This type of Begonias are by far the most commonly found in nurseries and garden stores. They are hybrids that stand out for their beautiful and decorative flowers that appear throughout the spring and summer. But, How do you take care of begonia elatior? How to prevent them from rotting? We will talk about all this and much more below.
We are going to tell you in this article all the characteristics and care of the begonia elatior.
Key features
All the begonia elatior They are tuberous plants whose leaves are green, fleshy. Its flowers, undoubtedly the main interest of this beautiful plant, can be very different colors: yellow, pink, red, white ... Thus, you can buy several and create very special compositions, either in a corner of your garden, or in planters. Another option is to have it as a potted plant decorating a very bright room in the home, for example, as a centerpiece.
Within the genus of begonias there are numerous species zero unique characteristics such as the begonia elatior. Many have a wide variety of leaves and flowers. In this case we have a plant with a fleshy and hairy stem with a high ornamental value for both indoors and outdoors. Depending on the type of area where we are going to place it, it will need some care or others. This plant has quite complex care given that it is very sensitive.
It has a dense foliage that is composed of evergreen leaves and is rounded in shape. Their edges are slightly serrated and they have very little marked nerves. The leaves are of a medium dark green color and have the peculiarity that they are able to remain corrugated to a lesser extent. Its inflorescences are the strong point of this specimen. This means that it makes them stand out from the rest of the species that belong to the genus of begonias. They can also be presented in a wide range of colors that they are red, yellow, white, pink or orange.
These flowers appear at the end of the stem so they are terminal type flowers. They have petals with a stable length and those female plants last longer than the male ones. However, the colors in female plants can be seen to be somewhat paler. In male plants, the flowers appear on the sides of the stem and are more visible. They have two petals of one size and slightly smaller than the others. They usually last a little less but are more showy.
Caring for the begonia elatior
In cultivation we are facing a very delicate plant, which does not tolerate cold or waterlogging, and is also prone to all kinds of diseases caused by fungi, and the attack of trips, aphids and Mites. So before this panorama, What can we do to make our begonia elatior live many years?
The first thing to do is plant it in a very porous, acidic substrate (with a pH between 4 and 6). We can mix substrate for acidic plants with perlite to improve drainage and thus prevent 'puddles' from forming. Likewise, the irrigation water will also have to be acidic, so it is highly recommended to irrigate with rainwater, but if we cannot get it We will choose to acidify it with lemon or vinegar, for this we will add one or small tablespoons to 1l of water. We will water between 2 and 3 times a week in summer, and 1-2 / week the rest of the year.
During flowering we will fertilize it with a specific fertilizer for acid plants, following the manufacturer's recommendations. And since pests are likely to appear during those days, prevent your begonia elatior get sick by spraying it with Neem Oil, or make your own home remedy.
Propagation of the begonia elatior
We know that within the genus there are plants with different characteristics. However, all of them share the same way of spreading. There are various methods to spread the begonia elatior being a quite beneficial factor for the plant. Thanks to this type of propagation, we can obtain numerous specimens with very beautiful flowers. We can use the propagated plants for decoration or as a gift to our loved ones.
We are going to analyze which are the main methods of propagation of this plant:
- Tubers: we can propagate this plant by means of tubers. It is considered as one of the easiest and recommended methods for propagation. This is because the procedure is quite simple. We just have to choose a pot that has a good size and has holes to expel the excess water. We have already seen that this plant does not tolerate waterlogging or accumulation of water. After that, we sow the tuber and leave it 3 centimeters under the ground. Finally, you just have to add some water, some fertilizer and let some time pass to see how the plant begins to develop.
- Seeds: A classic if ever there was. We can use the seeds for sowing. We just have to combine the seed with plant sand and add the mixture in a tray containing slightly moistened substrate. We must not cover the seeds completely. After placing it, we will water at least 2 times a week and move it from time to time to places where it does not have them directly. This sentence if we want the development to be given correctly.
- Cuttings: This is one of the quickest methods, but it is not as effective. It consists of taking a large leaf in good condition when the plant is already adult. We cut the excess stem that is on the leaf. Then we will lightly cut the main nerves of the leaf. We remember that these media do not look quite good so you have to be quite precise. Then we plant the leaf in a moist substrate on a tray. When the small leaves have grown, the plant is transplanted.
How can you see the begonia elatior it is quite an interesting plant from an ornamental point of view and it is easy to propagate. I hope that with this information you can learn more about the begonia elatior and its main characteristics.