How long does it take for begonia seeds to germinate? Growing begonias from seeds

Begonia from seeds at home is the dream of any grower. When to sow begonia seeds? How to plant begonia seeds? How to choose seed? Conditions for growing begonias from seeds. How to care for seedlings? Here you can not do without the advice of experts. So, recommendations for growing begonias from seeds with step-by-step photos.

When to sow begonia seeds?

Growing begonias from seeds will be successful if you know a few secrets. So, for seed germination, you need to create a humid microclimate, that is, organize a greenhouse. The soil in which the seeds are planted is taken with a neutral pH, but light and loose. Coconut fiber can be added to the soil so that small seedlings of begonias can cling to the fibers with their roots. The earlier the seeds are planted, the stronger the seedlings will be. Seeds do not need high temperatures to germinate. The main thing here is light. Germination can also be carried out in natural light. But the shoots that have appeared, especially in winter, must be illuminated either with a fluorescent lamp or a phytolamp.

Personal experience in planting tuberous begonia seeds

So, before planting begonia seeds, I worked out a lot of information regarding the timing of planting, the conditions for seed germination and the subsequent care of seedlings. When is begonia sown with seeds? Experts point out that sowing begonias with seeds is best done in November-December. Why? First, seedlings obtained from early planting differ good health. Secondly, the tuberous begonia of the November, December and January crops manages to form a tuber by autumn, the diameter of which is 2.5 cm. It is well stored in winter. Tuberous begonias, sown with seeds of which took place in February-March, have time to form tubers with a diameter of up to 1.5 cm by autumn. Some of them may not survive the winter.

The information that I gleaned from the thematic forums on growing tuberous begonia from seeds was tested in practice. Looking ahead, I want to say that begonia planted in December develops faster and better than plants planted in March. By autumn, begonia from seeds planted in December formed a tuber with a diameter of 3.5 cm. This allowed it to survive the winter dormant period, unlike begonias planted in March. The latter survived the winter, but they left their winter sleep for a long time and their flowering also came much later, compared to the December begonias.

When does begonia bloom? On the forum I found interesting information about the timing of planting begonia seeds and its subsequent flowering. So, if begonias were planted with seeds in November-December, then ever-flowering varieties delight with buds 110-130 days after the first shoots appear, tuberous varieties - 150-155 days. If the seeds were planted in January-February, then the ever-flowering begonia blooms already on the 105-115th day after germination, the tuberous one - on the 140th day. The flowering itself lasts 110-115 days and 98-112 days, respectively. If room begonia seeds were planted in February-March, flowering of ever-flowering varieties occurred on the 120-135th day after germination, tuberous - on the 175th day and lasted 83 days and 67 days, respectively.

How are things in practice? Tuberous begonia seeds were planted on December 1st. I noticed shoots on December 22. I must say right away that the seeds were not fresh. Of the 10 seeds, only 2 sprouted. The first buds appeared on the plants already on April 20, that is, about 120 days passed from the moment the shoots appeared to flowering. Tuberous begonia seeds, which were planted on March 14, hatched after 3 weeks, that is, on April 4. They developed faster than the December crops. But when it got hot summer sun, they have suspended their growth, despite care, feeding and shading. Flowering came later and it happened 150 days after germination.

Sowing begonia tuberous seeds

How to plant begonia seeds at home? When will the seeds germinate? As my personal experience and the experience of other flower growers shows, the germination of begonia seeds is directly affected by their shelf life. It is possible to organize the most favorable conditions for germination for begonia seeds, maintain the temperature at +20 ... + 22 degrees, illuminate with a phytolamp, but if the seed is not fresh, it will germinate for a very long time and the germination percentage will be best case 20-30%.

So, the first planting of begonia seeds at home was carried out by me on November 26, 2016. I bought three bags of begonia seeds from the Cowell company - tuberous ampelous begonia. On the package with seeds, the packaging date was 2015, that is, the seeds were collected at least in 2015 and at the time of planting they had been removed from the mother plant for a year already. The result - out of two bags of 10 seeds each, not a single one sprouted. Naturally, I sinned on the conditions of germination, and therefore planted begonia seeds again. I had one bag of seeds left from Cowell and I bought another bag from Agrovest, tuberous yellow begonia. Landing took place on December 1st. Germination conditions: greenhouse, universal soil with the addition of coconut fiber, temperature +20...+23 degrees, lighting based on phytolamps. The result - the seeds from "Koeul" did not sprout. But with "Agrovest" things were better. Of the 10 grains, only 2 sprouted, which later pleased me with lush flowering.

Of course, I didn't stop there. Based on previous experience, I turned to a recommended grower who sells fresh seeds. Being skeptical about such statements, I ordered only 1 bag of seeds, how to say for testing. So, the planting of begonia seeds took place on December 31, 2017. Soil for planting is universal with the addition of coconut fiber, planting was carried out in a greenhouse, lighting was organized. The temperature of seed germination is +19...+23 degrees. The greenhouse was ventilated 1 time in 1-2 days.

I could not express my surprise when I noticed the first shoots already on January 14, 2018. That is, only 2 weeks passed between planting and the appearance of the first shoots. Seed germination was 100%, out of 10 seeds all 10 sprouted. In the photo below, begonia seedlings are 2 weeks old.

Conclusion: planting begonias with seeds at home will be successful if you choose high-quality, fresh seed. It is better to plant seeds in December-January. From good seeds shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks. Begonia from seeds will bloom in April. By autumn, such a begonia will have time to form a tuber with a minimum diameter of 3.5 cm, which will allow the plant to successfully survive the dormant period and quickly give new shoots.

