Begonia ampelous garden planting and outdoor care

Garden begonia Bouton de Rose

NOTE

When choosing varieties of street begonias, it is important to take into account not only their color combination, but also their height. The flower bed should be smooth and neat. If necessary, cut off too large shoots with a sharp knife.

How to get seedlings: step by step instructions

At home, garden varieties of begonias are grown from tubers, which is why the plant was named "tuberous". The bulbs begin to be sown in early March, and in warm latitudes (Krasnodar Territory, Crimea), you can start breeding in February.

Tubers (bulbs): selection, planting, care

First of all, it is important for the grower to choose the right begonia tubers (they are also called bulbs). As a rule, the material is purchased in specialized stores, the assortment of which is quite large. Therefore, the main task is not to find tubers, but to select them correctly. Here are the first things to look out for:

1. Of course, the bulb should have a normal appearance: no cracks, overgrowth, mold, etc.
2. In terms of size, it is better to choose those tubers whose diameter is more than 3-4 cm.
3. Dry bulbs are not allowed. Therefore, you should pay attention to their weight: healthy tubers are quite dense and heavy, and dry ones, on the contrary, are light.
4. If you buy the bulbs in March, you can see how white or reddish buds are already starting to form on them. At the same time, it is optimal to buy material in January. There are still no buds at this time - the tuber is in a state of physiological rest.

Planting a tuberous begonia in a pot itself will not take much time. The main requirement is to create optimal lighting, watering and temperature conditions. The whole process can be conventionally divided into 3 stages.

Step 1. Preparation of tubers

It is useful to know not only how to plant a begonia bulb in a pot, but also how to prepare it for the ground. First, the tuber is completely cleaned of all rotten sprouts. If the bulb is large (6 cm or more), you can cut it in half and sprinkle the surface with charcoal.

Then the tuber is immersed in a solution of any fungicide (for example, "Maxim") and kept in it for half an hour. Instead of a fungicide, it is allowed to use a solution of potassium permanganate with a concentration of 1%. It is enough to hold for 40-45 minutes.

NOTE

All work with tubers should be done very carefully. Do not drop, bump or crush the bulbs.

Step 2. Planting tubers

The pot or box must be placed on a pallet - after all, abundant watering of future begonias is supposed. Drainage (expanded clay, pebbles) is laid at the bottom, then the soil. The surface of the earth should be 3-4 cm below the edge. A small depression is made in the center, into which the tuber is planted.

Each bulb has 2 sides - convex and concave. You need to place it in the ground only with the convex side (accordingly, the concave side will look up). It is important to consider that the top third will remain on the surface.When the first shoots appear, they can be lightly sprinkled with earth.

Step 3. Care of the sprouts

Now it remains to thoroughly water the soil - it should become noticeably wet (but not too much). Place boxes or pots in a sunny spot. However, direct rays should also be avoided. To solve this problem, you can use the following tips:

1. Optimally arrange containers in the west or east.
2. If the sun's rays are too much, you can create partial shade using a curtain or shade from other plants.
3. Well, in the case of south windows it is better to put the container a little further from the windowsill.
4. Concerning temperature, then it should be at least 20-22оС. Indeed, in order to understand how to properly plant tuberous begonia in a pot and care for it, it is important to consider that this plant came to us from the tropics. Therefore, at home, they provide a sufficient level of humidity and illumination.
5. Watering mode determined by the condition of the soil - it should always be moderately moist. At the same time, water is not allowed to enter the tuber itself - it can rot and die.

Normally, the first shoots will appear in 5-7 days, and after another 15-20 days 2-3 leaves will flaunt on the tuber. Another month will pass, and with proper care, the first flowers will appear on the tuberous begonias, which will mark the onset of spring.

NOTE

1. If later it is planned to transplant a flower into open ground (for example, to decorate a garden or summer cottage), this can be done a month later after the emergence of the seedling.
2. However, if you are not sure that there will be no more frosts, you can simply transplant the flower into a pot with a diameter of 25-30 cm and wait for the final onset of the warm season.

Seedling seeds

This method requires certain labor costs and, in general, it looks more troublesome. On the other hand, the gardener gains invaluable experience in plant breeding. In addition, you can grow many begonias at once, from which you can create a beautiful flower garden in the garden or in the country.

