Are there many flowers in your collection that delight the eye with their flowering in winter? One of these is begonia, a flower native to the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa and America. In this article we will talk about how to grow and how to care for begonias.
First, you need to choose the right soil. The root system of begonia is fibrous, containing many thin roots. Therefore, all varieties of begonias love loose, penetrating soil with a slightly acid reaction. A great option is sheet land, coarse sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 2, although you can also get ready-made special soil mix for begonia, diluting it with a quarter of sand. Clay heavy soil in this case will not work. Despite the fact that the plant consumes a small amount of nutrients, the soil should still be fertilized with liquid mineral fertilizers.
Begonia is propagated by cuttings, both leafy and stem. For this, cuttings from the tops of an adult plant are cut off at the beginning of spring (in March). The soil is prepared from peat and sand for rooting cuttings. The soil and dishes for it (small, with a diameter of 5 mm) should be decontaminated, since the cuttings are weakly resistant to various fungal diseases. Then the cuttings are planted, and placed in a bright place. It is important to maintain humidity in the tank, this can be done using plastic bags. After the emergence of roots, seedlings can be planted in large pots.
Begonia can be propagated by leafy cuttings earlier - from late December to February. For this, exactly the same soil is used as in the previous version. The substrate is placed in a wiring box, after which a leaf with a handle of about 2 cm in length is taken and planted to a depth of about 1 cm, while the cuttings should not be allowed to touch. At a temperature of + 20 ... + 22, the rooting period of seedlings is usually 3-4 weeks.
Now, actually about how to care for begonias. It should be noted that taking care of a begonia flower is probably worth starting with the fact that you need to provide it with suitable lighting. The plant is best placed on windows facing west and east, because it is there that it will receive the necessary lighting. Begonia loves bright diffused light, but is afraid of direct sunlight. Especially plants with decorative leaves - they should generally be placed in partial shade.
It is important to observe relative humidity, additional spraying is not required, although it is permissible to spray plants with smooth leaves, taking care not to get on the flowers. It is also necessary to monitor the condition of the soil, to prevent drying out, moderately watering it in accordance with the season - daily in the hot season, watering is reduced in the fall in such a way as to bring it to a minimum by winter. In winter, the plant needs relative peace, and the plant needs to be removed from it as gradually.
It is important to follow these rules, because often gardeners ask themselves the question - why does begonia dry? The reason lies precisely in the non-observance of the light regime and the watering regime, as well as the humidity norm, since it is necessary to care for begonias with due attention and care.
It is worth saying a few words about begonia transplantation, the plant transplantation process should begin no later than the moment when the irrigation rate in spring begins to increase. It is also important to monitor the frequency of transplantation. Before the begonia blooms, it needs to be given the opportunity to take root throughout the pot. A year after flowering, the pot should be increased in diameter by 2 cm, and fresh soil can be added. It is important to ensure that the roots are not damaged. The same procedure can be repeated after 1 to 2 years.
Here, in fact, are all the main recommendations on what methods to propagate and how to care for begonias in home growing conditions.