How to water begonia to bloom. How to feed tuberous begonias in spring for abundant flowering
plant description
From late spring to mild autumn, our balconies, flower beds and front gardens are decorated with charming Begonia bushes with delicate buds and bright carved leaves.
Indoor Begonia can make you happy beautiful view hosts all year round. Usually a wide variety of species are planted in pots.
This is one of the most popular indoor plants.Begonia care at home requires a certain amount of time and attention.
begonia began to be used about 200 years ago for decorative purposes and continue to do so to this day.
This flower perfectly decorates our window sills, gardens, squares and parks.
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The most common is considered tuberous begonia. It is distinguished by its chic large and beautiful flowers.
This is a houseplant that blooms not only in summer time year, but also in winter.
Begonia - herbaceous plant, about three centimeters high, having very beautiful dense foliage of all shades of green, and also different in size.
The special asymmetry of the sheet is very characteristic: one side is always smaller than the other.
Flowering plant species have stunning, bright and big flowers a wide range of warm tones. They resemble roses in shape, they can be ordinary and terry.
Today, thanks to various crosses, a lot of species of this wonderful flower are known.
What to look for when buying a plant
When buying, always be very careful about choosing a plant.. In order for it to please you for quite a long time, it is important to choose a healthy flower.
Pay attention to the leaves, which should be elastic, without any spots. Leaves should be checked for insects or cobwebs. Experienced flower growers advise buying specimens with half-open buds, because when a tropical guest gets used to new home conditions, she will begin to delight you with lush flowering, and a plant with flowers in a new environment can drop its inflorescences.
If you prefer to grow begonia from tubers, they should be chosen small and elastic. If they have brown spots, you should refuse to buy, as this is one of the signs of improper tuber care.
If it so happened that you purchased a plant with pests, then try to immediately neutralize them and reanimate the plant. To do this, put it in the shade and treat it with preparations specially designed for this. Just remember to separate the flower from other plants so they can't get infected. Do not disturb the purchased flower for about a week, then surround it with full care and proper care, from which your tropical guest will surely perk up.
Flower care at home
soil and pot
When buying a pot for Begonia, it should be borne in mind that it should be several centimeters larger than the diameter of the earthen coma, since in too large pots the roots of the plant may suffer from excess moisture content. And the plant itself will very slowly form future buds.
The soil for the plant must be special. For this purpose, it is better to purchase it in flower shops. But, you can also cook it yourself.
For cooking desired soil it is necessary to mix two parts of leafy soil with one part of humus, sand and peat.
Read also: How to care for a Decembrist (Schlumbergera) flower at home
Landing
Making the process of planting a plant in a pot, be sure to make sure that excess water is removed from the roots. To do this, lay a good layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, and be sure to pour a layer of coal on top, which will act as a disinfectant material.
After that, in the center of the pot, along with an earthy clod, install a seedling, and fill the resulting free space with a substrate.
Lighting
This plant loves to be under bright light. It is the flowering specimens of the plant that usually need the most light. But from the excessive rays of the sun in the very heat begonia it should still be shaded so that it does not suffer from burns.
begonias decorative leafy varieties usually really need diffused lighting. The plant is recommended to be placed on the western or eastern side of the windowsill.
This plant loves heat very much. The air temperature in the room during warm weather should be maintained about 22 degrees, and in winter - about 18.
Watering
begonia, which grows indoors, needs to be watered quite often, once a day. But before each watering of the plant, carefully inspect the pallet and the soil itself. In no case should water be allowed to stagnate in a pot or pan, otherwise, due to excessive waterlogging of the soil, the root system of the plant will begin to rot, and the flower, despite the best care for it, may one way or another die.
IN winter period waterings are reduced to one, maximum two times in seven days. Water the plant only when the top layer begonias dry up to 15 mm.
Try to water any home plants only with settled water at room temperature, and begonia, including.
Humidity in the room
Begonias prefer high humidity. air in the apartment. In nature, this flower grows in the tropics, where the air humidity is 70%, and therefore, in our conditions, it is necessary for the plant to create the most maximum humidity. You can create such conditions indoors by spraying from a spray bottle.