The cultivation technology looks like this:

1. The process starts already in January (before the beginning of February) - after all, by the spring you need to get ready-made seedlings and distribute them in pots. However, you can plant seeds later - they will bloom, but only in the fall.
2. The seeds are usually immediately mixed with a little sand: they are quite small and can be blown away by the wind.
3. Typically, seeds are grown in boxes. You can choose a container from any materials, while it should not be too deep (10-12 cm in height is enough).
4. The soil is prepared in advance according to the scheme described above. You can also use peat tablets. Immediately before planting, the soil is watered abundantly - it should become noticeably moist.
5. Then the seeds are spread over the surface. You should not fill them up - you can only distribute a handful of soil over the entire surface.
6. Then you need to wait a few hours and cover the box with glass, and put paper on top. The temperature should be about 21-23 ° C.
7. Seedlings appear after 2 weeks. At this time, the glass is removed, and the box is removed to a cooler place (18-19 ° C).
8. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, a pick is carried out. At the same time, the first mineral fertilizers are applied. It is important that nitrogen and potassium are present in them - otherwise begonia will grow much more slowly.
9. Seedlings need constant watering. Before the first shoots appear, the soil can be moistened with a spray bottle. And when 1-2 leaves appear - water as usual.

Begonia in the garden: planting and care

Regardless of where begonia is grown - in the garden, in the country or at home, the main thing to remember is that this plant came from the hot tropics. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the correct irrigation and lighting regime for him.

Planting: when and where to plant

Everything has its time, and everything has its place. If we apply this phrase in connection with planting begonias in the country, we get the following answers:

1. By landing dates you should always be guided by the actual weather. If the warm season has already begun and the temperature is stable, you can start working.
2. Night temperature from + 12оС Is a necessary criterion.
3. Thus, the planting of garden begonia is carried out At the beginning of June (in southern latitudes - in early May).
4. Concerning choice of location, then it is important to take into account 2 points at once - practical and aesthetic. In order to organize the proper care of begonia in the garden, it is better to plant plants in the most conspicuous place, because such beautiful flowers simply cannot stand aside. On the other hand, they need to be provided with sufficiently bright lighting and an acceptable soil composition.

How to plant begonia in the garden

The very technology of planting begonias in the country is not particularly difficult.

1. After choosing a place, the seedlings are fixed in the ground so that all the green part remains on the surface.
2. The interval between plants is 20-25 cm.
3. The plant must be handled very carefully - it is unacceptable to press on the roots or foliage or drop the seedlings. If injured, they may not take root.

The soil

Regardless of which variety of street begonia to take for planting, caring for it begins with the correct selection of soil. The plant loves slightly acidic, fairly fertile lands with loose soil. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary on the site and in the garden to take care of so that there is no:

• large stones;
• dense layer of earth;
• willow or oak nearby - they saturate the soil with tannins, which adversely affect the development of the plant.

If you are not sure about the fertility of the soil, it is better to add humus, bird droppings or other organic fertilizer. A week after that, you can start planting tuberous begonia.

Watering in the garden

1. Watering begonias pretty abundant: the soil should never be dry or cracked.
2. On the other side, need to know when to stop: when planting and further caring for tuberous begonias in the garden, do not give too much moisture. Excessive moisture leads to root rot and even plant death.
3. Water the plant usually in the morning hours, every 3 days. At the same time, it is important to try to prevent moisture from getting on the stems, greens and flowers: they are quite delicate, and the sun's rays can lead to burns.
4. During flowering watering begonias should be reduced by 1.5-2 times compared to the usual volumes.

Thus, you need to periodically check the condition of the soil, and most importantly, to be guided by the appearance of the flower itself. If the plant is in good shape, the leaves are elastic, and the flowers form quickly and stand long enough, then everything is in order. If they become lethargic, you should immediately check the soil: it may already be dry.

Fertilizers

To care for tuberous begonia in the garden and in the country, fertilizers are also used - immediately after planting and during the summer season. The application mode is as follows:

1. After landing it is necessary to immediately apply a complex mineral fertilizer (dosage according to instructions).
2. When the bushes began buds to form, apply fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium.
3. Summer can be fed 2 more times with mineral fertilizer.

And starting from August, top dressing stops - the plant needs to be prepared for the winter period, i.e. to the phase of physiological rest.

Pruning

With the right approach, the flower begins to grow extremely quickly. Therefore, you need to immediately think that the time will soon come to trim foliage and shoots. As soon as the stems have reached 8 cm, the first shape adjustment is carried out: excess layers are removed from the sides so that the bush takes on the desired appearance.

And when the shoots grow to 12 cm, it is necessary to pinch the tops so that the plant ultimately looks very attractive and not chaotic. Pruning is carried out only with a sharp knife - garden shears are not suitable for this, because begonia is a very delicate plant.

