QA

Question: 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.

How do you care for potted begonias?

Beyond Blue Bouquet 1) Plant begonia in pot that allows about 2 inches of space all the way around the roots. 2) Begonias like to sit in locations that have daily full to partial morning sunlight. 3) Put the plant on a regular watering schedule. 4) Feed the plant a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month.

How do you keep begonias blooming?

Select a location receiving more direct morning or evening sunlight than mid day sun. Early morning / late day sunlight is much cooler with less intense rays. By keeping begonias out of the mid-day direct sun, the plants have less stress, and will produce more blooms.

Do begonias like sun or shade?

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 do you look after begonias outside?

Grow from seed or buy young plants. Plants can be hardened off and planted outside after the danger of frost has passed. Feed containers every week with high potassium feed during the summer. Position in sun or partial shade. Water regularly during dry periods but avoid wetting the foliage.

Do you deadhead begonias?

Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 11, depending on the cultivar, begonias (Begonia spp.) do not require deadheading to thrive. Rather they self-clean by dropping spent flowers on their own, says the University of Illinois Extension.

Do begonias come back every year?

There are no perennial begonias. There are forms that make great houseplants and will grow year-round indoors, but outdoors the plants are all unable to tolerate frost.

How much sun does a begonia need?

Most begonias grow best in part shade (4 to 6 hours of direct morning sun a day), or filtered sun (as through trees). Most will tolerate full shade (no direct or filtered sun), but won’t be as dense and usually have fewer flowers. A few grow in full sun. They prefer moist, but not soggy, soils.

What month do begonias flower?

Begonias grow in moist, shady gardens where they have well-drained soil, wind protection and filtered or indirect sunlight. A typical blooming season starts in June and ends with the first frost. They are so easy to grow that a broken stem or leaf stalk stuck in soil often roots as a new plant.

How often should you water a begonia?

Water Needs 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.

Are begonias indoor plants?

Begonias are a popular houseplant. Some varieties of begonia houseplants are grown for their flowers while others are grown for their striking foliage. Growing begonias as houseplants only requires a little bit of knowledge in order to keep them looking their very best indoors.

Can begonias survive outside?

Begonias are very sensitive to frost, cold, and wet weather, so don’t hurry to plant them outdoors; they can’t survive temperatures below 45°F. Begonias can be planted directly in the garden, or in hanging baskets or window boxes.

Are begonias easy to care for?

While you can grow tuberous begonias indoors, they are harder to take care of due to their light and humidity needs. Like most houseplants, begonias prefer bright, indirect light and plenty of humidity.

Is begonia an outdoor plant?

Unlike most flowering plants, which require at least a half day of full sun, begonias actually prefer growing in the shade. Wax begonias and angel-wing begonias are usually grown as outdoor annuals or indoor houseplants. Both grow from a clump of roots and are winter hardy in growing zones 9-11.

When can you put begonias outside?

Only plant begonias outside in May, when no more frosts are forecast. Water regularly and feed weekly with a high potash fertiliser like tomato feed. In autumn, dig up tuberous begonias and store the tubers in a cool, frost-free spot for winter.

Why are my begonia flowers turning brown?

Begonia plants do not like very wet soil, and too much soil moisture can cause the plants’ roots to rot. Either may lead to wilting and browning of the plant. Decrease watering so the begonias’ soil dries out between watering sessions.

How do you make begonias bushy?

General Pruning 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.