How to make a Staghorn Begonia after hydroponics and how to prepare soil for Staghorn Begonia

Staghorn Begonia is a kind of succulent plant. Succulent plants are usually grown in soil, and some plants can also be grown in water. Although Staghorn Begonia can be grown in water, long-term water cultivation is not good, and soil cultivation is better. So how can Staghorn Begonia be transformed from water cultivation to soil cultivation?

How to plant Staghorn Begonia in the soil after hydroponics

Root pruning and drying

Check for root rot and severe aging, mainly referring to the original soil-grown root system. If there is any, trim it appropriately, then soak it in a mancozeb solution for 15 minutes, then take it out and dry it in a cool and ventilated place. The hydroponic root system has no root hairs and is relatively fragile and easy to break, so try to preserve it.

Soil mix

The roots of soil-grown plants absorb water and nutrients through root hairs. The roots are stronger when planted in the soil, so a harder soil is needed.

The recommended particle content is 50-60%. Peat can be used as a matrix, which has a good rooting effect, and then mixed with coarse sand and red jade soil particles. Pot the plant in moist soil, and choose a ceramic pot with good air permeability. Then place it in a cool and ventilated place for repotting. It is best to place it outdoors for maintenance, and water it thoroughly after the soil is dry.

In the early rooting process, the leaves will definitely shrink due to insufficient root supply. Please wait for a long time and be careful not to let the root system rot due to long-term water accumulation. After the root rot, you can only cut it off and grow it again.

Watering

In spring, you can water the Staghorn Begonia a little more leniently, which can make its leaves thicker and more drought-resistant. When the temperature exceeds 35 degrees in summer, you should control the water supply appropriately, avoid strong sunlight at noon, and prevent excessive water loss from the leaves.

How to prepare soil for Staghorn Begonia

Staghorn begonia is not picky about soil. Any loose, breathable, and organic-rich soil is fine, such as garden soil, humus soil, sandy soil, pine needle soil, etc. If you have the conditions to collect soil, you can choose one or two to mix and use. If you don't have the conditions to collect soil, you can use succulent planting soil or universal potting nutrient soil. Before potting, use ceramsite and coal slag to lay a hydrophobic layer, and then add appropriate organic fertilizer as base fertilizer for better results.

Some slow-release fertilizer can be added to the soil to provide some nutrients to the Staghorn Begonia and support it from over-consuming leaves during flowering.

How to grow Staghorn Begonia in soil

Prune unhealthy roots and disinfect with carbendazim solution or potassium permanganate solution. After the roots are dry, place them in moist soil and place them in a cool and ventilated place to keep the soil slightly moist. If the roots adapt to the new environment, they can be maintained normally. If they cannot adapt to the new environment, the water roots need to be pruned again to adapt to the new environment.

For old stumps of Staghorn Begonia, it is recommended to use a mixture of more than 70% particles + 30% peat soil for planting, because the old stumps have relatively less demand for water. If the proportion of water-retaining medium is too high, it is easy to cause the plant to grow too tall. If it is too watery in the high temperature in summer, it is also easy to cause root rot and black rot.