Begonias, with their colorful colors, exquisite and changeable leaf shapes and relatively easy maintenance characteristics, have become a star plant that embellishes homes, balconies and gardens. From the delicate and charming Begonia to the frog leaf Begonia with colorful leaves, its rich varieties can meet different aesthetic needs. Master scientific begonia maintenance methods, begonia breeding methods and matters needing attention.
1. Overview of Begonia Plants Introduction to Begonia
Plant
Characteristics: Begonia belongs to a perennial herb in the Begonia family (often cultivated for one or two years). The plant height and shape vary greatly, some stand upright and some have stolons. The greatest charm lies in its flowers and leaves: flowers are single or double, with colors ranging from red, pink, white, yellow, orange and compound colors; the leaf shapes are heart-shaped, palm-shaped, star-shaped, etc. The leaves of some varieties have metallic luster, gorgeous stripes or fluff, which is of great ornamental value.
Common varieties:
Flower-viewing types: Four-season begonia (the most common, with long flowering period), bulbous begonia (large and gorgeous flowers), Rieger begonia (double petals, flowers shaped like roses).
Leaf viewing types: frog leaf begonia (the leaves are huge and colorful like toad skin), iron cross begonia (the leaves are dark green with purple red cross markings), trout begonia (the leaves are covered with silver wavy dots).
Growth environment: Native to tropical and subtropical forests, preferring warm, humid, semi-shady and ventilated environments. Avoid direct light, dry heat and cold frost.
2. Prepare to
select the appropriate
soil type before breeding begonia: it is required to be loose and breathable, well drained, and rich in humus. High-quality universal nutrient soil can be used, or self-prepared in the following proportions: peat soil/coconut bran: perlite/vermiculite: humus soil/compost =4:3:3. Avoid using garden soil that is easy to harden.
pH requirements: Preference for slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5 - 6.5).
Choose flower pots or container
materials: pottery pots (good breathability, but easy to dry), plastic pots (light to retain water), and glaze pots (beautiful but slightly less breathability). Choose wide-mouth shallow pots for leaf viewing varieties, and choose pots with moderate depth for flower viewing or larger varieties.
Drainage design: There must be drainage holes at the bottom! Before placing the pot, place a layer of ceramite, broken tiles or coarse grain matrix (about 1/5 of the pot height) on the bottom of the pot to ensure that excess water can be drained quickly and prevent root rot.
Light conditions
Light requirements: The vast majority of begonias require bright *tered light. The most ideal location is the east-facing, north-facing balcony or window sill, or the south-facing window side covered by gauze curtains.
Avoid direct sunlight: Strong direct sunlight (especially at noon in summer) can easily burn leaves (scorched spots, curling) and flowers (wilting and fading). Leaf viewing varieties are generally more tolerant to shade than flower viewing varieties.
3. Begonia planting steps Season
with suitable planting time
: The best planting/pot change time is spring (March-May) or early autumn (September-October), when the temperature is suitable and the plant resumes and grows quickly.
Temperature requirements: The ambient temperature during operation should be between 15-25℃. Avoid doing it during hot and cold weather or during the peak flowering period.
Sowing and cultivation methods
Seed sowing method: suitable for reproducing a large number of plants (especially four-season begonia). The seeds are extremely small. Sow seeds evenly on the surface of moist seedling soil (not covered with soil), cover them with a transparent cover or plastic wrap to moisturize, and place them in a warm (20-25℃) place with bright *tered light. Keep the medium moist (use dip basin method or spray). Germination takes 1-3 weeks, and the seedlings are extremely fragile and need careful care.
Cutting method (most commonly used): Select strong top shoots or stem sections (about 5-10cm) with buds and remove the lower leaves. Dip in rooting powder, insert it into moist perlite, vermiculite or sand, and maintain high humidity (you can bag it or cover it in a transparent cup) and a warm *tered light environment. Take root for about 2-4 weeks. After taking root, transplant it into a small pot.
Watering management
Watering frequency: "See wet when it is dry" is the core principle. Insert your finger or bamboo stick 2-3 centimeters under the soil surface, and water when it feels slightly dry. The frequency is greatly affected by the season (summer> spring and autumn> winter), the environment (fast ventilation and drying> stuffy humidity), and basin soil (pottery basin> plastic basin), and there is no fixed number of days.
Watering method: Pour thoroughly until water flows out of the bottom of the basin. Avoid pouring only half of the water. It is best to use a long-spout pot to slowly water along the edge of the basin to avoid water accumulating in the leaf center or washing the roots. Avoid long-term water accumulation in the basin!
