Pelargonium care
As mentioned at the very beginning of the article, geraniums are very undemanding to care for, for which flower growers love it. Withdrawal is the fulfillment of the following conditions:
Watering
It all depends on the rate of drying of the top layer of the earth.
Geranium tolerates drought much better than excessive moisture, therefore it is important not to "flood" it, otherwise the death of the bush cannot be avoided
Watering is usually done about three times a week. By the way, it must be produced carefully, trying not to get on the leaves of the plant itself. Spraying geraniums is also undesirable.
Pick-up location
Geranium is very photophilous, therefore, its flowering directly depends on the amount of sunlight that it receives. Southern well-lit windows are suitable for growing pelargonium.
Indoor temperature
This factor is not particularly important in the summer. In winter, the temperature should not drop below 10 0 C. The main thing is to protect the plant from drafts.
Loosening
This operation is recommended to be carried out periodically so that the air flows to the roots, and the earth does not turn into one monolithic piece. In order to loosen the ground, it is not at all necessary to have a special rake: you can use an old fork or stick.
Top dressing
Geraniums are fed during flowering and before flowering with phosphorus-containing fertilizers. In no case should organic fertilizers be applied, geraniums simply do not tolerate them.
Bush formation
It means rejuvenating pruning of an adult plant and formation of young stock. In the first case, up to five buds are left on each shoot, of which new branches will appear in the future.
In the second case, the technique of pinching the tops with your fingers is used for better tillering. All these operations are recommended to be carried out in late winter - early spring.
Transfer
It is carried out not annually, but every 2-3 years. It is best to transplant with a lump of earth, without exposing the roots.
Usually this operation is performed when indoor pelargonium noticeably slows down development. But that doesn't mean the new pot has to be huge. You can increase its diameter by the thickness of your index finger.
Preparing a substrate for planting a flower
- Before preparing the ground, a container is selected. You can use a pot that has been used. In this case, wash it the day before the scheduled procedure and disinfect it.
- In the next step, a drainage layer is placed in the pot. It is sold in the store. In principle, you can not buy it, but use pebbles, polystyrene, ceramic fragments or broken brick for drainage. If in the future they water it with hard tap water, pieces of dried pine bark are placed on the bottom. It will acidify the soil and remove excess moisture from it.
- 1 / 5-1 / 4 of the volume of the pot is taken to the drainage layer. Then they put the soil. If you prepare it yourself, take the following components: turf, humus, sand (8: 2: 1). It is advisable to pour it after transshipment of the transplanted plant, trying to remove all the voids.
- It remains only to pour the geranium with settled water and wait for the excess to drain into the pan.
Problems when growing a flower
- yellowing and dropping of the lower leaves. Reason: lack of lighting, improper watering. Lack of sunlight provokes blanching of the leaves. Drought causes the tips of the leaves to dry out, and excessive moisture causes them to rot. If this happens, the conditions of detention are adjusted: the plant is illuminated or irrigated;
- redness of the border of the leaves. Reason: frozen. Solution: move to a warmer room;
- lack of flowering. Reason: insufficient lighting or low temperature readings.Solution: adjusting the conditions of detention;
- disease (gray rot, root rot) or exposure to pests: nematodes, aphids, whiteflies and ticks. In order to avoid the development of diseases, it is necessary to provide the correct conditions of detention.
Care and cultivation
Growing indoor geranium is not difficult, it loves warmth and sunny color. It is recommended to add fertilizers to the soil, mainly phosphorus. He loves abundant watering, with a small amount of water and a sunny color, there will be very few flowers and small sizes. Geranium does not like stagnant water, so there must be holes and drainage in the pot.
For propagation of geraniums, you can use the cuttings method.
In summer, the flower can be taken outside, but preferably in a lighted and sunny area. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests. This is due to the presence of essential oils that are harmful to many insects. It is recommended to remove withered flowers and yellowed leaves in a timely manner.
Pelargoniums propagate by cuttings; for this, the tops of the shoots and growth are cut off. The height and shape of the plant is formed by pruning, all parts can then be used to create cuttings. Then the cuttings are placed in a glass or jar of water until the roots appear. The soil for planting should be loose and soft. The planted cuttings take root within 2-3 weeks. All seedlings take root in 25 days.
