Care for evergreen begonias: how to grow a herbaceous plant indoors and in open ground?

Plants of this species are called "ever flowering" or "ever flowering", and begonias truly justify these names.

Under favorable conditions, the process of flower formation lasts all year round.

These flowers are so diverse in their color, shape of leaves and flowers that the person who surprised them for the first time will not understand that this is one and the same plant.

In England, the flower is called "wax begonia", due to the peculiar luster of the foliage.

Appearance and features

For the first time, a decorative-flowering begonia was seen in Berlin, in the botanical garden. There in 1821 she was brought from Brazil. From this date, the cultivation of the plant began. Later, one after another, new hybrid varieties and species appeared. Considerable contribution to the "improvement" of begonias was made by breeders of Denmark and France.

Many hybrids bred at that time find their application now. For example, “Philippe” begonia with pink flowers is used to decorate the border, and tall species of begonia are used in urban landscaping. Currently, science knows more than 600 varieties of flowering begonias. The everlasting plant is a complex hybrid. In the process of obtaining used numerous varieties.

The plant is a bush, 40 cm high. Leaves have an unusual glossy shine, their shades are differentranging from saturated green to burgundy, brown. The shape of the foliage is round, asymmetrical.

The flowers are small in diameter, but numerous. Color white, yellow, orange, apricot, pink, scarlet, red. The form resembles the inflorescences of peonies, roses. Inflorescences have a terry and simple texture.

Varieties

Blooming begonia hybrids consist of several different varieties, which differ in color, shape of leaves and flowers, flowering time, overall dimensions. Regarding the last parameter, plants are classified by height:

• Low-growing varieties "Albert Martin", "Bicola", "Bella".
• Mid-sized "Karmen", "Othello".
• Tall Alba, Kathe Teisher.

Albert Martin:

Bicola:

Bella:

Karmen:

Othello:

Alba:

Kathe Teisher:

Separately, I want to highlight the variety of evergreen terry begonia. She attracts special attention, they say this plant is endowed with magical features. Externally terry begonia is a shrub with a lot of carved leaves.

Flowers have a pink shape, with a huge variety of shades. A special terry border along the contour, because of which begonia got such a name, makes it more tender and at the same time gives it a certain personality. Terry begonias are also loved by landscape designers, often adding to floral arrangements and giving her a “main role”. More information about what terry begonia is, how to deal with planting and care at home, you can find here.

Photo

Photos of ordinary and terry begonias grown at home are presented below.

Normal:

Fly:

Care Rules

Decorative-flowering varieties are grown both at home and in the open field. For each environment, certain parameters are important.

Houseplants

They need to observe the following modes:

Temperature

Blooming begonia, for all its merits, has the disadvantage of being thermophilic. In the summer, the temperature in the room should be between + 20-24 ° C. In winter, the required parameters are + 18-20 ° С. The presence of drafts should also be excluded, especially during ventilation. A temperature of + 16 ° C is considered unfavorable for the flower.

Shine

Everblooming hybrids easily tolerate summer, heat. The presence of bright light is important to them. However, good indoor air circulation should be ensured. For comfortable content, begonia should be placed on windows facing east and west. According to many gardeners, begonias have enough 8-hour daylight for full development.

You should pay attention to the appearance of the plant, with a lack of light, the color of the flower becomes paler, and the inflorescences are smaller. Therefore, when changing the appearance of the flower, perhaps you should connect additional lighting, especially in winter.

Humidity

Begonia, although bred in a temperate climate, and its ancestors come from exotic countries, where the climate is hot and quite humid. So with dry air in the room, the plant begins to fade, the leaves dry.

The minimum limit of humidity in the room should be kept at 60%. Do not spray leaves with water.

Soil and planting requirements

At the beginning of each year, before the active phase of growth, begonia is transplanted. At the same time, it is cut short and planted in soil enriched with minerals. After that, regularly fed, watered abundantly and kept on a sunny windowsill. To prepare the soil, take equal portions of turf, deciduous land and sand.

In order to avoid the development of fungal diseases introduced with the soil, each of its components must be calcined for 30 minutes. Perlite or vermiculite are suitable as a baking powder..

Do not forget about the drainage layer, which can save plants in case of waterlogging with water. Flowerpots for begonias are preferred small. After all, the plant has an underdeveloped root system, which hardly covers the space prepared for it. The new pot should be 1-2 cm larger than the old.
In more detail about how the planting of begonia is ever-flowering and its care at home and in the open ground, can be found here.

