Description of royal begonia
The root system is represented by a powerful creeping rhizome.
The stem is fleshy, small in size, strewn with reddish bristles.
The leaves are large, asymmetrical, pointed, have oblong petioles and a serrated edge. The leaf blades have bright and varied colors and have green, scarlet, crimson, lilac, purple and even silver inclusions. The veins on the leaves may appear a different color.
- It is interesting that the special decorativeness of this plant is caused by certain physical needs:
- The bright color and roughness of the leaves increase the surface temperature of the leaf blades, helping them evaporate more moisture. This process helps the roots receive nutrients and, therefore, intensive development of the rhizome.
- The asymmetry of the leaves allows the plant to evenly receive enough sunlight. Different leaf shapes allow them not to block each other's flow of sunlight. The flowers are pink and inconspicuous with a diameter of up to 1 centimeter. Against the background of bright leaves they have no decorative value. The seeds ripen into small fruits.
From one species to a whole class of hybrids and varieties
Begonia rex , or Royal Begonia (Begonia rex) is a legendary Indian species up to 40 cm high with asymmetrical leaves up to 30 cm long with horseshoe-shaped spots and a pointed apex, light edges and inconspicuous flowering. But today, rex begonias have come a long way from their wild ancestor. This is a huge group of hundreds of varieties, most often hybrids, one of the 8 basic groups of begonia cultivars, united by appearance more than by origin.
A more correct name for modern royal begonia is a group of cultivars of begonia rex or royal, rex group, although the names of painted, fantasy begonias are also very popular. Western Begonia rex cultorum group, Begonia rex plant, Begonia rex cultivars, painted-leaf begonia, fancy-leaf begonia, king begonia are beautiful names for the same royal begonias, the most popular of the decorative deciduous species.
Luxurious leaves of the main deciduous begonia
The height of royal begonias in indoor format is up to 50 cm, but compact varieties up to 20-30 cm in height are much more popular. The maximum leaf size - up to 30 cm in length and 20 cm in width - is rarely achieved; most indoor begonias are twice as compact.
The asymmetrical, heart-shaped shape of the leaves, as well as the jagged-notched edge, the pointed apex, the base of the leaves curling into a “snail,” and the prominent veins are hard not to recognize. As well as zonal coloring, which in varieties often changes with borders, spots, specks, washouts, transitions of all possible variations of shades. Green, red, brown, cherry, white, silver, almost black, simple or with a metallic effect, bright or delicate - the colors of the leaves are strikingly different, and their combinations are even more extravagant.
The flowering of royal begonias is completely inconspicuous. And for the sake of it, you should not sacrifice the risk of accelerated aging and compactness, plucking out flower stalks as they appear.
Begonia rex, or Royal Begonia (Begonia rex), variety “Fireworks”
Home care for Royal Begonia
Begonia does not require special conditions, but to maintain its bright colors, it is necessary to create certain conditions.
Landing
The first planting of the plant after successful cultivation from seed occurs in the fourth week. When planting, you should follow the recommendations for the composition of the soil and the type of pot.
Priming
For rex begonia, nutritious soils with medium acidity are preferred. In specialized stores you can buy ready-made soil for begonias. To prepare the soil yourself, you will need to mix the following components: peat - 1 part, sand - part, leaf soil - 2 parts, humus - 2 parts.
Choosing a pot
There are some requirements for the container for planting royal begonia. The pot must be wide for the characteristic development of the root system, contain drainage holes and a tray. The height of the pot is not critical, since the roots do not go very deep.
Watering
Watering should be done moderately and regularly. The earthen ball should not be overdried; the soil needs to be slightly moistened. But excess moisture contributes to the deterioration of fleshy stems and roots, so stagnation of water in the pot should not be allowed. When watering, it is recommended to avoid getting moisture on the leaves, which can lead to rotting of the leaves. Watering is carried out with filtered or settled water at room temperature.
Light mode
Royal begonia requires good lighting with indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight is undesirable for leaves. Window sills oriented to the east or west are suitable.
Trimming
At the beginning of the flowering period, it is recommended to trim the flower stalks, as they lead to depletion of the plant and deterioration in the appearance of the leaves.
At the end of winter - beginning of spring, a period of active growth approaches, which should be prepared by pinching the rhizome and reorienting the young parts of the root towards the center of the pot. Thanks to the actions taken, the growth of new shoots on the thinned rhizome and the formation of lush bushiness are resumed.
It is advisable to cut an old plant to restore its attractive appearance.
Thermal mode
The optimal temperature for the good development of royal begonia ranges from 17 to 25 degrees Celsius.
In summer, begonia reacts poorly to heat, and in winter it does not tolerate air overheated by heating devices.
Begonia grows well all year round, slightly slowing down its development during the onset of cold weather. In this regard, creating a rest period with a reduced temperature is not required.
Exotic beauty
The plant deservedly bears the name “royal”. Its luxurious large leaves with jagged edges and long stems stand out with their bright colors. Depending on the variety, it may be interspersed with crimson, red, silver or purple stripes. They are shaped like elephant ears or a slightly distorted heart.
Begonia royal
Important! In length, begonia bushes grow up to forty centimeters, and the height of mini-shrubs of this species is no more than fifteen.
Reproduction
To propagate royal begonia, leaf cuttings, rhizomes and seeds are used.
For leaf propagation, the cutting is divided into several parts of equal length. Pieces of cuttings are placed in moist peat soil. The sprouts are planted at an oblique angle for successful rooting.
