged species and two thousand hybrids. And the selection continues, every year new varieties of this tropical plant. With more lush flowers, brighter leaves and improved performance. But there are basic varieties that have already proven themselves well in cultivation. With many of them, for example, with royal begonia, most of us have known since childhood. We will tell you more about the most famous varieties of this plant:

• Royal begonia is a typical representative of the decorative leafy group, originally from India. The plant is distinguished by large (about 30 cm) brightly colored leaves. The color changes from deep green to red-brown. Leaf plate of a characteristic shape: asymmetrical heart or snail. Edge with uneven notches. Hybrids of royal begonia differ in color: there are red-yellow, mint-green, chocolate-brown leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous, they are recommended to be removed.
• Among the variegated begonias there are ampelous, for example, imperial. Its medium-sized (10 cm) leaves have a red underside and a velvety green-white upper side. This begonia does not bloom, a variety is bred because of the abundant and beautiful foliage.
• The ever flowering begonia is a rooted and bushy variety. It is cultivated as a garden and house plant. At home, this begonia is ready to bloom all year round. She has small (5 cm) shiny rounded leaves. Flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter are simple or double, red, pink, white.
• Begonia coral refers to upright, evergreen and root varieties. Its shoots grow up to 2 meters and often need support. The leaves are elongated, white-silvery spots are scattered across the green field. The plant blooms all year long, a panicle of 30-60 small coral-colored flowers blooms on the peduncle.
• Tuberous begonias have simple or double flowers, at least 5 cm in size. They resemble a rose, carnation or peony in shape. They can be white, pink, yellow, red or orange, and also combine these colors. The leaves are brittle with a medium-sized serrated edge (from 10 to 25 cm).
• The ampelous variety of tuberous begonia is drooping, it has thin and long (up to half a meter) hanging stems and peduncles. They bloom in tassels of white, pink and orange rather large (5 cm each) flowers. This variety needs rest, after a period of growth, the aerial part dies off.
• Another ampelous variety - bluish-leaved begonia - belongs to evergreens. Its red-pink flowers are much smaller (1.5 cm), but bloom in winter, when the tuberous begonia does not grow.
• Begonia high (elatior) - tuberous hybrid, can only grow in the house. The stems of the plant are thin and fragile reddish in color. The leaves are shiny, rounded. Elatior blooms in autumn and winter. The flowers are large, about 5 cm. The petals can be white, yellow, red or orange, some varieties combine two colors.
• Begonia Borias belongs to the Elatior hybrids. Her bush blooms with double flowers. The color of the petals is two-tone. Pale pink or red-cherry color is replaced by a white edging from the center of the inflorescence to the edges.

What are the varieties of begonias: elatior, coral, ampelous and others (photo)

Begonia high (elatior)

Video: Conditions and care for begonia

Conditions for different begonias (table)

Such a variety of begonias and conditions need different ones. But still there are a few general requirements for all forms of this plant. Begonias, without exception, love warmth. Therefore, they take root well in our heated apartments. Begonias will prefer medium intensity, diffused lighting. Extremes (shade or bright sun) are not for these beauties. But they want more humidity. Just do not try to spray the begonia, she will not like it.

Planting rules: from choosing a pot to subsequent care

Variegated varieties of begonias are transplanted every year. In a cramped pot, bright foliage becomes pale. Evergreen begonias should be relocated as needed when the roots have grown into the drainage holes. And tuberous plants are planted in a new substrate after a dormant period.

Begonias quickly grow juicy greenery and bloom profusely. This requires loose and rich soil, it should be neutral or slightly acidified. And good drainage is also important, take about a quarter of the volume of the pot to it. Approximate soil compositions:

• ready soil for begonias;
• a mixture of two shares of leafy land and one each of peat and black soil;
• into two shares of dark peat, one each - soddy and leafy soil, as well as coarse sand.

The soil substrate must be sterilized to destroy pests and infections. To do this, calcine it in the oven or spill it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (half a gram of powder per 1 liter).

A pot for variegated and evergreen varieties is better to choose a ceramic one. It's heavier and won't tip over when the plant gets big. In addition, ceramic is a breathable and porous material, which means that moisture will not stagnate at the roots. And this is very like begonias. For ampelous plants pick up hanging baskets or planters. Choose a pot for tuberous begonia from any material. Its size determines how large the plant will be. But do not take a container larger than 20 cm in diameter. So, step by step instructions:

1. Transplantation of begonias, except for tuberous ones, is usually done in the spring.
2. Prepare the soil, drainage and pot, it must be rinsed with boiling water.
3. Lay drainage at the bottom (expanded clay, pebbles, polystyrene, broken brick), a little soil substrate on top.
4. Carefully remove the begonia from the old pot, examine the roots. If there are rotten ones, remove them, and sprinkle the slices with charcoal.
5. Place the plant in a new pot, spreading the roots.
6. Pour the soil and lightly tamp it.
7. Water the plant with softened water. Put in a shady place.

Do not rush to transplant a newly purchased flowering begonia. So you will shorten the flowering time. Transplantation is needed only when the roots of the flower look out of the drainage holes. Pick up a pot a couple of centimeters larger than before.

How to plant a tuberous begonia?

1. Scald the container and sterilize the soil and drainage.
2. Lay a drainage layer on the bottom.
3. Fill the container with soil about three-quarters, moisten it.
4. Place the tuber upside down on moist soil and cover it dry so that the top of the tuber is half above the ground.
5. Press the tuber a little into the ground, tamp it around.
6. Place the pot in a cool dark room.
7. Water sparingly, but do not overwater.
8. Shoots should appear in a few weeks.
9. When sprouts appear, completely cover the tuber with earth.
10. Move the pot to a lighted warm place.

