Homeland room begonia - description and plant species. "African beauty" begonia: photo, detailed description, other flower names and care rules

plant homeland . Southeast Asia and India.

Description.The indoor king or rex begonia is grown for its showy colorful foliage in a wide range of shades, shapes and textures. The leaves are large with veins or specks of silver, pink, purple, green or burgundy. Tiny, inconspicuous flowers appear on tall stems, it is advisable to remove them so that the plant does not waste energy on flowering to the detriment of the leaves. It is a rhizomatous begonia with a thick, fleshy root located just below the soil surface. The dimensions of the leaf plate are variable, but mostly they are 22 cm long and 12.5 cm wide, while the plant itself reaches a height of only 30 - 40 cm. Some types of royal begonia fall into a dormant period in winter.

Height. Reaches a height of 30 cm.

Begonia royal care

Temperature conditions . Optimum temperature within 18 - 24 ° C. Does not tolerate frost, but does not like extreme heat above 26 ° C - during the day the plant may die.

Lighting. Can tolerate slightly less bright light than most begonias and grows well under fluorescent lights. They do best in bright, indirect sunlight. backlight in winter period enhances the shade of the leaves. Direct sunlight can cause burns.

How to care for royal begonia. Rotate the pot about ¼ turn every week for even light. Leaves may drop in low light conditions. Remove dead leaves regularly. In winter, these begonias sometimes shed their leaves and fall into a dormant state. If this happens, cut off the wilted leaves, stop watering, and wrap the potted plant in plastic bag. Store cool at approximately 16°C until new growth appears within 6 to 10 weeks. Any changes in the content of this type of begonias should be accustomed gradually.

Begonia royal at home - soil. Porous, slightly acidified soil based on peat, leaf humus, perlite and sphagnum moss, with the addition of a small amount of crushed charcoal. Grows well in ready mixes for Saintpaulia.

top dressing. Liquid fertilizer diluted to ¼ of the recommended dose every week or half the dose every two weeks. Do not feed at rest.

Purpose. Spectacular ornamental houseplant.

flowering time. Home royal begonia blooms in summer. Flowering is inconspicuous and so that the plant does not waste energy on it, flower stalks are often cut off.

Air humidity. Quite high, as for ferns, does not like spraying - they can provoke the appearance of powdery mildew. Provide extra moisture by planting plants on trays filled with moistened pebbles or use a humidifier. Begonias do not tolerate cold drafts and do not like hypothermia of the roots.

soil moisture. Likes a moist substrate, but does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots. The top layer of soil, about 2.5 cm, should dry out between waterings. Always use water room temperature when watering. When watering, try not to get drops on the leaves of the plant - bottom watering is desirable. Excess moisture from the pan, which appeared after watering, should immediately be drained.

Transplantation of royal begonia. In the spring, when the rhizome outgrows the pot. As root system shallow - use a shallow pot. You can divide the rhizome during transplantation. After removing the plant from the pot, inspect the root system - rotten roots should be cut with a sharp sterile tool and sprinkled with crushed cut points. charcoal. Do not take too large containers for planting - excess soil will accumulate moisture and the roots of the plants will rot.

Reproduction of royal begonia. Leaves and cuttings rooted in a mixture of wet peat and perlite, possibly with the use of growth hormones. Keep seedlings in a warm, bright place with a temperature of 24 - 27 ° C. Leaf cuttings usually take root in 3 - 4 weeks, and are able to give roots even in a simple glass of water. After planting, the cuttings should be covered with transparent plastic or glass to maintain uniform air humidity. Seeds sown in spring. The seeds are very small and need light to germinate, so do not cover them with soil, at 25°C it will take 15 to 20 days to germinate. The vast majority of begonias are now hybrids, so plants grown from seeds may not inherit all the beauty of the parent plant. The division of the rhizome during transplantation. When grown in a cramped pot, royal begonias often form daughter rosettes - they are planted in separate cups.

