Tuberous begonia: home care, recommendations on what to feed, as well as a photo of the plant

Begonia is one of the most popular ornamental plants. Experts divide the species diversity of plants into three main groups: decorative leafy, tuberous and bushy.

Tuberous begonia has gained popularity among flower growers due to its excellent decorative characteristics and many hybrid forms. In order for culture to attract the eye with beauty and freshness, it is necessary to properly care for it. Read more about this in the article below. Watch a useful video on the topic.

About the plant

Tuber begonia is a perennial that is equally successfully grown in open ground and at home. The main feature of the plant is a thick rhizome in the form of a tuber up to 6 cm in size. The stems are thick, juicy, translucent. The leaves are large, core-shaped with a serrated edge. Color from light green to emerald. The surface is glossy or matte, pubescent with hairs.

ATTENTION: Tuberous begonia is characterized by long flowering. The buds appear in May and sequentially open until October.

The height of the bush is from 20 to 80 cm. The color and shape of the flowers is diverse, depending on the type, their diameter is 3-20 cm. Popular varieties due to terry look like peonies, roses, carnations.

Conditions of detention

Begonia is home to tropical latitudes. A thermophilic plant can be grown at home, following the recommendations on agricultural technology. Perennials need to provide heat and light. The optimal place for it will be the east or southeast window sill. Direct sunlight should not be allowed to enter, this leads to burns of leaves and buds. If the sun is too active, a protective screen is created from fabric or paper. A good option is to place the pot on a special stand.

For the harmonious development of begonia, a temperature of + 18-22 ° is required. They do not tolerate heat, the leaves begin to turn yellow, curl and dry. During dormancy, in autumn and winter, the plant is kept at a temperature of about 10 °.

Perennial comfortable in a humid climate. In hot weather or when heating appliances are running, air dryness increases. For a decorative bush, this is fraught with a loss of color brightness, dropping buds and leaves. Correct the situation will allow spraying water around the plant. But drops should not fall on leaves and petals.

An effective way to increase humidity is to put the pot in a container with wet moss or pebbles. So that moisture does not enter the soil through the drainage holes, the pot is placed on an inverted saucer.

Landing

For growing begonias, a tuber is used.. Before the start of the growing season (at the end of February or in March), it is planted in a container for germination. Peat is used as a substrate. This is a light soil with an optimal amount of nutrients, in which the tuber buds will quickly grow.

Several plants can be planted in one spacious container, the distance between them is 10 cm. Before planting, the peat is moistened, the tuber is buried 3/4, part remains on the surface. This will facilitate the germination of the kidneys.

IMPORTANT: A common mistake made by beginner gardeners is a poor fit. The tuber has two sides - round and concave. The rounded side should be placed in the ground, it is on it that the roots grow.

A container with germinating begonias is kept in a warm place with a temperature of 18-20 °. The substrate is kept moist. In favorable conditions, sprouts quickly appear. When their length reaches 5 cm, the plant is transplanted into a permanent pot.

Begonias like light, loose soil with low acidity. A practical choice for a novice is the special primer from the store. It contains all the necessary components, selected in optimal proportions. If desired, you can prepare the soil mixture yourself. Would need:

sheet earth;
peat;
humus;
perlite or sand.

All components are taken in equal proportions, a nutritious and light soil is obtained. There is no preference for the material of the pot; plastic or ceramic is suitable. But the size matters, the capacity should be 15-20 cm in diameter, the recommended distance from the tuber to the pot wall is 4-5 cm. The root system of the perennial is superficial, it does not need a deep capacity. The optimum height of the pot is 12-15 cm.

Tuberous begonia negatively reacts to waterlogging. The pot should have a drainage layer (up to 1/3 of the volume), providing an outflow of excess water. Expanded clay, expanded polystyrene chips, and small pebbles are used as drainage.

Read more about planting begonia in a pot and open ground and on further care for it, read here.

Watch a video about planting tuber begonia:

When to transplant?

Houseplant transplantation occurs in two cases:

the root system filled a cramped pot;
need a change of soil due to illness or plant bay.

A planned begonia transplant occurs in the spring, usually carried out in March. The tuber is removed from the ground and inspected. The signs of rot must be removed with a knife, and the damaged areas should be covered with activated carbon powder. The size of the pot should be 10 cm larger than the diameter of the tuber. The soil is used the same as when planting, a drainage layer is poured on the bottom.