As a rule, it is not the plant itself that is moistened, but the air around it. begonia it is necessary to spray very carefully, through a very small sprayer, otherwise very ugly spots will remain on the leaves from drops.
Read also: How to care for a Cyclamen flower at home
It is best to place these plants on small pallets with wet expanded clay. If you have a humidifier, then it is ideal for this purpose.
Plant nutrition
Since over time the earth is depleted, then for good begonia care it is necessary to use vitamin top dressing at home, which is recommended to be added once every half a month during flowering.
Nitrogen fertilizer is more suitable for deciduous plant varieties. Such an additive improves growth in the leaves, and the flowering process slows down a little.
By following these simple rules, you can perfectly keep the plant at home. Only when proper care Begonia will be able to please with abundance leaves and flowers.
Transfer
* Don't try to repot a newly purchased plant brought into your home. The plant will endure the stress of a change of residence and it will hurt for a very long time, pushing flowering to a later date, and the flowering period itself will noticeably decrease.
* It is only necessary to repot the plant when you notice that the roots, for their growth, did not have enough space, and they began to look out in the drainage holes.
* When transplanting, choose a pot two centimeters larger than the previous one.
* First of all, a layer of small pebbles should be laid on the bottom, then covered with a layer of two centimeters of the desired soil.
* Now you should crush the old pot on all sides and carefully remove the bush from it, trying not to harm the roots. If necessary, the root ball should be untangled with a wooden stick, gently straightening it.
* When you have moved the plant to a new pot, you can now sprinkle its roots with new soil, tamping it a little.
* Now you need to shed the plant with soft water.
* After transplanting, the plant will be under stress for some time. No need to put it in another place or move it at all. Give him time to get used to the new conditions. A transplanted plant usually takes about one month to adapt.
Reproduction of Begonia in different ways
Once the plant has grown a little, it's time to talk about its propagation. Usually this process is carried out in several different ways:
1. Leaf propagation
With this method, it is necessary to select a healthy and strong leaf and cut it along the veins so that each specimen has two veins.
As soon as you notice the appearance of the first sprouts, start gradually accustoming them to room air. To do this, you need to open them from the film for 15 minutes and then close them again. Try to increase the time interval each time.
2. Propagation by stem cuttings
This type of breeding is suitable for Begonia that have a stem. It is necessary to cut a good cutting, on which there are two or three leaves. Leaves located at the bottom should be removed immediately, and the upper large leaves should be cut in half. The places of the resulting cuts are thoroughly treated with charcoal.
Prepare a pot of soil for Begonia and with the same amount of sand, insert the cutting into it, deepening it to the very leaves. You need to cover it on top. plastic bottle cut in half.
After about one month, new leaves will appear on the plant. Will bloom after Begonia in about two months.
3. Reproduction by dividing the bush
This plant can be propagated with the help of a root. In this case, you need to get the plant out of the pot and soak the roots in water for a while. After that, the rhizome should be carefully divided into parts so that each has a sprout or bud.
All unnecessary unnecessary leaves and inflorescences should be removed. Be sure to treat the places of all cuts with charcoal.
Now the plant can be planted in different pots and well shed.
4. Propagation by seeds
This method is considered not the most popular, due to the fact that not all seeds usually germinate or may be viable. However, this method is also used.
For this, a substrate is prepared in advance, into which the seeds are then sown. They are not covered with earth from above, but simply sprayed with water from a spray bottle and covered with either glass or film, whichever is convenient for you. From time to time, the film is lifted, allowing the earth to ventilate, thereby preventing waterlogging of the soil.
The grown sprouts should be thinned out, wait until they are well strengthened, and you can transplant them into separate pots.
5. Reproduction of tuberous Begonia
At the onset of autumn, the leaves of the flower are cut off, the tubers are removed from the soil, well cleaned of the ground, and then thoroughly dried.
In the spring, in May, the tubers need to be cut into a small number of pieces. Make sure that roots and sprouts remain on each part of the tuber.