USEFUL ADVICE

When the pruning has taken place, it is better to sprinkle the damaged areas with charcoal - this way the plant will recover faster. In addition, such a tool serves as a kind of disinfection.

Illumination level

This condition of caring for tuberous begonia in the garden must be taken care of even at the stage of planting the plant. On the one hand, this flower is very fond of light, but on the other hand, it does not tolerate direct sunlight very well. The answer is obvious - you need to create light shading.

And in the garden, this can be achieved with bushy plants that will cast a faint shade. If they are not there, you can make a canopy from a fine mesh. It is important to understand that too much shading (for example, under the foliage of a tree) is also unacceptable - that is, in this matter, one should proceed from the principle of the golden mean.

Preparing begonias in the garden for winter

1. In September, watering begins to be significantly reduced - the plant needs to be prepared for winter.
2. The tubers should be dug out before the first frost. In our latitudes it will be mid-October (in the south - until early November). All green mass is completely removed, and only the bulbs are taken for storage.
3. Tubers (bulbs) are treated with fungicides (for example, "Maxim") or in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (hold for 30-40 minutes).
4. Then the tubers are dried outdoors and stored at home or in the basement. You can also store them in the refrigerator or in a cool part of the apartment.

How to store tubers correctly

The most important thing is to take into account a few simple tips that will allow you to preserve the material well:

1. Initially, all tubers are carefully inspected in order to immediately remove damaged material.
2. The storage temperature should be above zero, but at the same time not more than + 9 ° C. Otherwise, the tubers begin to sprout.
3. Even a small amount of moisture on the material is not allowed. If possible, it should be stored in a dry place.

Storage in the apartment

In the apartment, you need to find the coolest place - for example, under a window or under a balcony door. The temperature is checked in advance (so that it is constantly in the range of 0-9 ° C). There are three storage options:

1. In the box or box - in bulk. Tubers are placed, completely covered with sawdust, dry peat or sand.
2. In pots - they are transferred to a cool place, while the upper part is cut off with a sharp knife flush with the ground. The soil should be occasionally watered to keep it slightly damp (no drying out). If the tubers will be stored in pots, it is better to water them through the drip tray to avoid possible rotting.
3. If the apartment is warm enough, and there are no cool places in it, you can save the begonia tubers for further planting and in the fridge... The material is dried, placed in bags with holes and covered with sawdust, or each tuber is wrapped in paper. Store in the door or at the bottom of the refrigerator (in the same place as vegetables and fruits). Such care will perfectly preserve the bulbs of the tuberous begonia until the next planting.

Basement storage

If you have access to a sufficiently dry, cool basement, you can store the tubers there as well. They are also placed in a cardboard box or wooden box, covered with peat, sand or sawdust so as to completely hide. It is important to understand that the cellar is definitely not suitable for such purposes. As a rule, the humidity in it is always high due to the proximity of the ground, which will lead to rotting of the material.

Diseases and pests of begonia

In the garden, there are much more enemies of the tuberous begonia than in the apartment. Plant pests include the following:

• shield;
• aphid;
• nematode;
• thrips;
• spider mite;
• whitefly.

To combat these insects, ordinary insecticides are used (neoron, thiophos, karbofos, etc.).

You can also use a home remedy based on regular onions (with brown hulls):

1. Chop the onion very finely or pass it through a meat grinder.
2. Take a full teaspoon (half a tablespoon) and infuse for 1 week in a liter of water.
3. Strain and spray the foliage and stems until the insects are completely destroyed.

PREVENTION TIP

The foliage and especially the stems of the plant that are hidden under the bush must be carefully examined for the presence of these pests and other lesions. The sooner you start dealing with them, the higher your chances of success.

The most common developmental disorders associated with improper conditions of detention and infectious pathogens include the following.

outward sign	cause	solution
the leaves of the flower dry at the edges, begin to curl	dry and hot air	sprinkle and moisturize the plant periodically
leaves fall off or turn yellow and wither	too cold	cover or rearrange to a warmer place (if in a planter or pot)
foliage wilted	polluted air or lack of moisture	move (outweigh) the pot to another place, water abundantly (if the ground is dry)
leaves grow small, flowers do not form or flowering is rare	lack of fertilizer	fertilize the soil with organic or mineral fertilizing
leaves fade, cobweb found	spider mite activity	use an insecticide or infusion of onions (more details below)
powdery coating with greenish and brown tints	gray mold fungus activity	spray with fungicide (benomyl) according to the instructions and remove the pot with the plant in a dry, cooler place
white spots of a powdery consistency	powdery mildew activity
the roots turn black and rot	black root rot fungus activity	stop watering, spray with fungicide, remove to a drier place
rot on the surface of leaves and flowers	waterlogging	reduce watering, prevent moisture from spraying on the begonia itself
leaves are deformed, yellow spots appear on the surface	activity of the cucumber mosaic virus	destroy the flower, pot or pots (if any) disinfect, replace the soil
the leaves have lost their color, on the roots there are influxes	nematode activity