How to plant begonia seeds? Detailed instructions with photo

So, in order to grow begonia from seeds (tuberous and ever-flowering), you need to buy fresh seed. The grains must be harvested in the current year. Next, you need to organize a greenhouse and pick up the soil. As a greenhouse, food containers with transparent (not colored) walls and a lid are often used. This guarantees good seedling illumination. You can take a special container for seedlings. After sowing, it is covered with glass or plastic wrap.

I sowed begonia seeds in a regular food tray with transparent walls, I also used transparent plastic water bottles, after cutting them off. The resulting design is shown in the photo below. Such a greenhouse is compact and costs absolutely nothing.

Soil for growing begonias from seeds. You can buy special soil. This is the land of "Begonia", where pH = 5.5-6.5. Some flower growers like peat tablets. Before planting seeds, peat tablets are simply poured with warm water, waiting for them to swell. If you pour boiling water over peat tablets, you need to wait a bit. Peat tablets should not only swell well, but also cool down. Advantages of peat tablets: the plant that grows in them does not need to dive. When the roots of the plant completely braid the peat tablet, the latter can simply be transferred to a pot of soil. That is, picking in its full sense is not carried out, the roots of the plant do not experience stress.

I don't like peat tablets. Why? It is difficult to control their humidity. Peat holds moisture well. While the surface of the peat tablet has dried out, the inside remains moist. If you miss this moment and regulate watering, based on the moisture level of the peat surface, then you can fill the plant. And some plants react very painfully to waterlogging. If begonias can be waterlogged a couple of times, then, for example, gerberas are very sensitive to overflow and immediately begin to turn yellow.

So, based on my purely practical experience, I plant begonia seeds in universal soil (it is easier to find in stores, compared to specialized soil mixtures) with the addition of coconut fiber. I do not add sifted sand to the soil, since coconut fiber increases the moisture and breathability of the soil. I also don’t add vermiculite (it is in a small amount in universal soil and this is enough). Even though the mixture of universal soil and coconut fiber dries out faster than soil + vermiculite, I am sure that my seedlings will not rot. And the greenhouse helps to maintain the humidity of the earth at a constant level.

Landing is as follows: Drainage holes must be made in the container. Small expanded clay is placed at the bottom. Next, the prepared soil is poured. It is leveled and watered with a spray bottle. The soil should be moist, but not very wet.

Next, begonia seeds (as shown in the photo above) are laid out on the surface of the soil at a distance of 1 cm from each other. The grains are very small, similar to dust, and therefore a toothpick or a needle will come in handy here. Once again, the soil is carefully watered with a spray bottle. You do not need to be very zealous with the pressure of water, otherwise small seeds will simply be washed away. Seeds do not need to be pressed into the ground or sprinkled with earth on top. This negatively affects germination.

After watering, the greenhouse is closed and put on germination in a bright place. The recommended germination temperature is +20...+24 degrees. But I came to the conclusion that the germination temperature simply should not fall below +17 degrees. It is necessary to organize the backlight 12 hours a day, if natural light lacks. It could be Fluorescent Lamp. It is preferable to place greenhouses on windows on the east or west side. How to water? Usually high humidity remains in the greenhouse, but sometimes the soil needs to be watered with warm water. Bottom watering is not recommended. I water either with a syringe (a drop of water under each plant), or from a spray bottle. But with the pressure of water you need to be careful, otherwise the seeds are easily washed off from the surface of the soil.

If condensation forms on a greenhouse with begonia seeds, this indicates a high humidity of both the air and the soil inside. To fix everything, increase the ventilation time of the greenhouse (2 times a day for 20 minutes). Watering is not carried out.

How to care for begonia seedlings?

Begonia seedlings are very small, as the seeds do not differ in large sizes. They can often only be seen under a magnifying glass. First, thin threads of roots appear from the grains. The main thing during this period is not to turn the grains over. Next come the cotyledons. During this period, some growers are advised to reduce the temperature of seedlings to +18 degrees. However, most are of the opinion that the conditions cannot be changed, that is, the temperature should remain within +21 ... +24 degrees, 12-hour daylight hours and high humidity. We ventilate the greenhouse 2 times a day. It is better to water the seedlings in the morning. For this, a syringe is used. I completely agree with everything, but regarding the temperature I have my own opinion. I repeat once again: the temperature of the maintenance of begonia seedlings should not fall below +17 degrees. The lower the temperature, the less watering.

The first 1-1.5 months, begonia from seeds grows very slowly. It may seem to many that seedlings do not grow at all. This is an incorrect statement. The first months of its life, a small plant builds up a root mass (in the case of ever-flowering varieties) or a tuber (tuberous varieties). During this period, you can feed the seedlings. To do this, fertilizer for deciduous ornamental plants is taken and diluted 3 times more than indicated in the instructions. Fertilizer should be applied drop by drop near each shoot only in wet ground. Illumination is required, otherwise the seedlings will stretch.

As soon as the seedlings grow roots, they produce the first pair of true leaves. At this time, I begin to accustom begonia seedlings to room humidity. I increase the ventilation time of the greenhouse. I carry out a pick at the stage of the first pair of true leaves.

Picking is carried out in a container of 30-50 ml. For this, ordinary plastic cups with drainage holes made or special containers that are easy to buy at the store are suitable. They either buy a special soil for begonias, or use a universal one for flowering, indoor plants. In practice, I tried a mixture of universal soil + coconut fiber. Very happy with this mix.

Further, I grew my begonias from seeds at room temperature +18 ... +25 degrees. After picking, I placed the plants on the east side of the house. Watering as the soil dries up, fed with fertilizer for flowering plants with trace elements. The second pick was carried out as soon as a small begonia braided the soil in a cup with roots.