It is possible to grow Rex begonia from seeds. But it should be borne in mind that this method does not always bring good results, since seed germination has a low percentage.
The first sprouts have only green leaves, since the royal begonia acquires brighter colors as it matures.
How to propagate by leaf
By propagating royal begonia by leaf, you can be sure that you will get exactly the same plant. With proper care, which royal begonia requires, propagation of this plant by cuttings will not be difficult. You can choose any leaf for this, but usually take the bottom one, since it will not affect the decorative appearance of the plant in any way.
The selected sheet is cut across the veins and fixed on the moistened substrate with buttons as in the photo, paper clips, or pressing it down with pebbles. Leaf propagation is considered one of the most productive methods, since up to two dozen new plants can be obtained from one leaf.
Tip: Instead of drainage, you can add garden vermiculite to the planting soil. It will enrich the soil with essential minerals and prevent the growth of pathogenic microflora.
Fertilizer and feeding
In the warm season, the flower needs constant feeding using mineral complex fertilizer. Feeding should be done 3 times a month, stimulating active growth.
Organic fertilizers are very useful for begonias. Manure fermented for two weeks, which is applied in liquid form when diluted with water, is suitable.
During spring, fertilizer should consist of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in a ratio of 1:1:1 , and by the beginning of cold weather, the content of potassium and nitrogen is reduced by 2 times.
Transfer
Royal begonia should be replanted in the spring , since during this period it is more resistant to root fractures and can quickly recover.
The pot for transplanting is chosen with a wider diameter than the previous one. The container should not be deep, since the root of the plant grows closer to the surface of the soil and does not go deep.
During the replanting process, the rhizome can be carefully freed from the old substrate.
Do not bury the neck of the rhizome, otherwise the plant will rot.
How to propagate by cuttings
Propagation of begonia by shoots or stem cuttings is an auto-vegetative method of propagation. From the begonia you need to cut the top or side shoot so that the cut is directly under the rosette of leaves. Roots will grow from this place.
The lower pair of leaves is usually removed, and the largest ones are carefully twisted into tubes and fixed so that the surface area for moisture evaporation is reduced. If you can’t curl the sheet, you can cut it by about 1/3 or a little more.
How to plant a cutting
The cut cuttings can be dipped in warm, settled water, or they can be immediately planted in a mixture of peat and sand or perlite. The plant can give roots already in the second week. If the room temperature is not high, then it may take not two weeks, but four, for the begonia to take root. After one and a half to two months, the plant can be transplanted into a pot prepared for an adult begonia.
Diseases and measures to prevent them
Royal begonia diseases develop as a result of violation of care conditions.
- Diseases and causes of their occurrence:
- Root rot caused by excess moisture in the soil;
- Thinning leaves due to insufficient lighting;
- Brown spots due to sunburn;
- Powdery mildew on leaf blades due to high air humidity;
- Drying of the leaf edge caused by lack of moisture.
All these illnesses happen due to the fault of the grower. Therefore, it is not difficult to eliminate them by resuming proper care of begonias.
How to propagate by dividing a bush
Royal begonia is a rhizome species, that is, its stem is not vertical, but horizontal. Roots grow on the underside of the rhizome, and leaves grow on the top and sides. When replanting begonias, you can carefully divide the bush into parts by disconnecting the side rhizome or cutting the main one into pieces.
Each part of the bush can be planted in a separate container. This method of propagating royal begonias is rarely used due to its traumatic nature. The mother plant may become sick and die.
Attention! Varietal begonias are rarely propagated by dividing the bush. It is better to use the method of propagation by cuttings.
Pests and methods of controlling them
Begonia can be affected by scale insects, thrips and spider mites.
For prevention, you need to regularly inspect the leaves for pests.
In advanced cases, treatment with special medications will be required.
Royal begonia will fit perfectly into any interior. Thanks to the colorful color of the leaves, it will become a rich living decoration in the house.
The rich variety of begonias makes you think about which variety to choose. On our website there is a lot of information about decorative deciduous begonias and their care, as well as about Red-leaved, Hogweed, Spotted, Collared and Bauer and Mason begonias and about the Cleopatra variety.
Benefits of the plant
Not many people know that breeding begonias is not only an interesting, but also quite a useful hobby that can bring considerable benefits to a person.
The plant has the following qualities beneficial to the grower:
- unpretentious to living conditions;
- does not require painstaking care;
- Helps purify the air from minor pollutants;
- has antimicrobial properties.
Did you know? Plant phytoncides were officially discovered by the famous Soviet biologist Boris Tokin in 1928. Although back in the second half of the 18th century, Ilya Mechnikov argued about the existence of such substances.
In addition, the flower is capable of producing specific substances into the air, so-called phytoncides, which contribute to:
- strengthening the immune system;
- increasing resistance to stress;
- improving performance and endurance;
- great mood.
Photo
Below you can see photos of caring for the Royal Begonia Rex at home:
How to choose ready-made soil for planting
Ready-made soil for planting begonias already contains all the substances the plant needs. It is better to choose soil suitable for planting royal begonias. Thanks to the right combination of elements, it has optimal acidity and the ability to retain moisture without stimulating the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
It contains mineral fertilizers, micro and macroelements, dolomite flour, vermiculite. You need to be careful when adding these ingredients to your own prepared soil mixture, since without knowing their purpose and origin, you can oversaturate the soil with metals or make it alkaline.