Video: Transshipment (transplantation) of begonias - master class

How to care for a plant at home

In the care of all varieties of begonias, there are general principles. For example, beautiful Tropican women are afraid to “wet their feet”, especially in a cool room. In other words, plants do not tolerate excess moisture at the roots. From this, tender begonia can seriously get sick, juicy greens are prone to rot.

Begonias are not good with diets. Blooming beauties spend a lot of energy and are not averse to eating. Good nutrition is simply necessary for evergreen begonias, which bloom almost without interruption.

Watering and fertilizing: how much, how and why

During growth and flowering, begonias want to drink a lot. In spring and summer, water them twice a week when it is very dry and hot - daily. In autumn, reduce the volume and frequency of watering, and in winter limit yourself to a minimum.

But even in summer, make sure that from watering to watering, the earthen substrate dries out about 1 cm deep. Pour water carefully, trying not to get on the stems. And in tuberous begonias, moisture should not fall on the tuber. It has a cup-shaped shape, water can accumulate in this recess. As a result, the rhizome rots easily. According to some flower growers, begonias will benefit from a slight moisture deficit. They believe that it is necessary to water the plant when the leaves are slightly wilted.

Water for begonias should be lukewarm and soft. After watering, be sure to drain the excess from the pan.

Actively growing and flowering begonias love top dressing

From a lack of nutrients, the bright begonia becomes poorer, weaker and wither. This feature was taken into account by fertilizer manufacturers; in stores you can find nutritional complexes designed specifically for begonias. But universal fertilizers for flowering or ornamental plants are also suitable. Choose those with more phosphorus. An actively growing begonia should be fed about once a week, sometimes twice. With the advent of autumn, for most varieties of top dressing, it should be reduced, and completely stopped by winter. But if the begonia blooms in winter, do not leave it without food.

How to make an unpretentious beauty bloom

Begonias (especially tuberous ones) have amazing flowers. They may look like roses or carnations, fuchsias or violets. How to ensure that flowering becomes lush and long?

Flower growers know one secret: when the buds have just appeared and slightly grown up, it is necessary to remove the female inflorescences, and leave the male ones. They are easy to distinguish. The male ones are larger and double, and the female ones are non-double with a three-lobed seed box located on the pedicel behind the bud, close to it. As flower growers say, such an operation significantly improves flowering.

But sometimes the begonia refuses to bloom at all or picks up buds and drops them. What is the reason? There may be several problems:

• begonias little light;
• low air humidity;
• too high or, conversely, low temperature;
• temperature fluctuations, drafts;
• hard irrigation water;
• nutritional deficiency;
• the plant did not rest during the dormant period;
• It's time to rejuvenate the begonia.

Analyze the conditions of your pet, if you find errors, correct them.

Be sure to remove wilted inflorescences. So you prolong flowering and make it more magnificent. Remove old spoiled leaves as well, thanks to such cleaning, the begonia will grow more greenery.

But it happens that flowering must be artificially stopped. If the grower wants to get quality tubers by next year, new buds that appear in September should be removed. Then the tuber of the plant will gain strength.

By the way, until recently it was believed that a faded tuberous begonia should be sent to the trash. It looks like she's no good anymore. Now flower growers have learned how to successfully save tubers, arranging a dormant period for them, and then plant them again and enjoy flowering.

Rooted evergreen and ornamental begonias retain variegated leaves during the dormant period, and sometimes continue to bloom. Just by observing the plant, you can see that it has slowed down growth. At this time, it is necessary to limit watering and stop fertilizing. Although, if the begonia blooms wildly, it is worth feeding it with fertilizer, it is applied no more than once a month. During the dormant period, the plant literally wants rest. It does not need to be disturbed, rearranged or rotated. Surround the begonia with warmth and wait for spring.

But tuberous begonias after flowering fall into deep hibernation. It doesn't have to be in the winter. Modern varieties can bloom in the cold season, and rest in spring or autumn. At this time, the tubers are stored in peat without watering. You can, of course, just throw away the faded plant, but try to revive the begonia. How to save it:

1. When the green part of the plant began to die off, limit watering, a little moisture is enough.
2. Wait for the above-ground part to dry, cut it off. Nutrients already turned into a tuber.
3. Hold the tuber in the soil for about half a month.
4. Remove the tuber from the soil, wrap it with sphagnum moss or peat. It can be buried in disinfected sand.
5. Store the tuber at a temperature of +3 to +5ºC, the humidity should be slightly higher than in the room. Suitable places are a cellar or a refrigerator (compartment for fresh vegetables).
6. If the wintering went well, after 2-3 months the begonia will make it clear that it is ready to be reborn to a new life. Eyes-shoots will appear on the tuber.
7. Plant the tuber in a nutrient substrate.

If the tuber is large and has several healthy eye buds on it, you can breed before planting and get new begonias.

Video: Peace and awakening of tuberous begonia

Care Mistakes, Diseases and Pests: Causes and Solutions

Begonia is a rather delicate plant. It can not be attributed to very patient and strong flowers. The reaction to neglecting the rules of care will be sad: the begonia can get sick, drop leaves, lose buds, or be attacked by pests.

Consider typical problems and how to fix them.

Table: Begonia health problems, treatments and prevention

Video: Treatment of sick begonias

How to propagate indoor begonia?

There are several ways to get new begonias. Tuberous reproduce by dividing the tuber. Ornamental and evergreen by cuttings of leaves and stems. Constantly flowering varieties can also be grown from seed.