The legend of the ancient Chinese says that the tears of a girl in love shed on the earth turned into a beautiful flower, like begonia. The homeland of the plant is not exactly established.
Named after a friend
Over thousands of species are botanists in the genus begonias in the family of the same name. For the first time, the plant was described by the Frenchman (botanist and monk) S. Plumier back in 1687, who named
the begonia flower in honor of a friend of M. Begon, the governor of Haiti
. The homeland of the plant is the subtropical and tropical geographical zones of the globe, South America, the western regions of Africa, Asia (Eastern Himalayas, mountainous regions and southern India, Ceylon islands and the Malay archipelago). It should be noted that in Australia in its natural form, despite being close to Malaysia, begonia does not grow.
Research has established a
kinship between African and American plant species. Despite the fact that Africa occupies only the third place in the world in the number of varieties growing here, scientists believe that begonia has spread from the continent from this continent. The homeland of the plant of domesticated species, most likely, is in the places of natural growth. Superiority in the emergence of hybrid
tuberous begonias belongs to Belgium.
Classification Options
There is still no generally accepted botanical classification of various forms of the Begoniaceae family. In nature, these are shrubs, erect and climbing, grassy and
ampelous plants. Home begonia is the same variety of forms. In a first approximation, cultural varieties are divided into decorative foliage and decorative flowering. The most common flower begonias. But the mesmerizing beauty of the leaves finds its fans. In home floriculture, conditional division of
indoor begonias into tuberous and shrubbery is carried out.
Homemade tuber begonia
The main appearance and the main advantage of begonias of this most fashionable species is the plentiful luxury of simple and double flowers. Admire plants competing in form with roses, peonies, carnations. Another feature of them is hidden in the soil - a tuberous rhizome. A tuber begonia appeared not so long ago (1870). The birthplace of the plant of this semi-hybrid or hybrid is Belgium. The creator, who showed the way to other begonie breeders, was Louis Van Gutt, who, together with nature, created the first terry variety.
Large-flowered varieties
Hybrid begonias of the Rasa Elator Rieger group are resistant to fungal infections and have a short day - a 9-hour day is enough for the development of axillary kidneys. This includes such varieties: Kyoto (white begonia, medium-sized, with large densely-doubled flowers), Louise (light cream with pink, tall).
The Rasa Gluard do Loren group is characterized by the compactness of low-growing plants with small leaves and generous flowering. Famous varieties with pink flowers: Carolina, Marina, Egers Favorit, Competitor, Rosemary.
Semi-hybrid begonias are distinguished by a variety of colors, can be simple, semi-double and double terry. Sometimes on one plant there are simple and double flowers. The popular name of such a begonia is Ivan da Marya (fluffy - male, ordinary - female flowers). In size, they can be gigantic (up to 20 cm in diameter), large-flowered (from 8 to 10 cm in diameter), multi-flowered (from 3 to 5 cm). Pink, peony, daffodil and other forms are distinguished. The most famous varieties of large-flowered ones are Dark Red (dark red), Orange (the color visually confirms the name), Rose (pink), Scarlett (pink-red), Yellow (yellow), White (white). Multiflowered variety - Dark Scarlett (dark pink).
How to grow begonia
Plants are grown from seeds, tubers, and cuttings (leaf or stem pieces). Seeds are very small, they are sown without seeding, seedlings need to wait a month or two, dive at least two times, the required temperature for germination is about 25 degrees. Tubers can be divided, but at the same time observe the sterility of the instrument and substrate, a fresh incision must be dipped in activated carbon powder.
Sterility is also necessary for grafting. Leafy cuttings are rooted in sand or in a mixture of sand with moss (1: 4 ratio), pressing pebbles to the substrate. On a piece of the sheet make incisions in the venation. The cuttings from the stem are first rooted in water. A necessary condition for all types of reproduction is the optimum soil moisture. Plants cannot tolerate dry soil and air (do not forget, their homeland is the tropics). But with excessive moisture, they can simply rot.
Do not forget about good diffused lighting (just use a 60 W lamp to illuminate). Periodic ventilation of cuttings covered with a jar is necessary. There is a ban on cold water for wet procedures when spraying an earthen coma with seeds or cuttings, watering buried tubers. An ideal soil would be a mixture of turf, leafy soil, humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 1/4: 1/2: 1.5: 1. Peat is especially needed for tuber begonia. She needs
soil acidity in the range of pH 6-6.5. Most begonias do not like turning the pot.