Begonia is a plant that belongs to the Begoniyev family and adorns squares, parks and apartments. In the world there are about 900 full-fledged species of this plant. Homeland Begonias - Southeast Asia. Plant size can be from 5 cm to 3 m in length.
In this article, you will learn some of the secrets of caring for the beautiful flowering begonia at home.
Favorable conditions for growing home begonias
Begonias are unpretentious in care and are resistant to disease, but the question of how to grow begonia is very common. We need to remember three rules for the care of a plant: replanting, timely feeding and moderate watering. This will be discussed in the following sections.
Did you know? The plant was named after the governor of Haiti - M. Begon.
Lighting
In order for begonia to be pleased with abundant flowering, it is necessary to provide the plant with good lighting, best scattered. Take care that the leaves of begonia do not fall into direct sunlight - this causes burns on them. If you do not have the opportunity to grow begonia on the windowsill, you can use fitolampy. It is more efficient to use two fitolamps. 
Temperature
At room temperature, begonia feels great. If the temperature falls below 16 ° C or exceeds 28 ° C, the leaves and flowers wither and fall off.
Air humidity
Begonias need high humidity - about 60%. In winter, additional air humidification is required. This can be achieved by spraying. Dry and cool conditions are suitable for tuberous begonias. They do not need high humidity. Shrub species tolerant to dry air in winter, but spray them also does not hurt.
Features care for begonia during flowering
Many wonder how to feed the begonia for abundant flowering.
During flowering begonia needs to be fed at least once a week. To do this, use mineral fertilizers, but before that it is best to make a weak solution of potassium nitrate.
Important! If you want to extend flowering, then prune faded flowers as often as possible.
At the end of flowering begonias prepare the plant for the resting phase. To do this, reduce the amount of watering until the above-ground part dries. Faded leaves, stalks, shoots and pruned flowers. The temperature should be no higher than 12 ° C. The rest period lasts from November to March.
Correct pruning begonias
In this section, we will explain to you, how to cut the begonia properly after flowering so that your plant grows, looks young and healthy. With a stalk length of 6-8 cm, the first pruning is carried out. After this, the watering decreases briefly. When the lateral processes reach 10-12 cm, pinching is carried out. After that, remove the dry shoots and leaves. They can lead to various diseases.
Important! For the fastest healing, the cut sites are treated with charcoal.
Trimming is done with a sharp knife, as scissors can injure begonia. All these procedures are performed for several purposes. First of all, it is necessary for the formation of the crown of a young plant. Pinching improves flowering plants. Pruning supports the decorative look of the bush. Trimming and pinching should be done annually, because it also helps to rejuvenate begonia.
Important! If you do not cut the plant in a timely manner, the leaves of the begonia will decrease in size and the flowering time will be reduced.
Basics of proper transplant
Transplantation is an important process in the cultivation of begonia, and in this section we will learn when it is necessary to transplant begonia and how to do it.
The frequency of this operation depends on the type of begonia. Tuberous varieties should be replanted annually with the change of soil and pot as the roots grow.
Transplantation takes place in early spring. The plant is pulled out of the pot, and the roots are cleared from the old soil. Then the plant is placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. If necessary, you can trim the roots. Put some sand and stones on the bottom of the pot. The plant is filled with new soil, leaving a little space on top (2-3 cm). After a few weeks the ground is filled to the top. For a month, begonia needs plenty of watering.
Features care for begonia in the winter
In our climatic conditions, it is reasonable to ask how to organize the right care for begonia in winter.
In winter, begonia needs sunlight. To do this, put the plant pot on the windowsill under the sun for several hours. Watering at the same time should be moderate, but the soil should be constantly wet.
Important! Do not allow excessive watering of the plant, it will lead to rotting of the roots.In winter, the plant slows in growth and requires rest. At the same time feeding and transplanting should be transferred until spring.
Breeding begonias at home
Now it's time to talk about how to multiply begonia at home. You can propagate the plant with the help of leaf cuttings, stems and dividing the bush.
Leaf cuttings
This method is used in indoor floriculture. Cuttings are the parts of a plant that are used in vegetative propagation. This reproduction can be done using root, stem and leaf cuttings.
Breeding can be done in several ways: whole leaf with stem, whole leaf without stem, part of leaf blade.
Breeding a whole leaf with a stem is suitable for some types of begonias. The length of the stem depends on the environment of the rooting of the cutting. If you conduct rooting in water, the scape should be 3-4 cm long, if in the ground it is 1-1.5 cm.
Propagation by a whole leaf without a stem is suitable for the type of Rex begonia. To do this, on a piece of begonias make cuts of thick veins and lay on the ground horizontally with the bottom side. After that, the leaves are pinned, and in the places of the cut, after a while, new shoots are formed that can be grown.
Did you know? For decorative purposes, begonia began to be used in 1890.
Propagation of the part of the leaf blade is suitable for the royal begonia and mason begonia. The plant cut off part of the leaf at the base 4-5 cm wide. Planted vertically 1-1.5 cm in depth and install small props. At the same time the begonia leaf should not touch the ground.
In order to obtain a full-fledged process from a leaf cutting, it is necessary to maintain favorable conditions for rooting. The leaf should be plucked from a healthy plant. Old leaves are not suitable, as they are not capable of regeneration and quickly wither. Special requirements for the care of cuttings - humidity, lighting and temperature. As long as the cuttings do not have roots, they will not be able to absorb water, therefore it is necessary to reduce the evaporation process.
Lighting should be diffused, as the direct rays cause overheating and burns. The optimum temperature is 20-25 ° C.
A soilless substrate is used as the soil. For this, sand and peat are mixed in equal parts. Peat prevents the development of pathogenic fungi. Pure Vermiculite may also come up. It not only absorbs excess moisture, but also gives it to the plant as needed.
Did you know? The smell of begonia flowers helps to clear the bronchi and is also an excellent natural filter for people with nicotine addiction.
Many florists are wondering how to fertilize the begonia after reproduction. Our answer is that the plant should not be fertilized at all at first.
With this method of reproduction should not use chemicals, as they do not give the expected effect in the form of rapid rooting, and it can slow down the appearance of new shoots.
Stems
Propagation by stem cuttings is the easiest way. For this you can use green cuttings.
First prepare the cuttings - to do this, cut them with 3-5 leaves. This should be done during the period of active development and growth of the parent plant. This is held in May - early June. Cut the cuttings from the apical bud (it is also possible from the middle part with several leaves). Sections are sprinkled with crushed coal to prevent rotting. Cuttings are planted in the substrate of sand, leaf and peat land in equal parts. Watering is carried out moderately. The plant is kept warm and with ambient light. Stem cuttings root in a month.
Dividing bush
Reproduction in this way is used on those begonias that bush well and form additional roots.
Did you know? Michel Begon during his life did not see the begonia, which glorified him to the whole world.
The plant is removed from the pot and removed overgrown stems, flower stalks and large leaves. After that, the roots are washed off the ground. Then, with a sharp knife, the plant should be divided into two parts so that the roots are on each part of the plant. The cuts are powdered with crushed coal. Roots root and root the roots in separate pots. It is better to take low pots, as the roots of the plant are small. Also be sure to use drainage - large expanded clay.
When planting in any case, do not dig the root neck of the cutting.
After planting, spray the bush more often. For the first two days after planting it is better to set the pot in a shady place.
