The begonia ’s optic - catching , asymmetric leaf make it the star of any collection , but what if your begonia is more stem than a foliage ?
When a previously lush and leafy specimen produces an excess of stems and stalks , it take up until it ’s nothing more than a tussock of verdure on a long megabucks of sticks .
While begonias are prostrate to becoming leggy , there is a comparatively dim-witted fixing that can result in even more begonias ! keep reading to teach how to turn this unfortunate circumstance into a winnings for your indoor garden .
To fix a leggy begonia , first , ascertain what is causing the overgrowth and then correct it by increase Christ Within , temperature , or shift the plant ’s pot . After you ’ve resolved the initial problem , crop your plant from the top - down , removing the leggy office . eventually , pinch back stray leaf on a regular base to keep your begonia lush .
capacity
What is Leggy Begonia?
When we say a flora is “ leggy , ” we mean that its increase is concentrate in its stems . This have begonias , particularly cane variety such as the popular Polka Dot or Angel Wing varieties , to grow magniloquent and lean , with few leaves along the stems .
A leggy begonia appear marginal , with an deficient amount of foliage . They can also become sprawling because fast - growing halt frequently lack the strength to keep their heads up . The weaker staunch lean and nod , and your plant life takes up more room in your organisation .
A leggy begonia prompt me of a teenager in the middle of a growth jet , gangly and out of proportion , and there ’s some truth to that .
A leggy begonia , like an adolescent , is one that is apace grow . Etiolation is the rapid growth of the destiny of the root word between the leaves . The stem stretches , causing the normal spatial arrangement between leaves to become excessively broad and gaping .
gigantism pass off in all begonia , but it is most noticeable in cane begonias . Tuberous , rhizomatous , and waxy begonia do not suffer as oft as cane varieties , but long and distorted leave of absence can still be seen .
Causes of Leggy Begonia
Lack of light
Examine your begonia raise surroundings . A dimly illume environment will promote your begonia to send out long stalks in lookup of igniter .
Your plant can not photosynthesize and produce food if it is not exposed to light . Because your begonia can not afford to create both theme and leaves , it focalise on bow in the hope of reach dependable clarification .
Begonias require less lighting than most sign plant . However , while they do well in partial shade and indirect light , this is not the same as no light at all .
Excessive fertilizer
Plant emergence is dear and necessitates the use of nutrients . Most potted works have limit resources , and as a result , increment is curb .
However , if you have over - fertilized your begonia , it may seize the chance to really get going , shooting up and becoming leggy . This is especially dependable in warm weather – more on that after .
Temperature
Begonias originated in the tropical zone and flourish in tender , humid climates . Most indoor plants , on the other hand , live in a form of perpetual springiness , where it is lovesome but not hot and there is little moisture in the air .
A abbreviated period of strange warmth will inspire your begonia to make the most of the summery conditions , resulting in a leggy plant .
Pot size
Begonias , according to conventional soundness , benefit from smaller - than - modal pots . A small amount of root - bind is idealistic for keeping your plant life summary and lush . If you give your begonia too much space , it will seize the opportunity and diffuse as quickly as it can into the unexampled blank space .
Repot your begonias only when they are completely source - bound . When shopping for a fresh pot , choose one that is only an inch ( 2.5 centimetre ) or so wider across the top . If you give them more than an inch , they ’ll take a Admiralty mile , and in this case , the mile in doubt is straight up .
Age
Begonias pour forth their humbled leaves as they acquire former . An older begonia may become leggy as the leaves on its older stems fall off . Unlike other type of legginess , this is not because of inordinate growth . Rather , your flora is bald , which many older nurseryman can certainly relate to !
How To Fix Your Leggy Begonia
Giving your leggy begonia a haircut is the absolute good agency to care with it ! Lopping your begonia ’s over - strain stems and pinching out its errant development , as drastic as it may look , is the most effective agency to play that growth back under control .
Cane begonias should be clip on a regular basis to encourage a thicker growth , and other varieties profit from have their excessively straggly maturation take out as well .
Tuberous and rhizomatous begonia benefit from leaf remotion and will reinforce you with new shoots and more perfectly formed growth .
Pruning…
It may seem brutal , but there really is n’t much to it . You will need pruning shears ( Thisis the one I use ) , and I would recommend a jar or bowl of piddle for larger cutting – more on that afterward ! It ’s good to do your pruning in the warmer months when the works is growing , too .
In no fourth dimension you should start to see new growth springing up from the web site of the old , woody stems . It ’s not rare for a clipped cane to produce two new shoots , resulting in an overall thick-skulled and bushier flora .
..and Propagation!
Nothing should go to dissipation . press clipping taken from leggy specimens are a great direction to start new plant . begonia easy spring new roots in water , and some indoor plant enthusiasts simply replant the rooted carving with the parent plant , leave in dumb arrangements that give the appearance of a with child , thriving begonia .
clip the clipping to just below the next node along for cane or tuberous begonias . Then simply immerse the entire still hunt in water . Once a nice cluster of roots has mold , they can be potted as a separate plant in their own right .
