How to grow begonias from seeds at home?

Begonia has long won the hearts of gardeners in our country. It is easy to grow and has an amazing variety of species. There are several ways to grow this plant. Begonia from seeds at home is the dream of many fans of this flower. In this article, we will go into detail about this growing method.

Boarding time

To enjoy the blooming of begonia during the summer season, you should use the seedling planting method. The seeds are sown in the soil of the house and wait for the sprouts to appear. Sowing begins early in late January and continues until April. The exact time is determined depending on the characteristics of the plant development cycle. If you want to achieve early flowering, start planting in winter. In this case, by the time of planting in the ground, the flowers have a well-developed root system and they will be able to adapt to new conditions.

It should be remembered about the specifics of individual varieties. So, early sowing of ever-flowering begonia will lead to the fact that by the time of transplantation into open ground, the seedlings will be overgrown. It is more difficult for such plants to take root, and they lose their decorative properties. The flowering period is too early and the number of flowers will be less than expected. This variety is recommended to be sown in February.

Video "Ever-flowering begonia from seeds"

Planting tuberous begonias, on the contrary, is carried out early - until mid-January. Flowers will have time to form developed leaves and buds by the time of transplantation. Compliance with the sowing dates for seedlings has a great impact on the normal development of tubers, they can reach 3 cm in diameter when planted in open ground. This applies to such varieties as ampelous begonia.

Video "How to plant tuberous begonia from seeds"

How to pick up seeds

The first step in the process is seed selection. To get beautiful healthy plants, you need to choose high-quality and convenient seeds for planting. When choosing seeds, it is necessary to consider:

1. packing time, choose fresh seed that was harvested in the current year. Over time, they lose their germination despite the expiration date indicated on the package;
2. it is more convenient to plant granulated seeds in peat tablets; they have a dense shell of nutrients, which makes them larger in size;
3. regular kernels are smaller and are best sown in special containers or seedling boxes.

We plant seeds

If you are opting for granular seeds, take peat tablets. You will not need to dive at young plants.

Such a tablet is a peat pressed in a special way, which is covered with a net. The advantage of a peat tablet is that it has excellent air and moisture permeability. The composition allows you to retain moisture, but does not allow fungal diseases to appear.

Soak the tablets well with water before sowing the seeds. Then put a seed on each tablet and sprinkle it with water.From above, you need to cover the tablets with a bag or film to maintain the desired moisture level. Watering such seedlings is necessary regularly through the pallet, preventing the tablets from drying out.

Sowing is carried out in thoroughly moisten the soil, preferably done in a day. Then you need to evenly distribute the existing begonia seeds over the entire surface of the soil. Cover the seedlings with glass or plastic. Watering newly planted seeds is not recommended.

It is desirable that the temperature in the room where the seedlings will be located is about 24 degrees. The place must be bright.

Many gardeners are worried about the question: how many days the first shoots appear. Plants should emerge in 9-25 days, but sometimes the process is delayed.

Seedling care

It can be difficult to notice when begonia is emerging. sprouts are very small, threadlike. Therefore, be extremely careful. In order for the plants to develop correctly, you need to regularly water them in a pan or with a syringe. The greenhouse in which begonias grow should be ventilated so that condensation does not accumulate. Be sure to provide the seedlings with good lighting, but do not forget that delicate plants can burn in direct sunlight. Use artificial lighting if necessary. In insufficient light, they stretch out and lose their decorative appearance.

At first, you may get the impression that the seedlings hardly grow. There is no need to worry about this: begonias first build up the root system, and then their aerial part develops.

On the 14th day after germination, the plants can be fed with fertilizer for deciduous ornamental plants. In this case, the fertilizer solution must be diluted 3-4 times of the recommended dose. When the seedlings grow a little, you need to periodically loosen the ground.

The appearance of the first pair of real leaves will mean that the flowers need a pick.

How to pick

Picking is the process of transplanting grown plants from a smaller dish into a larger one. This must be done so that begonias are not cramped and they can develop normally. During the picking, flower growers get rid of non-viable seedlings. After the completion of the process, they are again covered with foil. After how many days to repeat the procedure, you can determine on your own, focusing on the growth rate and the appearance of the seedlings.