During the period of transplanting and rooting of seedlings, it is necessary not to overmoisten the soil, otherwise the seedlings may die. Another way of propagation is by seeds. But it is more complicated, requires skill and experience from the gardener. Seeds are planted in loose soil to a depth of 1.5 cm. Water abundantly and keep the container in a dark place. Plants planted in this way in spring by mid-summer are able to bloom.
When growing, geraniums are unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but they take watering well, while the pot must be equipped with drainage. When transplanting, garden soil or any earthen mixture may be suitable. It should be remembered that the flower will grow most comfortably in small pots, it is better not to choose spacious ones. For good growth, you can add a little peat to the ground.
Geranium is considered the most popular and famous plant.
in indoor floriculture. Novice amateurs appreciate it for its unpretentiousness and ease of reproduction. There are a huge number of different varieties. Geranium is an annual or perennial plant, reaching a height of fifty centimeters. The highlight of the plant are the leaves of a rich green hue, reminiscent of the color of young grass, and large bright flowers collected in inflorescences. The leaves give off a pleasant scent of lemon and mint. In this article, we will talk about the homeland of the plant, find out its scientific name and differences from another species - pelargonium.
Where do you come from?
First, let's figure out where this house plant comes from. Found in the wild in New Zealand, Australia, California and Madagascar
... The plant is native to India and South Africa. It was from these edges that the plant got to European countries. Once the sailors who ended up in South Africa were interested in an interesting plant with bright inflorescences. The British brought the plant to the UK, where breeders began to develop new varieties.
She began to decorate houses and gardens as soon as she came to Europe. Mostly this plant could be seen in the dwellings of the nobles. Ladies of those times took a fancy to the beauty and decorated their toilets with her, decorating the headdresses and neckline of luxurious dresses.
When did you get to Russia?
Renaissance arrived in Russia in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and immediately gained wide popularity among the aristocrats. They began to decorate their luxurious homes with an unusual flower.Some species were never tamed by humans, they spread in the wild, settling in meadows, in swampy areas, in forest areas, fighting staunchly with unfavorable weather conditions for them.
Geranium varieties
Forest geranium grows in the wild.
Real geraniums have differences from indoor plants, they live in open ground and easily endure winter. Popular geranium colors are white, purple, blue and purple. The main types of geraniums found on the territory of Russia:
meadow;
swamp;
blood;
Central European;
southern European.
The special form of seeds determined the name of these plants. It resembles the head of a crane, and the Latin name "geranium" corresponds to it. Therefore, in everyday life among domestic gardeners and abroad, the plant is called a crane.
The number of species, including not only flowers, but also herbs, shrubs, is around 400 species worldwide. And immigrants from South Africa pelargonium-geraniums have about 200 species. For growing in flower beds or in the country, garden varieties of geraniums are widely used. The most popular for growing at home are white and pink geraniums.
There are many varieties of fragrant geranium, there are with the smell of lemon, wormwood, almond. But plants with a pleasant aroma have one drawback - a small number of dim flowers. But their leaves are beautiful and large.
White geranium is most popular with indoor plant lovers.
White geranium is beautiful and unpretentious to growing conditions. The most popular and famous all over the world variety is Royal. Other types of white are destiny (translated as destiny or destiny). The flower is a small shrub with a stiff shoot reaching a height of just over half a meter. Its leaves are large, with jagged edges; the flowers are bright, up to 5 cm in size. Up to 20 flowers with 5 petals can be located on one leg.
A beautiful and popular plant is pink geranium. Pink, red and white are varieties of pelargonium domesticum, only differing in color. Plants are more often single-shoot, with beautiful velvety leaves and bright flowers. Symphony and large-flowered Enzette Perle are rightfully considered the most beautiful varieties of this species. Differs in long and abundant flowering, subject to simple care rules.
Houseplants and their homeland in the tropics
The tropics are in the equatorial zone. The most common tropical landscape is evergreen forests called jungles. The climate of the tropical zone is characterized by slight fluctuations in year-round temperature, a large amount of moisture both in the air and in loose fertile soil. Plants found in the jungle differ in their relationship to sunlight. This is due to their multi-tiered nature in the tropical forest, where partial shade is constantly present under the dense crowns of trees. Plants from the tropics are moisture-loving, shade-tolerant, preferring loose fertile soil. They need to be fed often, in most cases shaded from the sun.
