Tiger begonia, or Bauer begonia, is an indoor ornamental plant that attracts the attention of gardeners with exquisite beauty, undemanding care and a compact bush. It is part of the popular genus begonias, which has about two thousand varieties that differ in the colors of the leaves, their shape and colors.
Description
A tiger begonia flower is a plant with a branching erect stem. Sheets of a heart-shaped form, slightly beveled, on the edge there are fine-toothed peaks. The length of the leaves is about eight centimeters. Their upper lobe is painted in a brownish-olive color, closer to the edge acquires a greenish color with small spots.
Tiger begonia has white flowers that gather in inflorescences. They grow straight from the root. Rhizome is located on the surface of the earth. Flowering occurs in winter. Tiger begonia, the photo of which you see below, is a miniature, stunted plant with a height of not more than thirty-five centimeters. The flower looks great on the windowsill in a ceramic pot.
Tiger begonia: home care
Florists attribute begonia to unpretentious plants, in addition, it is easy to propagate. Very quickly, it turns into a beautiful bush with unusual leaves. Nevertheless, it is necessary to observe some simple rules if you want tiger begonia to decorate your windowsill. Caring for it involves replacing it every two years in a larger flat pot. And that's not it.
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 handle is buried halfway into the ground. If you have a larger pot, then you can plant several cuttings in it. Since tiger begonia has creeping rhizomes, and the bush grows wide, pick out pots that are wide, not tall.
Lighting
This is an amazing plant that prefers a middle ground in light mode. 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 , it requires diffused lighting.
Temperature mode
Tiger begonia loves warmth , in the room where the flower is located, the air temperature should not be below +18 ° C. Begonia flowering cannot be called very beautiful, but if you want to see it, you need to maintain a higher air temperature.
Humidity
Tiger begonia does not tolerate spraying, but at the same time she is very fond of high humidity. A tray with raw moss should be placed under the pot, and a container with moist expanded clay or water, placed next to the plant, will provide it with the necessary humidity.
Watering and feeding
Tiger begonia grows actively in the spring and summer. At this time, she needs uniform and moderate watering with soft water. But to moisten the soil is necessary only after the earth in the pot has dried.
In winter, begonia goes into a dormant state. Watering it in a cool room should be very neat and limited. Potted soil 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, begonia must be fertilized every week. In winter, this procedure is performed 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 must be transplanted every two years. Adult plants are rejuvenated by pruning. If you want the leaves on the begonia to be larger, remove the flower buds. The leaves of the tiger begonia differ in a very beautiful pattern, so it is better to put it separately. 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.
Breeding
Tiger begonia multiplies from particles of rhizome and cuttings. As the cuttings, you can use the top of the shoot, but a single leaf with a cuttings of at least five centimeters is also suitable. Begonia propagation can be carried out at any time, usually in spring or summer.
From a grown plant, cut a healthy leaf with a five-centimeter piece of cuttings and half-immerse it in the same soil as you prepared for the adult plant. Place the pot in a plastic bag with ventilation holes and place it in a room with a temperature of at least +17 ° C.
A leaf stalk is usually planted in a small pot with a diameter of not more than seven centimeters. After a month, a maximum of one and a half, you will see young shoots emerging from the cuttings. And after a month they can be planted in separate pots.
Rhizomes should be planted in low pots. The tops of growth are cut off from them. 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 ventilation holes.
Diseases and Pests
Like most houseplants, begonia should be protected from pests and diseases. We will talk about the most dangerous of them.
Aphid
These pests cause begonias huge damage. Insects settle on young stems and peduncles. If they are detected, wash them off with a soapy water solution. If the lesion is too serious, then you will need insecticides to fight.
Felts
If you see fluffy lumps on the begonia leaves, these are felts. Pests should be removed with a cotton swab or cloth soaked in any insecticidal preparation diluted with water in equal proportions 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, this means that it was struck by root rot. 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 really a very spectacular plant that can decorate any interior. Caring for it is simple, even novice lovers of indoor plants will be able to cope with it, whose first experience in growing flowers will delight with excellent results. That is why begonia is becoming more popular every year.