For successful growth and flowering, begonias need bright but diffused light. In the shade, begonias practically do not bloom; from direct rays, their leaves burn. The soil between waterings should dry up to half the pot, and more. From constantly wet soil, the tuberous begonia rots the tuber and rots the shoots. The plant responds very well to feeding. The transplant can be done after winter period rest when the tuber wakes up.

Begonia from seeds is a laborious but rewarding job. You can propagate these flowers from cuttings, but with the right support, home seedlings will turn out stronger, stockier and with lush, large buds.

Begonia variety selection

At home, two types of begonia seedlings can be grown from seeds - decorative flowering and ever flowering. Popular varieties with double flowers.

Important! It is also possible to grow tuberous, if you do not mind the time.

If you plant it in early March, then the tuber will grow only by December - wait almost a year. All this time you need to monitor the temperature and humidity. The occupation is quite troublesome, but for enthusiastic people it is interesting.

Experience in growing ever-flowering begonia in peat tablets:

How to choose seeds

There are two types of seeds: ordinary and in granules (they are also called coated). Ordinary untreated ones look like dust. 1 g of such dust contains 60,000 seeds - it is difficult to evenly distribute them on the ground. Granular ones are another matter, they are covered with a nutrient solution, due to which the seeds become large, and it is more convenient to sow them in peat tablets.

Important! Seeds must be "fresh": experienced gardeners they say that every year their germination decreases. Therefore, it is worth buying only the seeds of the current year, even if the packaging indicates germination for 3-4 years.

Below in the photo - begonia seeds in granules.

How to grow begonia from seeds

It is important to remember that begonias are very delicate and easily damaged. Therefore, the method of growing in "pills" is less traumatic, it does not require a dive with disturbing the roots. They are simply lifted and transferred to a pot of soil.

When to plant begonia seedlings

Sowing begonia seeds falls on the period from February 20 to March 10, at this time the daylight hours increase, there will be more sun and heat, and growing, respectively, becomes easier. Some flower growers recommend sowing begonias on March 15-20, the flowers will be later, but more magnificent due to the abundance of natural light and heat. Begonia blooms about 5 months after sowing: that is, in late June or early July.

Some grow begonias in January to admire the flowers in May. But this is true only in the southern regions. Everyone else will have to light up (as an option - with a regular table lamp). The winter sun is definitely not enough. Of course, at the germination stage, light is not of great importance, but it takes a lot of it for the growth of begonias that have already sprouted.

Important! Ever-flowering begonia cannot be planted with seeds at all before the end of February: it will simply outgrow by the time it is transplanted into the ground, it will be difficult to take root and bloom poorly.

Seedling containers

Growing begonias from seeds is most successfully carried out in peat or low trays - it is easier to maintain optimal humidity in them without stagnation and souring.

Soil and seed preparation

For cultivation, slightly acidic light loose soil with peat is selected. It and the seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. You can buy ready-made soil for begonias, or you can cook it yourself: mix leafy soil, fine sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. And then sift through a sieve.

How to plant begonia seeds

Planting begonia seeds for seedlings is in two versions.

Option 1 - grow into peat tablets:

They are placed on a pallet and soaked in water with zirconium.
3-5 pieces of seed granules are placed in each. It is important that the seed does not fall into the recess in the center - then it will not germinate.
Humidify with water from a spray bottle.
Cover with polyethylene or a plastic cup - for the effect of a "greenhouse", to maintain humidity and heat.

Water begonia seeds through a pallet or from a spray bottle. You can not fill in the growth point.

Important! Sprouts do not tolerate even light drying - you need to moisturize on time.

The required temperature is from 22 °C to 25 °C. Germination - within 2 weeks.

Option 2 - grow in seedling boxes. For this, ordinary untreated seeds are also suitable.

The technique is as follows:

Drainage is arranged from pebbles or expanded clay, since the main condition for the development of begonias is the absence of stagnant moisture, aeration.
The earth in a pot or box is moistened and covered with a layer of snow.
The seeds are evenly distributed over the snow - the snow will begin to melt and smoothly draw them into the ground.
The box is covered with foil or glass. Ordinary seeds can be mixed with sand to make it easier to sow.
The box is placed in a bright place, but without direct sunlight falling on it - they will easily burn out the sprouts.

Important! It happens that the soil in the container after planting is covered with a thin cobweb or pollen. This means that the soil was of poor quality or poorly cultivated before sowing. In this case, it must be sprinkled with a solution of phytosporin.

After sowing, every morning it is necessary to spray with a spray bottle and protect from direct sunlight. The hatched sprouts are tender as threads. Even if they dry out a little, they will die - at the germination stage they constantly need moisture. When planting granular seeds, make sure that the shell dissolves with water - it can also dry out and “crush” the sprouts.

seedling care

Begonia sprouts quickly, but grows slowly. Immediately after germination, she freezes a little. At this time, it is important not to harm her, water only with a sprayer.

Care involves:

drainage and timely watering;
keep away from the hot sun and batteries, so as not to burn the sprouts;
cover with a film, heat not less than 22-24 °С at the stage of germination, after germination, reduce to 20-21 °С;
It needs 12 hours of light to grow. That is why gardeners recommend sowing begonias at the end of March, when the day has become longer. If there is no sun in your 12 o'clock band yet, then additional lighting will be required.

Begonia shoots from seeds must be hardened off. To do this, 12 days after germination, they begin to lift the film and leave the box half-open for 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing this time to 1.5 hours a day. So the sprouts will "get used" to the usual environment and acquire resistance to diseases.