Begonia in the garden: a thousand and one ideas for inspiration

If we talk about what flowers in the garden are combined with tuberous begonia, we can highlight the plants that create the border, for example:

• Iberis;
• lobularia;
• surfiniya;
• lobelia.

In landscape design, the plant is used to create flower beds and flower arrangements. A lot of ideas can really arise here - here are just a few of them (and examples in the photo):

1. The plant looks great against the backdrop of a well-groomed lawn. Whether natural or artificial turf is used is not so important. Thanks to the contrast effect, garden begonia flowers will look exceptionally beautiful.
2. Florists often combine planting of several varieties at once. Form alternating bushes with bright and light tones - for example, with reds and yellows, reds and pinks, oranges and whites.
3. From begonias, you can make flower beds of original shapes - from multi-colored circles to panoramic paintings. It will turn out to be a real work of art.
4. Ampel varieties are used to decorate fences and hedges. It will be very beautiful if you place them on the walls of the gazebo or recreation area, which is separated by fences.
5. Another interesting idea regarding ampelous (hanging) begonias is to make a garland out of them and place them along the entrance to the country house (steps).
6. If the flower bed is located in a garden on a hill, you can achieve an incredibly interesting effect of movement. Begonias are planted in turn, alternating contrasting stripes. As a result, the largest plants are located at the very top. Due to the tiering, the flower bed will resemble a kind of mound or even a road to the sky.

Ampel plants fit perfectly into the decor of the garden, home or gazebo. Their long, hanging shoots, strewn with flowers, are able to decorate any room.The ampelous begonia looks especially impressive due to the unusual shape of the flowers and the bright tones of their color.

On any begonias, you can see two types of flowers at once - large, beautiful, terry male and simple, small female. If only nondescript female flowers remain on the plant, then something is wrong with it. Description and features of the plant

A whole group of different plants belongs to ampelous plants, a characteristic feature of which are long shoots. When placed in hanging planters or upright plant stands, they form beautiful hanging rugs with decorative leaves or beautiful flowers. This group got its name from the German word "ampel", which was used for hanging plant vases.

The homeland of the ampelous begonia, like other species of this plant, is the hot and humid tropical and subtropical forests of South America, Africa, India, Asia. In Europe, this plant first appeared towards the end of the 17th century, thanks to the botanist C. Plumier, who described it during his wanderings around the islands of South America. He named the beautiful plant in honor of the organizer of this expedition - M. Begon.

Ampelous begonia is a small bush 20-25 cm high, on which long hanging shoots up to 40 cm long are formed. Shoots are decorated with dark green curly leaves and large (8-10 cm in diameter) bright flowers of orange, pink, white, red and mixed colors.

The flowering period begins in mid-summer and can last until the first frost if the plant is grown outdoors and with proper care. In the house, flowering can last almost all year, if the plant is provided with comfortable living conditions. Although it will be better for a flower if in winter it leaves during the dormant period, and does not continue to bloom.

This is interesting: each begonia flower lives no more than 10 days, after which it dies off. The duration of flowering is ensured by the constant blooming of more and more flowers.

Planting and caring for an ampelous variety of begonias

Ampelous begonia is a grateful plant, so planting and caring for it will not require excessive effort, and the result will be no worse than in numerous photos on the Internet.

To plant seeds or tubers of a plant, you will need to prepare a soil mixture in advance:

• 1 part sand;
• 4 pieces of leafy land;
• 1 part of turf land.

It is better to plant seeds in December-January, so the components for the mixture should be prepared in the fall, before the soil freezes. If there is no way to compose the soil yourself, you can use store-bought soil for growing begonias.

Light and temperature

Ampel begonia is quite capricious and demanding to care for at home. She loves good lighting, but the light should be soft, diffused. You can choose a place for her where the morning and evening sun will fall on her (before 11 in the morning and after 15 in the afternoon). In the constant bright sun, the plant can fade and get burns on the leaves, and if there is not enough light, the color will fade, the leaves will begin to wither.

