The legend of the ancient Chinese says that the tears of a girl in love, shed on the ground, turned into a beautiful flower, which is begonia. The homeland of the plant is not exactly established.
Named after a friend
Botanists have more than a thousand species in the genus begonias in the family of the same name. The plant was first described by the Frenchman (botanist and monk) C. Plumier back in 1687, who, in honor of his friend M. Begon, the governor of Haiti, named the begonia flower. The homeland of the plant is the subtropical and tropical geographic zones of the globe, South America, the western regions of Africa, Asia (the Eastern Himalayas, the mountainous regions and southern India, the Ceylon Islands and the Malay Archipelago). It should be noted that in Australia in its natural form, despite its proximity to Malaysia, begonia does not grow.
Studies have established a relationship between African and American plant species. Despite the fact that Africa, in terms of the number of varieties growing hereoccupies only 3rd place in the world, scientists believe that it was from this continent that begonia spread across the continents. The homeland of a plant of domesticated species, most likely, is in natural habitats. The championship in the appearance of hybrid tuberous begonias belongs to Belgium.
Classification options
There is still no generally accepted botanical classification of various forms of the Begonia family. In nature, these are shrubs, erect and climbing, herbaceous and ampelous plants. Begonia home - the same variety of forms. As a first approximation, cultural varieties are divided into decorative-deciduous and decorative-flowering. The most common flower begonias. But the bewitching beauty of the leaves also finds its fans. In home floriculture, a conditional division of indoor begonias into tuberous and shrub ones is carried out.
Homemade tuberous begonia
The main external feature and the main advantage of this most fashionable type of begonias is the abundant luxury of simple and double flowers. Admire plants that compete in form with roses, peonies, carnations. Another feature of them is hidden in the soil - a tuberous rhizome. Tuberous begonia appeared not so long ago (1870). The homeland of the plant of this semi-hybrid or hybrid is Belgium. The creator who showed the way to other Begonia breeders was Louis Van Gutt, who, in collaboration with nature, created the first terry variety.
Large-flowered varieties
Hybrid begonias of the Rasa Elatior Rieger group are resistant to fungal infections and have short days - a 9-hour day is enough for the development of axillary buds. This includes the following varieties: Kyoto (white begonia, medium height, with large densely double flowers), Louise (light cream with pink, tall).
The Rasa Gluar do Lauren group is characterized by compact, low-growing plants with small leaves and generous colors. Known varieties with pink flowers: Carolina, Marina, Egers Favorit, Competitor, Rosemary.
Semi-hybrid begonias are distinguished by a variety of colors, they can be simple, semi-double and terry forms. Sometimes on one plant there are simple and double flowers. The popular name for such a begonia is Ivan da Marya (fluffy - male, ordinary - female flowers). In size, they can be giant (up to 20 cm in diameter), large-flowered (from 8 to 10 cm in diameter), multi-flowered (from 3 to 5 cm). There are pink, peony, narcissus and other forms. The most famous large-flowered varieties are: Dark Red (dark red), Orange (color visually confirms the name), Rose (pink), Scarlett (pink-scarlet), Yellow (yellow), White (white). Multi-flowered variety - Dark Scarlett (dark pink).
How to grow begonias
Plants are grown from seeds, tubers and cuttings (leaf or stem pieces). The seeds are very small, they are sown without seeding, you need to wait a month or two for seedlings, they do not diveless than twice, the required temperature for germination is about 25 degrees. Tubers can be divided, but the sterility of the instrument and substrate must be observed, a fresh cut must be dipped in activated charcoal powder.
Sterility is also necessary for cuttings. Leaf cuttings are rooted in sand or in a mixture of sand and moss (proportion 1: 4), pressing stones to the substrate. On a piece of leaf, cuts are made in the places of venation. Cuttings from the stem are first rooted in water. A necessary condition for all types of reproduction is the optimal soil moisture. Plants cannot stand dry soil and air (do not forget, their homeland is the tropics). But with excessive moisture, they can simply rot.
Don't forget about good diffused lighting (it is enough to use a 60 W lamp for illumination). It is necessary to periodically air the cuttings covered with a jar. There is a ban on cold water for wet procedures when spraying an earthen clod with seeds or cuttings, watering buried tubers. The ideal soil will be a mixture of turf, leafy soil, humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 3:1 / 4:1 / 2:1, 5:1. Peat is especially necessary for tuberous begonia. It needs soil acidity in the pH range of 6-6.5. Most begonias do not like to turn the pot.
