Sutherland's Begonia Is The Most Unpretentious Among Begonias. Home Care. Photo

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 07:13

Fashionable hybrids of tuberous begonias have almost ousted more original flowering species from the shelves. Sutherland's begonia is one of these distinctive and vibrant varieties of begonias. Its greenery is not inferior to the beauty of flowering, and the bushes, creating enchanting clouds, seem dazzlingly bright. Growing this begonias is much easier than other fashionable novelties that have flooded the shelves. And without much experience growing this plant is much easier to cope with than other flowering begonias. Regular grooming and the right temperatures are all a Sutherland begonias need.

Content:

• Bright original among prim begonias
• Sutherland begonia varieties
• Conditions for growing Sutherland begonias
• Sutherland begonia care at home
• Diseases, pests and problems in growing
• Reproduction of Sutherland begonia

Bright original among prim begonias

Sometimes begonias cause some dislike. They are considered aggressive and even negatively affecting the energy, in general, not very suitable plants for decorating bedrooms and living rooms. But only those who pay attention only to "thorns" can think so.

As one of the widest variety of indoor plants, begonias offer a choice not only between decorative leafy and flowering species. Within each of the categories there are unforgettable, dissimilar, bright stars. And a special variety is characteristic of the species begonias, which are valued for their flowering.

While the well-known begonias massively flood windowsills and are driven out for the holidays, flaunt on balconies and in street pots, only at first glance, more modest plants remain undeservedly forgotten. Species flowering begonias are special, very bright in decorativeness and much easier to grow. And in this regard, Sutherland's begonia may well be considered a typical example.

Sutherland's begonias are classified as tuberous begonias. Tanzania is considered the birthplace of this plant, although it can be found in neighboring countries.

Sutherland's begonia (Begonia sutherlandii) belongs to the ampelous species of begonias. It differs significantly from the usual tuberous begonia, not only in the small size of the tuberous roots, but also in the type of shoots - arched drooping, thin, graceful, sparsely branching, but creating beautiful lush bushes.

The reddish color of the twigs is almost invisible due to the densely sitting very bright leaves. The branches are limited in length to a maximum of 50 cm. The greens of this kind of begonia always look dazzling. Medium to dark green, the leaves stand out nicely from other houseplants and often appear almost artificial.

Small, typically asymmetric leaf plates with a jagged edge and original purple-red veins, with a pointed tip and an oval or oval-lanceolate shape, do not look as impressive as in decorative leafy species, but they are very elegant. The edge of this begonia appears only on the underside of the leaves. The hairs are short but noticeable.

Sutherland begonia bloom

The plant combines bright greens with no less bright flowers. Collected in hanging brushes, delicate, with bright acrylic colors, they seem almost extravagant. The flowers of this begonia are simple, with rounded petals, up to 1 cm in diameter. And the clusters of inflorescences are very airy and rare, which gives flowering a unique grace.

The flowering period of Sutherland begonia lasts all summer. From June to early September, with proper care, it retains the same decorative effect.

Sutherland begonias are an orange-blooming species. Apricot, copper, salmon, fiery, terracotta shades of orange resonate surprisingly subtly with reddish shoots and leaf veins.

One of the disadvantages of Sutherland begonias is rightly called the rapid loss of decorativeness and the need for frequent rejuvenation. The shoots of the plant are exposed from below, stretched out, because of which the bushes lose their attractiveness and compactness. If there are signs of loss of decorativeness, the plants are simply updated, growing new bushes to replace them. The classical methods of rejuvenation in the form of pruning or splitting do not work for this begonias as effectively as simply replacing them with new bushes. Pruning often only saves the bushes for one year.

Sutherland begonias offer a choice between different shades of green and orange tones, from the dazzlingly bright and contrasting Papaya to the more modest varieties.

Conditions for growing Sutherland begonias

The light-loving nature of this type of begonias is not so pronounced as to look for a place for it only on the windowsills. The beautiful flowering of Sutherland's begonia also demonstrates in partial shade. And the need for a cool wintering for a plant arises only in the absence of lighting correction in winter.

Lighting and placement

Sutherland's begonia belongs to the light-loving, but not sun-loving species. In a strong shade, it will not be able to grow, but in a diffuse penumbra it feels very comfortable.

A plant needs the same intensity of light throughout the year, with a decrease in daylight hours, it is worth moving plants to more lighted windows. If it is impossible to compensate for seasonal problems with lighting either by moving or by backlighting, it will be possible to preserve the decorative effect of the plant only by lowering the temperature of the content.

The ideal place for Sutherland begonias is considered to be the eastern or western windowsills. Plants can be placed in the interior near the southern windows.

