Flowers have been used for interior and exterior designing for ages and begonias have been one of the popular flowering plants associated with this.
Begonias are very easy plants to grow; not that it doesn’t have its challenges and this is why it is loved by gardeners around the globe.
Begonias are flowering plants that belong to the plant family Begoniaceae and there are over 1500 species of this plant growing in the tropical and subtropical regions.
Plants with bright-coloured blooms and decorative leaves do have adorable appearances and this makes them interesting plants to grow both indoor and outdoor.
Begonias are native to South and Central America, Africa, and South Asia and they are shade-loving plants.
Regardless of the place where you grow your begonia plant – indoor or outdoor – giving it the best care possible will ensure its successful growth and here is a simple guide to achieving that.
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Guide on Caring for Indoors and Outdoors Begonias
Begonias are one of the most beautiful flowering plants that have been associated with the decoration of the modern home and ensuring they can last a long time with appropriate care is very essential.
This flowering plant is easy to grow; however, with the least maintenance mishap, this plant can find it very hard to survive.
Ensuring that the begonia plant stays healthy throughout its growth period is a way to ensure the plant remains attractive and stylish.
In this section of the article, we will discuss some of the essential things to ensure to render the plant the best care possible. Here are some guides to follow:
Type of begonia:
There are generally three major groups of begonias; tuberous, semperflorens, and uncommon perennials and these depend on the growth pattern of the plant.
However, there are numerous varieties of begonias that are cultivated globally and choosing the appropriate type for both indoor and outdoor is essential.
Make sure you choose a variety that has a higher growth rate in your locality and can survive well either indoor/outdoor – depending on where you desire to cultivate it.
Location:
Begonias are sun-loving plants, however, make sure that light exposure is not too harsh. The plant should receive between 4 and 6 hours of light exposure daily and choosing a place that is partly shaded outdoors will help the plant thrive much better.
When growing your begonia indoor, ensure that the location where the plant is situated receives sunlight well and in cases where it is excessive, filter the light.
The tuberous type of begonia should be grown in baskets or trays indoor or outside for the best performance.
- Indoor plants: make sure the temperature at night is maintained at a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit as exposure to a lower temperature will cause damage to the plant. Begonias do not do well in cooler temperatures and its exposure should be prevented.
- Outdoor plants: Do not plant them in locations with strong winds as can result in damaging of stems. They have weak stems.
NB: since begonia plants do not survive well in a cold climate, you must ensure that you plant in containers both indoors and outside to allow for movement.
Outdoor begonias should be moved indoors during the cold season to prevent it from dying. In colder climates, begonias are grown as annual plants while in warmer climates they grow as perennial plants and can survive for more than two growing seasons.
Choose a good Growing soil:
These incredible flowering plants thrive well in fertile soils and they grow extensively well in them.
You should make sure that the soil used for propagating begonias are very rich in nutrients as it plays a crucial role in its appearance and health. For:
- Indoor plants: there are triple factors that should be focused on when dealing with soil for growing it; the type of the soil, size of the pot, and amount of soil being used. You must make sure that the amount of soil used for growing your begonia is not too much (appropriate) to avoid wastage and also make sure the pot is of the right size to provide space for growth. It is also possible to grow plants in wet stones or small pebbles – might require some skills.
- Outdoor plants: the soil in the location where the begonia plant is to be grown should be very fertile. This can be achieved with the addition of peat moss of heavily decayed compost to the selected location before planting commences. The soil should also be well-draining to prevent the soil from becoming soggy or too wet as this can kill the plant.
NB: the container used for growing begonia indoor should have draining holes and drained water should be disposed of immediately.
Water well:
Water is essential to plant growth and you want to ensure that your plant receives the appropriate amount of moisture at all times.
Add water to the soil until it is wet but not soggy as excessive water can lead to rotting or dead plants. You should look out for plants regularly to ensure they root has the right amount of water available to them.
- Indoor plants: water the plant when the top part of the soil gets dry. You should make sure that the container for growing begonias indoors is not too as this can cause holding moisture and making it soggy which can lead to root rot. During warm seasons, water the plant more often as the soil will dry out more often. If you grow begonias with astonishing leaves, make sure you mist the stem to keep it healthy and prevent leaf drop.
- Outdoor plants: provide water to the plant base to ensure it is moist. Too much water can result in soggy soil which causes root rot. When the weather is warm, soil can dry out faster so watering should be done more frequently.
Fertilize the Begonia:
Fertilizer application is one of the best ways to ensure that your plant stays healthy and productive.
You must ensure that your plant receives the right and appropriate amount of fertilizer at the right time for effective growth. Whether you are growing this beautiful plant indoor or outdoor, fertilizing is very important.
- Indoor plants: fertilize your indoor plants with fertilizer that is high in phosphorus with little or no nitrogen content. This should be done between February and September when the plant blooms well and fertilization should be reduced during fall through winter as plants focus their energy on growth during these seasons. However, if the growing medium is mixed with fertilizer, wait until after 3 months before fertilizing.
- Outdoor plants: fertilize the soil with granular fertilizer that is neutral i.e. neither basic nor acidic. Fertilization should be repeated every 3 months and this should be carried out by working it in the soil around the root of the plant.
Remove dead leaves and flowers:
Dead leaves and flowers on the plants are of no essence to the plant and they should be gotten rid of. Get rid of them as they are noticed to give the plant a much appreciable appearance.
Groom the plant:
When plants get damaged or experience mishap, it is important to help groom it better so that it can perform well. Both indoor plants and outdoor plants should be well managed to ensure efficient growth and utmost performance.
- Indoor plants: broken stems on your plants should be got off to allow for growth of new, healthy stems. The leaves of the plants should also be dusted off and watered to give a much better appeal to space.
- Outdoor plants: your begonia plants grown outdoors should be cut back to allow for the growth of a much healthy and productive stem. Ensuring that your plant looks its best always and takes the perfect shape that you desire is your main goal and you can achieve that through proper grooming. This will also help reduce overgrowth and get rid of stems growing inwardly instead of outwardly.
Get the benefit of your begonia:
Begonias add colour to your space – either indoor, outdoor, or both and they make the space lovely and fascinating. The begonia plants will give your space an astonishing appearance and make it as lovely as possible.
Begonias will make anywhere special and presentable and you will enjoy having it around you. Care of your beautiful begonia plant and get the benefit that it offers as a result of its look and colourful nature.
Conclusion
Begonia plants have blooms that come in different colours and this sole characteristic has made it a plant to adore.
The meaning of this plant is very strong and perplexing and it connotes a message of goodwill and assurance in every way.
Regardless of the species of begonia that we grow or use as a source of beautification, ensuring that we provide them with the necessary care is the most essential to us and this guide promises to help with that.
This guide is filled with important information to hold on to throughout the life cycle of your plant and make sure you do your best to help your plant stay healthy always.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article !
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