Over time, the conditions for flowers change so that in the future they can adapt in the open air. The temperature is gradually lowered to room temperature, but not lower than 18 degrees, and the air humidity is gradually reduced, which teaches the ventilation of plants.

Potential problems and pests

Competent cultivation of begonia seeds can significantly reduce the risk of various diseases on the seedlings. However, you need to be aware of possible problems in order to be able to recognize them in time. When using this growing method, the following diseases and pests can appear:

• root rot, in order to get rid of it, you should more often ventilate the greenhouse and reduce watering;
• powdery mildew;
• aphids and spider mites, when they appear, it is necessary to use insecticides and fungicides.

Transfer to a permanent place

It is recommended to plant seedlings in open ground in early June, when the threat of frost is minimized. If you want to plant a flower garden on a closed balcony, a transplant is possible already in mid-May.

Bolivian begonia

The varieties will look very impressive on the balcony: the Bolivian begonias of Santa Cruz and the fire cascade. They are designed to be grown in hanging baskets.

When transplanting plants, consider the following:

• Try not to deepen the top of the tuber, it should protrude slightly from the soil.
• Before planting, you need to put potash and phosphorus fertilizers in the hole and water abundantly.
• Remove the seedlings from the container very carefully so as not to damage the root system or stems.
• The distance between high-growing flowers should be 35 cm.For ampelous begonias, a sufficient distance between plants is 10 cm.The hybrid griffin begonia requires a distance of 25 cm.
• You need to plant flowers in bright open areas. In the shade, they will grow poorly and bloom will not be plentiful.
• The best soil is light, slightly acidic, rich in nutrients. Before planting, the soil must be dug well.
• The root system of the seedlings at the time of transplantation should be well developed and can take about 20 cm in depth.

These plants will decorate any corner of the site with their bright colors. With their beauty, they are not inferior to roses or peonies, and the period of their flowering, with proper care, lasts until frost. Growing begonias with seeds is not difficult. You need to make a little effort, and the result will please you pleasantly. We hope that in this article you can find the most complete information on how to grow begonias from seeds.

Growing begonias from seeds is a rather troublesome task that requires constant monitoring. Usually, ever-flowering or decorative-deciduous varieties of this plant are obtained in this way. Growing tuberous begonias by seed method is also possible, but requires a lot of time. For a successful result, it is necessary to select high-quality planting material, a good time for planting and observe a number of agrotechnical rules.

1 Description of the plant and popular varieties

Begonia is a dwarf shrub or herb with beautiful brightly colored flowers. The leaves and stems of begonias differ in color and shape, depending on the variety. Most often, the following types of begonias are grown at home.

Ampel begonia is distinguished by cascading shoots, the length of which can reach 45 cm. Flowers are located from the level of the 5-6th leaf node in the leaf axils. Each flower does not live longer than 10 days, and a new one soon appears in the place of the fallen one. For this reason, flowering seems to be continuous and continues until late autumn. Among the most famous varieties of ampelous begonias are Chanson with lush red, white or yellow flowers.

Tuberous begonia has a rhizome in the form of a tuber and high fleshy stems up to 80 cm long. Flowers can be simple or double, resembling flowers of roses, camellias, carnations or peonies. They can be both small (from 3 cm) and large up to (20 cm), located singly or in inflorescences. The most common varieties are Duck Red, Picoti Harlequin, Bouton de Rose.

The ever-flowering begonia is a complex hybrid that successfully combines the qualities of the parent varieties. It is a low-growing shrub with fleshy stems and smooth rounded-heart-shaped leaves. Flowers can be white, pink or red, collected in a variety of inflorescences. Terry varieties have been bred with a large number of petals in the flower, which resemble miniature roses in shape. Only about 600 varieties of ever-flowering begonias are known, among which Luchik, Queen, Cocktail can be distinguished for indoor cultivation.

