Begonia flower - propagation at home

Begonia (from Latin Begonia) is a genus of plants traditionally used in ornamental gardening. There are hundreds of varieties of begonias, which are divided into leafy-decorative and flowering. Begonias are well-deserved among gardeners due to their external beauty and relative ease of care. Below in the article we will talk about the reproduction of this flower.

Flower description

Four groups of begonias are distinguished:

• decorative leafy - without an overground stem, with long leaves and ornate root;
• bush - with branched, dense stems and many side shoots;
• blooming - characterized by brilliant, bright leaves and a long flowering period. They are considered the easiest to grow and care;
• tuberous - have high (up to 70-80 cm) translucent stems and tuberous rhizome. Planting and caring for tuber seed begonia is also quite simple.

Begonia breeding

How to propagate begonia

A flower can be grown in many ways:

• rhizome division - used for tuberous begonias;
• stem cuttings (cuttings) - a relatively easy way;
• leaf fragments - usually used for plants without a stem;
• seeds - suitable for all species except flowering. This method is distinguished by the duration and complexity of the process.

This article will cover all four of these breeding methods.

Propagation in this way is suitable for tuberous varieties of begonias. To begin with, you need to pull the bush out of the pot, cut the elongated stems, leaves and peduncles. Next, you need to wash the roots in water.

After such preparation, using a sharp knife, cut the lobes of the rhizome so that each of them has at least one kidney. Then they are sprinkled with chopped charcoal and treated with a root stimulant, heteroauxin or rootin are suitable. Now they can be planted in pots, watered and grown.

Propagation of begonias by cuttings at home is quite possible and is suitable for absolutely any species with a stem. In the case of indoor plants, it is best to start planting in March, when grown in open ground, you can cuttings in June. The temperature should be no colder than 20-25 ° C.

Cuttings

First you need to cut the stalk with two or three leaves and a height of about 10 cm. The lower leaves can be cut completely, large cut in half. Then these sections must be dried. After the surface becomes completely dry, you can begin to root.

Now you can prepare a pot for growing begonias. It is necessary to mix sand and soil for begonias in identical volumes. The soil must have high moisture and air permeability, peat is well suited for this. It is also necessary to water the soil with water and wait until it is saturated with moisture.

Often gardeners have a question: how to root begonia - in the ground or in water. There is not much difference between these methods, you can use any.

For rooting in water, it is necessary to pour clean water into a transparent container and plant cuttings in it. The water level should be set so that the leaves are not immersed in it. It is important not to overload the tank with a large number of cuttings. Next, this container should be placed in a warm and bright place and observe the growth. Once the roots reach a length of 1-2 cm, they can be transplanted into the ground.

It is better to cover the received crops. A horizontally cut plastic bottle is suitable for this. After 1-2 months, you can begin to accustom the plant to fresh air, removing this stump of the bottle for a while, and then - permanently. Flowering can be enjoyed in three to four months.

This method is especially good for plants with a creeping stem or leafy leaves. For its use, usually one leaf is enough.

Leaf propagation

First you need to cut a large and healthy leaf with a sharp knife. Then it should be cut so that in each lobule one or two veins pass. Now you can place these layers on wet sand (you can vertically with the bottom cut in the soil) and cover with a plastic bag.

Next, you need to maintain high humidity in this area. For this, spray humidifiers are excellent.

When it is time to plant the grown plants in a permanent place, do not place them in heavily packed soil. Also, it should be well saturated with water.

The method of growing from seeds is the most universal way to obtain strong seedlings of begonia. It is suitable for any flowering begonias, but slower relative to other methods.

Seeds and soil can be bought at many flower shops. The procedure for growing begonias may vary depending on its type. Usually it consists in mixing the soil with sand, moistening it and evenly distributing the seeds in it. The container should be placed in a warm, bright and ventilated place, for which the window sill is well suited.

Seed cultivation

It usually takes about six months to grow begonias in this way.

Despite the relative unpretentiousness of begonias, their planting and cultivation require some accuracy and dexterity. Since these plants belong to the tropical culture, they need to create conditions close to their natural habitat.

Although begonia flower can reproduce in different ways, the basic principles of care remain the same. Regardless of how to propagate begonia and use it, care basically consists in regular moisturizing and applying various fertilizers.

At home, a begonia pot should be placed in the area of ​​a window facing west or east. Natural light is important for the plant, but too much exposure to the sun can cause burns. Therefore, shading in particularly bright light should also be considered. For this, roller blinds, a sun screen or a floral film are suitable.

Watering should be most active in the summer months, in winter and autumn, the need for water decreases. The water should be used purified, at room temperature, it must be poured carefully, avoiding overflow.

Begonia requires careful preparation of the soil. Incorrectly selected composition and illiterate watering have a detrimental effect on the plant. Quite often, such problems arise when transplanting plants, when gardeners forget about the specifics of certain plants and carry out the procedure illiterate.

Early spring is the best time for transplantation, at which the plant tolerates acclimatization better and recovers faster. When growing begonias, it is usually transplanted when the roots no longer fit in the pot. In no case should you transplant on dry soil or immediately after watering, it is best to do this after copious moisture.

Priming

Begonia needs light, nutritious and water and air permeable soil. Some gardeners prefer to cook it themselves, for this river sand with large grains, peat and leaf humus are mixed in a ratio of 1: 2: 2. But if there is no desire or ability to prepare the soil yourself, you can use ready-made soils suitable for begonias:

• "Respect Begonia";
• "Begonia Garden of Wonders";
• "Chamfer for Begonias";
• "Vermion for begonia."

Any soil, whether made on its own or bought, needs to be decontaminated. In a pot or container, this can be done by heat.

The most affordable way to disinfect is freezing the soil. To do this, it must be placed in fabric bags, placed in the cold or in the freezer and wait about five days. Then these bags must be returned to heat for about a week and repeat this freezing cycle.

Another simple method of disinfection is heat treatment. You should fill the soil in a container and fill it with a small portion of boiling water. Next, you need to gently, in tight gloves, mix the soil to evenly moisten it. Then it should be placed on a baking sheet with a thin layer of 3-4 cm, loaded into the oven and turned on. It is necessary to choose a temperature of 70-90 °, a higher one will damage the soil. Calcine the soil should be about half an hour.

Begonias are traditionally considered indoor plants, some of its varieties are grown in open ground. In this case, disinfection is much more complicated and almost always requires special tools.

For transplantation, it is necessary to carefully remove the begonia along with the ground and carefully release its roots. The root part of the plant must be kept for about half an hour in a weak manganese solution for disinfection. If there are rotten root sections, they should be cut with a sharp knife and sprinkled with charcoal.

Transfer

Then you can place the begonia in a new place, sprinkle the soil tightly and pour plenty of water. Over the next week after the initial watering, you should carefully monitor the condition of the soil and use spraying instead of regular watering.

This article examined how begonia multiplies and how to monitor it during the growth period. Despite the fact that begonia is considered relatively simple, from the point of view of the gardener, the genus of the plant, its cultivation requires accuracy, the correct choice of the method of reproduction and following its principles.