Pests and diseases. Royal begonia is quite difficult to grow due to the need for high humidity. Moisture on leaves and stems causes fungal diseases(e.g. powdery mildew) and the appearance of rot. Dry, brittle leaves are the result of too dry air. Direct spraying of the leaves may cause powdery mildew. Stagnation of water in the soil leads to root rot. From pests may appear spider mites ki and whiteflies.

Note.Begonia is able to purify indoor air from harmful impurities.

Hydroponics.When grown in a hydroponic solution, begonias often outperform their soil-grown counterparts in growth and leaf size.

Summing up - 7 secrets of success:

1. Growing temperature: grown at normal room temperature ranging from 18 to 24 ° C throughout the year.
2. Lighting: a well-lit place without direct sunlight, it is possible to grow with artificial lighting.
3. Watering and humidity: water at room temperature, dry between waterings upper layer soil, the humidity is quite high.
4. pruning: remove old dried leaves in a timely manner to maintain an attractive appearance.
5. Priming: Loose, well-drained soil with adequate nutrient content and acidic pH.
6. top dressing: in the warm season we feed 2 times a month.
7. reproduction: sheet and stem cuttings spring and summer, dividing big plants when transplanting, seeds and daughter outlets.

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Currently, there are over 2 thousand types of begonias. For indoor cultivation, hybrids are usually used, which are decorative-deciduous and decorative-flowering.

Begonia is undemanding in care, give it a little attention, and it will delight with its amazing beauty.

Getting to know the plant

Begonias are native to the rainforests of Africa, Asia and South America.

It was discovered in 1687 by the French monk C. Plumier during his trip to the Antilles. Michel Begon organized a scientific expedition, and the plant got its name in his honor.

Begonia annuals or perennial plant. Among them there are shrubs, semi-shrubs and herbs.

In addition, all types are divided into 3 groups:

• tuberous varieties (reproduced by tubers),
• bush varieties (propagated by seeds and cuttings),
• leafy varieties (propagated by root).

Demand breeds popularity

As already mentioned, there are a huge number of types of begonia, which is due to some extent to the popularity of the plant among gardeners, the most popular are the following:

1. Winter or hybrid Elatior. For the first time this variety was obtained in England in 1883. Plants were bred with double, semi-double and non-double flowers, various colors of white, yellow, pink, red. If you keep the hybrid at high humidity and a temperature not lower than +15 ° C, then it will bloom for a long time. After flowering, it loses its decorative effect, but you should not throw it away. Remove excess branches, leaving stumps no more than 7 cm, after a while the plant will begin to produce new shoots. They need to be pinched to form a lush bush.
2. Always blooming. The name speaks for itself - this species blooms all year round, but is especially active from mid-summer to autumn. The flowers are small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. The plant is photophilous, but can grow in partial shade. In dry weather, watering should be plentiful. If the ever-flowering begonia lacks light or moisture, it blooms weakly, the buds fall off. This species is propagated by cuttings or seeds. But when propagated by seeds of terry varieties, they lose their decorative effect, it is better to propagate them by tissue culture.
3. Tuberous. Breeders bred terry and simple varieties. This species does not like sunny places, the tips of the leaves begin to fade. But in partial shade, plants will delight with intense flowering. Begonia should be protected from drafts, as it breaks easily. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.
4. decorative leafy. In varieties of this species, flowers are inconspicuous, but very beautiful large leaves. The species is shade-tolerant, especially in summer. Decorative leafy begonia is a heat-loving plant: in winter the temperature should not be lower than + 16 ° C, and in summer + 20-26 ° C. The plant needs to be repotted every year. The flower propagates by cuttings, part of the leaf, tubers.

This is what an evergreen begonia looks like.

Getting to know each other better

You can learn more about some varieties of begonias, the features of care, planting and reproduction, as well as get acquainted with the photo of flowers in the videos.

Variety Elatior:

Begonia evergreen:

Tuberous Begonia:

When purchasing any type and variety of begonia, you need to pay attention to the leaves: they should be dense, bright, without plaque and dry spots.

Features of maintenance and care

How to create conditions for keeping begonias and ensure proper care so that she can express herself in all her glory?