Bolivian begonia is a tuberous plant with long hanging stems. Its stems can reach a length of 80 cm, hanging down in several tiers. Flowers with a bright orange color are located on short peduncles in groups of 2-3 pieces. This type of begonias is perfect for growing in pots and containers, as it thrives in a small amount of soil. The most famous varieties include Santa Cruz, Bonaparte, Belavista.

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2 Planting seeds

Begonia from seeds at home can be grown in seedlings, and where the flower will grow is of great importance.So, for indoor maintenance, it is necessary to sow seeds in December, and for growing in the garden, sowing seeds is transferred to early spring. For areas with a warm climate, it is necessary to sow begonias in late March or early April, so that by the time of transplanting the seedlings are not overgrown.

Begonia seeds must be purchased from the store. On sale, they are of two types:

• ordinary, very small and inconvenient for novice florists;
• granular, coated with a special coating.

It is more convenient for beginner flower lovers to work with granular seeds. They are easier to distribute over the surface of the soil, observing a certain distance. Ordinary small seeds are simply sown in a container, and then the seedlings are thinned out. In order not to expose the fragile root system to unnecessary stress, it is more convenient to plant granulated seeds in special peat tablets.

The step-by-step planting process looks like this:

1. 1. Peat tablets are placed in a tray with water and left to soak.
2. 2. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the tablets and sprayed with water so that the granule penetrates inside. There is no need to delve deeply into the seeds.
3. 3. The top of the container is covered with foil or glass. For watering and ventilation, the shelter must be periodically removed.
4. 4. Watering is carried out through the pallet, making sure that the peat tablets do not dry out.

This method has only one drawback - the begonia seeds themselves take a long time to germinate, and it takes even longer for the coated seeds to germinate. After all, you also need to wait for the complete dissolution of the shell.

Since not all seeds can sprout, for successful cultivation, you need to use twice as much material.

If ordinary seeds are used for planting, then they are planted in a container with light soil. The day before planting, the soil should be watered abundantly. To facilitate the work, the seeds are mixed with sand and spread in a thin layer on the soil surface. Then the container is covered with glass or foil and placed in a warm, bright place where a constant temperature of +25 degrees will be maintained. Seeds planted in this way germinate in 10–25 days.

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3 Growing seedlings

Since begonia sprouts are very small, threadlike, it can be difficult to notice them. For their correct development, regular watering is necessary. This is done carefully, from a syringe, or humidification is carried out in the lower way through the tray. The greenhouse in which the seedlings develop must be regularly opened to ventilate and remove condensation. It is imperative to provide high-quality lighting, but make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on the plants. To do this, at noon, you need to shade the sprouts. If the daylight hours are short, it is necessary to artificially illuminate the seedlings. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours.

Two weeks after the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to apply fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants. In this case, it is necessary to make a solution of concentration 3-4 times less than the recommended one. After the seedlings get a little stronger, the earth can be periodically loosened. Gradually, the shelter is removed and the grown begonia is accustomed to indoor conditions.

It is very important to monitor the condition of the leaves during this period. If they go down, then the container with seedlings must be closed. The soil should be constantly moist, but not wet. Excess moisture provokes the appearance of white bloom on the seedlings and rotting of the root system.

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3.1 Pick

If peat tablets were used to germinate the seed, then picking is not necessary. You just need to tear off the tablet shell from the bottom edge and transplant the seedlings into a larger container along with the soil.

For seedlings grown in a container, picking is mandatory, since over time it becomes cramped for them in one container. The procedure is carried out after the appearance of the third true leaf, if the plant looks healthy and strong:

1. 1. Make holes in the plastic cups from the bottom and pour a layer of drainage.
2. 2. The containers are filled with soil in which the seeds were germinated.
3. 3. The sprouts are gently pry with a teaspoon and transferred into a glass with soil along with an earthen lump. After moving, be sure to water the plants.

The seedlings are placed in a warm place, but so that they do not stretch, the temperature can be slightly lowered. Two weeks later, make another top dressing. 25 days after picking, the seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in a pot or garden.