How to do a pick

Important! The pick is made 1 cm deeper than in the general container. Then the begonia will give additional roots and get stronger. If planted above ground level, then it will dry out, it is difficult to take root. Drainage is still important - expanded clay, pebbles, shards, vermiculite.

The pick is done three times:

Warning: Look at the ratio of potassium to nitrogen in the fertilizer. If there is a lot of nitrogen, then begonia will grow at the expense of flowers. It is better if the components are 50/50 or with a predominance of potassium. Dilute by dividing the recommended dose by 3.

IN open ground begonias are planted when frosts have passed, that is, in early June (with a distance of 20-25 cm between each other). And a flower garden on a closed balcony can be organized already in May, immediately after the third (final) pick in decorative pots, hanging baskets and trays.

Possible problems and pests

After picking, begonia seedlings also need care. Here it is important to avoid several growing problems:

Leaf scorch - do not water on a hot day, preferably in the evening or in the morning.
Stretching - Begonia stretches when there is a lack of light, combined with an excess of moisture and heat.
Lack of flowering and darkening of the leaves - due to overdrying.
The pallor of the flowers is from the strong sun.

To be short and stocky with large flowers, the begonia needs full sun and little moisture. That's why the best place for growing - a bright window, but not in the south, where the sun is. And water as the soil dries.

Begonia can also be affected by pests: root rot and powdery mildew - it is necessary to ventilate the balcony from it and not overmoisten the soil, as well as aphids and spider mite- from them it is necessary to treat the flowers with a fungicide in time.

What affects germination

Lack or excess of moisture and heat is the main reason why begonia seeds do not germinate. Usually the seeds germinate within 14 days, but sometimes they are delayed up to 20 days. If after 20 days shoots did not appear, then you need to repeat the sowing. According to the experience of flower growers, the average germination rate is 40-50% due to the complexity of planting.

Conclusion

Begonia from seed is a great option for growing large quantities of strong seedlings with lush blooms. For example, to decorate a closed balcony or garden. Cuttings, as opposed to domestic begonia, are often capricious and difficult to take root. For growing from seeds, it is better to take evergreen or decorative flowering varieties. Plant in slightly acidic soil, water with a spray bottle, protect from the open sun. And then - dive into cups from 50 to 100 ml three times and feed four times with fertilizer with a predominance of potassium.

The process of planting begonia seeds in bowls...

The soil is prepared from humus, leaf soil and sand in a ratio or ready-made Begonia soil. Prior to planting, the substrate is moistened with a solution of foundationazole or potassium permanganate for disinfection, excess water is drained, allowed to dry and sowing begins.

Very small seeds are sown in shallow containers, on a slightly compacted surface of the earth mixture, without embedding, germinate in the light. Cover with a transparent cap or glass and put in a warm place with a temperature of 20 ... 22 ° C. In the morning, water from a spray bottle and leave the crops open for an hour to air.

Growing begonias from seeds at home is available to everyone ...

It is convenient to sow when begonia seeds are enclosed in special granules. It remains only to press them into the ground and lightly sprinkle the crops to destroy the shell and ensure the contact of the seeds with the ground. Otherwise, everything is the same - transparent shelter, care and maintenance.

Small seedlings do not respond well to waterlogging, with watering carefully, it is also important not to overdry them. Do not allow condensation to form on the inside of the glass, in order to avoid rotting of seedlings. Therefore, it is better to place the containers at an angle so that moisture flows from the glass to one side.

After two weeks, the glass is lifted onto stands, then removed completely. The temperature is gradually reduced to 17 ... 19 degrees, the seedlings are shaded to protect them from direct sunlight.

Plants dive when two or three true leaves are formed, given the distance between them 5-10 cm. A month later, they make a second dive, doubling the area. A couple of weeks after the second pick, begonia seedlings can be fed with complex fertilizer. In the spring, when the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into separate pots.

If the seedlings are intended for planting in the garden, then in early May they are moved to a greenhouse. On warm sunny days, young begonia plants are opened, and at the end of the month, the shelter is removed to harden the seedlings. A week before planting, seedlings are fed with potassium phosphate at the rate of 5 g per 10 liters of water.

begonia incredible beautiful plant and deserves to be grown from seeds - a process, albeit a long one, but an interesting one.

Begonia has long won the hearts of gardeners in our country. It is easy to grow and has an amazing variety of species. There are several ways to grow this plant. Begonia from seeds at home is the dream of many fans of this flower. In this article, we will cover this cultivation method in detail.

Landing time

To enjoy the flowering of begonias during the summer season, you should use seedling method landing. Seeds are sown in the soil at home and wait for sprouts to appear. Sowing starts early from the end of January and continues until April. The exact time is determined depending on the characteristics of the plant development cycle. If you want to achieve early flowering, start planting in winter. In this case, by the time of planting in the ground, the flowers have a well-developed root system and they will be able to adapt to new conditions.

Be aware of the specifics of individual varieties. So, early sowing of ever-flowering begonias will lead to the fact that by the time of transplanting into open ground, the seedlings will be overgrown. It is more difficult for such plants to take root, and they lose their decorative properties. The flowering period comes too early, and the number of flowers will be less than expected. This variety is recommended to be sown in February.

Video "Eternal flowering begonia from seeds"

Planting tuberous begonias, on the contrary, is carried out early - until mid-January. Flowers will have time to form developed leaves and buds by the time of transplantation. Compliance with the sowing dates for seedlings has a great influence on the normal development of tubers, they can reach 3 cm in diameter when planted in open ground. This applies to such a variety as ampelous begonia.

