Begonias: care

How to care for begonias

If you are thinking of renovating your garden and giving it a more attractive touch, it is time to choose begonias. It is a genus of plants that has more than 1.000 species and more than 10.000 hybrid varieties. The vast majority of them are planted to achieve their colorful foliage and add value to your garden. These plants can live perfectly indoors, but also outside, if they are cared for correctly.

In this post you can learn how to take care of your begonias both indoors and outdoors so that they grow properly. Do you want to learn how to care for begonias?

Types of begonias

types of begonias

There are three main types of begonias. Perennials, tuberoses and semperflorens. The latter are the most common at the moment. Even if you have different types of begonias, they generally require the same care.

Begonias come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow, pink, salmon, red, and even white. With this variety of colors you can alternate to give great color to your garden. One of the most beautiful is the Begonia rex, of which we leave you a video below:

They usually grow with dense foliage with a height between 15 and 22 cm. If the conditions are right and they are well fed, these plants can grow much larger. The leaves are marked, large and asymmetrical. There are also smaller begonias that do not exceed a centimeter in width.

Requirements

potted begonia

Begonias are plants that need ideal conditions to grow well. They are generally very easy to grow, as they thrive in any type of light and even shade. Thanks to this, they can be perfect indoor plants. Preferably they prefer partial sun rather than direct sunlight, since it can damage them.

To grow properly They need a fertile, loose soil that is well drained. They also require a lot of attention. From time to time you will have to remove the dead leaves, stems and flowers. In addition, it is highly advisable to fertilize them at least once a month.

Main care

known begonia rex

Luz

If you want to have begonias in perfect condition, you should give them good care and pampering. This plant needs to enjoy the bright sunlight, so you must make sure to place it in a place where it has enough hours of sun. It does not have to be direct sun, but it can be in a window that is located to the east or to the south.

If you plant begonias for their foliage, they don't need direct sunlight. All you have to do is hit them through a translucent curtain that takes away some of the light. On the other hand, if you want to have begonias for their flowering, they will need a few hours of sun a day.

Temperature

Necessary care of begonias

Since begonias are plants very sensitive to changes in temperature, it is advisable to provide them with a more stable temperature. Therefore, it is more common to use these plants indoors than in gardens. When they are located in a garden it is more difficult to protect them from sudden changes in temperature. It is important to always keep them in a stream of air. So if you have it indoors, it is better to put them near a window. The ideal temperature is above about 18 degrees. If it is below, it is more difficult that they can prosper well.

Irrigation and location

begonias flowers

They should be watered at least once a week or every two weeks. Many people drown plants with overwatering. Begonias don't need a lot of water. It is only suitable to keep the substrate moist. If you put your finger in the ground and you don't notice any moisture, it's time to water the plant.

The best place to grow your begonias is in pots. They have the advantage of having a small root system and do not need frequent transplants. This gives them greater versatility when placing them in different places. However, if you look at the pot in spring and its roots have completely enveloped the bottom, it is better to move them to a larger pot.

Begonias planted for their flowering should be outdoors in the sunny hours in spring. As long as the temperature doesn't drop below 18 degrees, begonias really enjoy a shady porch. Remember that if you grow them outdoors, they need more watering. This is because they are exposed to greater evaporation due to the erosive action of the wind. Similarly, you just have to make sure by touching the substrate. If it is humerus it is fine, if it is not, it needs irrigation.

It is common to find begonias as indoor plants, since their care is less. They are also seen in house baskets and in flower beds. They are quite popular for their leaves and the very active flowers they have.

Plagues and diseases

pests and diseases of begonia

If you have planted begonias both indoors and outdoors, you should know that they are vulnerable to pests and diseases. If we compare it with other plants, it may not have so many problems, but still, it is better to know the effects. Problems related to pests and diseases can be solved with active surveillance. With being aware of the plant and acting as soon as an anomaly is observed, there is usually no problem.

The main needs for humidity and ventilation have to be covered at all times. If the plant has an excess of humidity and does not have good ventilation, it will be more prone to diseases and to be attacked by pests.

Among the main pests that we find are: snails, slugs, spider mites, vine weevil, scales and mealybugs. All of these pests require high humidity to survive. Therefore, if we maintain the ideal humidity and ventilation, it does not have to suffer.

On the other hand, among the most common diseases and pests we find stem rot, powdery mildew, pythium rot and botrytis blight.

Because begonias need temperatures above 18 degrees, it is almost impossible to keep them looking good in winter. During many winter nights, temperatures drop below zero degrees. In these situations, we must put the begonias inside and water them less frequently. If we see that the leaves turn yellow, we must stop watering.

With these indications you can keep and enjoy your begonias.


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