4. Daily maintenance
, fertilization management
, fertilization types:
growth period (spring, summer, autumn): mainly balanced water-soluble fertilizers (such as N-P-K20 -20-20) or high-nitrogen and potassium fertilizers to promote the growth of branches and leaves and flowering (phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be added before flowering for flowering varieties).
Leaf viewing varieties: You can occasionally use leaf viewing fertilizers with slightly higher nitrogen content to make the leaf color brighter.
Fertilization frequency and method: Thin fertilizer can be applied every 7-14 days during the peak growth season (the concentration is halved according to the instructions). Make sure the soil is slightly moist before applying fertilizer, and avoid applying fertilizer in dry soil or in the scorching sun to prevent root burning. Stop fertilization during high/low temperature dormancy in winter and summer.
Application of biopharmaceutical scientific conservation
biological preparations: In order to improve plant resistance and soil health, Dilisu (compound oligosaccharides) can be used regularly (such as once a month) to activate beneficial microbial flora in the soil:
Benefits of biologics:
Inhibition of pathogens: Beneficial flora form protective barriers in the rhizosphere and foliar surfaces, competitively inhibiting the occurrence of fungi and bacterial diseases (such as gray mold, powdery mildew, and root rot).
Enhance stress resistance: Stimulate plants to produce defensive substances and improve resistance to adverse environments (drought, high temperature, low temperature) and pests and diseases.
Promote growth and absorption: secrete growth hormones and enzymes, promote root development, help decompose soil nutrients, and improve fertilizer utilization.
Improve soil: Improve the soil aggregate structure, increase air permeability and water retention, and relieve hardening.
Safe and environmentally friendly: It is friendly to humans, animals, and the environment, has no risk of chemical residues, and is especially suitable for indoor use in the home.
Leaf care and
cleaning methods: Gently wipe the leaves (especially large-leaf varieties) regularly with a soft and moist soft cloth or sponge to remove dust and facilitate photosynthesis and breathing. Avoid spraying large amounts of water on the leaves, especially for fluffy varieties (prone to standing water and rot) and poor ventilation (prone to inducing leaf spot disease).
Remove dry leaves: Use clean scissors to cut off yellow leaves, dead leaves, and sick leaves at the base of the plant or on branches in time to reduce nutrient consumption and breeding sites for pests and diseases, and keep the plant type beautiful and tidy.
Identification
of common pests and diseases to prevent pests and diseases:
Diseases: powdery mildew (foliar powdery white powder layer), gray mold (water-stained spots, metaplastic mold), root/stem rot (black base rot).
Insects: Aphids (gather buds and flower buds to absorb juice), red spiders (the back of the leaves absorb juice, and the leaves lose green and have spider webs), whiteflies (white moths, which lay eggs on the back of the leaves), thrips (causing silver white spots or deformity on the leaves).
Prevention and treatment measures:
Prevention is the main focus: ventilation of the environment, suitable lighting, avoiding excessive humidity, timely cleaning of sick leaves, and isolation and observation of newly purchased plants.
Physical control: Aphids and whiteflies can be washed with water or adhered to insect boards; red spiders can increase air humidity and wash leaf backs.
Biological control: Release predatory mites (against red spiders), ladybugs (against aphids).
Pharmaceutical control (caution): Choose mancozeb, thiophanate-methyl, azoxystrobin, etc. for diseases; select imidacloprid (aphids, whitefly), bifenazate/efenazole (red spider), thiamethoxam (thrips). Priority should be given to low-toxicity, plant-derived or biopesticides (such as azadirachtin and matrine), use them strictly according to the instructions, and pay attention to the protection and safety interval. Pay attention to ventilation after taking medicine indoors.
5. The environmental control temperature requirements for Begonia
require
the most suitable growth temperature: 18 - 24℃. It grows vigorously and blooms luxuriantly within this range.
Winter protection measures: extremely cold resistant! The overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10℃ (some cold-resistant varieties can temporarily tolerate 5℃, but the risk is high). Below 10℃, it is susceptible to freezing damage (leaves become transparent, blackened, and wilting). In winter, move into a warm and sunny place indoors and stay away from cold air vents (doors and windows). Avoid excessive drying around the radiator.
Humidity management
Humidity requirements: Higher air humidity (>50%) is preferred, especially for leaf-viewing varieties and tropical species. Dry environment can easily cause leaf tips to dry out, curl, and bud falling.
Humidifying method:
Tray moistening method: Lower the flowerpot on the tray, lay pebbles or ceramsite inside, add water until the pebbles do not pass, and the bottom of the basin does not touch the water surface.
Group planting: Put plants together and use transpiration to moisturize each other.
Use a humidifier.
Spray cautiously: Spray in the surrounding air (not directly spraying leaves), only occasionally when ventilation is excellent and non-fluffy varieties.