Video "How to plant tuberous begonia from seeds"

How to choose seeds

The first step in the process is seed selection. To get beautiful healthy plants, you need to choose high-quality and convenient seeds for planting. When choosing seeds, consider:

Packing time, choose fresh seed that was harvested in the current year. Over time, they lose their germination despite the expiration date indicated on the package;
granulated seeds are more convenient to plant in peat tablets, they have a dense shell of nutrients, which makes them larger in size;
regular seeds are smaller in size and are best sown in special containers or seedling boxes.

Planting seeds

If you opted for granulated seeds, take peat tablets. You will not need to dive young plants.

Such a tablet is a peat pressed in a special way, which is covered with a mesh. The advantage of a peat tablet is that it has excellent air and moisture permeability. The composition allows you to retain moisture, but does not allow the appearance of fungal diseases.

Before sowing the seeds, soak the tablets well with water. Then put a seed on each tablet and sprinkle it with water. From above you need to cover the tablets with a bag or film to maintain the desired level of humidity. Watering such seedlings is necessary regularly through the pan, preventing the tablets from drying out.

Sowing is carried out in thoroughly moisten the soil, preferably this should be done in a day. Then you need to evenly distribute the available begonia seeds over the entire surface of the soil. Seedlings should be covered with glass or plastic. Watering newly planted seeds is not recommended.

It is desirable that the temperature in the room where the seedlings will be located is about 24 degrees. The place must be bright.

Many flower growers are concerned about the question: after how many days the first shoots appear. Plants should sprout in 9-25 days, but sometimes the process is delayed.

seedling care

It can be difficult to notice when a begonia sprouts, because. sprouts are very small, filiform. Therefore, be extremely careful. In order for the plants to develop properly, you need to regularly water them in a pan or with a syringe. The greenhouse in which begonias grow should be ventilated so that condensation does not accumulate. Be sure to provide seedlings with good lighting, while remembering that tender plants can burn out in direct sunlight. Use artificial lighting if necessary. In low light, they stretch and lose their decorative appearance.

At first, it may seem that the seedlings are almost not growing. No need to worry about this: begonias first build up the root system, and then their aerial part develops.

On the 14th day after germination, the plants can be fed with a foliar fertilizer. ornamental plants. In this case, the fertilizer solution must be diluted 3-4 times from the recommended dose. When the seedlings grow a little, you need to periodically loosen the ground.

The appearance of the first pair of true leaves will mean that the flowers need a pick.

How to do a pick

Picking is the process of transplanting grown plants from a smaller dish into a larger one. This must be done so that the begonias are not crowded, and they can develop normally. During picking, flower growers get rid of non-viable seedlings. After the process is completed, they are again covered with a film. After how many days to repeat the procedure, you can determine yourself, focusing on the growth rate and appearance of the seedlings.

Over time, the conditions for keeping flowers change so that in the future they can adapt to the open sky. The temperature is gradually lowered to room temperature, but not lower than 18 degrees and the humidity of the air is gradually reduced, increasing the airing of the plants.

Possible problems and pests

Proper cultivation from begonia seeds can significantly reduce the risk of various diseases on seedlings. However, you need to be aware of possible problems in order to be able to recognize them in time. When using this growing method, the following diseases and pests can appear:

root rot, to get rid of it, you should ventilate the greenhouse more often and reduce watering;
powdery mildew;
aphids and spider mites, when they appear, it is necessary to use insecticides and fungicides.

Transfer to a permanent place

bolivian begonia

Varieties will look very impressive on the balcony: the Bolivian Santa Cruz begonia and the fiery cascade. They are designed to be grown in hanging baskets.

When transplanting plants, consider the following:

Try not to bury the top of the tuber, it should come out of the soil a little.
Before planting in the hole, you need to put potash and phosphorus fertilizers and water abundantly.
Remove the seedlings from the container very carefully so as not to damage its root system or stems.
The distance between high-growing flowers should be 35 cm. For ampelous begonia, a sufficient distance between plants is 10 cm. Griffin hybrid begonia requires a distance of 25 cm.
You need to plant flowers in bright open areas. In the shade, they will grow poorly and flowering will not be plentiful.
The best soil is light, slightly acidic, rich in nutrients. Before planting, the soil must be dug up well.
The root system of seedlings at the time of transplantation should be well developed and can take about 20 cm in depth.

These plants with their bright colors will decorate any corner of the site. In their beauty, they are not inferior to roses or peonies, and the period of their flowering at proper care lasts until frost. Growing begonias from seed is not difficult. It takes a little effort, and the result will please you. We hope that in this article you can find the most complete information on how to grow begonias from seeds.

Growing begonias from seeds is a rather troublesome task that requires constant monitoring. Usually, ever-flowering or decorative-deciduous varieties of this plant are obtained in this way. Growing tuberous begonias by seed is also possible, but it takes a lot of time. For a successful result, you need to choose a quality planting material, a good time for planting and comply with a number of agrotechnical rules.

1 Description of the plant and popular varieties

Begonia is a low growing shrub or herbaceous plant with beautiful brightly colored flowers. The leaves and stems of begonias differ in color and shape depending on the variety. Most often, the following types of begonias are grown at home.

Ampel begonia is distinguished by falling shoots, the length of which can reach 45 cm. Flowers are located from the level of the 5–6th leaf node in the axils of the leaves. Each flower does not live longer than 10 days, and a new one soon appears in place of the fallen one. For this reason, flowering seems to be continuous and continues until late autumn. Among the most famous varieties of ampelous begonia can be called Chanson with lush red, white or yellow flowers.

