Decorative leaf begonia rightfully occupies an honorable place among indoor plants. Her delicate beauty attracts the eye and fits into any interior. In addition, the plant is unpretentious, and it is not difficult to grow it at home. In this material you will learn all about decorative leaf begonia: photos and descriptions, rules for care and reproduction, possible growing problems. So, in order.
Description
Decorative leafy begonia belongs to the Begoniaceae family, which has more than nine hundred species of plants. In the natural environment, this culture can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. As a rule, plants prefer shady areas of the forest and mountain crevices. Florists have been cultivating the culture as a houseplant since the 17th century. And she came to Russia 200 years ago.
Decorative leaf begonias are perennials. Their growth varies from 20 to 40 cm. But some species reach a meter in height. Begonias are valued exclusively for lush and beautiful foliage. Moreover, depending on the variety, the colors of the plates are of various colors and shades: from emerald green to red and burgundy. In addition, patterns are often present on the leaves.
These plants are flowering. But their buds do not represent decorative value, since peduncles are small and inconspicuous. They are collected in loose panicles and painted in white, pink or yellow.
The best varieties of begonia decorative leaf
Breeders bred many varieties of plants. The following varieties deserved special popularity:
- Royal begonia. Hybrid with rounded or oval leaves up to 30 cm long and serrated edges. The color of the plates varies from pink to purple and violet. The tips are decorated with silver, white or green border.
- Begonia metallic. Variety with olive-green, ovate and pubescent leaves, whose length reaches 10-15 cm. The edges of the plates are cut with denticles. The upper part of the leaves is glossy, as if covered with metallic pollen.
- Tiger begonia. The plant has serrated, heart-shaped leaves up to 10 cm long. Green plates are covered with brown or dark gray spots resembling animal color.
- Begonia Mason. Variety with oval and heart-shaped leaves up to 20 cm long. Their color is green with a silver coating and a brown pattern resembling Maltese crosses. The height of the culture does not exceed 35 cm. It blooms with medium-sized buds of a light beige hue.
- Begonia Cleopatra. Variety with unusual leaves in shape resembling maple leaves. The outer side of the plates is painted in green or olive color, and the bottom is bright red and even burgundy. The height of the bush reaches 30 cm, but there are also half-meter specimens.
Each of these varieties will become an adornment of the flower grower's collection. But in order to achieve decorativeness from begonias, it is important to provide the culture with proper care.
Where to grow a flower
Decorative leaf begonia, the photo of which is given in the article, is a rather photophilous plant. But at the same time, she does not tolerate direct sunlight. Consider this when choosing a place for culture. The eastern and western windowsill will do.
Begonia will also take root on the north side of the room, but here the color of the leaves will fade significantly, especially for hybrids. But in the south it is not recommended to install a pot, since the plant will die in the sun. In addition, when choosing a place, keep in mind that the culture does not tolerate drafts and hot air coming from batteries.
Temperature and humidity
Decorative deciduous begonia is a southern plant, she loves warmth. For the normal development of the culture, maintain a temperature of +20 to +25 ° C. When reduced to +16 ° C, a beautiful woman often develops putrefactive diseases, which leads to the death of the plant. Therefore, if you have a cool room in winter, then reduce watering to a minimum.
Begonia does not tolerate dry air. And it is important to regularly maintain high humidity near the pot. At the same time, it is not recommended to spray the plant, since this leaves white spots and stains on its leaves, spoiling the decorativeness of the flower. To deal with this problem, install water containers or humidifiers near the pot. And in winter, be sure to cover the central heating batteries with wet towels.
Watering
From spring to autumn, the tropical beauty needs regular and plentiful watering. Try to maintain a constant humidity of the earth, but without moisture stagnation. Water the plant strictly under the roots. Otherwise, if water gets on the leaves, brown stains will appear on them. Better pour the liquid into the pan, from which the culture will take the necessary moisture. Use warm, settled and filtered water for irrigation.
How to water begonia in winter? Wait for the topsoil to dry and only then moisten the soil. On cloudy days, completely cancel watering. Irrigate begonia from October to March with warm water and lime.
Top dressing
Decorative leaf begonia responds well to fertilizer application. For top dressing, use complexes containing nitrogen. From spring to autumn, fertilize the crop every 10 days. In winter, top dress no more than once a month.
Bloom
Buds of decorative leaf begonia do not represent aesthetic value. In addition, they draw juices from the plant, which are so necessary for the development of foliage. As a result, the color of the plates becomes faded. Therefore, immediately remove all peduncles, even before they bloom.