Rhizomatous variety , such as the popular begonia king , are even easier , requiring only a single foliage in H2O to produce a new gain to your collection . It ’s both economic and satisfying to watch your sad , tall-growing begonia transform into a thriving horde of raw plants .
Pinching
After you ’ve pruned your begonia , it will begin to sprout new leaves . You do n’t want it to take off again , so keep an eye on it .
After you ’ve trim your plant to the desired top , pinch off young growth burgeon forth at the top on a regular foundation . unseasoned leaves should be removed before they unfurl .
While this may seem uncivilised , it will prompt your blushing beauty to produce not one , but two new sprout from the trimmed tip . It ’s a neat way to get your begonia bush out instead of legging it upwards .
Can I Cut The Top Off My Begonia?
It is perfectly acceptable to lop off the entire top of your leggy begonia . They are resilient and thrive under that level of pruning .
you could cut off up to two - third of the top of any pass on cane begonia . On occasion , I ’ve pruned the top of a begonia , take away the leggy circumstances of the stem , and then immerse the remaining top in H2O to establish root . It ’s a very solid way to keep your begonias ’ dramatic foliation .
Preventing Legginess In Begonias
Now that we ’ve restored your radiant knockout , lease ’s look at how to keep that legginess from reappearing .
Provide Adequate Light
Your begonia , regardless of potpourri , need fond spook to bright , indirect light to boom . Your begonia has indicated this demand by stretch its leaves in the direction of a shining light source .
Examine your growing environment and take a positioning for your newly trimmed begonia that receives more light than its late localisation .
head off direct sun , but any position with dear diffuse lighter will further your begonia to blossom with an abundance of alluring leaf .
Consider using a grow lighter if you ca n’t find a good brilliant smear . Compact acquire lights are very common and simple to use and will cater your begonia with the faint levels it requires to continue in one place rather than legging it off in hunt of a bright 24-hour interval .
Keep It Cool
If your begonia is receive adequate light but still get hold of for the stars , the trouble is one of temperature , and you must hold your assuredness .
Keep your begonias in a grow environment that is between 58 – 72 ° F ( 14 – 22 ° coke ) for the best results . Warm spells are unavoidable – I in person forefend using air conditioning if potential due to my other , more estrus - loving plants – but it ’s best to keep your begonia in a cooler part of your home or office .
During the warmer month , take the clock time to purloin off new growth at the works ’s jacket . All of that summertime eagerness will finish up in the leaves , give you a display of growing to be proud of .
Do Not Over-fertilize
Fertilize your begonia no more than once a month during the growing time of year for best results . For a previously long-shanked industrial plant , a goodall - purpose balanced liquid fertilizeris ideal . When used sparingly , this will encourage the maturation of those lovely leaves without inspiring them to gain for the genius .
Use The Correct Pot Size
When pick out your pot , a good general regulation of thumb is no more than 20 cm across the top for each begonia . evidently , a orotund pot is required if you have a larger works , but it ’s best to err on the side of care and stick to smaller I to prevent them from sprint off into every uncommitted bit of the new roomie pot .
Use The Proper Soil When Repotting
When it comes to repotting , your choice of potting culture medium is vital . Indoor begonia boom in stain - free medium . Because they are susceptible to fungal contagion , it is a good idea to bound the opportunity for those pesky disease to instal a foothold in potting soils .
I ’ve found an adequate commixture ofperlite , vermiculite , andpeat mossto be an idealistic growing sensitive for my indoor begonia . It drains well while retaining a good amount of moisture , and the tiresome but steady putrefaction of the moss provide a consistent amount of nutrition . When peat moss is unavailable , I ’ve had winner substituting coir or sphagnum moss for it in this blend .
If you must habituate soils in your growing medium for any cause , make indisputable there is plenty of constituent material scattered throughout to allow for right drainage .
How Do I Make My Begonia Bushy?
Pruning and pinching will aid you concentrate the growth of your plant and make it denser and bushier . By cleverly establish multiple industrial plant in the same outer space , each with sprout cutting from the parent plant , you’re able to give the appearance of a bushier industrial plant .
meld plants in a small indoor pot is not recommend in general , but when it is literally share of the same industrial plant , you may avoid the pitfall of over - imbed your mass . plainly keeping your new dense delight well - watered and well - lit will leave in thicker , more luscious growth .
How Do You Thicken Begonia Stem?
The good manner to inspissate the stem of your begonia is to plainly wait . Pruning on a regular groundwork causes the flora to mature and germinate a thicker set of stems .
This is especially true of cane begonias , which can grow to search almost like bamboo with measured , consistent care . Stick to the plan above , and your bundle of twig will be restored to its verdant glory in no time .
Sharing is deal !
