How to care for begonia盆景
Today, I will explain to netizens how to care for begonia盆景 and introduce the experience of green plant maintenance, including the cultivation methods of begonia盆景. Next, the editor of the website will introduce to the netizens.
Begonia has many varieties with rich and varied colors, making it a favorite material for盆景. Among the materials for盆jing, it is relatively easy to obtain begonia, a member of the Rosaceae family, especially for friends north of Qinhuai, where almost everyone has a pot of begonia.
In spring, as temperatures rise, begonias bloom one after another, with colorful flowers and butterflies following, creating a feeling of being in a secret garden, living in harmony with bees, butterflies, and begonias.
However, begonias often suffer from poor growth, rotting bark, falling leaves, and rust diseases. So, how should we care for begonia盆jing? What measures can solve these problems?
Poor growth in humus soil, Figure 1
1. Check if the potting soil meets the requirements of begonia's habits
The characteristics of begonia are drought-resistant, cold-resistant, not tolerant to waterlogging or shade, and prefers 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.
However, begonia, as a plant adapted to the temperate climate of the north, is a special product like cherry, grape, poplar, mountain elm, fragrant flower acacia, bitter catalpa,Chinese scholar tree, and other tree species, which are suitable for neutral soil in the north. If the potting soil is intentionally kept slightly acidic, it is not suitable for begonia.
Too acidic potting soil can make begonia's bark rough, causing rough bark disease and then dry rot disease; in the hot and humid summer weather, acidic humus soil can also lead to rust disease and cause leaf drop.
Insufficient ventilation and high humidity cause rust disease, Figure 2
Suggestion: When the rainy season arrives, we need to check if the potting soil is too acidic and if there is waterlogging (Rosaceae plants generally fear flooding).
Both situations can lead to root rot, rust disease, and spotted leaf drop. 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, and the rest of the potting soil can be replaced again in the following spring.
As for the decomposed leaf mold and pine needle soil, they have too high water retention and should not be used temporarily.
Good lighting and ventilation, Figure 3
2.海棠 needs a suitable care position in summer
Another characteristic of begonia is that it likes sunlight and ventilation. In the midsummer, if our begonia盆jing is still kept indoors with little light and no wind, its branches will be thin, internodes will lengthen, leaves will be papery, and new shoots will shrink.
This kind of care environment is not conducive to begonia growth and can also cause yellow leaves, especially for begonia that needs to be补充 branches and requires sunlight and ventilation.
Suggestion: If conditions permit, you can move it outdoors, where there is strong sunlight and good ventilation, allowing it to experience the natural winds and heavy rain.
Begonia is drought-resistant, cold-resistant, and heat-resistant. As long as the drainage is good, it can be placed outdoors without worry. If there are no outdoor care conditions, place it near the indoor window to receive sunlight and ventilation.
How to care for begonia盆jing
Chinese quince begonia powdery mildew, insufficient ventilation, Figure 4
3. Improper use of fertilizers and water causes leaf drop and yellowing
Generally speaking, as long as the potting soil has good drainage, even daily watering will not cause leaf drop, but high humidity can cause leaf spot disease, anthracnose, angular leaf spot, 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, which gradually turn into completely yellow leaves.
Single yellow leaves are not a big concern, but this situation reduces disease while increasing pest infestations and may even burn the roots.
Cultivation position with good lighting and ventilation, Figure 5
Suggestion: When it is too dry or the fertility is too high, it is necessary to water and leach the fertilizer as soon as possible. In summer, there is no need to apply thin fertilizer frequently like other herbaceous flowers.
Monthly application of decomposed organic fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is sufficient. There is no need to use other chemical fertilizers or foliar fertilizers, or you can spread decomposed cake fertilizer or cow 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 training of shaping branches
Many begonia盆jing are not yet 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 begonia's strong germination ability to strengthen pruning and shaping.
Summer pruning mainly includes the following contents: First, cut off the root suckers and remove ineffective buds. Second, the spring shoots and autumn shoots of begonia are particularly obvious. If the spring shoots are not controlled, the autumn shoots will grow longer, which is what we often call the overgrown branches.
These branches are in positions we don't need, but cannot be cut as sacrifice branches, and their lengths must be controlled by pinching.
This can play a role in supporting the growth of drooping branches and auxiliary branches, and as many buds as possible on the drooping and auxiliary branches should be retained and allowed to grow upward.
Third, all branches at the top position should be pinched to limit growth.
Fourth, if making a waterside or cliff-style盆jing, the growth requirements of large drooping branches and large falling branches must be maintained, that is, the growth of other branches' top and lateral branches should be restricted, and no treatment should be done to the drooping and falling branches.
If it is a dwarf begonia, all the branch buds should be retained. Don't want to thin the branches and remove buds just because the branches are dense. Still, use the branch buds to drive the thickening of the dwarf.
When to cut the dense branches? After a year of breeding, the dense branches have completed their mission around the beginning of winter, and they can be pruned and thinned at this time.