The difference between a couple and a Rieger Begonia
Among the many varieties of crabapple, couple crabapple and Rieger crabapple often confuse flower friends. These two ornamental plants belonging to the Begonia family have significant differences in leaf shape, flowers, and plant type. Mastering the key points of their identification can not only enhance the fun of cultivating, but also provide scientific basis for the collocation of home green plants. Comparison of differences in morphological characteristics and leaf morphology Comparison of husband and wife Begonia leaves have unique irregular heart-shaped shapes, sharp leaf tips, and obvious oblique structures at the base. The light green leaf surface is distributed with thick serrated edges, and visible cilia and raised veins are its distinctive features.
Although the leaves of Rieger Begonia are both heart-shaped, their contours are more regular and symmetrical. The surface of the dark green leaves is highly oily, and the heavy serrations or wavy indentations on the edges form a unique decorative effect. Comparison of flower characteristics: the difference between a couple's Begonia and Rieger Begonia
The cymes of the couple's crabapple sprout from the leaf axils, and its monoecious nature creates its unique ornamental character. The female flower is about 3 cm in diameter with five petals, and the male flower can reach 5 cm in diameter and present a semi-double to double shape. The color system covers seven main colors and complex color combinations.
The diameter of Rieger Begonia flowers is generally about 2 cm, and the double petal structure forms a full flower shape. Although the color system is relatively simple, the four colors of orange, yellow, white and red can form a gradual change effect under greenhouse conditions. Comparison of differences in growth characteristics and differences in plant morphology. Couple crabapple has a significant height span of 30- 100 cm, and its upright stems are suitable for creating a well-layered three-dimensional green landscape. Regular pruning is needed to maintain plant type during growth.
Rieger Begonia maintains a compact plant type of 15-30cm, and its naturally growing spherical outline makes it the first choice for desktop green plants. Regular picking can promote the germination of lateral branches and form a fuller ornamental effect. Differences in maintenance points between couples and crabapple require sufficient scattering light environment, and need to maintain a wintering temperature above 12℃ in winter. Rieger Begonia has higher humidity requirements. It is recommended to maintain 60-70% air humidity and shade the sun in summer to avoid strong light burns.
Both kinds of crabapple need to follow the watering principle of "seeing dry, seeing wet", but Rieger's crabapple is more prone to root rot, so it is recommended to use pottery pots combined with granular substrate cultivation. In terms of fertilization, couples prefer balanced fertilizer, while Rieger Begonia needs to apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during flowering.
Through systematic comparison, it can be seen that husband and wife Begonia and Rieger Begonia have their own characteristics in terms of ornamental characteristics and maintenance methods. Whether it is the subtle differences in leaf shape or the intuitive differences in flower expression, it provides a clear basis for identification for plant lovers. Mastering these characteristics and differences can help flower lovers more accurately select varieties and maintain management.