Temperature and lighting

Do not place a flower near the battery. Air temperature in summer period should be around +20°C, in winter not lower than +15°C.

In summer, you can take the flower to the loggia. The plant loves sunny color, but it must be hidden from direct sunlight.

You also need to protect the begonia from drafts.

Begonia loves to "drink..."

In the spring and summer, plants should be watered abundantly, but at the same time make sure that there is no stagnation of water. In winter, water as the soil dries.

Water should be settled, it is desirable to further soften it by boiling or passing through a filter.

When watering, you need to make sure that water does not get on the leaf blade, otherwise spots will appear on it.

You can water the flower using the immersion method: place the begonia pot in water for 20 minutes, then transfer it to a pallet. If after an hour there is liquid on the pan, drain it.

The humidity in the room where the begonia grows should be high. But it is not advisable to spray the plants themselves. The best way out is to put the flower pot on wet moss or peat.

...and have a bite

From spring to mid-October, plants need to be fed. Any will do fertilizer for ornamental plants.

Do not overdo it with top dressing, because of this, the immunity of begonias drops, it gets sick more easily, and pests appear on it.

At proper care tuberous varieties bloom from May to December, then shed their leaves, dry up, the plants are cut, and the tubers are placed in the sand and so that they do not dry out, they are watered from time to time.

In March, the tubers are planted again in a pot and immediately begin to make nitrogen fertilizers, which help to increase the green mass.

Begonia royal

You also need to take into account such nuances when feeding plants:

• during the flowering period, the amount of nitrogen in dressings is reduced;
• fertilizers need to be applied every 2 weeks;
• tuberous begonia can not be fed with preparations containing chlorine;
• with a deficiency of potassium, the leaves turn yellow, and the flowers fall off;
• with a lack of phosphorus, it slows down the growth of the plant;
• With a lack of calcium, the plant is most easily ill.

Flowering plant care

Flowering plants are constantly fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Be sure to remove wilted buds, otherwise flowering will be weak.

Begonia should be protected from drafts, temperature fluctuations, soil drought, and vice versa, moisture stagnation.

It is necessary to maintain high humidity in the room where the flower stands.

Plant propagation

Reproduction of begonias, depending on the species, occurs in different ways: by seeds, tubers or leaf blades.

Reproduction by tubers

In autumn, the tuber is taken out, freed from the ground, the ground part of the plant is cut off, and the tuber itself is stored either in sand or in peat, which are sometimes watered. Storage temperature +8 +10 °С.

In February, the tubers are transplanted into moist soil. After a few, as soon as the first shoots appear, the tubers are divided into parts, the cut is disinfected with charcoal and slightly dried. Then they are planted in boxes, deepening the tubers into the ground only half.

After 25 days, the plants can be planted in pots and placed in a bright place. The soil is prepared from peat and leaf ground 1:1.

plant tubers

It is advisable to propagate begonia with a leaf plate in the spring. To do this, the leaf must be cut at the very base of the stem of the plant, the leaf stalk must be at least 5 cm.

Plant the cutting in the ground, you need to be careful and at the same time make sure that the leaf itself does not touch the soil. The substrate after planting must be thoroughly watered. Plant leaf stalk it is necessary as soon as possible, while its cut is still dry.

Reproduction of begonias by a leaf fragment:

Seed use

It is desirable to plant begonia seeds in early January.

The soil is prepared from peat, sand and leaf humus, which are taken in equal amounts. The soil must be disinfected with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate. Crops are covered with glass and the ground is evenly moistened.

In order for the seeds to germinate, they must have enough sunlight. After 14 days, as soon as the first sprouts appear, the glass is removed. When 2-3 leaves grow, the plants dive.

A month later, a second pick is carried out. In early May, plants can already be planted in separate pots.

Features of transplantation - what, how, and why?

Begonias should be repotted every year, preferably in early spring.

If you do this less often, then when the flower pot is cramped, the leaves will begin to lose color and decorativeness.