Ampel begonia is often called a shade-loving plant, but it is not. She likes abundant lighting, but the light should be diffused and soft. With a lack of light, the plant will wither and may die.

The optimal temperature for keeping begonia is 18-20 degrees, although it tolerates a slight decrease in it. In summer, pots with a plant can be taken out to a balcony or veranda, choosing a place for them that is illuminated and protected from rain, wind and drafts. Even weak winds can damage fragile flowers and negatively affect the appearance of the plant.

Watering and wintering

Despite the fact that begonia comes from a humid climate, watering it should be moderate, it does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil and can quickly begin to rot.In this case, the regularity of watering is important, since overdrying the earthen coma also leads to the death of the plant. From time to time, begonia leaves can be sprayed, after removing the pot away from sunlight, and also arrange a shower with warm water.

It is better to use settled water for irrigation, and in summer it can be heated in the sun. When watering, avoid getting water on the tuber by directing it along the edge of the pot. Closer to winter, pots with begonias are transferred back to a closed room, and watering is gradually reduced, watering as the topsoil dries up. At this time, the begonia will not bloom, but the bright foliage will preserve a certain decorative effect.

Important! To prevent the potted soil from drying out too quickly, the plant should be kept away from batteries.

During the wintering period, begonias can stretch out a little, therefore, closer to mid-end of February, they can be cut off, leaving at least 3-4 internodes on each shoot.

Tuberous ampelous begonia at the onset of winter and a reduction in watering can often mislead inexperienced owners - during the dormant period, the entire aerial part of the plant dies off. This does not mean that the plant has died, it is just that the begonia went into hibernation. The pot with the tuber is carefully rearranged in a cool place (the temperature is not higher than +15 degrees), from time to time, moderately watering it to prevent the plant from drying out.

Some growers recommend that the retired tuber be carefully removed from the pot, cleaned of soil and the remnants of sprouts, and then placed at rest in dry peat at a temperature of 5-12 degrees. From time to time, you should check the condition of the tubers and, when sprouts appear on it, immediately plant it in the soil, regardless of the season. If this happens too early, the plant will need additional phytolamps.

Fertilization

Like most other indoor plants, ampelous begonia requires periodic fertilization of the soil for successful cultivation. At the beginning of the spring season, it is fed with nitrogen fertilizer, which will stimulate the growth of greenery.

Closer to summer and during the entire flowering period, begonia is fed 1-2 times a month with fertilizers for flowering plants. In such fertilizers there is little nitrogen, but a lot of potassium and phosphorus, which contribute to abundant and long flowering.

Important! The solution of commercial fertilizer for begonia should be twice as weak as indicated on the package.

A couple of times a year, the ampelous begonia can be fed with organic fertilizers - this will have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the plant and the quality of flowering. Fertilizers, both organic and mineral, should be applied to moist soil so as not to burn the roots.

Diseases and pests

Having provided ampelous begonias with proper care at home and outdoors, you can not be afraid of diseases or pest attacks. But sometimes, even with the most careful care, the plant gets sick. Most often, begonia owners face two problems:

• gray rot;
• annular (or bacterial) spotting.

The cause of the appearance of gray rot is the spores of the Botrytis fungus, which can easily get into the ground or on the plant during summer "airing" on an open balcony or veranda. Small white spots on the leaves and stems of the plant are a symptom of the disease. Over time, they turn into brown rot or mucus.

You can cope with gray mold by spraying. To do this, prepare a solution of laundry soap and copper sulfate. If it does not have the desired effect, then a more potent agent should be used - a 1% solution of foundationol, which is also sprayed on the plant.

Important! At the first signs of illness, the affected plant should be immediately isolated from others and the place on the windowsill where it stood should be disinfected.It is also recommended to spill neighboring plants with a medicinal solution (which one depends on the disease) to prevent their infection.

If the begonia is attacked by aphids, a disease such as ring spot, which is carried by these insects, can develop. Its sign will be the appearance of brown, white, brown or red spots on the leaves. Unfortunately, this disease cannot be cured, so the affected plant should be immediately isolated and destroyed, no matter how sorry it may be.

Neighboring plants should be examined for aphid or ring spot infestation and either treated with an insecticide prophylactically or, if symptoms are present, also thrown away.

Begonia breeding methods

You can propagate your favorite ampel begonia in several ways, typical for all types of this plant:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• tubers (if the plant belongs to the tuberous variety).

Growing ampelous begonias from seeds is a rather laborious and troublesome task, since the seeds are very small and easily decay or dry out. To sow them more conveniently, some sellers cover the seeds with a special soluble shell.