Ventilation conditions
The importance of ventilation: crucial! Good air circulation:
Effectively reduce the water accumulation time on leaves and prevent fungal diseases.
Helps plant respiration and transpiration.
Reduce poor growth caused by sultry environments.
Dispel some pests.
Ventilation management skills: Open windows frequently (avoid direct cold wind blowing), especially after watering. A small fan can be used to gently circulate air indoors. Plant placement should not be overcrowded.
6. Begonia reproduction technology
Breeding method
Seed reproduction: The operation is more precise (see Part 3) and is suitable for large-scale breeding of specific varieties (such as Four Seasons Begonia).
Plant propagation (the easiest): suitable for varieties with strong clusters (such as some root-type begonia such as Begonia frog leaf). When changing pots in spring, carefully separate the mother plant and its root system into several clusters and place them in separate pots.
Cutting method (most commonly used): See Part 3. In addition to stem cutting, some varieties (such as Begonia falsa) can also be leaf cutting with strong leaves (laid flat or cut into slices and inserted in the medium).
Post-breeding care and
early post-breeding maintenance: No matter which method, new ramets or rooting cuttings should be placed in warm (20-25℃), high humidity (can be bagged to moisturize), bright light *tering and well-ventilated environment. Maintain micro-tide in the medium but do not accumulate water. Avoid strong light and fertilization.
Methods to adapt to the environment: When the new plant obviously starts to grow (such as growing new leaves), the moisturizing cover can be gradually removed (about 1-2 weeks), increased ventilation, and moved to a normal maintenance position. After adapting, start applying extremely thin fertilizer.
7. Common problems and solutions
Causes of poor growth
: Insufficient light: Performance: slender stems (elongated internodes), pale leaf color, few or no flowering. Solution: Move to a brighter place (avoid direct exposure).
Excessive watering: Performance: yellowing of leaves, wilting (especially the lower leaves), soft and black at the base of the stem (rotten roots), and the overall listlessness of the plant. Solution: Stop watering immediately and check the roots. If the rotten roots are serious, the rotten parts need to be pruned, replaced with new soil and re-potted (or rescue cuttage). Strictly control the watering frequency.
Other common reasons: too dry air (scorched leaf tips), insufficient fertilizer (slow growth, dull leaf color), excessive fertilizer (scorched leaf tips, salt accumulation), disease and insect pests.
Pest and pest management
cases: A large number of red dots (red spiders) were found on the back of the leaves, and yellow-white dots were found on the front of the leaves.
Prevention and treatment experience: Isolate the sick strain immediately. Rinse the back of the blade repeatedly with moderate pressure water flow (focus). Environmental humidification. In severe cases, you can spray biphenhydrazate, ethifenazole or biopesticides (such as matrine and mineral oil). Be sure to spray it on the back of the leaves, once every 7-10 days, and use it for 2-3 times. Strengthen ventilation.
Recommended effective agents (again emphasizing priority organisms/low-toxicity):
Diseases: Mancozeb (broad-spectrum protection), azoxystrobin (broad-spectrum systemic absorption), thiophanate-methyl (white powder, gray mold).
Pests: imidacloprid/acetamiprid (aphids, whiteflies), bifenazate/etafenazole (red spider), thiamethoxam (thrips, whiteflies), dinotefuran (broad spectrum). Biopesticides: azadirachtin, matrine, pyrethrins, mineral oil, Bacillus thuringiensis (lepidoptera larvae). Hormone-free pesticide biological preparation: Dilisu (compound oligosaccharide).
8. Summary: Enjoy the fun of cultivating
Begonia breeding is a journey that dances with elegant life. It does not require harsh conditions like a greenhouse. You only need to provide bright *tered light, a warm and humid environment, breathable and drained soil, and just the right amount of water and fertilizer care. Master the true meaning of watering "seeing the dry, seeing the wet", make good use of safe biological agents to enhance their physique, and maintain a ventilated and clean environment. The begonias on your windowsill will definitely give back to you with beautiful flowers or colorful leaves.
Don't be intimidated by those little challenges. The occasional yellow spots and brief wilting of the leaves are all telling you your needs. Every successful restoration and every new leaf stretch is an unparalleled sense of accomplishment. Now, choose a pot of begonia that you like and start your home gardening journey! Let this spirit from the tropical forest add a touch of vitality and poetry to your room that will never fade.
Concluding words
Begonias are not only a masterpiece of nature, but also the emotional link between people and plants. Its diverse forms tell the resilience of life, and its continuous bloom conveys ordinary joy. To love it, start by understanding it and caring for it yourself. May everyone who loves life be able to reap a peaceful greenery and blooming surprises accompanied by begonia. Take action and let this elegant beauty take root and sprout at your fingertips!