Begonia — Begonia
Of the many species of pot begonias, royal begonia is the most widespread (Begonia rex), willingly grown for its beautiful leaves. They are big, length to 25 cm. heart-shaped, unbalanced, with wavy-cut or notched edges, with protruding hair, seated on long ones, fleshy, red tinted petioles. They can be tinted purple-red, silvery purple or green, with many silvery, white or pink spots or stripes in parallel, to the edges of the leaf.
Multiplication. Royal begonia is propagated from leaf cuttings. They are prepared at the end of January and in February or in the fall, when plants have well-developed leaves. Seedlings, in the shape of a triangle, is cut from the leaf in this way, that the two sides of the triangle are bounded by the nerves that meet at the apex. The seedlings should be about 4-5 cm long. They root best, when they are cut from the leaf blade near its base, even with a part (do 0,5 cm) ogonka. They are placed! on the table in the multiplier, in the sand, in rows what 4 cm, at an angle of 45 °, so that the branches of the nerves are covered with a layer of sand from 0,5 do 1 cm, the lower part of the leaf should face the ground.
After watering, the seedlings are covered with windows and shaded. We maintain the temperature within the range of 20-22 °. During the first week, the seedlings are sprinkled 2-3 times a day. In the following weeks, when callus begins to form and adventitious buds begin to form, Before sprinkling, the seedlings are watered carefully one or two times a week and begin to lightly aired.
They take root after 4-6 weeks.
Further nursing. When the plants will develop 2-3 leaves, they are planted in pots with a diameter of 8-9 cm. Begonia requires a soil rich in humus, so we plant it in a mixture of 2 parts of the old leaf soil, 1 parts of the frame land, 1 parts of peat and 1 parts of sand. Place the pots on the table in the greenhouse (and 1 m2 is located 100 such pots). We maintain the temperature at 20-22 °, when the plants take root, it can be lowered to 18-20 °.
Royal begonia grows well in slightly shaded greenhouses with high air humidity. However, too high humidity and the lack of fresh air contribute to the development of diseases, therefore greenhouses should be regularly aired on sunny days.
As the plant lumps cross over, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter 10 cm, and then into pots with a diameter 12 cm. If the begonia has produced two rhizomes, that's the next time you replant, which usually falls in March, we separate them and plant them into separate pots. Pay attention to each transplant, to plant the plants a little deeper, than they grew previously, because in the part of the rhizome close to the surface of the earth, roots will develop, which should be covered with earth.
In summer, the royal begonia can be transferred to warm frames. It is moved to the greenhouse in the first days of September, because this plant is very sensitive to low temperatures. When it is below 16 ° and in high humidity, it is easily taken over by bacteria or parasitic fungi and then brown spots appear on the leaves.
After one year of cultivation, the royal begonia should be used as a commercial material.