The coated seeds are placed in seedling cups or cassettes, two in each, lightly pressed to the ground so that the shell dissolves faster and covered with film or glass. You do not need to sprinkle the seeds with soil.

When growing begonias from seeds, you need to prepare for delicate and painstaking work, since both the seeds and seedlings are very small and fragile

From time to time, the film needs to be slightly opened to ventilate the greenhouse and remove accumulated condensate. It is important not to forget about timely watering. After the seeds sprout, the greenhouse shelter is removed and, as the seedlings grow, they are transplanted into larger pots.

By cuttings

Ampelous begonia propagates very easily and quickly by stem cuttings. With this method, all the varietal and species characteristics of the plant are preserved. Cutting cuttings is best done in the spring, after the plant comes out of dormancy. Such sprouts will take root faster and will soon grow. However, begonias can be grafted throughout the year.

For propagation by cuttings in begonias, parts of the stem are cut off up to 10 cm long and placed in water until the first roots appear. After about 9-12 days, the sprouted cuttings can be planted in a pot of soil. Watering with warm water will help improve the survival rate of cuttings.

Tip: to get a pot with a lush and dense bush, 5-6 rooted cuttings can be planted in it at once. Each plant is pinched after 3-4 internodes to stimulate branching.

By dividing the tuber

If more than 7 sprouts appear on the overwintered ampel begonia tuber, it can be divided into two parts, thus obtaining two new plants at once.

Important! On a separated piece of root, there should be no more than 3 and no less than 2 buds.

Tubers suitable for dividing are cut with a sharp knife into several parts with a downward movement. The cut segments should not be planted immediately; the cut points should dry out for a while. After that, they are planted in prepared soil to a depth of no more than 1-2 centimeters.

Closer to spring, buds "wake up" on wintering tubers. The older the tuber, the more buds can appear on it.

Ampel begonia can become a real decoration of any room. A dense waterfall of bright, large flowers immediately attracts attention and leaves no one indifferent. Although begonia is considered a somewhat capricious plant, it is very responsive to care and, under comfortable conditions, will delight the owner for a long time with abundant flowering.

Moscow, Russia, on the site since 11.01.2017

The famous botanist Charles Plumier, studying the local flora of the West Indies, discovered a plant that pleases many generations of flower growers with flowering.It is impossible to look away from the photos of modern varieties of begonias: the plants fascinate with their beauty and splendor. Begonia: correct planting and care when grown outdoors, breeding methods.

Garden begonia: varieties and varieties

Begonia is a flowering plant that is decorative throughout the growing season. Different varieties of begonias, in addition to amazing flowers of various colors and shapes, have lovely leaves. The leaves of begonias are colored green, olive, burgundy, pink, sometimes with pearlescent dots and strokes.

Having planted begonia once, you can no longer refuse such a garden decoration.

In nature, the area of ​​growth of begonias is located in the tropics and subtropics of South and North America, Africa and Asia. It is humid enough in this climatic zone, therefore, varieties of garden begonias planted to decorate the site should be located in a shady place, ensuring regular and sufficient watering.

Begonias are perennial plants that usually develop in the form of vines, shrubs, or dwarf shrubs. The roots of the plant are often reduced to a tuber.

In garden landscape design, three types of begonias are usually used, represented by an abundance of varieties.

B. tubergybrida (tuberous B.) - plant height is only 30 cm. Huge double and non-double flowers amaze with an abundance of colors. Flowers in tuberous begonias are dioecious: male and female can bloom on the same plant at the same time.

B. tubergybrida

Begonia root is a fleshy tuber. The genus is characterized by long flowering, which begins in early summer and ends in autumn. The diameter of the flowers is from 6 to 21 cm. The shapes of the begonias flower are also different - they resemble roses, lotuses, anemones, carnations.

Attention! Growing tuberous begonias in the open field has its own subtleties. The plant needs to provide greenhouse maintenance in the winter, or pre-grow begonias in greenhouse complexes before planting in a permanent place.

B. tubergybrida pendula - a separate species of begonias with ampelous growth. Long bushy shoots are adorned with multi-colored caps of flowers.

B. tubergybrida pendula

B. semperflorens (ever flowering) - includes a huge number of varieties. The bushes of the plant are low, about 15 centimeters high. Leaves are small, oval, smooth, from green to brownish. Varieties of this begonia are widely used in landscape design for planting in parks and squares. Begonia blooms with "caps" of small flowers of white, pink or red color. Garden begonia: growing this plant is not difficult even for beginners.