TIP: Dip the begonia tuber for a few minutes in a weak potassium permanganate solution. The procedure serves to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

Watch the begonia transplant video:

How to care?

Begonias are not the most capricious flowers, but they also have their own preferences. Plants love fresh air, at the first opportunity they are taken out to a balcony or terrace. But drafts are not permissible.

A feature of tuberous begonias is the winter dormancy. It should last at least two to three months. The rest period falls on December-February. At this time, watering is stopped completely or reduced to a minimum. The stem of the plant is cut, and the pot is placed in a dark, cool place.

Watering

Watering rules are quite simple, their observance will ensure the health and full flowering of a houseplant:

Chlorine is harmful to flowers, use standing water.
Pour liquid at room temperature, the plant will fall ill from the cold.
Evenly distribute hydration.
Watering schedule - 2-3 times a week, is adjusted depending on the speed of drying of moisture.
Avoid moisture on leaves and flowers.

Overfilling is detrimental to the root system of tuber begonia; try to provide a moderate amount of water.

What to feed?

Begonias require a lot of nutrients for development and continuous flowering. It can be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. The first time this is done in May. During flowering, nitrogen that inhibits budding should be avoided. The best option is to use fertilizers for flowering plants once a month.

How to pinch the shoots?

Pinching and pruning the plants allows you to form the desired shape of the crown, to make the bush more magnificent. Opinions of experts on the need for pinching of tuberous begonias were divided. Many flower growers believe that hybrid varieties of perennials do not require additional measures for the formation of bushiness. But in some cases this measure is necessary. A pinch is performed before or after flowering. Fingers remove the top point of shoot growth by 1-2 cm.

Features of outdoor cultivation

Begonia tubers are planted in open ground not earlier than May. They are first germinated in pots. Before planting, organic matter is introduced into the soil - compost or humus. The plant is accustomed to the climatic conditions of the street gradually. Every day increase the time spent in the air. The landing site should be in partial shade and protected from the wind. The layout depends on the size of the bushes:

tall plant after 30 cm;
medium - after 20 cm;
undersized - after 15 cm.

Pour wood ash at the bottom of each pit under the tuber. This is a natural potash-phosphorus fertilizer for neutral soil.

Watering should be plentiful, 1 time in 2-3 days, it is better to carry it out in the morning. In the dry season, the frequency of moisture is increased. Outdoor care includes weeding and loosening the soil. Dry shoots and flowers are sure to be removed. In autumn, the plant begins to prepare for rest. Watering is reduced. In November, the aerial part is cut off, leaving a stump up to 3 cm.

After 2 weeks, the tubers are dug up, peeled and stacked to dry in a dry room. It is better to put them on sphagnum moss, which has bactericidal properties. Store tubers in a cool place (5-8 °). Inspect them periodically, discarding damaged specimens. From tight, overwintered tubers in spring, young begonias will grow. The plant has a lifespan of 2-3 years, but many varieties have at least 5 years.

Watch the video about the features of growing tuber begonia in the open ground:

Possible problems

Lack of proper care leads to a deterioration in the appearance of ornamental plants. What problems do flower growers most often encounter:

Leaves turn yellow - A common cause of soil depletion, the plant needs a change of substrate. There may not be enough moisture or lighting.
Brown spots on the leaves - arise due to sunburn. Use shading from direct sunlight.
Buds fall - the problem occurs when there is a lack of minerals, water, frequent flower movements.

Diseases and Pests

ATTENTION: Tuberous begonia is susceptible to fungal infections. Their appearance provokes excessive humidity of air and soil.

Among the common ailments:

Gray rot - the leaves become covered with spots, which gradually increase in diameter. A gray coating appears on the flowers. Fundazole solution is used for prevention and treatment.
Powdery mildew - white plaque spreads on the surface of leaves and young shoots. The fight against fungus is carried out by treatment with fungicides.

Pests of phytophages can kill the plant in a matter of days. Among the enemies of begonia: thrips, spider mites, aphids, nematodes. It is better to fight pests with the help of modern insecticides: Aktara, Karbofos, Intavir.

Subject to the recommendations for care, begonia will delight with lush green leaves and repeated flowering. Ampelic varieties will decorate balconies and terraces, bushes with large double flowers will create a unique design of a flower bed or rockery.