Why is it so difficult to cultivate Rieger begonias?
Here are some small experiences on why Rieger begonias are so difficult to cultivate, the details are as follows:
In the autumn and winter flower market, the potted plants that are beautiful, affordable, and have a long blooming period are Rieger begonias, also known as rose begonias. Rose begonias have very bright colors and a large number of flowers, with a blooming period from autumn to early summer. Many flower enthusiasts have cultivated them, but often give up after just one attempt because there are always issues with leaf edges becoming scorched and petals turning yellow and wilting, making it seem very difficult to grow.
In fact, rose begonias are not that difficult to cultivate. With the right care methods, they won't have yellow leaves or rotting petals, and can bloom for three seasons in autumn, winter, and spring. So, how exactly should you cultivate them? Please read on.
Key Points for Cultivating Rose Begonias
No matter what plant you want to cultivate well, you first need to understand its "temperament and preferences." Catering to its likes will make it much easier to grow.
The habits of rose begonias are to enjoy a warm, humid semi-shaded environment, which can be summed up in six words: "warmth, humidity, semi-shade." If you can grasp these six key words and do them well, then rose begonias can easily bloom for three seasons. So, how should these six words be understood?
1. -- Warmth --
So when cultivating rose begonias, we should try to keep them in a room or on a balcony, maintaining a temperature above 10 degrees in winter. In warmer southern regions, they can be placed outdoors, but in areas with frost, they can easily freeze to death if left outside. However, such beautiful flowers are usually kept indoors for display.
In summer, it's best to place them in an air-conditioned room, otherwise, the high temperature can easily cause the rose begonias to overheat. If not placed in an air-conditioned room, at least keep them in a shaded, rain-free environment and avoid direct sunlight.
2. -- Humidity --
Many flower enthusiasts have issues with leaf and petal scorching when cultivating rose begonias, which is often due to low air humidity, especially in winter air-conditioned rooms or rooms with heating, where the air is quite dry. This is very bad for rose begonias, so increasing air humidity is important.
There are many ways to increase air humidity, such as frequently spraying water on the leaves, but this can easily cause flower rot if the water gets on the petals. Therefore, this is not a good method for rose begonias. You can also use a humidifier.
However, I recommend using a water-filled saucer to humidify, which is simpler. Prepare a large saucer, fill it with water, then place two small stones or pieces of wood, Styrofoam, etc., on it, and elevate the rose begonia pot on the saucer. As the water in the saucer evaporates, it will maintain a relatively humid state around the rose begonia pot, which is better than spraying water or regular humidification.
If you're not good at watering rose begonias, you can also thread two cotton strings through the bottom of the pot, with one end connected to the soil and the other end immersed in the water-filled saucer. By keeping water in the saucer, the rose begonia can maintain moist soil without needing to water it explicitly.
If fertilizing, you can also dilute the fertilizer water and pour it into the saucer, adding fertilizer water regularly.
3. -- Semi-shade --
Rose begonias prefer a semi-shaded environment, so they can be given plenty of light in autumn, winter, and early spring. During the blooming period, they can be provided with 2-4 hours of light per day to maintain bright colors and extend the blooming period. In summer, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
If your local summer is very hot, you can cultivate rose begonias as a three-season flowering plant. Start in autumn with flowering seedlings, care for them in their original pot or a new pot, and after the spring bloom, discard them when the weather gets hot, as they are not expensive and can provide flowers for five to six months, which is worth it.
The above is the full content of the key points for cultivating rose begonias and why Rieger begonias are so difficult to cultivate, hoping it is helpful to green plant enthusiasts!