Tiger begonia, or Bauer's begonia, is an indoor ornamental plant that attracts the attention of flower growers with its exquisite beauty, undemanding care and compactness of the bush. It is part of the popular begonia genus, which has about two thousand varieties that differ in leaf color, shape and flowers.
Description
Tiger begonia flower is a plant with a branching erect stem. The leaves are heart-shaped, slightly beveled, with finely serrated points on the edge. The length of the leaves is about eight centimeters. Their upper part is colored brownish-olive, closer to the edge it becomes greenish, with small spots.
Tiger begonia has white flowers that gather in inflorescences. They grow straight from the root. The rhizome is on the surface of the earth. Flowering occurs in winter. The tiger begonia, the photo of which you see below, is a miniature, undersized plant no more than thirty-five centimeters high. Flowerlooks great on the windowsill in a ceramic planter.
Tiger Begonia: home care
Flower growers consider begonia to be unpretentious plants, moreover, it reproduces easily. Very quickly, it turns into a beautiful bush with unusual leaves. Nevertheless, you need to follow some simple rules if you want tiger begonia to decorate your window sill. Caring for her involves transplanting every two years into a larger flat pot. And that's not all.
It is necessary to carefully consider the choice of soil, which should include:
- perlite;
- peat;
- humus;
- coarse sand.
All components must be taken in equal parts, mix well and put in a small pot. The cutting is buried halfway into the ground. If you have a larger pot, then several cuttings can be planted in it. Since the tiger begonia has creeping rhizomes, and the bush grows in width, choose wide pots for it, not tall ones.
Lighting
This is an amazing plant that prefers the golden mean in the light regime. Therefore, it must be placed on the southwestern or southeastern windows. It must be borne in mind that the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight at all, it needs diffused lighting.
Temperature conditions
Tiger begonia loves heat, in the room where the flower is located, the air temperature should not be below +18 °C. Bloombegonias are not very beautiful, but if you want to see them, you need to maintain a higher air temperature.
Humidity
Tiger begonia does not tolerate spraying, but at the same time she loves high humidity. A tray of wet moss should be placed under the pot, and a container of wet expanded clay or water placed next to the plant will provide it with the necessary moisture.
Water and fertilize
Tiger begonia is actively growing in spring and summer. At this time, she needs uniform and moderate watering with soft water. But it is necessary to moisten the soil only after the earth in the pot has dried.
In winter, begonia goes dormant. Water it in a cool room should be very careful and limited. The soil in the pot should not be waterlogged or too dry.
In summer and spring, during the active growth of the plant, fertilizing with complex fertilizers is necessary. From March to October, begonias need to be fertilized every week. In winter, this procedure is carried out every six weeks. In the cold season, the soil should be warm, so water for irrigation at this time is desirable a little warmer than room temperature.
Transplantation and rejuvenation
Begonia needs to be repotted every two years. Mature plants are rejuvenated by pruning. If you want the begonia leaves to be larger, remove the flower buds. The leaves of the tiger begonia have a very beautiful pattern, so it is better to put itseparately. You can combine undersized flowering varieties and plant them in a common container. Thus, you can create an original collection of decorative-leaf hybrids, for example, Begonia masoniani and Begonia Rex.
Reproduction
Tiger begonia propagates from particles of rhizome and cuttings. As a cutting, you can use the top of the shoot, but a single leaf with a cutting of at least five centimeters is also suitable. Begonias can be propagated at any time, usually in spring or summer.
From an adult plant, cut a he althy leaf with a five-centimeter piece of cuttings and half-immerse it in the same soil as you prepared for an adult plant. Place the pot in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation and place in a room with a temperature of at least +17 °C.
Leaf cuttings are usually planted in a small pot with a diameter of no more than seven centimeters. In a month, a maximum of one and a half, you will see young sprouts that have emerged from the cuttings. And after a month they can be planted in separate pots.
Rhizomes should be planted in low pots. They cut off the tops of growth. After the rhizomes take root, the plant is divided. The rooted part is separated from it and planted in another container for flowers. The pot is covered with cellophane with holes for ventilation.
Diseases and pests
Like most indoor plants, begonias should be protected from pests anddiseases. We will tell you about the most dangerous of them.
Aphid
These pests cause great harm to begonias. Insects settle on young stems and peduncles. If found, wash them off with soapy water. If the defeat is too serious, then you will need insecticidal preparations to fight.
Felters
If you see fluffy lumps on begonia leaves, these are felt pads. Pests should be removed with a cotton swab or napkin dipped in any insecticidal preparation diluted with water in equal proportions of 1: 1. If this does not help, treat the leaves with a pure insecticide.
Root rot
If your flower is weakened, has spongy wet rhizomes that are covered with gray mold, it means that root rot has struck it. In this case, it is necessary to reduce watering and provide it with the necessary air temperature in the room.
Today we presented you a very beautiful and at the same time completely unpretentious indoor flower. Begonia Bauer is indeed a very spectacular plant that can decorate any interior. Caring for him is simple, even novice indoor plant lovers will be able to cope with him, whom the first experience of growing flowers will please with excellent results. That is why begonia is becoming more and more popular every year.