Tuberous begonia has a rhizome in the form of a tuber and tall fleshy stems up to 80 cm long. The flowers can be simple or double, resembling flowers of roses, camellias, carnations or peonies. They can be both small (from 3 cm) and large up to (20 cm), arranged singly or in inflorescences. The most common varieties are Duck Red, Pikoti Harlequin, Bouton de Rose.

Everblooming begonia is a complex hybrid that successfully combines the qualities of parental varieties. It is a short shrub with fleshy stems and smooth, rounded heart-shaped leaves. The flowers can be white, pink or red in color, collected in a variety of inflorescences. Terry varieties have been developed with a large number of petals in a flower, which resemble miniature roses in shape. Only about 600 varieties of ever-flowering begonias are known, among which for indoor cultivation you can highlight Luchik, Queen, Cocktail.

Bolivian begonia is a tuberous plant with long hanging stems. Its stems can reach a length of 80 cm, hanging down in several tiers. The flowers, which have a bright orange color, are located on short peduncles in groups of 2-3 pieces. This type of begonia is great for growing in pots and containers, as it grows well in a small amount of soil. The most famous varieties include Santa Cruz, Bonaparte, Belavista.

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2 Planting seeds

Begonia from seeds at home can be grown in seedlings, and where the flower will grow is of great importance. So, for indoor maintenance, it is necessary to sow the seeds already in December, and for growing in the garden, the sowing of seeds is transferred to early spring. For areas with a warm climate, it is necessary to sow begonias at the end of March or at the beginning of April, so that by the time of transplantation, the seedlings are not overgrown.

Begonia seeds must be purchased at the store. They are sold in two types:

ordinary, very small and inconvenient for beginner growers;
granulated, coated with a special shell.

It is more convenient for novice flower lovers to work with granular seeds. They are easier to distribute over the surface of the soil, observing a certain distance. Ordinary small seeds are simply sown in a container, and then seedlings are thinned out. In order not to expose the fragile root system to unnecessary stress, it is more convenient to plant granular seeds in special peat tablets.

The step-by-step landing process looks like this:

1. Peat tablets are placed in a pan with water and left to soak.
2. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the tablets and sprinkled with water so that the granule penetrates inside. There is no need to specially deepen the seeds.
3. From above the container is closed with a film or glass. For watering and ventilation, the shelter must be periodically removed.
4. Watering is carried out through the pan, making sure that the peat tablets do not dry out.

This method has only one drawback - the begonia seeds themselves germinate for a long time, and it takes even longer for the germination of the coated seeds. After all, you still need to wait for the complete dissolution of the shell.

Since not all seeds may sprout, twice as much material must be used for successful cultivation.

If ordinary seeds are used for planting, then they are planted in a container with light soil. The day before planting, the soil should be watered abundantly. To facilitate the work, the seeds are mixed with sand and spread in a thin layer on the soil surface. Then the container is covered with glass or film and placed in a warm, bright place where a constant temperature of +25 degrees will be maintained. Seeds planted in this way germinate in 10–25 days.

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3 Growing seedlings

Since begonia sprouts are very small, filamentous, they can be difficult to notice. Regular watering is necessary for their proper development. Do this carefully, from a syringe, or carry out moistening in the lower way through the pan. The greenhouse in which the seedlings develop must be regularly opened to ventilate and remove condensate. Be sure to provide high-quality lighting, but make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on the plants. To do this, at noon, you need to shade the sprouts. If the daylight hours are short, it is necessary to illuminate the seedlings artificially. Light day should be at least 12 hours.

Two weeks after the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to apply fertilizer for decorative leafy plants. In this case, it is necessary to make a solution of concentration 3-4 times less than the recommended one. After the seedlings get a little stronger, the earth can be periodically loosened. Gradually, the shelter is removed and the grown begonia is accustomed to room conditions.

It is very important during this period to monitor the condition of the leaves. If they go down, then the seedling container must be closed. The soil should be constantly moist, but not wet. Excess moisture provokes the appearance of white plaque on the seedlings and rotting of the root system.

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3.1 Pick

If peat tablets were used to germinate the seed, then picking is not necessary. You just need to tear the shell of the tablet from the bottom edge and transplant the seedlings into a larger container along with the soil.

For seedlings grown in a container, picking is mandatory, as over time it becomes crowded in one container. The procedure is carried out after the appearance of the third true leaf, if the plant looks healthy and strong:

1. In plastic cups, holes are made from below and a layer of drainage is poured.
2. The containers are filled with soil in which the seeds were germinated.
3. The sprouts are gently pry off with a teaspoon and transferred to a cup with soil along with an earthen clod. After moving, be sure to water the plants.

Seedlings are placed in a warm place, but so that it does not stretch, the temperature can be slightly lowered. Two weeks later, another top dressing is done. 25 days after picking, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in a pot or garden.

4 Begonia care

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place is carried out at the end of May, when the plant is already well formed. Begonia is transplanted by transshipment so as not to injure the fragile root system and tender shoots. The soil for begonias is light and loose with good nutritional properties.

After transplanting to a permanent place, caring for the plant consists in proper watering and regular feeding. For irrigation use settled or filtered warm water. In summer, watering should be plentiful, but it is not necessary to fill the plant. You need to irrigate twice a week, and in hot weather, the plant is moistened as the soil dries. Excess water accumulating in the pan must be drained after a while. In autumn, begonias are watered less often, and with the onset of winter, the amount is reduced to a minimum.

It is necessary to feed the plant during the budding period with liquid complex fertilizers once every two weeks. After the end of flowering, top dressing is stopped. In winter, the use of fertilizers is generally prohibited.