Related article: How to grow cyclamen from seeds
The composition of the soil for geraniums at home, features of the choice of the size of the pot
Planting geraniums is carried out in a moderately nutritious soil, neutral or slightly sour. Highly fertilized soil in a homemade pelargonium pot will result in the leaves growing abundantly without flowering. Planting pelargonium in a light-weight gardening soil with river sand and peat is ideal for a potted plant at home. The same soil mixture is suitable for sowing, and it is better to plant the cuttings in a mixture of peat and sand (preferably spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate) or perlite.
Drainage, for example, pebbles, must necessarily fall on the bottom of the pot. This prevents stagnant water and root rot. The size of the pot is selected according to the volume of the root system.The larger the capacity for the plant, the more powerfully the bush grows, as a result it will bloom less. In a small pot, pelargonium can bloom for a long time and perfectly. Several rooted cuttings can be planted in a large container. A plant transplant is needed at the moment when the roots absorb the entire volume provided.
You can grow pelargonium at home in plastic or clay pots. The second option is preferable, since in synthetic containers you will have to water it very carefully and often loosen it. In them, the soil dries slowly, they do not allow water and air to pass through. Every year you need to replace the top layer of soil in pots with a new one, and in the second year it is better to transplant homemade pelargonium.
How do you distinguish between two flowers?
The geranium flower has five or eight petals. Most often, single flowers bloom, but in some varieties they are collected in inflorescences. Pelargonium growing at home has an unusual structure of the flower corolla: the upper petals are larger than the lower three, due to which an irregular shape of this part of the flower is formed. Pelargonium flowers produce large inflorescences.
Geranium has an extensive palette of shades in which flowers, except for scarlet, can be painted, and pelargonium flowers never wear colors with blue notes.
Geranium is considered a garden plant that has gained great popularity among gardeners.
The most common varieties are "Georgian", "Oxford", "magnificent". Pelargonium is loved by home growers, blooms flowers throughout the year. In summer, it can be placed on a balcony or veranda, but in winter it must be returned to the room.
Flowers are often confused as being the same plant. However, these two flowers are completely different plants with fundamental differences, so you need to be able to distinguish them from each other.
Many growers are sure that they grow geraniums on their windowsills. However, only a few people know that a houseplant is called pelargonium (and they are not the same thing). In this article, we will tell you how geranium differs from pelargonium.
Although geranium and pelargonium are not usually distinguished, from a scientific point of view, they are completely different plants. How did it happen that people believed that two different flowers are one and the same? The fact is that in the 18th century, the scientist Karl Linnaeus, while developing his classification of plants, mistakenly ranked both of these flowers as one species, and it was his classification that the florists adopted. But another scientist, who at about the same time presented his classification, came to the conclusion that pelargonium and geranium are not the same thing, and it was this approach that came to the liking of the scientific community. Thus, some people mistakenly call geranium a plant with a completely different name.
So, the scientific name for geranium is Geranium, and those flowers that are usually grown in an apartment are called Pelargonium. These plants not only have a different name, they even differ externally, since they belong to different biological species.
The history of the origin of geranium
In its natural habitat, this plant can be found in South Africa. The culture prefers to grow in hot and sunny climates. Despite the fact that geranium is a thermophilic plant, it is easily adapted to the European continent.
The history of growing this flower begins in the 16th century. It was at that time that trade with African countries developed. For Russia, this flower became known after Peter I made a trip to Europe. Dutch architects brought with them several bushes of indoor flowers, including geraniums.
The origin of this name is associated with the prophet Mohammed. Once upon a time, geranium was a simple weed that no one paid attention to. But when the prophet descended from heaven to earth, and his cloak was damp with sweat, he threw it on the grass.Geranium, on the other hand, wrapped the cloak closer to the sun so that moisture would evaporate from it as soon as possible. The Prophet Muhammad saw this and thanked the culture, giving it an unforgettable aroma and a luxurious umbrella of inflorescences.
By the shade of the inflorescences, it was possible to identify the meaning of the flower. For example, pink geranium attracted family well-being and love, white geranium attracted childbirth, and red geranium protected from evil spirits and evil spirits. The petals of this plant are also able to attract a husband into the house, helping to set up family relationships. For this purpose, young unmarried girls carried dried flowers in a linen bag everywhere with them. In the family, this plant helped women to rid their husbands of drunkenness, and also returned him to the family.