The side that was cut off must be dipped in charcoal and place in peat. It is not necessary to deepen them much, since a small part of the tubers should be on the surface of the soil. Make sure that the peat does not have the opportunity to dry out. The room temperature below should not fall below 12 degrees.
In the flower shop "White Orchid" you can buy tuberous begonia grown by the specialists of our greenhouse. Tuberous begonia goes on sale in a flowering state.
Tuberous begonia flowers are large, double or semi-double, have a variety of colors - from white to scarlet red. Begonia grown in the greenhouse of the "White Orchid" does not need to be transplanted, because. grown in leafy soil.
Begonia care at home.
Tuberous begonias love light fertile soils with a slightly acidic reaction. The best substrate for planting will be leafy soil.
Pots for planting tuberous begonias use low, plastic pots are more preferable.
Lighting for begonias should be good, diffused light is preferred, so the best place placement will be east, southeast windows, where there is no scorching midday sun. The best temperatures during the development of begonias are from 15 to 25 degrees.
Watering tuberous begonias.
Tuberous begonias are watered abundantly, but between waterings they allow the earth to dry out 0.5 cm deep into the pot.
It is best to water begonias like this: put the pot with the plant in an empty deep container, then pour the substrate from a watering can or ladle so that the water comes out of the pot, you can let it stand in the water for 10 minutes, then the plant is placed on a pallet and after a while (10 minutes -15), excess water from the pan must be removed.
If you do not remove the water from the pan after watering, then the tender roots of begonias die from waterlogging.
Top dressing of tuberous begonias.
In order for the tuberous begonia to bloom magnificently, it must be fed.
For fertilizing begonias in bloom, liquid Forte fertilizer for flowering plants is very suitable. Begonias are fed once every 2 weeks. Fertik-Lux fertilizer can also be used. In August, top dressing is stopped, watering is also reduced - begonias begin to prepare for a state of winter dormancy.
Preparing tuberous begonias for winter.
Begonias grown from their tubers are dug out of pots in September - October, cleaned, dried, sprinkled with peat and put away for storage. The storage temperature of tubers should be no higher than 10 degrees.
In begonias grown from seeds, a small nodule grows during one growing season, so such begonias are not sent for wintering. Begonias grown from seeds are left to winter on the windowsill. They try to pick up a bright, cool window for them, and occasionally water them. The lower the temperature on the window, the less often watering will be. With the onset of spring, the elongated shoots are cut off; young strong shoots will soon appear to replace them.
This begonia is propagated by seeds, tubers and cuttings. Begonia cuttings are cut as follows: the cutting is cut so that one bud remains on the stem - a new stem will grow from it, while the tuber is not broken. A cutting is cut out with a part of the tuber - this is how the cuttings grow the fastest, but the tuber will die. Break out the stems at the base (on the tuber); the tuber is not damaged.
Seedlings are grown in a mixture of sand and peat, or in wemiculite. In order for the cuttings to give roots faster, it is better to use rooting preparations - Epin, Zircon, Kornevin. At a temperature of 20 - 24 degrees, rooting occurs in 2-3 weeks.
is a herbaceous, shrub or semi-shrub plant of the Begonia family. Root tuberous or creeping thickened tuberous rhizome. The leaves are asymmetrical, oblong, often green-red. The flowers of the plant are irregular, unisexual and monoecious. The tepals are unequal, brightly colored. The fruit is a box. Propagated by seeds, leaves, cuttings. The areas of origin of begonias are Mexico, Asia, India, Africa and South America.
Top dressing is the introduction of phosphorus-potassium and nitrogen fertilizers into the soil of a plant.
- Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used once every two weeks, starting from the moment of flowering.
Such intervention will increase the flowering period and the number of buds, the plant will look healthier.
- nitrogen fertilizers are applicable only for deciduous varieties of begonias, as they are able to inhibit the development of buds, but improve the growth of leaves. When using such top dressing, there is an active build-up of green mass, but you can not wait for the flowering of the plant. You will learn about what to do if the begonia does not bloom in.