If you take a plastic pot, a layer of expanded clay must be laid on its bottom. And on top, so that the pot is more stable, shells or sand are poured.

If you plant a flower in a ceramic pot, then it should be borne in mind that sooner or later the root system will occupy all the space inside the pot, grow to its walls, and the roots will be severely damaged during the next transplant.

Do not use glazed pots, as they do not allow moisture and air to pass through.

The land is moderately watered before transplanting so that it is neither dry nor too damp.

The plant must be carefully removed from the pot, cleaned of soil and placed for 15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. All small, tangled and large rotten roots are cut off, the cut site is disinfected with charcoal.

The substrate for transplantation should be slightly acidic. The best option a mixture of leaf and sod humus, peat, a little bit of sand and coniferous earth.

After transplanting, it is better to cut the flower, so it will recover sooner and begin to grow. It is advisable to put the transplanted begonia in the shade for several days, it must be sprayed and watered daily as the topsoil dries.

If you run into a problem, don't worry!

Many flower growers have some difficulties when growing this flower.

To avoid the death of begonias, you need to know why the problem occurs and what to do in a given situation:

1. To make the plant bloom more wilted buds should be cut off regularly, as they interfere with the emergence of new flowers. Perhaps the begonia does not bloom because it was transplanted into a very spacious pot. Each time you transplant, you should take a new pot only 2 cm larger than the previous one.
2. The plant's leaves are drying up I. With poor watering and dry air, the leaves of the plant begin to dry, and the flowers fall off.
3. Pale or yellow leaves become with a lack of light.
4. In case of insufficient humidity or direct sunlight the edges of the leaves of a plant with a storm t.
5. Too much moisture can lead to gray mold, a light mold forms on the leaves, which must be removed, and infected specimens should be treated with antifungal drugs.
6. Cold and damp ground can cause root rot.
7. Due to temperature fluctuations, drafts and dry air may appear on foliage. white coating- mealy dew a. A sick begonia is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate (2.5 g per 10 liters of water).

Of the insect pests, spider mites usually attack the flower. From them today in the store you can buy insecticides, for example, Fitoverm.

Begonia got its name from the French monk Charles Plumier., a famous botanist of the 17th century. In 1687, he accompanied an expedition organized by his friend, the governor of Haiti, Michel Begon. The search resulted in the discovery of six new species. herbaceous plants with leaves of an unusual asymmetrical shape, reminiscent of the ears of an elephant.

In honor of the organizer of the expedition, Michel Begon, the plants found were named. Now you know what the name of this flower means. Despite the fact that the first species of begonias were found in the Caribbean, there are two more centers of distribution of the genus Begonia: Central Africa and Southeast Asia.

ATTENTION: There is a hypothesis that the original homeland of begonia was West Africa, from where the plant spread to the Brazilian region (near the Amazon basin) and South East Asia(Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia).

At home, in Africa, Begonias are often called Elephant Ears for their characteristic asymmetrical leaf shape.. The bright pink underside of the leaves shines through in the light like a pink auricle, enhancing the resemblance.

Tall royal begonias Rex with large variegated leaves called Angel Wings. Indeed, such a romantic name is justified when looking at the jagged, as if feathered edges of the leaves, similar to irregular shape hearts.

The most common profusely blooming Elatior begonias are usually given as winter bouquet. They are always on the shelves. flower shops and are relatively inexpensive from 300-400 rubles.

Flowers in begonias are same-sex and on the same plant there are both male and female flowers (on the differences between women and male flowers begonias we told in detail). Revealed first male flowers begonias, they are simple staminate and terry.

The doubleness of flowers can reach such an extent that the stamens are transformed into a kind of petal and the flower is barren. Then the female flowers bloom, they are always simple and smaller.

Often such flowers are removed so that seed pods do not form. When fruits are formed, begonia gives all its strength to their ripening and is quickly depleted, stopping flowering (we talked about how to care for begonia after flowering).

Velvety begonia flowers mostly in warm colors:

• creamy white;
• beige;
• yellow;
• orange;
• scarlet.