Poems were written about geranium, famous classics mentioned it in various stories. The plants were grown for healing and for decorating the garden and home. Some varieties can adapt to outdoor conditions, while others prefer to grow only indoors. However, they all respond gratefully to the care of their master.
Country of origin of indoor geranium
South Africa presented many unique plants to flower growers, and pelargonium was no exception. The culture was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century by seafarers who explored the coast of the Cape of Good Hope.
Wild geraniums are part of the Cape flora, represented by a wide variety of clivias, chlorophytums, sanseviers and other local "inhabitants".
Geranium grows mainly in the African savannas on rocky slopes, rock outcrops and sandy soils.
This choice of habitat affected the love of room pelargonium for warmth and the characteristics of the soil, which should be moderately nutritious and loose.
Pelargonium came to Russia in the 18-19th century, where bright inflorescences instantly made the culture popular.
The plant was kept in the estates of aristocrats, but later the unpretentious flower spread to many Russian houses. Certain varieties of geraniums settled in the wild, becoming a decoration of fields and forests.
Breeding work on the development of new varieties of indoor geranium began simultaneously with the emergence of interest in the flower and continues to this day.
As a result of the work of hybridizers, a lot of specimens adapted to the peculiarities of our climate were obtained, the decorativeness of which reached a completely new level.
Terry, semi-double and simple inflorescences of snow-white, rich scarlet, pink, lilac, coral and almost black colors have become the main advantage of the varieties.
The most beautiful blooming indoor flowers photos and names
In nature, there are many home crops grown on windowsills. This section presents flowers with bright inflorescences that do not stop flowering almost all year round.
Begonia
Not a moody houseplant blooming all year round. Begonia blooms with lush inflorescences with proper care all year round. The flower loves light, undemanding to the soil, temperature regime. In the summer, she is taken out to the loggia without harm to her health. It is planted with cuttings. To keep the culture lush, it is pruned.
Abutilon
Thanks to the leaves, the house flower has received the name among gardeners "indoor maple". The plant is not whimsical, it requires constant, economical watering, good daylight. The best soil for a flower is deciduous humus with sand, turf, mature manure. For abundant flowering, Abuliton is fed with superphosphates, saltpeter. In the spring, it will require pruning. Propagated by cuttings.
Hibiscus
A picky indoor shrub that grows in houses up to 2 m. It blooms from spring to autumn with large whitish, bright red, pink flowers. The plant is sun-loving. Requires good watering in summer. In winter, the culture is kept at a thermometer mark of 16-17C. Diluted by cuttings. Suitable soil: humus / peat, turf, some sand. In the spring, the flower is pruned to form a bush shape.
Anthurium
The plant is divided into decorative deciduous crops and flowering. It blooms with a light red, crimson shade, red. Loves the light and division of the thermometer at least 18C, moderate watering. Flowers are not against irrigation. They are planted by cuttings, cutting off the lateral stems. The substrate must be drained.
Clivia
The indoor flower is characterized by dark green leaves. During flowering, a long pedicel with yellow-orange buds forms on it. The plant tolerates shade. With top dressing, clivia will bloom even in a dark room. The culture is propagated by root "children", separating them from their parents and planting them in a substrate of sand, turf, leafy ground.
Indoor roses
An ornamental plant that prefers abundant lighting does not tolerate overheating. House flowers come in a variety of colors. After acquisition, the culture is immediately transplanted into nutrient soil. In favorable conditions, the rose blooms all year round with a short break.
The flower is good for watering, it is important not to allow the soil to dry out. They feed a room rose every two weeks
The plant is pruned by removing dead buds, dry leaves and branches.
Pelargonium
Blooms with bright exotic balls (dormant November-February). The homeland of the plant is South America. In total, there are from 280 to 350 species. The essential oil of the flower kills harmful bacteria and helps purify the air in the house. The culture is not whimsical in its care, it loves light. Pelargonium is watered moderately without waterlogging. To prevent the flower from stretching, it is cut off in the form of a neat bush. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Kalanchoe
The most amazing indoor flower. It is considered a succulent. Homeland is Madagascar, Australia, southern Africa. All Kalanchoe varieties are grown in pots. The plant is sun-loving. Temperatures for growing Kalanchoe are 20-25C in summer and 15-18C in winter. The plant is rarely watered, but abundantly. They are fed with fertilizers for cacti. Prune after flowering. Reproduction takes place by seeds, cuttings, "children".