Watering rules
In order for the plant to grow and develop well, you need to follow the simple rules of watering:
- Do not use hard water from the water supply, but first it must be defended for a day, and then boiled or filtered. You can also use garden peat to soften water - 1 kilogram per 10 liters of water.
- At moderate air temperatures, watering should be uniform and preferably at the same time, preferably in the morning.
- In the summer, watering should be plentiful, but every other day, so as not to flood the plant.
- In winter, it is worth watering the plant as the soil dries out, it is usually enough to water it once a week. In cold weather, it is worth watering with warm water.
- After watering, when the earth dries slightly, it is necessary to loosen the topsoil to a depth of 1 centimeter. Such a simple maneuver will help keep the soil moisture inside the pot longer.
- For watering begonias, you can use the method of immersing the pot. To do this, you need to pour soft water into a container in which you can put the pot. Place the plant pot in water and wait for the soil to absorb water through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After 20-30 minutes, remove the pot from the water and place on a tray.
How to fertilize at home?
You can feed begonia with a ready-made product purchased at a specialized store, or you can apply folk remedy home cooking.
At home, you can prepare the following fertilizers for begonias:
Yeast
To prepare the solution you need:
You can water the begonia with this solution 5 times a year.
reference. Yeast contains the hormones cytokinins and auxins, which promote vigorous growth and full development begonias. They accelerate the mineralization of organic matter, produce phosphorus and nitrogen. This top dressing is equivalent to the use of expensive mineral fertilizers.
Sugar
The sweet solution is used as a direct source of glucose. In order to fertilize the plant, it is enough to dilute 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 liter of water and pour the solution over the plant.
It should be remembered that such a dose of glucose is not recommended to be carried out more often than 1 time in 30 days.
tea leaves
citrus peel
Water the plant with citrus water no more than 1 time in 30 days. If watering is more frequent, an acidic environment can kill root system.
Eggshell
To prepare an irrigation solution, you need:
Water the plant with such a solution can be no more than 1 time in 30 days.
banana peel
Banana peel must be dried and ground into powder. Sprinkle this powder on the soil in a pot of begonias and water abundantly. Carry out this procedure once a month.
The best result will be if the banana powder is mixed with the soil before planting the plant in it.
wood ash
Watering begonia is worth 1 time in 14 days. This product works well as a fertilizer. In this case, it should simply be mixed with the soil before planting.
There are factory products that are designed to feed houseplants:
Kemira Lux
It's floral fertilizer is applied to the soil and covered with soil to a depth of 1-2 centimeters. From above it is necessary to water plentifully.
The dosage indicated on the package is 60 grams per square meter. Enough 2 treatments per year. You can water the plant with a solution in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of the product per 10 liters of water. Such watering can be repeated up to 2 times a month.
The average price is 70 rubles.
good power
For root dressing, you need to dilute 1 cap of the product per 10 liters of water.
During the period of active growth, water the plant once a week., in the cold period of time, water 1 time per month.
The average price in Russia is 300 rubles.
Bona forte
The tool is applicable for root top dressing. 10 milliliters of the drug is diluted in 1.5 liters of water.
In the spring, it is worth watering the begonia with a solution once a week, and in the winter once a month.
The price in Russia is 180-200 rubles.
Fertika Lux
To feed the plant, you need to dilute 1 tablespoon of the product in 10 liters of water. Can apply the solution at every watering in summer and every third watering in winter.
The average price is 70 rubles.
Mister Color
For root dressing, it is worth diluting half a cap of the product in 1 liter of water.
Water the plant with a solution during the period of active growth but not more than once a week.
The average price is 50-75 rubles.
What is needed for abundant flowering?
Phosphorus contributes to the laying of flower buds, abundant and long flowering. It is after a period of active growth, during the period of budding, that it is necessary to carry out potassium-phosphorus top dressing in the complex. At this time, the dose of potassium salts should not exceed 1.5 grams per 1 liter of water.