Begonias come in different sizes. Their flowers can be both very small and huge.

1. Giant(gigantea) with flowers up to 20 cm in diameter.
2. large-flowered(grandiflora) flowers 10–14 cm.
3. profusely flowering(floribunda) 8–10 cm.
4. multiflorous(multiflora) 5–7 cm.

The leaves of begonias are usually asymmetrical in shape, resembling elephant ears or a heart with unequal halves:

• with rounded edges;
• jagged edges;
• wavy terry edges.

There are species with lotus-shaped, maple-shaped, star-shaped carved leaf plates lying in one plane or twisted into a double helix. The color of the leaves is no less diverse than the color of the flowers..

Monochrome dyed:

There are species with a contrasting purple border around the perimeter of the leaf or passing through the middle of the leaf plate. light stripe. In variegated begonia species, there is a combination of up to 4–5 flowers on one leaf.:

• silver white;
• green;
• pink;
• purple;
• brown.

On the sheet plates often there is a pattern in the form of a white or lemon mesh of veins. In spotted species of begonias, the leaves are decorated with specks-splashes of silver, pink, purple.

According to the structure of the stem, the genus of begonias is divided into groups:

1. Cane with high straight knotty shoots.
2. Bush (shtrab) form low branched shrubs strewn with flowers.
3. Caudex (tuberose), in the lower part of the stem of which a characteristic thickening is formed. These species are able to accumulate water in the fleshy stem and branches.
4. Ampel-climbing species with flexible creeping stems.

The roots of begonias also differ in their shape, depending on the type of flower.

They may be:

• Tuberous when fragile translucent shoots grow directly from the tuber.
• Rhizome creeping along the ground.
• fibrous, in begonias with a superficial root system.

We talked about annual and perennial begonias, as well as about the features of their cultivation.

Main types

IMPORTANT: The official classification is so complex and confusing that amateur flower growers use several simplified divisions among themselves according to the type of stems and roots, and according to the method of cultivation.

For example, Professor V. Vorontsov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, divides all types of begonias into:

1. Tuberous.
2. Shrub.
3. Beautiful flowering.
4. Decorative leafy.

The European classification system divides the types of begonias according to biological characteristics and the method of reproduction.:

• Cane begonias, cane.
• Scars, bush.
• Royal, rex.
• Rhizome, rhizome.
• Tuberous.
• Tuberoses.
• Ampel-climbing.
• Everblooming.

Beneficial features

Begonias well clean the surrounding air from dust and synthetic fumes, significantly reduce the content of microbes and bacteria in the air, and improve the condition of the cardiovascular and circulatory system. It is believed that begonia has positive energy and helps to cope with depression and insecurity.

Decorative leafy species are fed once a month with nitrogenous fertilizers, begonias with lush large flowers - potassium-phosphorus (about how to feed begonias for abundant flowering at home, we told). Tuberous begonias need an annual spring after a period of dormancy.

Other decorative types with fibrous or branched roots are transplanted only when the pot becomes cramped and the roots begin to crawl out of it. We talked about the rules for planting and transplanting begonias at home, including after purchase, in.

1. When transplanting, the soil is pre-disinfected, calcining it at high temperature or by spilling a weak insecticide solution.
2. The plant prepared for transplantation is spilled with water, taken out together with earthy clod from the pot and carefully examine the roots.
3. Damaged or rotten roots are removed. sharp knife , sections are treated with ash or crushed activated carbon.
4. A drainage layer is poured at the bottom of the pot, consisting of expanded clay, fine gravel and coarse sand.
5. Soil is poured from above about 3 cm thick, place the plant and add the rest of the earth. If you dream of decorating your garden with begonias, give preference to tuberous species.
6. For planting bulbs, plants in open ground are taken strong seedlings grown indoors and hardened for a week on an insulated loggia at a night temperature of 13–15 ° C. For begonias, slightly acidic loose soil is preferable; add leaf compost, humus and peat to the soil.
7. Drainage is poured into the bottom of the holes prepared for seedlings. in the form of expanded clay or fine gravel, sprinkled with 3 cm of soil. The seedling is placed in the hole and the remaining soil is filled up, slightly crushing from above.
8. Then the plant is watered a small amount water. In the future, they maintain the irrigation regime: 1 time in 3 days, not forgetting to loosen the ground around the plant each time.

