Begonias are herbaceous, semishrubs and shrubs. Begonia home is usually a hybrid, flowering or decorative-deciduous. Each of these species has its own requirements. This must be remembered by growing begonia at home. Begonias are also found in both annuals and perennials.
Care for Begonia
Try as little as possible to rearrange begonia, this she does not like. The flower does not like direct sun rays, it gets burnt from the sun. It is best to place the plant in the south-east or south-west. Begonia is thermophilic, loves a temperature of 18-20 degrees, in winter is not less than 18. Likes abundant watering in summer, but moderate in winter. The drying of the soil in summer or abundant watering in winter is very bad for the plant's condition.
How to water begonia?
Begonia loves high humidity and at the same time does not tolerate stagnation of moisture. Spraying the plant is not recommended, since drops of water will leave traces on the leaves in the form of dark spots. If the room is too dry air and absolutely can not do without spraying, this should be done by an indirect small-drop sprayer.
The plant should be watered evenly, at the same time. In winter, watering begonia should be moderate, as the land dries up. In summer, the watering is needed abundantly, and all the water must necessarily leave the pot. Sprinkle begonia with dewater or melt water, always warm. It is best to put flowerpots with flowers in pallets with wet moss, sand or peat. With a constantly wet earth, the leaves begin to turn yellow and fade.
In winter, the optimal temperature for begonias is at least 15 degrees Celsius. If you still can not maintain such a temperature, then it becomes necessary to water the plant with warm water, and also put containers around begonia with hotter water to make it comfortable. It is necessary to loosen the top layer of soil for 1-2 cm, so that the roots also have an influx of warmer air. Especially it is loved by decorative deciduous begonia. Tubers plants in winter store in a cool and dark place, at a temperature of 3-5 degrees above zero. Until February they are not watered, then transplanted, put in a warm place and begin to water abundantly.
Diseases of begonia
If your plants turn pale, this indicates a lack of lighting. With excess moisture and low temperature, begonia can be affected by gray mold and mold.
If a white coating appears on the leaves, it is powdery mildew. With the disease of begonia, the affected leaves and stem stop and are removed, the plant is treated with a fungicide. The plant is also damaged by aphids and spider mites that live on the back of the leaf and spread well at high temperatures, dry air, drafts and abrupt temperature fluctuations.
Transplanting begonia
Begonia street transplanted every two years. Every year young plants are transplanted in the spring. The transplantation of the newly acquired begonias is simply necessary to see what plant roots are, in what state it is, and to know in what land it will grow.
For a begonia transplant, light, loose and nutritious land is needed, good drainage. The mixture should consist of sand, humus, peat, turf ground in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2. In the soil acquired in the store add moss, young plants can be planted in a mixture of peat and deciduous land. It is not necessary to fertilize begonia more than once a month. In winter fertilizer does not need a plant. The flower begins to fertilize in spring, when it begins its growth.