How to grow Rieger begonias? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions
Soil
Rieger begonias do have certain requirements for soil; they like loose soil with good drainage. We can mix this kind of soil ourselves according to a ratio, or if that seems inconvenient, we can buy it from a specialized flower shop.
Temperature
Rieger begonias like a warm growing environment, and the most suitable growing temperature for the plant is between 18°C and 22°C. In winter the temperature is too low, so be sure to keep the plant warm. In winter the growing temperature for the plant must not be below 15°C, otherwise the plant may suffer frost damage.
Light
Rieger begonias are a plant that likes short-day conditions. In summer, if the temperature is above 25°C, the plant needs at least 70% shading. By late October, when the light is no longer so intense, the plant's light exposure can be increased. After mid-November, when the daytime becomes shorter, the plant should be placed outdoors so it receives plenty of sunlight, ensuring the plant grows and blooms normally.
The above is an introduction to the question of how to grow Rieger begonias. Now let's look at what other precautions there are!
How to grow Rieger begonias
I have grown Rieger begonias for three years and have a little experience to share with everyone. The suitable growing and development temperature for Rieger begonias is 18°C to 22°C. The key point in home care is to keep them warm in winter, and the lowest temperature must not be below 15°C. Since Rieger begonias are still in their growth and flowering period in winter, they should be placed as much as possible in a south-facing sunny spot indoors, such as on an indoor windowsill. But be careful not to place them too close to a heater, to avoid scorching the branches, leaves, and flowers.In summer, when sustained high temperatures above 28°C occur, cooling measures should be taken, such as placing them in an air-conditioned room or providing shade at noon. Watering The potting soil should be kept moist, not completely dry and not overly wet; too dry will cause water loss and wilting, and in severe cases the whole plant will wither and die; if the potting soil is too wet, water fills the gaps in the soil, causing severe oxygen deficiency in the soil, which then affects root respiration and causes death; overly wet potting soil also easily provides opportunities for fungal and bacterial diseases to infect, thereby affecting the ornamental value of Rieger begonias.
Shaping and pruning of Rieger begonias During the growth period, pinching should be done to encourage the plant to sprout side branches, so as to achieve a full plant shape. Excess flower buds should also be removed in time, to avoid a large consumption of nutrients that would affect the development of other flowers. Pests and diseases Ginger juice mixed with water, sprayed at a 1:25 ratio, can prevent and control soft rot and the germination of other pathogen spores.
What this article discusses is the author's experience growing them in northern regions under closed balcony conditions:
I. Growth characteristics of Rieger begonias under home conditions Rieger begonias are perennial tuberous herbaceous flowers. Underground they have brown, woody, irregular tubers, with many fibrous roots growing from the lower part and branches growing from the upper part. They begin to form buds every year in November, and the flowering period lasts as long as half a year. After June, as the weather gradually heats up, the plant enters a dormant or semi-dormant state. If it can safely get through the summer, then after the Beginning of Autumn, as the weather gradually cools, new branches sprout from the base of its branches, entering the next care cycle.
II. Care under home conditions Rieger begonias like a warm, humid, and semi-shaded growing environment, and are afraid of high temperatures and water accumulation in the potting soil. The most suitable growing temperature is 15°C-22°C. When it exceeds 26°C, growth becomes poor and the plant gradually enters a semi-dormant or dormant state. The relative humidity of the environment during the growth period should be greater than 70%, and in the winter peak growth season no shading is needed. According to these requirements, potted flowers bought from the market in winter can be placed directly on the windowsill on the side of a closed balcony near the living room, where temperature, humidity, and light can all meet the requirements.
Due to transportation during the journey and changes in the cultivation environment, newly purchased potted flowers will show withered leaves, fallen leaves, and dropped flowers. This is unavoidable, and after more than half a month of care they will improve, after which normal management can resume. Water when the soil surface turns white, about once every 3 days in the Xi'an area.
Do not fertilize Rieger begonias during the flowering period. By May, they gradually enter a dormant or semi-dormant state, so watering should be gradually reduced and fertilizing stopped. After entering summer, management and care become even more critical. First, cut off the remaining flowers and dead leaves (but there is no need to cut off the branches), move the potted flowers from the balcony to a cooler windowsill indoors, and strictly control watering. This is the key to safely getting through the summer. Many people think that withered leaves are caused by lack of water, but this is not the case. It is because as the temperature rises, the roots cannot take up water fast enough to meet the needs of leaf transpiration. The balance between water supply and demand is disrupted, and the plant has no choice but to protect itself, producing leaf drop and entering a dormant or semi-dormant state to reduce its demand for water. At this time, if watering is increased so that there is too much water in the potting soil, bacteria can easily breed at the base of the branches and cause rot, which then spreads to the inside of the tuber, and the whole Rieger begonia plant dies. Therefore, at this time watering must be strictly controlled.
For example, for a flower pot with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 13 cm, about 30 ml of water should seep in from the bottom of the pot roughly every 10 days, keeping the potting soil slightly moist. In this way, the stem segments of the plant will not rot, or if there is local rot it will not spread downward. As long as the leaf edges wither but there are still a few young leaves slowly growing, it means the tuber is not having problems and the base of the stem segments is intact.