Saintpaulia
Another name for the flower is the uzambara violet. Refers to perennial herbaceous plants. Small exotic indoor flowers tolerate shade and are unpretentious. Blooms almost all year round. The homeland of the plant is considered to be east of Africa. Today, the originators have bred many varieties and types of flowers that differ in appearance. The best conditions for growing crops: temperature 16-24C, humidity 60-70%, no draft. The "queen of flowers" is watered in moderation (it is possible in the tray of the flowerpot). Spraying is contraindicated. It reproduces in small bushes.
Types of begonias
Begonia can be divided into two main types:
- blooming,
- deciduous.
This means that some types of begonias do not bloom at home, they are bred because of their gorgeous, large leaves of bright, saturated color.
The leaves attract attention due to interesting veins, which in some species have a contrasting color.
Blooming begonias delight owners with beautiful branching panicles. Flowers can be double or smooth, have different shades.
There is a difference in caring for deciduous and flowering begonias: flowering begonias require feeding. And deciduous trees are often more unpretentious and can grow in the most difficult conditions in terms of illumination.
The benefits of geranium
But geranium is not only a beautiful, but also a useful plant. Substances are released from its leaves, they purify and disinfect the air. The smell that comes from the plant has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It is believed that geranium is able to give a good and sound sleep. Therefore, the plant is recommended to be placed in bedrooms.
Geranium contains tannins, flavonoids, essential oils, etc. Even in ancient times, priests, sorcerers, and healers were interested in this plant. With this flower, they chased away evil, protected a woman during pregnancy.
Geranium is endowed with medicinal properties.It is often compared to plantain, which is often used in medical practice. If a person is injured, he is advised to attach the sheet to the affected area. As a result, the blood will stop, the wound will not rot, it will heal quickly.
In addition, geranium has other properties. It was used to eliminate poisons, relieve stress, and remove headaches. From this plant oil is extracted, which is appreciated by doctors. With its help, even in ancient times in the homeland, plants strengthened muscles, removed pain in the spine. They also made a compress based on oil, it was applied to the wound so that it healed faster, in this way the pus was pulled out. With a runny nose and pain in the ears, oil dripped. They also mixed it with whiskey, drank such a drink, after which the headache passed. This even lifted the mood, the depression disappeared.
An infusion was made from inflorescences or leaves. Honey was added to it, after which a medicine was obtained with which the eyes were washed, which festered. A decoction from the leaves of the plant has great benefits. It was used to treat stomach ailments. Such a drink will be especially valuable for gastritis, diarrhea.
To prepare a decoction, you first need to grind the leaves of the plant. They will need to take one tablespoon, a glass of boiling water is added to it. The mixture should be heated in a water bath for five minutes. After that, the broth is considered ready. It should be consumed 3 times a day on a spoon half an hour before meals.
Even geranium roots have medicinal properties. They are used to prepare an infusion, with the help of which blood pressure rises. To prepare it, you need to chop the root. It is poured with boiling water. The mixture should stand for about 8 hours. The filtered infusion is drunk before meals throughout the day.
An infusion of the leaves can help relieve poor sleep, as it has a calming effect. Geranium leaves themselves relieve inflammation, restore cells.
Even in ancient times, in the homeland of geraniums, it was used for medicinal purposes. But today this flower is grown in different countries, so every person who has this amazing plant in his house can take advantage of its healing properties.
In addition, geranium is also used as a talisman. It is believed that the plant also has magical properties. But this is just a theory
One thing is certain, geranium is capable of purifying the air, which is important in the current course of life.
Popular varieties and types
Despite the juicy green color of the leaves, the most attractive feature of the plant is its bright inflorescences. Geranium does not have red flowers, while for pelargonium it is the preferred color.
In specialized stores, you can find plants with variegated leaves and inflorescences, obtained by crossing different species.
The most popular are the following varieties of pelargonium.
- Royal. One of the first varieties used in Europe to decorate flower beds was royal pelargonium. She has large double flowers, on the petals of which a dark spot is noticeable.
- Zonal. The most famous variety of indoor geranium, distinguished not only by lush flowering, but also by the variegated color of the leaves. There are varieties with tricolor leaves, but more often they have a burgundy, silver or blue border. Flowers can be regular, semi-double and double.