Watering

The plant does not require intensive watering. In the summer, you need to water when the soil in the pot is covered with a dry crust. Do this carefully so that excess moisture does not get on the leaves. With excess fluid, the process of decay begins. Water for irrigation should be soft, clean, without impurities and salts.

Top dressing

One of the conditions for rational care is considered plant nutrition with beneficial substances. Blooming begonias regularly require additional food, because it spends a lot of energy during the formation of buds and the flowering itself. At this point, mineral fertilizers with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus are needed.

Winter is not excluded. On sale there are special top dressings for winter flowering. In the spring, during growth, complex minerals should be added.

Fertilizers should be chosen for decorative-flowering varieties. The preparations Zircon, Master for Flowering Plants, and Epin are not bad. Important. Before applying fertilizer, the soil must be moistened. Otherwise, the roots of the flower may receive chemical burns.

In the open ground

A begonia herb is grown outdoors in the open. The flower will feel comfortable in the shade of shrubs or trees. But even in an open area, flowerbeds will show their decorative qualities not bad, for which he is appreciated by landscapers. Soil prefers loose, breathable, not sour. It needs moderate watering, and in the hot summer it is necessary to moisten daily.

After landing in the ground, it is imperative to feed them every two weeks with mineral and organic fertilizers. In open ground, weeds can interfere with the full development. They regularly need to be ground and loosen the soil near the flowers.

Breeding

Hybrids of this variety with simple, smooth flowers are propagated by seed.. The seeds are quite small, so you can mix them with sand, and thus sow. The sowing process itself should begin at the end of February.

In the tank, with pre-warmed soil, seeds are sown. After slightly moisturize, covering with glass or a transparent film. At a temperature of + 22-24 ° C, seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks.

At first, they develop slowly, and over time, faster and faster. To accelerate the development process, it is better to fill the seedlings. Young sprouts are planted in the ground at the end of night frosts, when it will be constantly warm. About 18-20 weeks after germination, the flowering plant begins.

Another method of propagating begonia is cuttings. In early spring, before the onset of the growth phase, begonias are pruned. The roots of the shoots are treated with drugs to stimulate root formation, which will accelerate the growth of roots. Then placed in water or soil substrate.

It is worth providing the cuttings with a greenhouse effect. They should be in a body room with a temperature not lower than + 20 ° С. When the roots hatch, the plant can be transplanted into pots.
More information about the propagation of evergreen begonias and further care of the flower can be found here.

Possible problems

Any florist knows that regardless of the variety, you need an eye and an eye for a flower, otherwise you won’t get into trouble. The main reason for this is incorrect plant conditions.

1. The tips will dry first, and then the whole sheet - begonias do not have enough moisture in the ground and in the air. It is necessary to establish regular watering and moisten the room.
2. Pale color, shoots reaching for the light indicate a lack of sunlight.
3. If the foliage curls and darkensmeans begonia lacks nutrients.
4. Decay of the root system, stem, leaves says an excess of moisture, which leads to the development of a fungal disease, gray rot. To combat this phenomenon, special solutions of fungicides are used, as well as 1% Bordeaux fluid.
5. Bacterial spotting - This disease is dangerous for begonia. The plant becomes covered with watery spots, which soon turn brown, and the inflorescences and shoots acquire a black color. To treat such an ailment, the soil is treated with disinfectants.
6. High humidity and complete lack of ventilation cause the development of powdery mildew, which is characterized by a white coating on the leaves of begonia. If measures are not taken in time, the plant, starting from the leaves, dries. With a similar misfortune, they are also poisoned with the help of fungicides.

No less than begonia problems can be caused by pests such as aphids and spider mites.. They feed on the sap of the plant. Insects are located on the back of the leaf. You can remove them by treating the foliage with a soapy solution of tobacco or chamomile. An effective means to combat them is insecticide preparations. Procedures to eliminate harmful insects should be carried out until they completely disappear.

Ornamental deciduous begonias are charming plants. One thing only upsets - their not longevity. After several years, the plant loses its decorative properties. This means that the flower should be regularly rejuvenated, and not afraid to propagate. And then, begonia will delight with its unsurpassed beauty.

Watch the video: How to Propagate Plants from Cuttings. This Old House (November 2024).