If cared for in this way until the Beginning of Autumn when the weather turns cool, the base of the plant will begin to sprout new branches. When they have grown to a certain height, the old branches can be cut off with a sharp knife, and watering should be gradually increased at the same time. After the new branches have basically taken shape, keep only 3 new branches and cut off all the rest, to concentrate nutrients and let the plant take shape sooner. The cut new branches can be used for cuttings. After October, the plant's growth accelerates. At this time the potting soil should often be kept moist, and a compound fertilizer at a concentration of 0.2% should be applied once every half month. Because the potting soil of purchased potted Rieger begonias meets the requirements, the pots do not need to be changed for the first two years.
How to grow Rieger begonias in the north? How do you grow Rieger begonias?
Rieger begonias are a rare greenhouse potted ornamental flower, often used for indoor cultivation and viewing. In recent years Rieger begonias have been very popular in flower markets, and their cultivation and consumption numbers have increased sharply. So what cultivation methods and precautions are there for Rieger begonias? Below, the editor will use northern regions as an example to explain the key points of their care.
Rieger begonias are afraid of heat. Above 25 degrees, growth becomes poor. Above 28 degrees, they may enter heat dormancy. In summer they can be placed in a shaded spot where the sun does not reach, and rain must also be avoided. Too much water in the soil can easily cause root rot. They like acidic growing media.
Normal growth of Rieger begonias requires relatively high air humidity, and throughout the entire growth process humidity should be controlled at 65%-80%. Therefore, water should often be sprayed on the surrounding ground, and a water curtain or automatic misting system can also be used to increase air humidity. Too high humidity favors the spread of diseases, while too low humidity easily causes the plant to lose water and wilt, or even dry up and die.
In Jilin, the highest temperature is only 30 degrees. Generally they are placed on a south-facing windowsill indoors, and in winter they can get more sun. When the soil surface is dry, water a little with rainwater or snowmelt (because northern water and soil mostly contain too high levels of calcium and magnesium). But spray more water on the surrounding plants to create a humid environment. Occasionally add a small amount of self-prepared nutrient solution containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements to the water.
Lesson: A pot of pink-flowered ones brought indoors after the summer grew unusually luxuriantly. Because the top of the central branch was useless (several very strong side branches had grown from below), cutting it off would help reduce the height and make it more attractive, so I cut it. But I did not disinfect or apply preservative treatment. A few days later, I found it rapidly rotting downward. I hurriedly cut off the rotten part, applied streptomycin, and sprayed the whole plant. But it was too late; more than half had rotted away, and it became a small seedling.
Reasonable fertilizing
Fertilizing should adhere to the principle of frequent application of thin fertilizer. The EC value of the potting soil must not exceed 1.5, otherwise fertilizer damage is likely. The content and concentration of fertilizer depend on the growth conditions at different stages. When fertilizing small seedlings just potted for the first time, a thin liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer should be applied; as the plant grows, the N, P, and K content in the fertilizer should be gradually adjusted; by the middle seedling stage, balanced fertilizing should be used, and afterward the P and K fertilizer content should gradually be increased while the amount of N fertilizer is reduced, to facilitate the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. Throughout the entire growth process, foliar fertilizing should also be carried out appropriately, and it should be sprayed evenly on both the front and back of the leaves.
Shaping and pruning
Among shaping and pruning techniques, topping is the most important. After the plant's fourth leaf has unfolded, the terminal bud should be removed in time to encourage the plant to sprout side branches, so as to achieve a full plant shape. Because Rieger begonias already produce flower buds at the small seedling stage, excess flower buds should be removed in time to reduce extra nutrient consumption, promote the vegetative growth of Rieger begonias, and make the plant shape more uniform and attractive.
Flowering period control
Rieger begonias are a quantitative short-day flower, meaning that apart from needing short-day treatment for a short period to induce flower bud differentiation, the plant needs to grow in a long-day environment during all other growth stages. Generally speaking, the day length needs to be greater than or equal to 16 hours. If the natural light duration is not long enough (less than 16 hours), supplementary lighting or dark period interruption methods should be used to continue the plant's vegetative growth. To make the flowering period of Rieger begonias uniform, production mostly uses short-day treatment measures, that is, according to weather conditions, the plant's growth condition, and the characteristics of different varieties, carrying out 1-2 weeks of dark treatment to meet the needs of flower development.
Preventing pests and diseases
Prevention and control of pests and diseases should focus on prevention, and pesticides should be applied on schedule throughout the entire growth cycle, while also paying attention to the scientific and rational use of pesticides and the regulation of the environment.
The main diseases of Rieger begonias include stem rot and root rot. To prevent and control stem rot, 25% carbendazim wettable powder or thiophanate-methyl 1000-fold solution can be sprayed, or 20% chlorothalonil smoke agent can be used to fumigate the greenhouse; to prevent and control root rot, streptomycin 1000-fold solution can be used to drench the roots.
The main insect pests of Rieger begonias include aphids, mites, thrips, and others. They can be prevented and controlled by spraying 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1000-fold solution or 1.8% abamectin emulsifiable concentrate 2000-fold solution.
Summary: The above is the knowledge about how to care for Rieger begonias. I hope it is helpful to everyone.