In the green corners of many amateur gardeners, a place of honor is occupied by a surprisingly beautiful flower called begonia. The plant has large bright buds that look like roses. It blooms for a very long time and is plentiful. However, to enjoy this beauty at home, you should know how to care for begonias in a pot. After all, a flower needs attention and care.
Interesting to know
Breeders know more than 1000 species of representatives of this family. The birthplace of the plant is Middle and South America, as well as East Asia. Begonia was introduced into our region in 1700. At first, flower growers cultivated exclusively deciduous and decorative species, then they were carried away by ever flowering, and more recently, tuberous varieties.
Description
The stems of the plant are translucent, juicy and different in color. They may be light green, or may have an olive or even reddish hue. The stems are covered with thin hairs. Indoor tuberous begonia has large terry buds. The leaves of the plant, resembling small hearts, are pointed at the top and rounded at the base. On each of the peduncles, as a rule, from two to five buds ripen. Flowers have a bright saturated color.
How to care for begonias in a pot?
A flowering plant needs bright lighting. However, in summer it should be shaded from direct sunlight. Otherwise, burns may appear on the leaves. How to care for begonias in a pot? First of all, choose the most comfortable place for her. The ideal location would be on a window facing east or west. A temperature of + 20–22 degrees is favorable for plant growth, and in winter it is no lower than +15. Talking about how to care for begonias in a pot, you should raise the issue of watering. The plant is very fond of moisture. However, spraying for him is extremely disastrous. To prevent the flower from suffering from excessively dry air, place the flowerpot on an inverted tray. Place this entire structure in an even wider pot. Pour expanded clay (moss) around and moisten it from time to time. This will provide begonia with the necessary moisture. However, when watering, it is recommended not to allow stagnation of water in the pot. In winter, soil irrigation should be reduced. Begonia in a pot needs to be fed. Fertilize the flower once every 14 days.
Transplantation and reproduction
This procedure is recommended to be carried out annually in the spring. As a substrate for planting, it is best to use garden, leaf and peat soil, as well as sand in the same proportions. What kind of pot is needed for begonia? The plant will feel most comfortable in a clay pot.
After planting, you need to water it well and put in the shade for five days to adapt. Rhizome plants propagate by cuttings and seeds, tuberous plants by division of the tuber.
Care after flowering
When the buds begin to fade, they must be carefully removed. The plant itself is recommended to be trimmed, leaving a 5-centimeter bush. From the end of October, watering should be reduced, and when the leaves turn yellow, stop until spring. In this case, you need to place the pot in the room, the temperature in which will be within 15-17 degrees of heat.