4 Begonia care

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place is carried out at the end of May, when the plant is already well formed. Begonia is transplanted using the transshipment method so as not to injure the fragile root system and delicate shoots. The soil suitable for begonias is light and loose with good nutritional properties.

After transplanting to a permanent place, caring for the plant consists in proper watering and regular feeding. For irrigation, use settled or filtered warm water. In the summer, watering should be abundant, but the plant does not need to be poured. You need to irrigate twice a week, and in hot weather, the plant is moistened as the soil dries out. The excess water accumulating in the pan must be drained after a while. In the fall, begonias are watered less often, and with the onset of winter, the amount is reduced to a minimum.

It is necessary to feed the plant during the budding period with liquid complex fertilizers once every two weeks. After the end of flowering, feeding is stopped. In winter, the use of fertilizers is generally prohibited.

Due to its beauty, tuberous begonia will compete even with the “queen of flowers” ​​rose. In nature, there are more than 1 thousand varieties of this plant. Growing begonias can sometimes cause certain difficulties, especially for novice florists. Various methods are used to propagate the begonia flower: by seeds, growing a new culture from a leaf or its fragment, dividing by tubers and the root system, rooting by leaf or stem cuttings. However, the most interesting method, according to the opinions of professionals, is seed reproduction.

So, seed begonia at home: how to avoid mistakes, what kind of inventory is required, how to properly organize the sowing process and subsequent care?

Seed selection

The first step in growing begonias from seed at home is seed selection. You will need professional material that has previously been pelleted. Follow the advice of experienced growers and choose fresh seeds.

What is "fresh seed", you ask? Pay attention to the date of production and packaging. Even though the seed has a shelf life of several years, buy a seed that has the current year on its packaging. There is an opinion among flower growers that the germination rate of begonia is falling every year. The seeds of the Bossa nova variety are of particular interest among lovers of indoor and garden plants.

Sowing dates

When to plant seeds? Almost every novice florist faces this question. The planting period depends on whether it is a houseplant or a garden culture. The optimal period for the reproduction of an indoor flower by seeds is the period from November to February. Such plants will have time to get stronger by autumn, the diameter of the tuber reaches an average of 2.5 cm, which has a beneficial effect on wintering. If begonia will be planted in the garden, then it is better to postpone the sowing to the beginning of spring. With earlier sowing, the seedlings are overgrown and unsuitable for planting in the open air.

Inventory

Preparing the necessary equipment is one of the important preparatory stages. For sowing, you will need a low container with a hermetically sealed lid and soil. For transplanting seedlings grown from seeds into separate containers, it is better to purchase a soil mixture for begonias. Such a substrate is sold in flower shops or in the shops "Everything for the garden and vegetable garden".

Sowing process

How to grow begonia from seeds? Adhering to the recommendations of experts, even a novice florist will be able to successfully cope with the task of planting seeds and growing tuberous begonias. Today, specialized stores sell seeds of various varieties of begonias. They come in two flavors: granular (nutrient-coated) and unprocessed. Seeds are sown in the ground, they can be pre-mixed with sand. Do not sprinkle with the top layer of soil - this will not get enough sunlight for the crops. Close the container (plastic lid, glass, plastic) and place in a warm place.

The air temperature must be at least 22-24 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the seeds may not hatch. After 2-3 formed and strengthened leaves appear on the stalks, you can perform the picking procedure into separate containers.

Watering and feeding

Seed begonia is a growing process whose success depends on proper follow-up care. Particular attention should be paid to watering and feeding. The plant loves moist soil, but avoid waterlogging. Stagnation of water is considered the first cause of the appearance of fungal microflora, which affects the thin roots of still immature seedlings.

It is recommended to keep the container at a slight slope so that the condensation runs down the lid and accumulates in one corner. After 2 weeks from the moment of sowing the seed, the top cover is installed on supports, over time it will be completely possible to remove it. Avoid high temperatures and direct sunlight on the seedlings.

The optimum air temperature for growing begonia seeds in an open container is 17-19 degrees Celsius.

