Among the begonias there are many types. Some are distinguished by their leaves, such as the begonia maculata (those circles on the leaves make us think of a gypsy dress). But, Do you know the striped begonia? It is a begonia whose main characteristic is a lime green line on its vein.
If you’ve never seen it and love begonias, find out what it looks like and what care it will need to have it in your home below.
How is begonia listed
Source: MyHomeNature
The striped begonia is a plant native to Brazil and Paraguay. Its natural habitat in these countries is characterized by its humidity and its protection by other vegetation larger than it (thus it protects it from the sun and other dangers).
Visually, the most striking thing about the striped begonia are its leaves. These are elliptical, although they can also be triangular. And unlike other begonias, these will be covered in tiny hairs that feel like velvet to the touch.
They are olive green, but this one stands out even more with a lime green (or yellowish) line in the center, which follows the vein of the leaf.
For its part, on the underside of the leaf it has a reddish touchexcept for the coast, which will be a green color contrasting with this red.
It has a bushy habit, but usually doesn’t grow too big. In stores you can find it between 12 and 20 centimeters, but it will not exceed, in its adult stage, one meter in height.
As for the stem, it is usually a garnet red tone (although the leaf branches tend to be lime green or cream).
Adult specimens of the striped begonia can bloom. He will do this once or twice a year (depending on various factors), releasing several bouquets full of light pink flowers.
Striped Begonia Care
Source_Pl@nNet
The first thing you need to know about this plant is that it is not too difficult to obtain. Plus, it won’t cost you much.. You could say that it is ideal for beginners, because it is very easy to maintain. Although it has some features to keep in mind.
Here we give you a complete summary of all the care the plant needs to be healthy.
location and temperature
The striped begonia is one of the plants that will adapt whether you put it indoors or outdoors. In general, it is going to need a lot of light. But not direct. So, if you have it indoors, it’s best to place it near a window but out of direct sunlight; and if you put it outside then seek partial shade so that it is nourished by the light but does not strike the leaves.
Over time, especially if you’re outdoors, Yes, you can give it a few hours of direct sunlight.but only early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Regarding the temperature, the ideal would be between 20 and 25ºC. However, it is not easy to maintain it at this temperature indoors or outdoors. Therefore, when it falls below 15°C, its growth stops. In addition, it is common for it to lose its leaves in winter, although in spring it can grow back if it has been well cared for.
To avoid losing the sheets the best would be to have it inside the house, in an area where the environment is not dry.
Substrate
The striped begonia needs fairly light soil but with plenty of organic matter. SO you can make a mixture with universal substrate, peat and perlite or similar so you don’t have a problem.
In fact, some also add a first layer in the clay pot, with the aim that the water runs off and thus there are no puddles that can damage the roots of the plant.
As for its transplant, it is done every two years in a slightly larger pot.
Irrigation
Depending on the climate you have where you live, the season of the year and where the plant is, the irrigation will change.
In general, it is said to be watered once a week in spring and autumn; twice a week in summer and every 10-20 days in winter. However, we already warned you that it might not be the best in your particular case.
To find out, it is best to water and see how many days the substrate lasts until it dries out. This way you can establish a good irrigation pattern.
Besides watering, another important factor is humidity. The striped begonia needs constant humidity between 30 and 40% throughout the year. In winter it is not difficult to perform, but it is in summer, so it will be necessary to spray water without limescale, add a plate with pebbles and water to evaporate (perlite is also worth it), or buy a humidifier and set it to that humidity so it pops.
Subscriber
It is recommended during spring and summer months fertilize it with a little liquid fertilizer (mixed with irrigation water). Of course, do not apply the manufacturer’s dose, but a little less than that.
Size
To keep the plant healthy and beautiful, it’s not that you have to prune it, but you will have to remove any withering leaves or faded flowers.
Plagues and diseases
Although the striped begonia is quite hardy and easy to maintain, this does not mean that it does not attack pests. Two you will need to watch out for are mites and spider mites.
For its part, in terms of diseases, you must control botrytis, powdery mildew and root rot (the latter due to excessive watering).
Multiplication
Finally, if you want to multiply your striped begonia, know that this can be done by cutting the leaves or the stem. Of course, be sure to do it in spring or summer, because the rest of the year, it is not easy to move forward.
As you can see, the striped begonia can adapt to any environment you give it. As long as you maintain the ideal conditions for him to progress, he won’t have any problems. Do you dare to have some at home?