Four-season Begonia Propagation Methods
This article provides an introduction to the propagation of Four-season Begonias for netizens, discussing the various methods of propagation. Let's take a look!
The propagation of Four-season Begonias mainly involves three methods: seeding, cutting, and dividing. Commercial cultivation typically uses seeding. Four-season Begonia seeds are small and have a short lifespan. Seeds that fall naturally into the potting soil often germinate quickly and produce seedlings, but if the harvested seeds are not sown promptly, the germination rate is low.
Propagation by cutting is usually carried out from March to May or from September to October. A sandy soil is used as the cutting medium, and cuttings can also be directly inserted into plastic pots, with the nodes inserted into the soil. Under the conditions of shade and insulation, roots develop in about 20 days. For older perennial plants, they can be divided and pruned at the same time to encourage new lateral branches and form a complete plant shape.
【Seeding Method】: In the East China region, the most suitable times are from April to May in spring and from August to September in autumn. The seeds should be evenly scattered on the fine soil in the pot (no need to cover the soil). After soaking the pot with water from the bottom, cover it with a piece of glass and place it in a semi-shaded area. The seeds will germinate in 10 days. Seedlings sown in spring can bloom in the autumn of the same year.
【Cutting Method】: This can be done throughout the year, but the resulting seedlings have fewer branches. This method is generally not used for propagation, except for double-flowered varieties.
(4) Uses: Four-season Begonias have a long blooming period, a variety of colors, and rich variations, making them a beautiful plant with both flowers and leaves. They are suitable for outdoor cultivation in gardens and flower beds, as well as for decoration in indoor spaces like desks, coffee tables, workspaces, and store windows.
① Fertilization. During the growing seasons of spring and autumn, the principle of applying thin and frequent fertilization should be followed, mainly using decomposed organic fertilizers without odors or inorganic fertilizers soaked in water. More nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied during the seedling growth stage to promote branch and leaf growth; more phosphorus fertilizers should be applied during the flowering stage to encourage more flower buds, resulting in more and brighter flowers. If plants lack fertilizer, they may wither or even die.
② Watering. During the vigorous growing seasons of spring and autumn, the soil needs to contain more moisture, and watering should be timely to maintain moisture.
③ Summer and winter care. Due to temperature influences, growth is slow in summer and winter, and it is necessary to strengthen the management of fertilization and watering. In the hot summer season, measures should be taken to avoid direct sunlight and reduce temperature, creating a small environment below 30℃ for maintenance. The soil should be kept neither too wet (which can cause root rot) nor too dry (which can cause leaf wilt); slightly moist is sufficient. If excessive fertilization occurs during this period, it can lead to tender stems and leaves or rot diseases.
In winter, an ambient temperature of 10℃ or above is sufficient for safe overwintering. If the temperature can be controlled between 30℃ and 10℃ in summer and winter, with appropriate watering and fertilization, the plants will be strong and can bloom continuously throughout the year.
This article shares a detailed explanation of the propagation methods of Four-season Begonias, hoping it can provide help in green plant management!