How to grow and care for wax begonia in water? How to care for wax begonia in summer
How to grow and care for wax begonia in water? How to care for wax begonia in summer
Wax begonia, also known as guazi begonia, xianrou begonia, and glass plum. It belongs to the family Begoniaceae, genus Begonia. Wax begonia is a succulent perennial evergreen herbaceous plant, often grown as an annual or biennial in horticulture. The plant height is 15-45 cm, with well-developed fibrous roots, belonging to the fibrous-rooted begonias. The stem is smooth, nearly succulent, and branches mostly from the base. The leaves are alternate, ovate to heart-shaped, with toothed and ciliate margins, green or slightly reddish or purplish-red, even bronze-colored, and glossy. The inflorescence is a cyme, axillary. The flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers are larger, with 2 petals; female flowers are slightly smaller, with 5 petals, single or double. Flower colors are red, pink, white, and bicolors. The flowering period is long, blooming almost all year round, with peak bloom in late autumn and winter-spring. It blooms in all four seasons, and the flowers and leaves are beautiful and delicate. As shown in the picture, it is a beautiful wax begonia flower.
1. Hydroponic method
(1) Method one Select a soil-grown wax begonia with a good plant shape, remove the soil, cut off dead tips, dead leaves, and rotten roots, disinfect with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for about 10 min, then rinse the roots with clean water, plant in a transparent container, and pour in clean water up to 2/3 of the roots. Change the clean water once every 1-2 days, and hydroponic roots can grow in 5-10 days.
(2) Method two Cut healthy branches, let them dry for half a day or 1 day, insert them directly into clean water, change the clean water once every 1-2 days, and hydroponic roots can grow in 1-2 weeks.
2. Care guide
(1) Temperature and light The suitable temperature for wax begonia growth is 18-22°C, and the safe overwintering temperature is above 5°C. In winter, wax begonia needs relatively strong diffused light, and in summer it should be properly shaded, avoiding direct sunlight. Under strong direct sunlight, the leaves will curl, turn red, and turn purple.
(2) Changing water Change the water once every 1-2 days initially, and after water roots grow, change the water once every 5 days.
(3) Watering When the air is relatively dry and during the high-temperature summer season, wax begonia needs frequent spraying of water on the leaf surface to increase the relative air humidity.
(4) Fertilizing Wax begonia is not fond of fertilizer; usually, clean water is enough for its care. After entering the growth period, add nutrient solution when changing the water every 2-3 weeks. In summer, frequently spray clean water on the leaf surface to keep the leaves clean and the air moist.
(5) Pest and disease control If hydroponic wax begonia does not have good ventilation, pests such as aphids, red spiders, and scarab larvae may occur. At this time, it is necessary to improve the ventilation environment and eliminate the pests by manual capture.
(6) Pruning During the growth period of wax begonia, pinch or cut back according to the growth vigor to promote side branches and facilitate flowering. After flowering, promptly remove the flower branches and carry out shaping and pruning.
How to care for wax begonia in summer
In summer, water should be frequently sprayed on the leaf surface, and the tips should be pinched several times to promote branching and ensure dense flowering. When the sunlight is strong, direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent the leaves from curling, turning red, and turning purple. When the temperature reaches above 32°C, the plant enters a semi-dormant state, and it can be moved to a cool and ventilated place.