B. semperflorens

Planting garden begonia

Garden begonias: planting and care, - plants are planted in a permanent place in the spring, with the onset of warm weather. Tuberous begonias are pre-germinated in greenhouses; grown plants with flowers are often planted on flower beds. Eternal begonia is planted with the first flowers, which allows you to immediately get decorative flower beds. That is why varieties of ever-flowering begonias are widely used in landscape design.

Advice. Growing begonias requires an acidic soil rich in humus.

Begonia will decorate the flowerbed from spring to late autumn

Overflow of plants is not allowed, which can cause rotting of the tuber. With a high level of groundwater, the beds for begonias are arranged after drainage. Planting begonias in the open field allows you to solve the problems of decorating hanging pots, flowerpots, flower beds, rabatki and lawns.

Plant care

Plant care is reduced to ensuring timely watering, which is reduced when begonia blooms.
During the growth period, begonias require several dressings.

Ever-flowering begonia is usually used for gardening as an annual. The mother plants of varietal plants are kept in greenhouses for vegetative propagation. In winter, watering of plants is reduced.

Begonias need regular feeding

Fertilizing and feeding garden begonia

Begonias spend a lot of energy on flowering, so several dressings are required per season.

1. In the spring, plants are fed with a complete complex fertilizer, which will help the plants grow green mass faster.
2. During the budding period of plants, phosphorus and potash fertilizers, as well as microelements are applied.

Plant propagation

Cultivation of new plants of tuberous begonias is possible by propagation by green cuttings, seeds or dividing the tuber.

1. Tuber division used for plant propagation in greenhouses. Moistening of plantings is carried out very carefully, ensuring the spraying of irrigation water over the soil surface. Watering is carried out periodically, keeping the soil sufficiently moist. Overflowing the cut during this period, when the roots and shoots are not yet branching, will have a detrimental effect on the development of plants. Tuber division is practiced when propagating rare plant varieties.

   Begonia tuber

2. One more way to propagate tuberous begonias is green cuttings... The mother tubers are laid out in boxes with fertile soil, moistened and placed in a bright place. The growing green shoots are broken out, planted in boxes or individual cups. After the cuttings are rooted, they are planted in a permanent growing area.
   Ever-flowering begonia is also propagated by green cuttings. Cuttings are cut from the mother plant and rooted in light soil.
3. Seed reproduction takes place for breeding purposes.

Diseases and pests

When growing begonias, the plant is often damaged by pests. Infection of plants is especially important when breeding begonias in a greenhouse. The main crop pests are: greenhouse aphids; scale and false scale; whitefly; thrips; nematodes.

Pest control measures are reduced to the treatment of plantings with systemic drugs, the dosage of which is indicated by the manufacturer.

Aphid

Diseases of begonias occur against the background of improper care, excessive watering, improperly selected land mixture: powdery mildew; gray rot; bacterial and annular spotting.

Treatment is aimed at killing the fungi that cause these diseases. Plants are treated with fungicides (Fundazol, Topaz); Bordeaux liquid; solution of copper sulfate.

Garden begonia: combination with other plants

Garden begonias form excellent combinations in plantings with lawn grasses, ornamental deciduous crops, border summer cages:

• surfiniya;
• Iberis;
• lobelia;
• lobularia.

Planting begonias with low-growing shrubs, which provide the plant with some shade, also beautifully decorate the territory.

Begonia in landscape design

Garden begonia in landscape design

Photos of modern garden and park areas show that landscape architects from different countries widely use garden begonias in the design of park compositions. Attention is drawn to photos of landscape design with flowerpots planted with tuberous begonias. These flowerpots look great on lawns and in the frame of flower beds.
The flowerbeds on which the garden begonias are planted look great until the very frost.

Tips for growing begonias: video

Varieties and types of begonias: photos

Ampel begonia has recently become very popular. She certainly deserves such recognition. It is one of the most attractive indoor plants. Everything deserves praise: delicate, bright asymmetrical leaves, a beautiful bush shape, splendor of flowering, a variety of shapes and colors of flowers. In addition, the beauty is unpretentious. Even an inexperienced florist will cope with caring for an ampelous begonia if he knows the rules for growing this plant.

Planting ampelous begonia

To grow a good specimen of ampelous tuberous begonia, you need to select healthy strong tubers for planting. It is worth buying tubers in the store, the diameter of which exceeds 3 cm.Small-flowered varieties are an exception. Preference should be given to well-cleaned specimens, without stains and damage. The upper (concave) part of them should be tight. Bumps and irregularities are visible on it - these are the kidneys. Those tubers that have from three to seven buds are good.