Temperature regime and ventilation

This kind of begonias will prefer to stay in stable temperatures throughout the summer. This is a thermophilic plant that feels comfortable from spring to autumn at room temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. With good lighting in winter or additional lighting, there is no need to lower the temperature. If there is not enough light, there is no way to move the pots to more lighted windows, the temperature must be lowered to a cool 12-16 degrees. Temperature drops below 12 degrees are unacceptable.

Sutherland's begonia can spend the summer outdoors. After the onset of stable heat, it can be moved to balconies or even to the garden. It is better to choose semi-shaded or shaded places for the plant, be sure to protect it from drafts.

Sutherland begonia care at home

This beauty cannot be called a difficult-to-care type of begonias. Like all tuberous begonias, Sutherland begonia requires careful watering, but is otherwise content with standard procedures suitable for any other indoor plant with a long flowering period.

Watering and air humidity

For this type of begonias, it is worth creating constantly humid conditions. The plant is watered regularly. So that between these procedures, the earth dries up only in a few upper centimeters. In summer, Sutherland begonias need more frequent watering. In winter, they are reduced, but all the same, only the upper layer of the substrate is allowed to dry. The approximate frequency of watering is 3 times a week in summer and 1 or 2 times in winter.

This plant is extremely sensitive to wetting of all aerial parts. When watering Sutherland begonia, you should act carefully, not letting the water splash the leaves, and even more so the flowers.

Like most flowering begonias, Sutherland begonia does not like dry air and will prefer high humidity levels. But, since the plant cannot stand getting wet, it will not be possible to use a simple spraying method. For Sutherland begonias, in dry-air rooms, install trays of wet moss, use a variety of decorative external containers, or install humidifiers. With average moisture levels, there is no need for such measures.

Top dressing and composition of fertilizers

Fertilizers for this type of begonias are applied only in liquid form, together with water for irrigation. During the period of active growth and development, and even more so - flowering, you cannot do without frequent regular feeding. The optimal frequency of procedures is once every 2 weeks.

Despite its status as a flowering plant, Sutherland begonia is in some way a unique crop. The beauty of the leaves and flowering are equally important to her, so it is better for her to choose a complete mineral fertilizer with a balanced composition.

Pruning and shaping Sutherland begonias

Pruning Sutherland begonias is used as a temporary measure to thicken the bushes and prevent the plant from pulling out. It often does not bring the desired results in the long term. When pruning, the stretched shoots, bare from below, are greatly shortened.

Pinching the tops allows you to stimulate the division of shoots and thickening, prevents the accelerated aging of the bushes. You can start pinching at an early age.

Transplant, containers and substrate

This plant should not be disturbed until the roots have completely occupied the entire space of the pot. The transplant is carried out if necessary in the spring or summer.

For Sutherland begonias, you need to select medium-sized containers in which the plant will grow, mainly in the aerial part. The diameter of the pots is increased by only 1-2 cm. For this type of begonias, too deep containers are not suitable.

When transplanting, it is important to maintain the usual proportions and type of pot - if the bushes grew in natural clay vessels with a width greater than the height, then they need to be grown in containers of the same type and further.

For Sutherland begonias, peat-based soil mixtures are selected. The main parameter is looseness, but this type of begonia will not be able to bloom even in poor soil. For this plant, special ready-made substrates for begonias and universal high-quality soil are equally suitable.

Sutherland's begonia is passed over, keeping the entire root ball intact. It is undesirable to destroy the lump even in case of damage by pests or diseases, or an emergency transplant (it is easier to propagate begonia by cuttings and plant new plants).

Diseases, pests and problems in growing

Sutherland's begonia is perhaps the most resistant of all flowering begonias. It is very rarely affected by pests - with an extremely neglected state of the entire collection of plants, and most often by a spider mite.

Diseases, unfortunately, are not uncommon. Growing in the shade and improper watering will lead to the development of rot. To deal with lesions is possible only by removing the damaged parts, followed by treatment with fungicidal preparations.

Common problems in growing this species:

• stretching in the shade;
• yellowing of leaves or shedding of leaves, lack of flowering in poor lighting;
• rolling leaves in dry air.

Reproduction of Sutherland begonia

Like all other ampelous begonias, Sutherland begonia reproduces well by cuttings. Apical cuttings can even be rooted in water. But if desired, rooting can be carried out immediately in small pots for growing, in loose universal soil (both under a hood and without). It is cuttings that are used as a method of renewing plants that have lost their decorative effect and need rejuvenation: the tops of the branches are cut off, re-rooted, replacing old bushes with new plants.

You can also grow begonias from seeds. Sowing is carried out according to the rules common for all garden and indoor begonias - at the beginning of spring, in a loose substrate, under glass or film.