Due to its beauty, tuberous begonia will compete even with the "queen of flowers" rose. In nature, there are more than 1 thousand varieties of this plant. Growing begonias can sometimes cause certain difficulties, especially for beginner gardeners. Different methods are used to propagate a begonia flower: by seeds, growing a new crop from a leaf or its fragment, dividing by tubers and the root system, rooting by leaf or stem cuttings. However, the most interesting method, according to professionals, is propagation by seeds.

So, begonia from seeds at home: how to avoid mistakes, what equipment will be needed, how to properly organize the process of sowing and subsequent care?

Seed selection

The first step in growing begonias from seeds at home is choosing a seed. You will need professional material that has previously been coated. Follow the recommendations of experienced flower growers and choose fresh seeds.

What is "fresh seeds", you ask? Pay attention to the date of production and packaging. Even though the seed has a shelf life of several years, buy seed that has the current year on the package. There is an opinion among flower growers that the germination of begonias decreases every year. Among lovers of indoor and garden plants, the seeds of the Bossa nova variety are of particular attention.

Sowing dates

When to plant seeds? This question is faced by almost every novice florist. The planting period depends on whether it will be a houseplant or garden culture. The optimal period for propagating indoor flower seeds is the period from November to February. Such plants will have time to get stronger by autumn, the diameter of the tuber reaches an average of 2.5 cm, which has a beneficial effect on wintering. If the begonia is planted in the garden, then it is better to move the sowing to the beginning of spring. With earlier crops, seedlings are overgrown and unsuitable for planting outdoors.

Inventory

Preparing the necessary equipment is one of the important preparatory stages. For sowing, you will need a low container with a hermetically sealed lid and soil. For transplanting seedlings grown from seeds into separate containers, it is better to purchase a soil mixture for begonias. Such a substrate is sold in flower shops or in Everything for the Garden and Garden stores.

Seeding process

How to grow begonia from seeds? Adhering to the recommendations of experts, even a novice florist will be able to successfully cope with the task of planting seeds and growing tuberous begonias. Today, specialized stores sell seeds of various varieties of begonias. They come in two varieties: granular (coated with nutrients) and raw. Seeds are sown in the ground, they can first be mixed with sand. Do not sprinkle with the top layer of soil - so the crop will not have enough sunlight. Close container ( plastic lid, glass, film) and place in a warm place.

The air temperature should not be lower than 22–24 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the seeds may not hatch. After the appearance of 2–3 formed and strengthened leaves on the stems, you can perform the picking procedure in separate containers.

Watering and fertilizing

Begonia from seeds is a growing process, the success of which depends on the organization of the correct subsequent care. Special attention need to be watered and fertilized. The plant loves moist soil, but avoid waterlogging. Stagnation of water is considered the first cause of the emergence of fungal microflora, which affects the thin roots of still fragile seedlings.

It is recommended to keep the container at a slight slope so that the condensate flows down the lid and accumulates in one corner. 2 weeks after seed sowing top cover installed on props, over time it will be completely possible to remove. Avoid high temperatures and direct sunlight on seedlings.

The optimum air temperature for growing from begonia seed in an open container is 17-19 degrees Celsius.

Plant seeds in soil with low acidity. Solutions suitable for feeding complex fertilizer. At the same time, they should have a low concentration of nitrogen. The first top dressing can be done after 14 days from the moment of sowing the seed of tuberous begonia.

Video "Planting begonia seeds"

From this video you will learn how to plant begonia seeds.

Experienced flower growers probably know what a begonia looks like. After all, this is the most popular genus in the Begonia family, which includes more than a thousand species. Habitual habitats of begonias are humid tropical and subtropical forests and mountainous regions of America, Asia and Africa.

For the first time, the world was able to get acquainted with this plant thanks to the data provided by the French botanist Charles Plumier. This happened in 1687 during a scientific expedition to the Antilles, in which this specialist was also invited.

The initiator of these studies was Michel Begon, who served as governor of Saint-Domingue (the western part of the island of Haiti). Having stumbled upon a hitherto unknown plant, Charles did not think long about its name. In the end, he decided to dedicate it to the governor. Subsequently, this plant began to be often found in other places on the planet.

Features of begonias

The high popularity of begonia has led to the fact that today they are also growing it at home. However, in the apartment it turns out to be undersized, not exceeding a height of 50 cm.

The attractiveness of begonias is given decorative spotted leaves and flowers that can be mistaken for roses, peonies or camellias when meeting. Indoor begonia enters the flowering phase in the first month of summer, continuing to delight the owner until the end of autumn.

A wide variety of begonia varieties allows you to enjoy not only rich color palette , which includes white, red, yellow, pink, burgundy, cream and other shades. She also pleases with an unusual shape, which can be simple, folded, fringed, terry or ampelous.

Ampelous begonia care at home

If you want begonia to delight you with beautiful flowers every season, then on the first day it needs to be provided with an appropriate move. Growing this flower in an apartment is not so difficult.

And, although this plant is considered unpretentious and is highly resistant to various diseases, however, it is still necessary follow certain rules when growing it. Then the begonia will delight with its flowering from early summer to late autumn.

In summer, begonia can bring even more aesthetic pleasure if it is transplanted from a pot into open ground. It is necessary to take care of this plant not only in summer, but also in winter.

Mandatory operation at this time of the year is the pruning of the shoots, which is carried out after flowering is completed and at the first sign of the death of leaves and stems. The tubers themselves can be kept in dry soil.
Begonias do not need to be watered at this time of the year. Tubers can be stored in a pantry, where excellent conditions are created for them due to the lack of light and a low temperature of + 10 ... + 12 degrees Celsius.
With the onset of spring, the tubers are planted in a pot, and from that moment they begin to conduct regular watering.
Sometimes a plant produces quite a lot of sprouts. In this case, you need to remove everything except for one or two of the strongest shoots.

