How to Prevent Diseases in Begonia Young Plants
How to Prevent Diseases in Begonia Young Plants
When your begonia is growing indoors, there are certain things you can do to prevent diseases from affecting it. These include watering regularly, avoiding overwatering and keeping the soil evenly moist, but not too wet.
Begonias can be susceptible to a number of diseases, including powdery mildew and root rot. Both of these can stunt plant growth and even kill them.
Keeping Your Plants Healthy
Whether you are growing begonia young plants for a garden or to use as houseplants, there are certain things you can do to help your young plants stay healthy and grow strong. The key is to make sure your plants get the nutrients they need to grow and bloom, while also keeping their soil and light levels properly balanced.
Watering is a critical aspect of begonia care, and you should water your young plants frequently. Be careful not to overwater, and keep the top inch of soil dry between waterings. You may need to water a couple of times a week in warm weather and less often during colder, less sunny weather.
Once your begonias have their first leaves, you can begin feeding them with a well-diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer that has no more than half of the recommended amount of nitrogen. Begonias are particularly sensitive to nitrogen overdose, so it is best to start off with a low dose of fertilizer and gradually increase the amount of fertilizer you give your plants as they grow.
When your begonias are a few inches tall, you can clip them off as needed to keep them bushier and to encourage them to put energy into flower production instead of foliage growth. This will help prevent diseases like root rot and blight, which can stunt the growth of your plant and even kill it.
In addition, some begonias can be propagated by cuttings or divisions. Mature begonias can also be planted from seed or sown directly in the ground, but they need a long season of warmth and humidity to germinate.
If you need to repot your begonias, pick a pot that is not too big and not too shallow. A pot that is too shallow can allow the potting soil to become soggy, which can kill your begonias and cause their roots to rot.
You can also try a pebble tray, which is simply a bowl of wet stones or small pebbles with the pot sitting on top of them. This will add humidity to the air and stimulate your plants’ roots, which are often neglected indoors.
Watering
Whether you grow your begonias in the garden or in a container, the most important thing to remember is to water them regularly. Begonias grow best in evenly moist, well-draining soil. Make sure that you are not overwatering them as this can cause fungal diseases to develop such as stem rot and mildew.
When you are growing begonias, it is also a good idea to use soil that is rich in organic matter and has a proper moisture balance. This can be achieved by amending garden beds with compost or by applying 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to the soil.
Most begonias will grow well in a mix of sunlight, including morning sun and filtered light. Depending on your home, this can be achieved by placing your plants in windowsills that receive bright filtered sunlight or a sunny spot in your room where you have an angled ceiling.
Another tip for keeping your begonias healthy is to move them to a location where they can receive indirect sunlight, as this helps keep their leaves and stems from getting too hot and dry. This can help prevent heat stress and can even increase the longevity of your begonias.
This is also the time to trim off dead flowers and leaves. You can prune these anytime of year, but be sure to do it with precision and a sharp pair of pruning shears.
If you are growing begonias in a pot, it is important to give them enough water so that the top half-inch of soil is constantly moist. Alternatively, you can place them in a dish filled with water and allow it to drip off the bottom of the plant.
While you can grow begonias indoors all year long, they are most likely to thrive when grown outdoors during the summer months. In cooler climates, these plants can be brought inside during the winter.
Tuberous begonias, however, are not the most winter-hardy of begonias and are more prone to fungus problems and root rot than other types. This is why many people take their begonias indoors during the fall, and store them until spring arrives.
Temperature
Keeping your begonia young plants in an appropriate temperature range is important for preventing diseases. Temperature can affect many factors that influence begonias, such as sun exposure and soil moisture. If your young plants aren’t getting enough light or if they’re growing too hot, their leaves can turn brown.
This problem usually occurs when the plant is getting too much direct sunlight, but it can also be caused by overwatering or a lack of air circulation. If you can move the plant to a spot where it gets indirect or shady light, it should be fine.
Keep in mind that begonias do best in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and they do not like to be exposed to extreme cold or heat. In areas where the weather is very cold, begonias should be started indoors about a month before the last frost has nipped them.
Then, in spring, you can repot your begonia tubers and set them outdoors when the danger of frost has passed. Be sure to keep them in a spot with a minimum nighttime temperature of 45 degrees F.
When potting begonias, use a light, well-drained potting mix that includes perlite or peat moss. This will improve airflow and help prevent root rot, which is a common problem with begonias.
Be careful to avoid overwatering your begonias, since this can cause them to rot. Make sure that all the excess water is drained away from the base of your plants, and then only repot them when they need it.
Begonias can also be susceptible to powdery mildew, which is a fungus that starts to appear as small white spots on the leaves and will spread quickly. This fungus can be prevented by increasing air circulation in your houseplants’ environment, or by using a humidifier.
Tuberous begonias are a popular choice for hanging baskets and containers, and they come in a variety of colors. Their large clusters of flowers make them ideal for summer displays in your garden.
If you want to add more color to your flower gardens, you can choose from begonia hybrids such as Begonia ‘Million Kisses’ or ‘Yadev’= Devotion AGM. These varieties feature semi-trailing begonias with pendulous flowers and reach about 40-45cm (16-18in) high through October.
Light
If you want your young begonia plants to thrive, it is important that they receive adequate amounts of light. Insufficient or excessive light can cause many problems, including yellowing of leaves and stems, and failure to produce flower buds.
Most begonia species grow best in bright, filtered light. However, some can tolerate stronger sunlight. For this reason, it is a good idea to place your begonia next to windows so that it receives scattered, indirect light throughout the day.
Begonias also benefit from being placed in a shaded area outdoors during the summer. This will help keep them warm and reduce the chances of disease.
Once the plants are established, it is a good idea to prune them in fall to promote new growth and flowers. This will also encourage the plant to store nutrients in its bulb for future growing seasons.
In addition, begonias will benefit from having their foliage pruned to make the plants more leggy and to encourage lateral growth. Pinch the tips of branches to promote this growth, but stop pinching when desired fullness is achieved.
Alternatively, you can add thin bamboo stakes to the container to help support long begonia canes that become too leggy or heavy. This will help to prevent the plant from leaning over, which can be a sign of rotting or weakened stems.
Finally, you can use a grow lamp to provide your begonias with the additional light they need. This will increase the amount of light they get and help them develop more quickly.
A grow lamp can provide a wide range of temperatures, which will help your begonias to adapt better to their new environment. A grow lamp can also give your begonias the additional light they need during the winter months, when natural lighting may not be as available.
Begonias are very sensitive to cold weather and should be started 8-12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Once they have sprouted, it is a good idea to move them to a warm room (about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) with indirect light. Water them slightly every few days, but avoid overwatering.