ATTENTION: It is advisable to choose areas with diffused light for begonia without scorching rays sun. Feed the flowers once a month mineral fertilizers and they will bloom all summer until October. In autumn, when cold weather sets in, begonia tubers are not immediately dug up.

Important importance should be attached to the fact that it is necessary to wait until all the leaves fall off, and the shoots turn yellow and dry. At this time, the tubers accumulate nutrients and form flower buds. After that, the tubers are carefully removed from the ground with a pitchfork, dried in a cool room for about 2 weeks and stored in wooden box with sand, and the shoots are cut and planted.

More information about growing begonias in open field you will find in .

Diseases and pests

• The main pests tuberous begonias are root-knot nematodes that affect the tubers and root system of the plant. In this case, the plant is watered with a solution of heterophos.
• Spider mites and aphids. To prevent, it is enough to remove fallen leaves and wilted flowers. process the leaves soapy water, in advanced cases fitoverm or decissus.
• Pseudothyroid soft. Begonia is treated with an infusion of garlic or pyrethrum.
• Bacterial spotting. Every two weeks, the plant is treated with copper chloride.
• powdery mildew. Isolate the diseased plant and treat with a fungicide.
• Gray rot. Treatment with Bordeaux mixture or foundation.

enough begonias unpretentious plants, which will decorate your home with beautiful large flowers, not only in spring and summer, but even in winter and late autumn. The variety of colors of decorative leafy species is simply amazing!

Probably there is no person who is fond of floriculture, who would not know anything about begonias. In Russia this southern guest has long and firmly settled on the windowsills, thanks to the unpretentiousness, beauty of flowers, the variety of their shapes and shades. But not everyone knows where is the origin of this plant.

Due to species diversity it has become an ornament not only for houses and apartments, it feels very comfortable in summer cottages, in gardens and parks, and has become widespread in many countries around the world..

Even during the War of 1812 in Russia they began to call it "Napoleon's ear", since the leaves of the plant are shaped like frostbitten ears.

Inhabitant of the tropical forests of South America, Asia and Africa, begonia represented by more than 900 species. The plant can be ornamental deciduous, ornamental flowering or shrubby.

Where are you from indoor flower And how did you get to us in Russia? For the first time this species was described by the French priest C. Plushier, who discovered a new plant during his travels around the island of Haiti.

The governor of the island at that time was Michel Begon, it is to him that the flower owes its name- this is the origin of the name of the plant.

Which countries and places are popular

Due to the high decorativeness, the novelty brought quickly gained popularity among flower growers in Europe.

At first, begonias were grown in greenhouses.. After, thanks to the efforts of breeders who managed to get varieties that feel comfortable in a far from tropical climate, the flower moved from greenhouses and from window sills to gardens and parks, over the years not only not losing popularity, but also significantly strengthening it.

Now begonia is common in Asia, Europe, Africa and America, that is, it gives its beauty to the inhabitants of almost all continents.

It has become popular with flower growers in many countries and decorates not only the interiors of houses and apartments.

Begonia is an excellent decoration of parks and a favorite of landscape designers who appreciate its exceptional decorative effect.

The hostess of the Flower Shop will tell about begonias:

Legends about the origin of room begonia

There is a very beautiful legend about it amazing flower. The Atzalca Indians of South America have long worshiped the Tamaya plant. It was considered sacred to the tribe.

Once a year, the goddess of Heaven descended to Earth and the plant became a young woman of amazing beauty. The golden-haired beauty was a symbol of the union between Heaven and Earth.

After the discovery of America by Columbus, the life of the Indians turned into a nightmare. The last hope for them was the help of the golden-haired goddess. The natives believed that she was able to return their former happy life to them.