Plant the seeds in low acid soil. Complex fertilizer solutions are suitable for feeding. Moreover, they must have a low concentration of nitrogen. The first feeding can be done after 14 days from the moment of sowing the seed of the tuberous begonia.

Video "Planting begonia seeds"

This video will show you how to plant begonia seeds.

Experienced growers probably know what begonia looks like. After all, this is the most popular genus in the begonia family, which includes more than a thousand species. The habitual habitats of begonias are humid tropical and subtropical forests and mountainous regions of America, Asia and Africa.

For the first time, the world was able to get acquainted with this plant thanks to the data provided by the French botanist Charles Plumier. This happened in 1687 during a scientific expedition to the Antilles, in which this specialist was also invited.

This research was initiated by Michel Begon, who served as Governor of Sao Domingo (western part of the island of Haiti). Having stumbled upon a hitherto unknown plant, Charles did not think long about its name. As a result, he decided to dedicate it to the governor. Subsequently, this plant began to be often found in other places of the planet.

Features of begonias

The high popularity of begonias has led to the fact that today they are also cultivated at home. However, in an apartment it turns out to be undersized, not exceeding 50 cm in height.

The attractiveness of begonias is given by decorative spotted leaves and flowers that can be mistaken when meeting for roses, peonies or camellias. Indoor begonia enters the flowering phase in the first month of summer, continuing to delight the owner until the end of autumn.

A wide variety of begonias allows you to enjoy not only rich color palette, which includes white, red, yellow, pink, burgundy, cream and other shades. She also pleases with an unusual shape, which can be simple, folded, fringed, terry or ampelous.

Caring for ampelous begonia at home

If you want begonia to delight you with beautiful flowers every season, then on the first day it needs to provide the appropriate course. Growing this flower in an apartment is not so difficult.

And, although this plant is considered unpretentious and is highly resistant to various diseases, however, it is still necessary follow certain rules when growing it. Then begonia will delight with its flowering from early summer to late autumn.

In summer, begonia can bring even more aesthetic pleasure when transplanted from a pot into the open ground. It is necessary to take care of this plant not only in summer, but also in winter.

• An obligatory operation at this time of the year is the pruning of shoots, which is carried out after the end of flowering and at the first signs of dying off of leaves and stems. The tubers themselves can be kept in dry ground.
• Watering the begonia is not required at this time of year. Tubers can be stored in a pantry, where excellent conditions are created for them due to the lack of light and a low temperature of + 10 ... + 12 degrees Celsius.
• With the onset of spring, the tubers are planted in a pot, and from that moment they begin to water regularly.
• Sometimes a plant has a lot of shoots. In this case, you need to remove everything except one or two of the strongest shoots.

Required temperature and watering rules

Begonia grows best at home if the room temperature is maintained at + 14 ... + 22 degrees Celsius. If it gets very hot and the temperature rises to + 25 degrees Celsius, then this negatively affects the development of begonia.

When laying tubers for winter storage, they need to provide darkness and temperature conditions within + 5 ... + 12 degrees Celsius. It is very important that temperature remained constantand also there were no drafts.

When grown in winter, it is not required to water the begonia, but from time to time you can add water to the panto avoid drying out the tubers. For storage, the tubers are placed in peat or sand, which must also be kept moist.

In the summer carry out abundant wateringhowever, they begin to do this only after the evaporation of moisture from the upper soil layer. Already in October, watering begins to be carried out less and less and in smaller quantities.

Since tuberous begonia has underdeveloped roots that are located near the surface, during flowering, the plant must be provided with the maximum amount of moisture.

However, care must be taken to ensure that the water does not stagnate, otherwise it can lead to rotting of the roots. It is forbidden to pour water only into the middle of the flower. If you do this quite often, then it can also provoke rotting of the tuber.

Lighting and humidity

For normal development in the room where begonia is grown, there must be bright diffused light... It is imperative to protect the plant from direct sunlight.

Begonia can be under the bright sun only for a few hours in the morning or in the evening. This will benefit her, especially at the end of summer, when the air temperature begins to drop.

