Tuberous begonia flower in the garden and at home

Tuber begonia is a perennial that has been successfully grown both outdoors and at home. Thanks to flowering, this is one of the most beautiful "inhabitants" of flower beds and window sills. It has one feature: plants that are not able to winter in open ground in the Russian climate annually germinate from tubers.

Description of tuber begonia: known varieties and their characteristics

Tuberous begonia was developed by breeders on the basis of 8-9 begonias distributed in various parts of the world. Breeding work is still ongoing, starting from the XIX century. To date, over 200 varieties have been created.

Perennial on the windowsill

There are grassy, ​​ampelous, shrubby varieties. Everyone has a developed root in the form of a massive tuber. Its diameter reaches 6-7 cm.

The stems of some begonias are up to 80 cm tall, strong, developed green color. Leaves are fixed on them, the sizes and appearance of which differ depending on the variety. Flowering is plentiful, long.

Flowers also impress with a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Outwardly, they are similar to the flowers of carnations, peonies, daffodils. In diameter, they vary from 3 to 20 cm. In ampelous species, flowers can be collected in inflorescences and divided into male and female. Flowering begins in May and can last until October.

Flowering varieties Scarlet

Thanks to modern selection, unique subspecies are created with an interesting color of the petals, which have increased resistance to adverse environmental conditions. The most common varieties of tuberous begonias include:

• Scarlet is a large-flowered terry variety. Red petals. He feels comfortable both in lighted areas and in partial shade. With a sufficient amount of light, it blooms profusely and for a long time;
• Olivia. It has a delicate aroma reminiscent of the smell of a rose. The diameter of the opened flowers reaches 18 cm. Petals are gently apricot, terry. The closer the petals are located to the center of the flower, the smaller their size;
• Chanson. Several subspecies with different colors were derived: red, yellow, orange, white. Flowers are collected in clusters, blooming in large numbers, they are up to 6 cm in diameter. Shoots grow up to 40 cm in height;

Grade Party Dress

• Matilda. The highlight of the variety is pale white terry petals with a pinkish fringing, and the edge becomes brighter as the begonia grows. The flowers are large, up to 15-18 cm. Blossom until the end of September;
• Party Dress is a bright decoration of window sills and flower beds with orange petals bordered by a red stripe. Their fringed edges look like ruffles. The flowers are large, double, although they appear on compact bushes, barely reaching 30 cm in height.

How to ensure proper home care

It is not difficult to grow a perennial flowering begonia at home. The plant is capricious.

Soil selection and top dressing

The flower is unpretentious to the type of soil. You can plant it in the finished universal primer. With independent preparation of the soil mixture, sheet, soddy earth, sand are mixed in a ratio of 4: 1: 1. It turns out slightly acidic soil, ideal for plants.

Top dressing is introduced 1-2 times before flowering, enriching the soil with nitrogen fertilizers.

After buds and flowers appear, universal compositions for flowering plants are added twice a month.

How to plant in a pot

When growing begonia plants, planting is planned between January and May. First, take light soil, for example, peat.

Landing technology:

1. The soil is moistened.
2. Tubers deepen to the middle or a little more.
3. Planting capacity is placed in a room with a temperature of 15 ° C to 20 ° C.
4. Constantly maintain a slightly moist soil condition.
5. After the appearance of sprouts, the amount of moisture is increased.
6. When the height of the sprouts reaches 5 cm, they are planted in separate pots.

Begonia tubers

Rules for watering and maintaining humidity

To determine the regularity of watering begonias, check how dry the soil is after the previous watering. If the dry 1.5 cm in depth, it is time to irrigate with standing warm water. It is abundant, especially if the room is hot.

Tuberous begonias like high humidity, but spraying the leaves is not recommended. Experienced flower growers look after the flower like this: moisturize the air around it.

Temperature and lighting

The optimum temperature for growing at home is from 18 ° C to 23 ° C.

For begonias, they select well-lit places where direct rays or partial shade do not fall. During the flowering period, the pot should never be rearranged or rotated. This can cause buds and flowers to drop.

How and under what conditions blooms

Experienced flower growers are convinced in practice that independent flowering of begonia occurs after at least five rings are formed on the main stem. If a young plant is purchased in a store, and buds and inflorescences are already present on it, this means that special stimulants contribute to flowering. It does not last long, and the next time it is observed after reaching a certain age.

The following conditions are necessary for flowering:

• enough light. The best arrangement of flowerpots with begonia at home is on the southeast or southwest windowsill;
• high humidity. To maintain it at the right level, a container of water is placed near the pot on the windowsill;
• proper watering. When the soil dries or waterlogging begonia loses flowers and dies;
• compliance with the temperature regime. If the house is too hot or cold, then due to temperature changes the flower will endure stress, after which flowering will not occur.

Window sill placement

Home breeding guidelines

Tuberous begonia is propagated by cuttings and leaf methods. It is also grown from seeds.

Cuttings or leaf

Strong stemmed annual begonias are propagated by cuttings. For this, stems are rooted. How to do it right:

1. Select and cut sections 10 cm long with active kidneys. Leave 2-3 sheets.
2. The cutlery is placed in water.
3. Soon the plant takes root. From this moment it can be planted in the ground.

For leaf breeding, both whole and their parts are suitable. The leaf must be dug in moist soil with a slice down.

Seed propagation

The seed method combines the advantages and disadvantages. An undoubted advantage is the ability to immediately receive a large number of seedlings. At the same time, seed propagation is more laborious in comparison with cuttings.

To begonias bloomed by the beginning of summer, the seeds are sown in December-January. Stages of planting and growing begonias:

1. The soil is disinfected. A drainage layer is made at the bottom of the landing tank, soil is poured on top.
2. The soil is watered, the seeds are laid out at a distance of 2 cm from each other, slightly pressed into the ground.
3. The container is covered with a film, put in a bright warm place.
4. From time to time open for ventilation.
5. Sprouts appear after 10-12 days. After the appearance of the second true leaf, seedlings begin to open for adaptation. The first time aired for 30 minutes, every day the time is increased by 30 minutes. A week later, the film is removed.
6. After another 14 days, the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots. It is believed that they are more resistant to disease than relatives grown from processes.

Features of the content in the open ground

Planting and caring for the tuberous begonia in the garden after freezing stops is extremely important. Frosts can kill plants. If unexpected cooling occurs, the flowers are sheltered or temporarily transferred to the room.

Outdoor onion begonia

For planting fragile plants, they select illuminated areas protected from strong winds. Near adult bushes establish supports so that their stems do not break.

Tuberous begonias need top dressing. They respond well to water infusions of mullein, ash and boron with magnesium.

In spring, flowering in young plants occurs later than in adults. Begonias with strong tubers can give the first buds two months after the shoots appear.

How to save and ensure wintering

In winter, from November to February, begonias are at rest: they drop leaves, shoots die off. To keep the tubers until awakening, they resort to several methods:

• they are dug out of the pot, cleaned and stored in a cool, dry place. In January-February, they land again;
• more often resort to another method. The tuber is left in a pot, also placed in a dry, cool room. Watering is kept minimal: perform it twice during the winter.

Bulbous begonias are very attractive plants in terms of floriculture. Their bright flowers look great on window sills and flower beds. Once acquainted with a flower, plant lovers often leave them forever.