How to grow Winter Red海棠 well
Main text core guide: Tips on growing Winter Red海棠 and small experiences in plant cultivation, next, the editor will introduce to netizens.
There are many varieties of begonia with rich and variable colors, which are our favorite potted landscape materials. Among the materials for potted landscapes, it is relatively easy to obtain materials from the Rosaceae family, especially for friends north of Qinhuai River, where almost everyone has a pot of begonia.
In spring, as the temperature rises, begonias compete to bloom, with colorful flowers and butterflies following, as if in a world of peach blossoms, coexisting with bees, butterflies, and begonias, enjoying the serene life.
However, begonias often suffer from poor growth,烂皮, leaf dropping, and rust diseases. So, how to care for begonia potted landscapes? And what measures can solve these problems?
Humus soil with poor growth, Figure 1
1. Check if the potting soil meets the requirements of begonia's habits
The characteristics of begonias are drought-resistant, cold-resistant, not积水-resistant, not shade-tolerant, and fond of fertile water but not barren. Generally speaking, when preparing the soil, we mostly use peat soil, decomposed leaf mold mixed with decomposed organic fertilizer, and then add river sand, ceramsite, etc.
But begonias, as a special plant adapted to the temperate climate of the north, are similar to cherry, grape, poplar, mountain elm, fragrant flower acacia, bitter melon, Chinese toon, red catalpa, etc. They are suitable for neutral soil in the north. If the potting soil is intentionally kept acidic, it is not suitable for begonias.
Too acidic potting soil can make the bark of begonias rough, causing rough bark disease and then leading to dry rot disease; in the hot and humid summer weather, acidic humus soil can also cause rust disease, leading to leaf dropping.
Inadequate ventilation and high humidity cause rust disease, Figure 2
Suggestion: When the rainy season arrives, we need to check whether the potting soil is too acidic and whether there is waterlogging (Rosaceae plants are generally afraid of waterlogging).
Both situations can lead to root rot, rust disease, and spotted leaf blight. If there is waterlogging, we can use general sandy mountain soil, vegetable garden soil, alluvial soil, fine river sand, and bone meal to replace 1/4-1/5 of the potting soil capacity, and the rest of the potting soil can be replaced again in the spring of the following year.
As for the decomposed leaf mold and pine needle soil, they have too high water retention and can be temporarily not used.
Good lighting and ventilation, Figure 3
2.海棠 needs a suitable care position in summer
Another characteristic of begonias is their love for sunlight and ventilation. In the midst of summer, if our begonia potted landscape is still placed indoors with little light and no wind, its branches will become thin, internodes will lengthen, leaves will become papery, and new shoots and buds will shrink.
This kind of care environment is not conducive to the growth of begonias and can also cause yellow leaves, especially for begonias that need to be supplemented with branches.
Suggestion: If possible, move it outdoors to a place with strong sunlight and good ventilation, allowing it to experience the natural winds and heavy rains.
Begonias are drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and heat-resistant, and as long as the drainage is good, they can be placed outdoors without worry. If there are no outdoor care conditions, put it near the indoor window to receive sunlight and ventilation.
How to grow Winter Red海棠 well
Chinese quince begonia powdery mildew, insufficient ventilation, Figure 4
3. Improper use of fertilizer and water causes leaf dropping and yellowing
Generally speaking, as long as the potting soil has good drainage, even daily watering will not cause leaf dropping, but high humidity can cause leaf spot disease, anthracnose, angular leaf spot disease, and brown spot disease.
Brown spot disease and leaf spot disease start from old leaves, while angular leaf spot disease starts from young leaves. When it is too dry or the fertility is too high, the stipules will have irregular yellow spots, gradually turning into completely yellow leaves.
Single yellow leaves are not a big concern, but this situation can reduce diseases and increase pests, and there is also a possibility of root burning.
Cultivation position with good lighting and ventilation, Figure 5
Suggestion: When it is too dry or the fertility is too high, water and fertilize quickly. In summer, there is no need to apply thin fertilizer frequently like those herbaceous flowers.
Just apply some decomposed organic fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer monthly, and there is no need to use other chemical fertilizers or foliar fertilizers. Or you can spread decomposed cake fertilizer or cattle and sheep manure on the surface of the potting soil and let it渗透 through watering.
Humus soil without waterlogging, Figure 6
4. Using pinching and topping to strengthen the cultivation of shaping branches
Begonia potted landscapes often have not yet been shaped, and some need to be supplemented with branches during the growing season. Therefore, during the peak growing period, it is necessary to take advantage of begonias' strong germination ability to strengthen pruning and shaping.
Summer pruning mainly includes the following contents: one is to cut off the root suckers and remove ineffective buds.
Two, the spring shoots and autumn shoots of begonias are particularly obvious. If the spring shoots are not controlled, the autumn shoots will grow longer, which is what we often call the excessive growth branches.
These branches are in positions where we don't need them, but they can't be cut off as sacrifice branches, so they must be pinched to control their length.
This can play the role of supporting the branches and auxiliary branches, and the branches and buds on the branches and auxiliary branches should be preserved as much as possible and allowed to grow upwards.
Three, all branches at the top position should be pinched to restrict growth.
Four, if making a potted landscape with a waterside or cliff style, the growth requirements of large branches and falling branches must be maintained, that is, the top branches and lateral branches of other branches are restricted, and no treatment is done to the floating and falling branches.
If it is a dwarf begonia, all branches and buds should be preserved. Don't want to thin branches and remove buds just because of dense branches. It is still necessary to let branches and buds drive the dwarf thickening.
When to cut off the dense branches? After a year of breeding, those dense branches have completed their mission around the beginning of winter, and they can be pruned and combed at this time.