Begonias They come in many varieties and are very popular and well-liked plants. They can be grown indoors as well as outside in the garden. They can be easily crossed with each other, that is why there are more and more species of these flowers. They are sexually separable, with female flowers and separate male flowers. The plants originate from Brazil and, as their cultivation is not complicated, they can be grown especially by beginner gardeners. Most varieties of begonia bloom until mid-September, but there are some that bloom all year round. Some varieties are bred for their ornamental foliage and others for their flowers.
How to grow begonias?
Begonias They prefer slightly shaded positions, as a rule varieties with darker flowers grow better in places with more sun, and lighter ones prefer less sun. The soil for their cultivation should be permeable, rich in microelements with a slightly acidic or neutral pH. Begonias They originate from tropical climates and therefore prefer warmth. Plants grown indoors should have a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, in winter it must not drop below 15 degrees, and in summer it should not exceed 24 degrees. Begonias Plants that are grown indoors should be watered twice a week, and less often in winter, once a week. Plants grown in the garden should be watered whenever the ground is dry, and remember not to pour water directly onto the leaves. You should also make sure that begonias The vapors that float in these places are not good for their condition. In turn begonias plants grown in gardens are an effective deterrent to slugs and snails. Plants grown in pots need to be protected from the cold; they can only be put outside at the end of May and must be moved indoors before the first frost occurs.
Begonias - overwintering, propagation and planting
Begonias Grown in the garden before the onset of frost, you need to dig up, cut off the stems and leaves, to about 2 cm above the tuber. They are best stored in wooden boxes sprinkled with sand or dried peat at a temperature from 7 to no more than 10 degrees Celsius. The plants can be propagated by dividing the tubers, they can be divided already in March, when the buds are visible. The division should be done the day before planting, the cut areas should preferably be covered with charcoal overnight. After drying the next day, the tubers can be planted into pots to a depth of 1 to 2 cm of soil. Then they should be placed in a sunny and warm room, a good solution is to cover the plants with jars or transparent containers. Begonias should be watered regularly so that the soil is moist all the time. In the second half of May, when begonias When the plants have put up their first leaves they can be transplanted into patio pots or directly into the ground if they are to grow in the garden. The distance between the plants should be 20 to 25 cm. Fertilized begonias They develop better, they need to be fertilized in the spring with special preparations designed for these plants, which are usually rich in phosphorus and nitrogen.
Exposure of begonias to diseases and pests
The most common diseases in begonias are powdery mildew and gray mold. Prevention of these diseases includes planting plants at greater distances from each other and avoiding excessive spraying of the leaves. Symptoms of powdery mildew are irregular spots of various sizes covered with a white coating, which occur on leaves and stems, and may also occur on flowers. Gray mold is the appearance of small spots on the leaf blades, which are initially small and have a gray tint, but quickly turn brown and destroy the entire plant. Begonias infected with this disease are best discarded to avoid saving other specimens. If there are slight symptoms of disease, appropriate fungicidal chemicals should be applied as soon as possible. A preparation made from garlic is also effective, and should be used in those cases where begonias grow indoors.
Perennial flowering Begonias and other varieties
Begonias permanently flowering are begonias semperflorens, characterized by large representative flowers, they come in white, slightly pinkish, which can pass into red. They also have ornamental leaves that take on green, red and brown tones, they are also characterized by an exceptional shine. They bloom from mid-June to late September, and in Brazil they are found as year-round plants. A popular variety is also begonias Tuberous plants, which cannot grow indoors, but look particularly nice on balconies and in flowerbeds. However, it should be remembered that begonias These types need to be dug up for the winter and stored in a place with a positive temperature. A good solution for indoor growing are begonias Wintergreen, which blooms year-round and does not produce tubers.