With the help of ritual dances and songs, the Indians managed to call on the goddess, but the beauty was captured by the Spaniards and locked on a ship sailing to Europe.

During the entire journey, they tried to seduce the goddess more than once, promising rich gifts in exchange for favor, and when, having arrived in Spain, they opened the cabin door, then instead of a girl, they found only a long dried stem without flowers and leaves.

Frightened by what they had done, the head of the conquistadors vowed to return the sacred flower to his homeland. He placed "Tamaya" in a crystal urn, but did not have time to return it to America, because he died.

A few centuries later, an urn with a flower and a recorded story of the conquistador accidentally found French botanist who managed to return a dried stem to his homeland.

Grateful Indians tried to revive the Goddess of Heaven and after 3 days of a complex ritual they managed to see her again. But only for a moment.

With the first rays of the sun, the stem turned into a golden-haired beauty, which immediately disappeared, and the plant was revived to life, covered with flowers and leaves. Tamaya has returned home.

Magic and astrology

By folk beliefs, this inhabitant of the tropics brings happiness and prosperity to the house. Helps his owner to avoid financial problems and find a soul mate.

However, it should be remembered that diseases of these flowers can portend trouble for households. Therefore, not only the state of your green pet but also the excellent condition of all family members.

You should not take these flowers from a person who does not treat you very well. Together with them you can get a lot of negativity.

Southern beauty soaks up negative human emotions, takes away unpleasant thoughts, relieves uncertainty and harmonizes relationships. She can return the former passion to partners who have been married for many years.

According to astrologers, the flower is patronized by the Sun, but in addition, Venus has a huge influence on it.

That's why he is able to give a fading relationship a second life and help to find love for those who are already desperate and resigned to loneliness.

Some are afraid to keep begonia at home due to the fact that it has blossomed out of time, it portends the death of one of the family members.

This superstition spread only in Russia. In other countries, she is credited with exceptionally positive qualities.

Useful properties of a flower

Whether or not to believe in such possibilities of a handsome green man is a personal matter for everyone, but, apart from magical abilities, it also has medicinal properties:

• the ability to quickly heal wounds;
• is an excellent antiseptic;
• has anti-allergic and antispasmodic action;
• relieves well.

Besides, perfectly cleans the air from dust and neutralizes harmful radiation. It has a beneficial effect on people prone to colds and respiratory diseases.

Tip: place a planter with these flowers near your computer, it will get rid of harmful radiation in no way worse than a cactus. In addition, begonia leaves absorb dust, purifying the air.

Begonia flowers, having a whole range of shades, have a color therapeutic effect.

Orange tones help to get rid of depression and improve mood. Yellow ones are able to relieve fatigue from the eyes, red ones activate vital processes.

Energy and symbolism

Even a small plant has exceptionally positive energy. With his appearance in the house, the aura of the home changes, becoming more positive.

Begonia is able to improve the financial condition of its owners. You just need to tell the flower about your problems and ask for help. In gratitude for the care and care, begonia will surely increase the cash flow in the house.

According to the now fashionable Chinese teaching of Feng Shui, it is also a symbol of wealth, family happiness , tranquility and prosperity. In Asia, begonias adorn the head of the bride with red flowers, they serve as a guarantee of the unquenchable passion of the future union.

Tip: When a relationship is chilling, put a begonia with red flowers in matrimonial bedroom. Soon you will feel the return of past passionate feelings.

It is the abundance of species that has made begonia so popular. She can satisfy and lover beautifully flowering plants and a person who prefers to see plants with leaves of exotic colors in his house.

Help decorate and make unique country cottage area . For many centuries, it pleases people with its beauty and gives a good mood.

Any plant is a living organism capable of thanking its owner in response to love and care. beautiful view and lush bloom. Give love to your pets and it will definitely come back to you!

I love begonia very much, so many varieties of this grow on my windowsills. beautiful flower. But my wonderful begonias did not always grow so well and well. At first, when I first started growing begonias, I often flooded it, so that the roots began to rot.

