They do best in situations with shade or morning sun/afternoon shade. Most varieties have flowers that hang down a little, making tuberous begonias ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes rather than garden beds and borders. No matter where you grow them, make sure they have good drainage to prevent rot.
How long will begonias last?
No begonia has a long life span. Most only live for 2 to 3 years, even with good care. Cane begonias such as angel wings go dormant if the temperature gets too cool.
How do you care for begonias?
These plants like to stay damp, and not dry out completely, but they hate having their roots sitting in water. Use well draining soil, with some compost material, to help retain moisture. Always water at the base of the plant, as they are susceptible to leaf rot and spots if the leaves get damp.
Where do begonias come from?
Begonias are indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions; no species is native to the United States. They occur primarily in Central and South America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The natural habitat of many begonias are moist, cool forests and tropical rainforests, but some begonias are adapted to dryer climates.
Do begonias grow better in sun or shade? – Related Questions
How do you keep begonias blooming?
11 Tips to Keep Your Begonias Blooming all Season Long
- 1 Water, But Not Too Much.
- 2 Give Them Adequate Sun.
- 3 Use Light Soil.
- 4 Fertilize Them Regularly.
- 5 Use a High Quality Compost.
- 6 Deadhead When Needed.
- 7 Choose The Right Varieties.
- 8 Pick a Proper Location.
Do begonias stay alive all year?
As long as the type of begonia you have is hardy in your climate, then you can overwinter them right in the ground. If they have tubers, then they’ll survive as long it stays above 50°F. During the winter, the foliage on tuberous varieties may die back if the bulb goes dormant.
Do you deadhead begonias?
Pruning and deadheading begonia is recommended to promote a bushier plant with more flowers. Also, prune if your plant becomes leggy. This will help the plant have healthier looking growth and helps encourage the plants to put energy towards producing more flowers.
Should begonias be watered every day?
A good rule of thumb is to water every two to four days. When it’s hot and dry you’ll need to water more often than when the air cools down and the soil holds more moisture. Begonia plants in full sun will also require more water than plants in shady locations.
How do I keep my begonias for next year?
Put them on screen trays or pack them in dry peat, sawdust, sand or other insulating material. Store tubers in a dry, dark, cool (above freezing) area. In the spring, start begonia plants by placing the tubers on damp peat moss in a warm environment.
What should I do with my begonias in the winter?
You can overwinter tuberous begonias by digging up, drying, and storing the begonia tuber through the cold season. To succeed, the tubers must be indoors before the first frost, preferably before temperatures drop below fifty degrees outside.
What do you do with begonias at the end of the season?
At the end of the growing season, simply put the entire plant in your compost pile. If you want to save the begonia tubers and replant them next spring, here’s how to do it: Begonias that are in containers can be moved indoors before the first frost. Stop watering and allow the foliage to yellow and die back.
Should begonias be cut back in winter?
Cut back begonia stems to three or four inches above the tuber in fall as you prepare to overwinter them. Do this for tuberous begonias when you bring them into a frost-free space for winter. The stems of hardy begonias, will die back naturally if you’re leaving them outside for winter under a mulch.
How do I know if my begonia is tuberous or fibrous?
Gently dig up your begonia and take a look at the roots. Fibrous-rooted begonias will look stringy; rhizomatous will have creeping surface stems and roots; and tuberous begonias have a round, flattened brown tuber that looks, well, a lot like a cow pie!
Do begonias spread out?
The hardy begonia reaches 2 to 3 feet in height. This begonia will form a large mass in the landscape; therefore, be sure to give it plenty of space as it will spread. Small, pink flowers bloom in drooping clusters above the leaves in late summer.
Can you grow begonias from cuttings?
All begonias can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings, sometimes called tip cuttings. The basic idea is that a plant will clone itself by sprouting roots on a piece of stem that is in a moist growing medium. Many begonias root easily, and one can use the similar technique of rooting them in water.
Do begonias multiply?
One way begonias make babies is with a little help from gardeners like us. You can grow begonias from seed, but it’s much easier to propagate them from cuttings instead, and you can do this with most kinds of begonias. To make babies from cuttings, start by snipping a few healthy leaves from your favorite begonia.
Will begonias come back if you cut them back?
Cut back begonias in autumn.
This will help conserve the plant’s energy over the winter so that it grows back the next year. If you’re growing your begonias as a perennial, they need more pruning. You should cut them back up to 1/3 of the plant after flowering.
How do I make my begonia Bushy?
Pinch the stems back to the first or second healthy bud from the tip. You can repeat this process two or three times at about four week intervals to encourage maximum bushiness. Pinching forces the begonia to branch at the pinch point, resulting in more stems, leaves and flowers.
Do coffee grounds help begonias?
Begonias benefit from an acidic soil, which the peat moss gives it. Adding some used coffee grounds to the soil will work wonders for begonias.
Do begonias like to be crowded?
Begonias like their roots crowded and well-drained. For small plants, only move them up in 1 inch increments until you get to about 6 inch size.