Required temperature and watering rules

Best of all, begonia grows at home, if the temperature in the room is + 14 ... + 22 degrees Celsius. If it gets very hot, and the temperature rises to + 25 degrees Celsius, then this negatively affects the development of begonias.

When laying tubers for winter storage, they need to be provided with darkness and temperature regime within + 5 ... + 12 degrees Celsius. It is very important that the temperature remained constant and there were no drafts.

When grown in winter, begonias do not need to be watered, but from time to time you can add water to the pan to prevent the tubers from drying out. For storage, the tubers are placed in peat or sand, which also needs to be kept moist.

During the summer carry out abundant watering, however, they begin to do this only after the evaporation of moisture from the upper soil layer. Since October, watering begins to be carried out less and less frequently.

Since tuberous begonia has underdeveloped roots that are located near the surface, during flowering, the plant must be provided the maximum number moisture.

However, you need to make sure that the water does not stagnate, otherwise it can lead to root rot. It is forbidden to pour water only into the middle of the flower. If this is done quite often, then this can also provoke rotting of the tuber.

Lighting and humidity

For normal development in the room where begonia is grown, there must be bright diffused light. Be sure to protect the plant from direct sunlight.

Begonia can only be under the bright sun for a few hours in the morning or evening. This will benefit her, especially at the end of summer, when the air temperature begins to drop.

Given that begonia is a tropical plant, it needs provide high humidity air not lower than 60%.

Spraying can be in early spring, but only before the start of its flowering. Moisture on the petals is fraught with the fact that they will begin to turn yellow, so it is best to spray the air around the perimeter of the flower.
In the summer there are days when the sun starts to get very hot. In this case, it is necessary to carry out additional cooling of the begonia. To do this, a container with a flower can be placed on a pallet filled with wet pebbles. A good effect is provided by immersing the flowerpot in wet peat or sawdust.

top dressing

To grow begonias at home, it is necessary to prepare a suitable substrate, which should not only be highly fertile, but also have a neutral acidity reaction.

Feeding should be once every 10-12 days. Fertilizing the plant, you should pay attention to the following factors:

the lighting must be good and the temperature in the room too, since in good conditions and top dressing is absorbed much better;
the plant should be fertilized in the evening, 2-3 hours before the start of complementary feeding, the soil should be well moistened;
make sure that the fertilizer does not come into contact with the begonia.

Don't overdo it! Probably this most important point when fertilizing a flower, because an excess of fertilizer can lead a flower to toxicosis, and later to death.

Moreover, it is recommended to abandon the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. After all, the effect of them will be completely different than the one that plants need: due to nitrogen, the stems become more watery, and this increases the likelihood of their decay.

How to propagate begonia

To obtain new bushes, several methods of reproduction can be used: sowing seeds, dividing the tuber, cuttings.

The best thing use tubers or cuttings, since the begonia grown from them retains the characteristics of the mother plant. By sowing seeds, it is impossible to achieve the same effect.

If you want to get new varieties at home, it is recommended to use it for reproduction seed sowing method. Then, in just one year, you can acquire a large number of new tubers with excellent decorative properties of flowering plants.

However, you need to immediately prepare for the fact that propagation by seeds will require a lot of time and effort. It should be noted that begonia grown from seeds has flowers of different sexes, which can be determined by appearance.

If necessary, you can carry out artificial pollination using a paint brush. As a result, in the fall, a fruit will grow in the form of a box containing very small seeds, and new flowers can already be obtained from them.

How to grow begonia from seeds

Sowing seeds is recommended to plan for the New Year. It is also permissible to hold it a little later, up to the first decade of February. Before boarding you need prepare suitable soil, which should have a light composition so that moisture is well absorbed.

The soil mixture prepared on the basis of leaf substrate, river sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 2 is considered optimal. After filling the box, the ground is leveled, and then placing seeds on the surface. You don't need to deepen them.

After this, plantings are watered with settled water at room temperature using a spray bottle. Next, a box of seeds cover with glass and transferred to the battery. The seeds germinate most quickly if the room temperature is maintained at + 24 ... + 27 degrees Celsius.

Important daily spraying, airing. This is especially necessary at the stage of seed germination, as this will help to avoid condensation appearing on the glass on the seedlings.

Seedling care and picking

After a week from the moment of emergence of seedlings, seedlings can be transferred to a cooler place. When a few more weeks have passed, the glass can be removed completely.

Considering that in winter the duration of daylight hours is short, seedlings need to be illuminated using a phytolamp, which is turned on for 3-5 hours in the morning and evening.

When another three weeks pass, and the sprouts form two true leaves, carry out a pick. For the first time, the plants are seated no closer than 2-3 cm from each other. A month later, the next pick is carried out.

Now the distance between seedlings is increased to 5-6 cm. At least once a week needs to be fed: for this, a slightly diluted solution of mineral fertilizers is used.

When stable warm weather is established, which usually occurs in May, seedlings transplanted into separate pots with a capacity of 0.5 liters.

Before landing on the bottom, it is necessary to lay drainage with a layer of 12 cm. Soil prepared from leafy soil, humus and sand, taken in a ratio of 4: 1: 1, is already laid on it.

Among the popular ornamental plants, begonia stands out, which most experienced flower growers know about. Against the background of other relatives, she has beautiful flowers. Today, it can be grown at home, because this plant is quite unpretentious, so there will be no special problems in growing and caring for it.

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