It seemed to me that begonias have such juicy, fleshy leaves that they require constant watering. I was wrong! Of course, begonias love moisture, but not as much as you might think. In addition, it is very important not to overcool the roots.

It was only by experience that I found out: despite the fact that begonia is a tropical plant, it is not worth transfusing it, this can result in the death of the plant. In order to better get to know the nature of my favorite begonias, I began to study in more depth the question of their origin and learned about the difference in the care of different species.

In this article, I will share information about the queen of flowers with you. It is important to know about this, because there really are a lot of indoor begonias, and a good grower should be aware of which plant is growing green on his windowsill and how to care for it so as not to lose the flower.

Begonias are native to tropical forests. indoor begonias there are a lot: they have different size and shade of leaves, bloom differently and require different conditions. Different types begonias have various origins: Some of them are from Africa, while others are from India, China or South America.

Concerning natural conditions begonia growth is wet, warm earth, frequent watering with warm tropical rains, no cold season.

This is a family of plants (begonias), amazing in its diversity and abundance, which, despite the difference in their homeland of origin, remain single view: they are clearly visible common features in appearance, structure of leaves and flowers.

In total, there are more than one and a half thousand species of room begonia!

Thus, we can consider several continents at once as the birthplace of a plant:

• South East Asia,
• Africa
• South America
• Islands of the Caribbean.

Growing wild relatives houseplant 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-explorers drew attention to the beauty of the large fluffy leaves of the plant and took layering as material for scientific research.

The southern plant turned out to be unpretentious. It turned out that begonia grows well in room conditions, blooms profusely and propagates easily.

Further history of begonia as a houseplant

After another century and a half, at the beginning of the 19th century, begonia appeared in Russia. Here it was grown mainly in greenhouses by wealthy landowners.

But the flower was also known to the common people: for a long time, we called the plant "Napoleon's Ear", because here the type of begonia with a burgundy edging of the leaf, which resembles an ear in shape, was known first of all. This sheet reminded the people of frostbitten French soldiers who were not ready for Russian frosts.

The further fate of begonia is surprising: two centuries later, this plant began to decorate houses and institutions in all cities of the planet, up to the Far North.

plant properties

Many flower growers believe that begonia not only decorates our home, but also improves the microclimate:

• improves air quality
• fights bacteria
• cleans the air of dust
• improves the mood of the owner with bright color spots (color therapy),
• protects the owner from ill-wishers,
• improves the energy of the room,
• activates the life processes of the owners.

In fairness, it should be noted that begonia is a poisonous plant. If you have small children or curious animals, then it is better to put the beautiful begonia on the highest shelf.

Types of begonia

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 magnificent, large leaves of bright, rich color. The leaves attract attention due to interesting veins, which in some species have a contrasting color.

Blooming types of begonias delight owners with beautiful panicles with branches. Flowers can be double or smooth, have different shades.

There is a difference in the care of deciduous and flowering begonias: flowering ones require top dressing. And deciduous ones are often more unpretentious and can grow in the most difficult conditions regarding lighting.

Varied begonia

In our apartments you can often find the following types begonias:

• coral,
• rex (royal),
• red-leaved,
• metallica,
• brindle,
• Cleopatra,
• ampelous.

Coral begonia is interesting because top part the large green leaf of the plant has a silver tint, while the veins have an interesting yellow-green tint. The bottom of the sheet has burgundy color. This type of plant blooms, has dense inflorescences of small flowers of bright coral color.

Royal begonia has large leaves. They have an oval shape, spectacular denticles along the edges, an additional leaf shade can be different: from silver to coral.

Red-leaved begonia has smooth leaves. The leaflets themselves round shape, and their Bottom part has a contrasting burgundy color (which is why the species got its name).

Care various types most often has a lot in common, but flowering begonias are more capricious, their roots require more attention (you can’t put them on cold windowsills in winter time), and are also more afraid of direct sunlight in the summer heat.

Do not forget, begonia grows in forests, leaves cover it from the scorching tropical sun. tall trees. Therefore, do not put begonia on the southern windows in the summer or hang a light curtain.