Note! Phosphorite flour will be an ideal means to fill the phosphorus need, it must be poured into the soil to begonias, at the rate of 70 grams per 1 square meter of soil.
Mistakes and their consequences
If, when feeding plants, one does not adhere to the indicated norms for certain means, then such negligence can lead to a number of consequences:
- If the plant is overfed, it may die.
- Oversaturation of the plant with organic or mineral fertilizers can lead to death, it is necessary to alternate fertilizers.
- If the plant is just planted or transplanted, it cannot be fed for a month, a weak seedling can slow down the development of the root system.
- If the plant is sick, its top dressing should be carried out carefully and start with small doses, since during the disease the roots of the plant are weakened and it can perceive nutrients as a destructive component.
- Top dressing during flowering or dormancy can kill the plant.
Conclusion
In order for begonia to grow and develop, bloom profusely and multiply, it requires increased attention to itself. The main thing is, which consists in timely watering and feeding the plant. An overview of the most popular homemade and purchased fertilizers will help even novice growers keep their beautiful begonias in perfect condition.
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Begonias are very beautiful plants that perfectly decorate any interior at home and in the office. With proper care, begonia blooms in autumn and even in winter. To do this, it is necessary to provide certain conditions, including room temperature and top dressing.
Optimal conditions for good flowering begonias.
In order for the begonia to bloom actively, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the room within + 13 ... + 22 degrees. In this case, the humidity should be at least 60%.
If humidity is difficult to maintain in winter due to the hot air coming from the batteries. Then we put a container of water near the plant so that there is evaporation. Or regularly spray the air around the plant. But at the same time, so that drops of water do not fall on the begonia leaves.
I note that when creating certain conditions, it is necessary to take into account varieties of begonias. They may have different conditions for care.
Feeding begonias for chic flowering.
Begonia can be sprayed with a solution based on boric acid. We apply top dressing before flowering and during flowering. Then the buds will be much brighter and bloom longer.
One of the best flowering stimulants is boric acid. Boron is one of the most important trace elements in plant life. Therefore, boron is added to many chemical fertilizers. I suggest directly feeding the begonia with boron.
What does fertilizing with boric acid give:
- Stimulates flowering. The most important thing for indoor flowers is beautiful and luxurious buds. Thanks to such top dressing, begonias will have much more buds, they will bloom brighter and longer, not dry out.
- The plant increases the amount of chlorophyll in the green mass. This undoubtedly only improves the growth of leaves and stems.
- The plant improves immunity. Especially in winter time it is very important. It is necessary to support the plant so that it does not get sick and does not wither.
Begonia is a bright and beautiful representative of the Begonia family. It is not for nothing that the begonia flower is often called the most popular plant among flower growers. How to care for her at home is a concern for many. Begonias have many perennial and annual species of shrubs, herbs and semi-shrubs. Due to this, it is easy to choose a flowering houseplant just for yourself.
Growing features
Begonia was first described by Charles Plumier, a Frenchman and botanist who was among those who participated in the expedition to the Antilles (XVI century). The organizer of the expedition was Michel Begon, it was in his honor that the plant got its beautiful name. Begonia is often used in folk medicine as a good anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
If you decide to care for begonia at home, then you need to familiarize yourself with some rules:
- Begonia prefers space, so it is better not to place it on the windowsill with any neighbors. She does not accept if other plants come into contact with her and disturb her sensitive nature.
- Watering is carried out with settled water, but at the same time moisture should not linger in the drainage.
- The room must have high humidity.
- Transplantation is carried out once a year, for this you need to follow all the nuances and rules so that flowering begonias take root in a new place.
Types and varieties of begonias
Home begonia can be divided into two groups: deciduous and flowering varieties. In deciduous varieties, the color of the leaves is very original, while the shape is rather unusual. And flowering specimens can be divided into evergreen, bushy and tuberous plants.
Popular varieties:
Popular varieties of begonias
Reproduction features
Propagation by seeds is usually carried out at the end of the year, December for this is the most best time. The seeds of this flower are sensitive, so substrates cannot be used when planting. After two weeks, the seeds give the first shoots. Shoots dive when growing up and accustom gradually to sunlight.
