Handling & Care of Begonias Indoors: Common Difficulties
The begonia is a popular home plant that attracts flower gardeners with both beautiful leaves and flowers. In some countries it's commonly called «a maiden beauty».
If you normally choose an indoor plant for its gorgeous beauty, the begonia is a must have for you. I will share with you how to avoid the most of the common handling problems people face with this plant: forewarned is forearmed.
- 1. Handling of begonias indoors
- 2. Indoors begonia illnesses
- 2.1. Botritis disease (gray mold)
- 2.2. Bacterial spot
- 2.3. Ring spot
Handling of Begonias Indoors
Leaf roll disease: how to treat? If you notice the problem only in the bottom leaves area of the plant, it's probably just a natural process of leaves necrosis.
But if the problem affects the entire plant, you better start with the treatment.
Watch out with watering begonias. It can't be copious, rather moderate: don't keep it soggy, and don't let the soil overdry. Also, the begonia can get curled leaves due to a deficient nourishment. Maybe it's time to fertilize it.
How often to spray begonias with water?
Begonias love humid air, but vehemently react to overmoistened soil in the pot. Those types of begonias that have smooth leaves, you can spray with water straight onto the plant. The other types, that have hairy leaves, is better to spray with water around the begonia, moistening the air.
What is the ideal place for a begonia in pot?
Begonias feel best in a pot standing at the window in the southwestern or southeastern part of your house.
Your plant's got dark spots or holes: what is the reason?
It often happens when you water it incorrectly, with cold or earth water. The holes can be the after burn effect from a drop of water or a ray of sun.
Why my double begonia doesn't have double flowers?
It's easy to explain. Pistillate and staminate flowers of the Double Begonia break down their flower buds in different time periods. Staminate are double flowers. You can move pistillate flowers away if you wish. It will help to spare your plant's strength, so it will richly bloom with double flowers.
When a begonia gets its first flowers?
Not faster than its stem gets 5-6 joints. It's possible that indoor begonias start blooming earlier, but it's rather exceptional.
Why the flowers of a begonia turn dark and fall off?
Most possibly, it's caused by water drops that fell on flower buds.
What to do if you notice farinaceous spots on the leaves of yout begonia?
Two causes are possible: powdery mildew or a botritis disease. Remove the affected leaves, tend a plant with a fungicidal agent and frequently air the room.
Why can the leaves and flowers of a begonia fall off?
There are a few possible reasons for it: the plant was touched with water, the air in the room is too dry, or the plant is not moistened enough.
Predators.
Mostly indoor plants are being attacked by plant lice and red spiders.
When is the right time to transplant a begonia?
The best time to relocate your plant is during the Spring.
What is the preferable soil for begonias?
The recipe of the ideal mix is: meadow, leaves, coniferous soil and regular river sand.
Why are the flower buds falling off the plant?
There are various reasons: drafts in the room, a lack of humidifying. The plant can be stressed by moving it to another room or even by changing the position of the pot towards the light.
Why it does not bloom?
Maybe your begonia needs more light, the level of humidity in the room might be low, or maybe it's too warm or too cold. Also possible is that you have put it in the draft or overfertilized the plant.
What if after all your efforts and care the begonia is still drooped?
Unfortunately it can mean that your begonia is going to die, it's time to try rooting a stem.
Indoor Begonia Illnesses
The common diseases of begonia are powdery mildew, botritis disease, bacterial and ring spots.
Botritis disease (also called as grey mold) is induced by widespread mold -- botritis fungus. It becomes active during in the humid warm environment, appearing as waterish, white with greyish fur spots on the leaves, flowers and top sprouts of a begonia. As a result the plant gets broken stems, blackish curled leaves and slime on buds and flowers.
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The moment you notice the dawning disease, spray your plant with the Bordeaux mixture or the soap-copper solution (2 g of copper sulfate and 20 g of lye soap in a liter of water). If then you still see the disease progress, spray your plant with 1% benomyl solution. Repeat after 2 weeks.
Bacterial spot disease you can see as tiny waterish and glassy spots at the underside of the leaves. There is no effective cure for it, you will have to take down the begonia and disinfect the soil it was planted in. You can prevent the disease by spraying it with a 5 % suspended mixture of copper oxychloride.
Ring spot disease is induced by a tomato virus. You will be able to recognize it as yellow-green stripes on leaves, turning into bronze spots followed by necrosis. Unfortunately, you have to remove the sick plant. You can however prevent ring spot disease by assuring that a begonia is not being attacked by the plant lice, thrips and other sucking insects – they actually transmit the virus. And also regularly remove weeds.