Due to the variety of varietal color of flowers, evergreen begonia is widely used in landscape design. It is landscaped with flower beds, make up compositions in containers. At home, it is also popular because of its lush and prolonged flowering and unpretentiousness in care. It is grown on windows and balconies. The flower got its name because of the "eternal" flowering, which practically does not stop.
This plant reaches 30 cm in length. A smooth bare stalk includes 11 to 13 internodes (segments). On the first 4 - 5 of them leaves grow, on the remaining 7 - 8 flowers develop. Fine-toothed leaves, with petioles, asymmetric. The color of the petals can be from white to bright red. There is a simple or terry form of the corolla.
Different varieties of evergreen begonias
Evergreen begonia belongs to the genus Begonia, and it is divided into two groups.
Semperflorence
It is characterized by large glossy green or brown foliage with strong stems (up to 35 - 40 cm in length) and fairly large (up to 5 cm in diameter), but less numerous flowers than gracilis.
Representatives of this group:
- Lotto - green, corolla size reaches 5 cm;
- Parties are characterized by a diverse combination of tones of leaves and flowers; flowers up to 4 cm in diameter;
- Inferno grows to 50 cm; pink and white flowers;
- Begonia Lucenec is an undersized early variety, it has white flowers that turn pink to the edges of the petals.
Gracilis
It differs in green or purple leaves with a slight pubescence, fragile shoots. There are many flowers, small in size. Plants 15 - 20 cm.
Representatives:
- Cocktail;
- Olympia - early flowering varieties with dark leaves;
- Erphody hit;
- Bella Vista - with green shoots;
- Duro - drought tolerant, very bushy, large flowers.
Evergreen begonia is propagated by seeds, many prefer to cut it.
Seed propagation
A good time for sowing is the last days of December to the beginning of March. Seeds are sown on the surface of the soil without deepening them. Then the container is sprayed from the spray gun and covered with glass or transparent polyethylene. Capacities are put in a bright place, not forgetting to shade in the strong sun.
The temperature during germination is maintained at 20 - 22 ° C. During germination, the containers should be aired every day for about an hour. This will help to avoid moldiness and the appearance of a "black leg". So that the fungus does not appear, before planting the seeds, the earth is shed with a 0.1% solution of baseazole or 0.1% potassium permanganate.
When the seeds sprout, it is necessary to lower the temperature to 17 ° C. With three real leaves, the seedlings dive.
Attention! When the temperature decreases, watering is reduced, otherwise there will be waterlogging of the soil.
Shoots of begonia ever flowering
Propagation by cuttings
To propagate begonia by cuttings, cut in early spring from healthy plants. For this, apical shoots with several internodes are selected. Leaves are removed from the bottom of the cuttings. Cut off tops are placed in water or peat soil.
For better rooting, slices can be treated with a rooting agent. It can be bought in specialized stores and used according to the instructions. Cuttings are a good way to quickly get a few plants.
Evergreen begonias quite easily take root after planting. Particular attention is paid to leaves because they are brittle. The capacity for landing should be 3-4 cm in diameter larger than the previous one.
Additional Information! If the new pot is too big, then the plant will grow poorly and bloom. And only after the root system fills the tank to the optimal size, the begonia will begin to grow again. And also, in this case there is a chance to overflow the flower. Then he will perish.
It is better to transplant into ceramic pots. Ceramics are in contact with the environment and allow moisture and air to pass through. It also has good thermal insulation. It is especially needed with a cold window sill in winter and the sun on the southern window in the summer.
A transplant into another pot is required when roots emerge from the drainage holes. Most often, landing is carried out by transshipment:
- Prepare a new pot.
- Pour drainage to the bottom.
- Put a small layer of soil on the drain
- Remove the plant from the old tank and shake off the old earth a little. Carefully spread the roots, trying not to disturb the common root ball.
- Place in a new pot and cover with fresh soil, slightly compacting the soil.
- Well shed, spray the plant. You can cover with a plastic bag at night.
Note! A minimum of 1 cm is left between the surface of the soil and the edge of the pot for easy watering.
Planting evergreen begonia in a container
If the land is old, it needs to be replaced completely. To do this, remove the root ball from the pot and place it in a basin of water at room temperature. After a while, you can carefully spread the roots, washing the soil between them. Sick and damaged roots should be removed. When planting in a pot, the plant is held at the height in which it will be. The gaps are covered with earth, slightly thickening, and watered.
Planting and care of evergreen begonias do not require much trouble, but for proper development and lush flowering, the following conditions must be observed:
- This home flower does not like too bright lighting, so it is better to put it on the east or west window. Begonia is shaded in the sun on the southern window. If the flower is deep in the room, then additional illumination is recommended.
- The soil needs nutrient, loose, rich, neutral or slightly acidic. Composition of the soil: turf land (2 parts), sheet land, peat and sand (1 part each). In specialized stores you can buy ready-made soil "Begonia".
- Watering is moderate, but care must be taken so that the soil does not dry out completely. If the house is warm and dry, you can spray it in the morning or in the evening.
- The temperature in the winter is 18 - 20 ° С, in the summer - about 25 ° С. When home conditions in winter do not allow lowering the temperature to the desired one, then they provide additional lighting.
If the evergreen begonia is brought home from the street in autumn, then long shoots must be cut. In spring, it will bloom. In winter, fed monthly with mineral fertilizers. In summer, complex feeding is used for flowering plants once every two weeks.
Additional Information! Plants are watered with liquid fertilizers only on moist soil.
Evergreen begonia is often used in street gardening - on flower beds and in containers. In warm places it is evergreen begonia - perennial. In a temperate climate, its cultivation takes place as an annual.
Seedlings are recommended to be planted on the street after all the frosts. In May, you can pull containers with seedlings into the greenhouse. In the afternoon, in warm weather, plants open slightly for hardening.
Begonia ever flowering in the flower garden
7-10 days before transplanting into open ground, begonia is fertilized with potassium phosphate 5 g per bucket of water. After planting, it can be treated with epin or zircon.
Plants on the street must be weeded, loosened or mulched, watered and fed. For mulch use compost leaf, humus or peat. They feed with complex fertilizers.
In the fall, healthy, strong begonias are transplanted into pots and taken home from the garden. When the plants adapt indoors, they will start blooming again.
Evergreen begonia grows well both in the room and in the garden. It is easy to grow for beginners and interesting to collect in a collection of experienced gardeners.
