What soil is needed for begonias - selection and preparation

Begonia is an unpretentious, beautiful plant that does not require supernatural care. Initially, prepare the correct substrate for growing a flower. There are several criteria as to what kind of soil should be for begonias. Adhering to the recommendations and knowing the proportions, you can get high-quality soil for planting begonias in the garden or flowerpot.

What kind of soil does begonia "like"?

It is possible to formulate exactly what kind of soil begonia "loves". The soil should be air permeable, not too acidic and have good fertility. To achieve all this, it is not enough to use only peat or humus - the substrate must be multicomponent.

Special soil for begonia

Essential ingredients and minerals

The soil for planting begonias should have a number of minerals and trace elements that help the plant develop. Such components will support it during the period of exuberant flowering. The composition of the soil should contain the following components:

• nitrogen;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus.

Soil mixture for planting

If the soil lacks the listed trace elements, then the leaves of the plant will turn yellow or discolor. During the active growing season, buds may not form. Often there are problems with the color of the leaves and during the period of active growth.

What are all soil elements for?

Depending on what kind of soil is needed for begonias, its qualitative composition is determined. Each trace element has its own effect on indoor plants:

• nitrogen helps to develop the root system, accelerates the growth of the aerial part;
• iron prevents the development of chlorosis, which affects the color of leaves and flowers;
• magnesium strengthens the immunity of the flower, preventing the development of many diseases;
• potassium improves metabolism in the aerial part and the root system of the flower;
• calcium strengthens individual parts of the flower;
• phosphorus helps to improve the characteristics of the plant as a whole.

An additional source of nutrients in minimal quantities can be coconut fiber, which also provides good air permeability of the soil.

Choosing a land for begonias

To plant a plant, you need to choose the right substrate. Begonia grows in different ways in soil mixtures with different compositions. Which option to choose or cook is determined by the type of flower.

Choosing a land is a crucial step in leaving

What soils exist

Novice florists have a question as to what begonia is, what kind of land to plant and how to prepare the substrate with their own hands. There are several soil options:

• take leaf land + peat + coarse sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1;
• deciduous soil + peat + sand + humus in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 1;
• leaf soil + coniferous soil + coarse sand + charcoal in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: ½.

Substrate preparation

Preparing the soil constituents for begonias

The soil for room begonias can be made independently.It is enough to take the right ingredients and prepare them correctly before use:

• you can not take leafy land from under trees such as willow and oak - they contain a lot of tannins;
• all components of the soil must be carefully sieved, removing large particles, debris and stems;
• the soil must be decontaminated before use.

Calcining the soil

The rest of the preparation of the components consists in the correct process of connecting all the components for each soil option.

Proper sterilization of the earth

Begonia soil must be decontaminated. Deciduous soil can contain many pathogenic microorganisms that negatively affect the plant. There are 4 methods of disinfection: roasting in the oven, freezing, rinsing with manganese solution and boiling water (sterilization).

It is enough to put a leaf with earth in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 180 ℃. When processing with boiling water, you need to decompose the earth and pour boiling water over it. The same principle is used when processing with a manganese solution. You can freeze the soil for several weeks.

Major mistakes in preparation

Not all components may be suitable, even if they comply with the regulations. Sometimes flower growers use the right ingredients for preparing the soil mixture, but they forget about some of the nuances:

• deciduous soil should not contain tannins, therefore, it is impossible to take material from under any tree;
• any soil must be pre-cleaned to avoid the development of harmful microorganisms;
• if humus is used in the process of drawing up the soil mixture, then it should already be rotten or semi-decomposed.

The soil must be processed without fail

Each preparation condition must be met, otherwise the substrate will harm the plant. If you make at least one mistake, the planting material can be considered spoiled.

Planting process

In the process of disembarking, ready-made or home-made soil is used. This does not in any way affect the rooting and development of the plant in the future. How to plant a flower? Begonia planting algorithm:

1. Prepare a pot of soil. At the bottom of the container, sleep small expanded clay, which will become a drainage. Then ⅓ fill the pot with the ready-made substrate.
2. Submerge the roots of the plant in water to wash off any residual soil. If necessary, remove dead root areas.
3. Treat the cut sites with activated carbon powder to prevent re-infection.
4. Make a small depression in the soil mixture, into which the root system of the sprout will be placed.
5. Having established the sprout in the hole, you need to sprinkle it with the substrate to the very base of the leaves. Press down lightly on the ground at the base of the stem.
6. After planting, water it abundantly using settled water at room temperature.
7. If the sprout is small, you can cover the container with glass for several days, creating a miniature greenhouse. After 2-3 days, the glass can be opened.

Planting begonias

What to do with the old land?

During the growth period, begonia soil almost completely deprives of useful components, since at the time of flowering it especially needs microelements. But even this option can be useful. Florists often use this soil for sowing indoor green manure. These are oats or wheat. Thanks to green manure, the soil mixture improves its performance, in the future, the material is used as an additive to other soil mixtures.

Siderat in the old land

While the siderat grows, it is used as a decoration for the windowsill. Oats are often grown in pots to feed pets. Therefore, you should not rush to throw out the soil after transplanting.

The soil for begonia must have a certain vitamin composition, which contributes to the development of the flower. Each component fulfills its function. In this case, the substrate consists of simple elements, which is why you can prepare it yourself.