Begonias can also be grown from cuttings of leaves or stems. To do this, choose a healthy and strong specimen and plant it in moist soil with peat or sand. Phytohormones can be used if you wish to speed up plant growth. And so that the seedling does not begin to rot, you need to plant it in a pot correctly: it should not come into contact with the ground.
Plant care at home
Begonia care after purchase should already be correct.
Soil and lighting
You should be serious about the choice of soil, because it has a fibrous rhizome with an abundance of vulnerable and thin roots. When choosing a soil, looseness and lightness of the soil are taken into account, and also do not forget about a small level of acidity.
The ideal combination for the desired soil composition is part sand to two parts peat, which is mixed with cow dung or leafy soil. When planting in a pot, fill three-quarters of the container with leafy soil, adding equal parts of peat and black soil. Do not forget about the sand, which is also added to these components without fail.
If you follow the correct care for begonia in winter at home, then it will delight you with its bright flowering for a long time.
When the root system becomes crowded in the container, then transplant the plant according to all the rules:
- Take out the plant, clean the root system from lumps of old earth.
- Place the begonia in a bowl of potassium permanganate.
- There, clean the rhizome from moldy and rotten parts.
- Pour the prepared soil composition into a new pot, plant a flower there. When the rhizome gets stronger, it will be possible to add another layer of earth.
- Water the transplanted plant frequently and regularly, and protect from direct sunlight.
It is recommended to comply proper lighting : it should be daylight with scattered rays. It is best to place the flower on the western and eastern windowsills. But straight Sun rays should not fall on the bush! Partial shade is best for begonias. In winter, additional lighting is required.
Just remember that begonia does not like changing the brightness of the lighting. The bush may get burned or even not recover from such stress.
Flowering period, watering and fertilizing
At home, this beautiful plant blooms brightly and intensely. But with the right care. From the beginning of spring until the autumn frosts, beautiful flowering can be observed. And in order to prolong the flowering period, you need to remove the female flowers in a timely manner.
In their form, the flowers are similar to carnations, roses, daffodils. When flowering, the bright colors of the petals decorate absolutely any room, raising everyone's mood. If the flower does not bloom, then you need to transplant it into a new soil, or the bush needs rejuvenation.
When watering, consider two main factors: good soil moisture and the absence of stagnant moisture in the pot. In summer, begonias are usually irrigated abundantly, excess water flows out of the drainage. Then you need to remove unnecessary liquid from the pan.
It is recommended to observe the watering regime. Choose the same time for this. In summer, the plant is watered at least once a week, and in the heat - as the soil dries up. In autumn, water less often, and in winter, reduce watering to a minimum - begonias have a dormant period. In the spring, take the bush out of this state with an increased dose of watering. But do not get carried away - the abundance of water causes the appearance powdery mildew from which the plant may die.
For irrigation, choose warm and settled water, but boiled water can also be used.. Many types of plants do not appreciate the ingress of water on the foliage and trunk - this may cause brown spots. This is a clear sign that the delicate plant has been burned by liquid that has fallen on it.
When the first buds appear on the begonia, it becomes clear that the plant needs to be fed. Suitable liquid complex fertilizers. It is administered with water once every two weeks. After the buds have faded, stop the feeding period. In winter it is forbidden to use fertilizers.
Plant protection from diseases and pests
A favorite plant can get sick, start dropping buds and leaves. This may be evidence of improper care and growing errors. He needs to be watched very carefully. With all your attention, look closely at a beautiful flower:
In order for the begonia to repay you with kindness for your care, follow all the rules for caring for it. After all, if you familiarize yourself with all the features of the plant, then problems with care should not arise. The flower, in return, will not only delight you with its blooming appearance: it will purify the surrounding air from toxins, pollution, dust, and chemicals. Therefore, so often it can be found on the windowsills of an apartment or private houses: begonia is able to make its owner's abode safe and clean. Therefore, do not hesitate and do not be afraid of difficulties in care - the plant is perfect for the home.
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