What are the hydroponic care methods for painted leaf begonia?

How to grow and care for painted leaf begonia hydroponically?

Painted leaf begonia (Begonia) belongs to the fibrous-rooted begonia group, with obliquely ovate leaves, bright green, red veins, and vermilion or pale red flowers; it is a perennial herbaceous plant. As shown in the picture.

1. Hydroponic methods

(1) Method one: Select a soil-grown painted leaf begonia seedling with a good plant shape, wash off the soil, cut away dead tips, dead leaves and rotten roots, disinfect with a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for about 10 min, then rinse the roots with clean water, plant it in a transparent container, and add clean water up to 2/3 of the roots. Change the clean water once every 1-2 days; hydroponic roots can grow in 5-10 days.

(2) Method two: Cut healthy branches of painted leaf begonia, let them dry in the air for half a day or 1 day, insert them directly into clean water, and change the clean water once every 1-2 days; hydroponic roots can grow in 1-2 weeks.

2. Care guide

(1) Light and temperature: Usually place it in a bright spot for growing, and avoid direct strong light. Under direct strong light, the leaves will curl, turn red and turn purple. When the temperature reaches 32°C, growth slows and the plant enters dormancy, so it should be moved to a cool, ventilated place and switched to clean water culture. When the temperature drops in autumn, resume culture with nutrient solution. In winter, place it in a bright spot and keep the room temperature above 15°C; it can still continue to grow and bloom; it can overwinter safely above 5°C, and nutrient solution application should be stopped.

(2) Changing water: At the beginning of hydroponics, change the clean water once every 2-3 days. After new roots grow, switch to flowering plant nutrient solution or comprehensive nutrient solution, and replace the nutrient solution once every 2-3 weeks.

(3) Pruning: During the young seedling stage of painted leaf begonia, pinch or cut back according to growth vigor to encourage side branches and promote flowering. After flowering, remove the flower branches promptly and carry out shaping pruning.