- Fragrant. The name demonstrates the main feature of scented pelargonium - its feathery leaves exude a strong and pleasant scent of lemon and mint. Breeders have added notes of apples, ginger and even pine to them. These plants most often have pink and lilac flowers.
- Angel. Flowers of this variety resemble pansies and are purple, white and pink. There is also a two-tone color or petals with contrasting spots.
- Lemon. Lemon Pelargonium has unusual leaves. They are of complex shape, excised, due to which they seem terry.When touched, they emit a strong lemon scent that relieves migraine pains and calms the nervous system.
- Ivy. This geranium is often planted on balconies as it hangs beautifully from boxes and blooms throughout the warm season. Small leaves compensate for the large number of shoots and large inflorescences.
Varieties of pelargonium
There are many varieties of pelargonium, from 200 to 400 species are distinguished. There are several classifications of geranium flowers, based on the name of the variety or appearance: terry, non-double, rosaceous, miniature, variegated, star-shaped, cactus-like, fragrant, unique, angels. Main varieties:
- King Geranium (Large-flowered Pelargonium) arrived in Europe from South West Africa. Refers to a shrub species. It reaches a height of about 80-90 centimeters. The leaves are round and smooth, sometimes dissected, slightly lowered down. The color is two-tone white interspersed with red veins. On average, from 1 to 3 flowers are formed on the peduncle. Royal geranium flowers up to 15 centimeters wide. The shape of the petals is terry or corrugated. Flowering time is spring and summer.
- Pelargonium is fragrant, you should not confuse it with fragrant geranium, it belongs to a variety of shrubs, the height reaches 30 centimeters. Umbrellas consist of 5-10 flowers. What is a fragrant geranium flower? The color of the flowers is pink or dark pink, white. Blooms in summer. The plant produces aromas similar to cinnamon, lemon, apple. More than 150 varieties have been developed that emit unusual odors. Most often, the leaves of an odorous geranium are used for long-term storage of things to achieve a pleasant smell. Often grown in gardens. It is used on an industrial scale to obtain essential oil.
- The unique plant was born after crossing the royal species with brilliant geraniums. The flower got this name because they could not classify it in any way, all its components were so unique that they called it that way - unique. The shape of the leaves is dissected. Color: dark green. The inflorescences are red in color with a white center.
- Ivy Geranium (Ice Rose) got its name from the appearance of the leaves. Flowers are double and semi-double in shape, the leaves are smooth. Color: pink, white, lilac, red. The color depends on the variety. Blooms in the summer.
- Zonal pelargonium is distinguished by the flowering period, since it can bloom all year round. Shades of flowers are bright, double in shape, semi-double, containing many petals (more than 8). The leaves are round and bicolor in shape, the edge is brown and the core is green.
- Miniature pelargonium (golden-leaved) - refers to the zonal variety. It got its name for its small size, but the size of the flowers is large. The color is white with a pink tint. Leaves are light green, double and semi-double in shape. Blooms in summer. Doesn't take up much space on the windowsill. Propagated by cuttings. No pruning required to create lushness.
Beautiful begonia: the birthplace of the plant and natural growing conditions
The birthplace of begonias is tropical forests. There are a lot of indoor begonias: they have different sizes and shades of leaves, bloom differently and require different conditions. Different types of begonias have different origins: some are native to Africa, while others are from India, China, or South America.
In this regard, the natural conditions for the growth of begonias are moist, warm ground, frequent watering with the help of warm tropical rains, and the absence of a cold season.
This is a family of plants (begonias), amazing in their diversity and abundance, which, despite the difference in the homeland of origin, remain a single species: they clearly show common features in the appearance, structure of leaves and flowers.
In total, there are more than one and a half thousand types of indoor begonias!
Thus, we can consider several continents as the birthplace of the plant:
- Southeast Asia,
- Africa,
- South America
- Islands of the Caribbean.
Wild relatives of the houseplant grow in humid tropical and subtropical forests. The first begonia was brought to Europe in the distant 17th century from the island of Haiti in the Caribbean
Travelers and explorers drew attention to the beauty of the large, fluffy leaves of the plant and took the cuttings as material for scientific research.
The southern plant turned out to be unpretentious. It turned out that begonia grows well in indoor conditions, blooms profusely and multiplies easily.