How to rejuvenate begonia - the subtleties of the procedure, depending on the type of flower

My begonia is already three years old and during this time it has lost its former magnificent appearance. While the flower was young, the bush grew well and even without pruning gave many side branches. But to date, most of them are bare, and the leaves remain only on the top of the elongated shoots. Tell me how to rejuvenate begonia so that it becomes thick and lush again? Is it possible to cut a bush "on a stump"?

Fleshy begonia shoots with luscious, shiny foliage and delicate inflorescences attract many flower growers. This plant is beautiful even when there are no flower clusters on it. Thanks to good growth, a small bush turns into a lush hat over the pot in a year. However, if you do not participate in its development, often begonia begins to lose its decorative appearance by the second year of life. The twigs are stretched and thinned, the young leaves grow not so large. And from the former abundant flowering, only a couple of inflorescences remain once a year. The reason, alas, lies in the natural aging process. Old leaves fall off, yielding food, but not space, to new foliage. It is a pity that it grows only on the tops of young branches, while the lower part of the plant becomes "bald". It is not surprising that the question of how to rejuvenate begonia is one of the most relevant for those who are engaged in its cultivation.

Do not despair, because it is not at all difficult to return a flower to a lush hat by pruning. But before starting the procedure, it is worth considering some of the nuances so as not to harm the begonias and not to lose it.

How to rejuvenate begonia with elongated leafless shoots

The only way to return the plant to its lush form is to trim those branches that have become "naked". In bush begonias, too long and thin stems are cut with a sharp knife. This will form a rounded bush and stimulate the formation of side shoots.

By the way, you can avoid the loss of decorativeness by shaping it at an early stage. In young bushes, the upper point of growth should be removed when they reach a height of 10-15 cm. In the future, periodically pinch the tops of branches that do not want to branch. You also need to completely cut out the stems growing inside the bush.

Ampel begonias should be trimmed periodically, removing the tops of young shoots. Then they will not need rejuvenation.

Which begonias are not recommended to rejuvenate (trim)

It is not necessary to cut such begonias drastically, to hemp:

1. Royal Rex and hybrid varieties derived from it. Their stem is short, does not elongate much, and the bulk of the leaves grows from the root. The maximum lifespan of such begonias is 3 years, so there is no point in rejuvenating them. It is easier to graft in time to obtain a young generation.
2. Eternal blooming. This variety has compact shapes. Regular pinching will help to preserve them, and in case of a large loss of leaves, it is better to root the apical cutting.

Features of rejuvenation and pruning of tuberous begonias

Tuberous begonias are one of those species that require annual cardinal pruning. These plants need a dormant period during which they gain strength for the new season. Such flowers are cut for the winter, in the month of October, leaving no more than 2 cm of old stems in height. They hibernate in a cool place with poor watering.If the begonias are not cut off, the tubers will weaken over the winter and next year the flowering will be poor, and the very appearance of the bush will be untidy.

How to rejuvenate creeping begonias - video