Given that begonia is a tropical plant, it needs provide high humidity air not less than 60%.

1. Spraying can be done in early spring, but only before its flowering. Moisture on the petals is fraught with the fact that they will begin to turn yellow, so it is best to spray the air around the perimeter of the flower.
2. In summer, there are days when the sun starts to get hot. In this case, additional cooling of the begonias is necessary.For this, a container with a flower can be placed on a pallet filled with damp pebbles. A good effect is provided by immersing the flowerpot in wet peat or sawdust.

Top dressing

To grow begonias at home, it is necessary to prepare a suitable substrate, which should not only be highly fertile, but also have a neutral acidity reaction.

Top dressing should be carried out every 10-12 days... When fertilizing a plant, you should pay attention to the following factors:

• the lighting should be good and the temperature in the room too, since in good conditions the feeding is absorbed much better;
• the plant should be fertilized in the evening, 2-3 hours before the start of complementary feeding, the soil should be well moistened;
• make sure that the fertilizer does not come into contact with the begonia.

Don't overdo it! Probably it the most important point when fertilizing a flower, because an excess of fertilizer can lead a flower to toxicosis, and later to death.

Moreover, it is recommended to abandon the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. After all, the effect from them will be completely different than the one that plants need: due to nitrogen, the stems become more watery, and this increases the likelihood of their decay.

How to propagate begonia

To obtain new bushes, you can use several propagation methods: sowing seeds, dividing a tuber, cuttings.

The best thing use tubers or cuttings, since the begonia grown from them retains the characteristics of the mother plant. It is not possible to achieve the same effect by sowing seeds.

If you want to get new varieties at home, then it is recommended to use it for reproduction. sowing method... Then, in just one year, you can acquire a large number of new tubers with excellent decorative properties of flowering plants.

However, you need to immediately prepare for the fact that seed reproduction will require a lot of time and effort. It should be noted that grown begonia from seeds has flowers of different sexes, which can be determined by their appearance.

If necessary, you can carry out artificial pollinationusing a paintbrush. As a result, in the fall, a fruit will grow in the form of a box, containing very small seeds, and already from them you can get new flowers.

How to grow begonia from seed

Sowing seeds is recommended to plan for the New Year. It is also permissible to carry it out a little later until the first decade of February. Before landing, you need prepare suitable soil, which should have a light composition so that moisture is well absorbed.

The optimal soil mixture is considered, prepared on the basis of a leaf substrate, river sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. After filling the box, the ground is leveled, and then place seeds on the surface... You do not need to deepen them.

After that, the planting is watered with settled water at room temperature using a spray bottle. Next, a box of seeds cover with glass and transfer to the battery. Seeds germinate most quickly if the room temperature is maintained at + 24 ... + 27 degrees Celsius.

Important daily spraying, airing... This is especially necessary at the stage of seed germination, as it will help to avoid the ingress of condensation on the seedlings on the glass.

Seedling care and picking

Within a week after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings can be transferred to a cooler place. When a few more weeks have passed, the glass can be removed completely.

Considering that the daylight hours are short in winter, seedlings need to be highlighted with the help of a phytolamp, which is turned on for 3-5 hours in the morning and evening.

When three more weeks have passed, and the sprouts have formed two true leaves, make a pick... For the first time, the plants are planted no closer than 2-3 cm from each other. A month later, the next pick is carried out.

Now the distance between seedlings is increased to 5-6 cm.At least once a week it is necessary to feed: for this use a weakly diluted solution of mineral fertilizers.

When stable warm weather sets in, which usually occurs in May, the seedlings transplanted into separate pots with a capacity of 0.5 liters.

Before planting, drainage must be laid on the bottom with a layer of 12 cm.A soil prepared from leafy earth, humus and sand, taken in a ratio of 4: 1: 1, is already laid on it.

Among the popular ornamental plants, begonia stands out, which most experienced gardeners know about. Against the background of other relatives, she it has beautiful flowers... Today it can be grown at home, because this plant is quite unpretentious, so there will be no special problems in growing and caring for it.