Leaf cleaning
In order for begonia leaves to maintain beauty and decorativeness, it is important to regularly clean them from dust and pollution. If the plates are down, then hold this event with a soft brush. Wipe varieties with smooth leaves with damp cloths. Occasionally give plants a warm shower.
The soil
Begonia should be planted in the correct substrate. To prepare it, mix the following components:
- deciduous land;
- humus;
- peat;
- sand.
It is advisable to add a little sphagnum to this mixture in order to loosen the substrate. Before landing, it is imperative to decontaminate the ground. To do this, bake it in the oven or steam. So you kill all the bacteria and microbes that live in the soil.
Transfer
Young decorative leaf begonias grow rapidly, and they become crowded in an old pot. Therefore, transplant annually in mid-spring into a more spacious container. For older cultures, hold this event as needed. How to transplant begonia:
- The day before the procedure, moisten the soil well under the flower. Then the plant is easier to get out of the pot.
- At the bottom of the new container, lay a layer of expanded clay or other drainage material and sprinkle it with a substrate.
- Carefully remove the begonia from the pot. Inspect its roots and remove damaged or dried out shoots. Treat the places of cuts with a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Put the flower in a container and cover the voids with the prepared substrate. Do not spill the ground to the top of the pot.
- Moisten the flower well. If the soil has settled after drying, pour a little more substrate into the pot and water the plant again.
Transplanting causes stress in the plant, so the first time it needs gentle care. Apply fertilizer for the first time 30 days after the event.
Seed propagation
This method is quite simple and does not require special skills. Start the procedure in February. Sow seeds of decorative leaf begonia on a special substrate or on peat tablets. Cover the landing with glass or film. Regularly spray seedlings from a spray bottle.
When shoots appear, begin to temper them. To do this, remove the shelter first for an hour and gradually increase the time. As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear on the plants, plant them in a separate container. When the sprouts are fully grown, plant them in permanent pots.
Leaf propagation
This event is better to hold in April. To propagate decorative leaf begonia, select a healthy large leaf and cut it with a sharp knife. Cut the leg so that its length becomes 2 cm. Leave the sheet for half an hour so that it is slightly dried. After that, plant the plant in a flat container filled with moist universal soil. Do not forget to lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the dishes. Deepen the plant exactly to the surface of the leaf, and try to keep it on the ground.
Caring for a seedling consists of regular watering. Moisten the soil from the spray with warm, settled water, preventing the soil from drying out. The optimum temperature for the seedling is +20 ° C. After 3-4 weeks, the leg will sprout. When the seedling is strong enough, transplant it to a permanent place.
Disease
Ornamental Begonia - a plant with strong immunity. But with improper care, it is often affected by diseases:
- Gray rot. This disease is recognized by the appearance on the leaves of a greenish-brown powder coating. To cure the disease, rearrange the pot in a dry and cool room and treat the plant with foundationazole.
- Powdery Mildew It is manifested by the appearance of white spots with a powder coating on the leaves and stems. Use fungicides for treatment and transfer the flower to a cool, well-ventilated area for the duration of therapy.
- Root rot. You can recognize the disease by rotting and blackened roots. For treatment, treat the lesions with benomyl, and transplant the flower into fresh soil.
As a rule, diseases arise due to waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, control irrigation and prevent stagnation of moisture at the roots. And then with begonia there will be no problems.
Growing problems
With improper care, decorative begonia loses its attractiveness. Often, flower growers are faced with such situations:
- Yellowed and drooping leaves. Thus, the plant signals overmoistening and cold conditions. Move the pot to a warm place and reduce irrigation.
- Shrunken and twisted leaf tips. This phenomenon occurs if begonia is contained in a room with dry air. To correct the situation, install a container of water near the pot.
- Pale and painful leaves. Similarly, a plant behaves with a lack of lighting. Move the pot closer to the light, and the problem will be solved by itself.
- Small leaves. The phenomenon signals a lack of nutrients in the soil. Feed the culture once every two weeks with complex fertilizer.
- Withered begonia with leaves down. This happens if you keep a pot of plants in the kitchen with a gas stove. The culture is sensitive to combustion products. To correct the situation, move the pot to another room.
- The leaves of the flower fell in the winter. This is due to too cold conditions or drafts. Move the flower to a warm place, or at least seal the windows.
It is easy to grow decorative leaf begonia in a pot. The main thing is to create a comfortable flower for the flower, and he will thank him with fast growth and attractive appearance.