Happy Urban Dirt

There are many types of begonias. Some are distinguished by their leaves, such as begonia maculata (those circles on the leaves remind us of a gypsy dress). But, Do you know the striped begonia? It is a begonia whose main characteristic feature is a lime-green line on the vein.

If you’ve never seen one but you love begonias, find out below what they are and what care they need to be kept in your home.

How is begonia mentioned

Source: MyHomeNature

The striped begonia is a plant native to Brazil and Paraguay. Its natural habitat in these countries is characterized by humidity and the protection of vegetation larger than itself (thus protecting it from the sun and other dangers).

The most striking feature of the striated begonia is its leaves. They are elliptical, but can also be triangular. And unlike other begonias, these are covered with miniature hairs that feel like velvet to the touch.

They are olive green in color, but this stands out even more because of the lime green (or yellowish) line in the center that runs along the leaf vein.

For my part, on the underside of the leaf it has a reddish tintexcept for the rib, which will be green in color, contrasting with the red.

It has a bushy shape, but usually does not grow very immense. In stores you can find individuals with a length of 12 to 20 centimeters, but in adulthood they do not exceed a meter in height.

As for the stem, it is usually a shade of garnet-red (though the leafy branches tend to be lemon green or cream).

Adult specimens of the striated begonia may flower. She will do this once or twice a year (it depends on various factors), taking out several bouquets full of featherlight pink flowers.

Caring for the striped begonia

Source_Pl@nNet

The first thing you should know about this plant is that it is not too complex to obtain. And besides, it won’t cost you much..We can say that it is ideal for beginners because it is very simple to maintain. Although it has some features that you should keep in mind.

Here we provide you with a complete summary of all the care your plant needs to stay robust.

location and temperature

The striped begonia is a plant that adapts to both indoor and outdoor environments. In general, it will need a lot of featherlight. But not direct featherlight. So, if you keep it indoors, it is best to place it near a window, but without direct sunlight; and if you put it outside, look for partial shade so that it is nourished by featherlight, but not hitting the leaves.

Over time, especially if you are outdoors, yes you can make it have a few hours of direct sunbut only early morning or behind schedule afternoon.

As for temperature, the ideal value would be between 20 and 25ºC. However, it is not simple to maintain it at such a temperature inside or outside. Therefore, when it drops below 15ºC, its growth stops. In addition, it often loses its leaves in winter, although it can sprout again in spring if it is well cared for.

To avoid losing leaves it would be best to have it at home, in a place where the environment is not droughty.

Subsoil

The striped begonia needs a fairly featherlight soil, but with a lot of organic matter. So you can make a mixture of universal substrate, peat and perlite or similar so you don’t have a problem.

Some people even add a top layer to the clay pot to assist water drain and prevent puddles from forming, which can damage the plant’s roots.

Repotting is done every two years to a slightly larger pot.

Irrigation

Depending on the climate you live in, the season, and where your plant is growing, your watering method will change.

Generally, it is recommended to water the plant once a week in spring and autumn, twice a week in summer, and every 10–20 days in winter. However, we have already warned you that in your case it may not be the best solution.

The best way to find out is to water and see how many days the soil will last before it dries out. That way you can establish a good watering schedule.

In addition to watering, another crucial factor is humidity. The striated begonia needs humidity of 30 to 40% constant throughout the year. In winter this is not complex to achieve, but in summer it is complex, so you will have to spray with water without lime, add a plate with pebbles and water so that it evaporates (perlite is also worth it) or buy a humidifier and set it to a humidity level that makes it jump.

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It is recommended that during spring and summer months fertilize it with some liquid fertilizer (mixed with irrigation water). Of course, do not apply the manufacturer’s dose, but a little less.

pruning

To keep the plant robust and stunning, you do not need to prune it, but remove dried leaves and wilted flowers.

Plagues and diseases

Although the striped begonia is a quite resistant and easy-to-care-for plant, it does not mean that it is not attacked by pests. Two species to watch out for are mites and spider mites.

As for diseases, you need to combat gray mold, powdery mildew, and root rot (the latter is the result of over-watering).

Multiplication

Finally, if you want to propagate your striated begonia, you can do so by cutting off the leaves or stem. Of course, make sure you do this in the spring or summer, because The rest of the year is not simple to get ahead.

As you can see, the striped begonia can adapt to any environment you provide it with. As long as you provide it with the ideal conditions to thrive, it will have no problems. Do you dare to have it at home?