Before planting, the tubers are kept with the lower, convex side on a damp cloth, sand or suitable soil in warm and light. In this case, the planting material is sometimes sprayed with warm soft water and a weak Epin solution. You can plant them when tiny white roots appear on the convex part.

Pots for ampelous begonias need small and wide. In containers for planting, there must be a drainage hole, on which shards and drainage are laid on top. The soil is used loose and nutritious; it can be pre-treated with a fungicide.

The prepared tubers are laid out with the convex side on a damp (but not wet) soil and the space around is covered, leaving the upper part free. In this case, the top should be located below the edge of the pot by a couple of centimeters. Until sprouts appear, the tubers are not covered with soil to the top.

Plantings of ampelous begonias are kept in a warm, bright place. Watered very carefully, trying not to hit the tuber. When the third leaf blooms on the sprout, the tuber is completely covered with soil, but not deeply.

Care

For successful cultivation, ampel begonias must be placed in a place where they will be illuminated by the sun before 11 and after 15 hours. These plants prefer an air temperature of about 18-20 degrees, but they can withstand lower temperatures. Watering is moderate, it is unacceptable to overmoisten the substrate, but overdrying is also excluded. It is undesirable for water to hit the tuber; it is better to water it along the edge of the pot or in the pan.

Fortified begonias, so that they grow quickly and bloom elegantly, need to be fed. At the beginning of growth, nitrogen fertilizer is used for rapid vegetation. During flowering, fertilizers are needed for beautifully flowering plants, containing little nitrogen and a lot of potassium and phosphorus. Occasionally, you can use fertilizers in a chelated form, which contain many trace elements (they are called vitamins for flowers). Begonias will be grateful if they are pampered with organics 1-2 times a year.

The general rule for fertilizing begonias is that the solution should be weaker than indicated in the instructions. This is due to the fact that begonias do not like salting the soil very much.

The rest of the care for ampel begonias is the same as for other flowers: removing dried leaves and flowers, spraying, observing the plant so as not to miss the appearance of pests. Before flowering, it is good to give begonias a warm shower. After it, it is better to keep the plant in the bathroom overnight so that the water droplets dry. In no case should you put a wet plant in the sun - burns will appear on the delicate leaves.

On any begonias, 2 types of flowers bloom: Large and elegant (possibly double or semi-double) - male and small unpretentious - female. If the plant is bad, it sheds male buds and loses its decorative effect.

If begonia is not tuberous, then it does not have a pronounced dormant period and decorativeness persists throughout the winter. In tuberous begonia, after flowering, the shoots gradually dry out and the plant goes into deep dormancy. Then the tubers are removed from the soil, thoroughly cleaned from the remnants of soil and shoots, and placed in dry peat for storage. They are kept at a temperature of 5-12 degrees.

If sprouts appear on a tuber in winter, then it is immediately planted, without waiting for spring. Such a plant needs additional lighting, preferably with special phytolamps.

Reproduction

Ampelous begonia can be propagated in the following ways:

• seeds,
• stem cuttings,
• dividing the tubers.

With stem cuttings, begonia multiplies quickly and easily, retaining all the characteristics of the variety. The main characteristics of the mother plant are also well preserved when dividing the tubers.To do this, take large old tubers, which have more than seven buds, and cut them from top to bottom into several segments with a very sharp knife. Each piece should have at least two buds. Sections are dried and the resulting tubers are planted in the usual way.

The ampelous begonia from seeds is also strong and healthy. Sowing and caring for sprouts is the same as for other plants with very small seeds.

Ampel begonias are used both for decoration of premises and for landscaping balconies, windows, terraces. There are many varieties of such plants, differing in diversity, beauty, long flowering. In addition, most modern varieties are resistant to rainfall on flowers.

There is a whole series of ampelous begonia varieties - "Chanson". These are excellent plants with semi-double and double flowers with a diameter of 6-8 cm. The shape of the flowers resembles a camellia. The length of shoots in begonias of this series is from 30 to 40 cm.

The most common varieties of the Chanson series:

• E051 (White F1),
• E052 (Yellow F1),
• E053 (Salmon F1),
• E762 (Pink F1),
• E054 (Copper F1),
• E055 (Bright red F1),
• E056 (Dark red F1),
• E058 (Vanilla yellow F1),
• E606 (F1 two-tone pink-white),
• E607 (F1 Bicolor Orange-Yellow).

Ampel plants - video