Tuberous Begonia Care

Tuberous begonia care

Keep soil evenly moist, allowing it to dry only slightly between waterings. Reduce water in winter (stop watering tuberous begonias in fall). Always avoid wet or waterlogged soil. When plant is in full growth, fertilize with balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength at alternate waterings.

Do tuberous begonias like sun or shade?

Once you have plants, choose a site for tuberous begonias that is somewhat protected from wind, where the soil is well-drained, and plants will be shaded during most of the day. Early morning and late afternoon sun will not harm them, but they need good indirect or dappled light at other times.

Do tuberous begonias come back every year?

This results in at least four months of blooms a year and if looked after properly, they will come back year after year so one purchase will give years of enjoyment in your garden. Begonias are extremely versatile and can be used in different ways.

Can tuberous begonias take full sun?

Begonias are tropical plants, but their foliage and flowers can be damaged by too much sun, and they will not grow in hot, dry weather. Tuberous begonias prefer the filtered light beneath high trees, or at least 4 hours of morning sun.

How long do begonias last in pots?

No begonia has a long life span. Most only live for 2 to 3 years, even with good care.

Can you leave begonias in pots over winter?

Yes, you can overwinter begonias in pots. Fibrous types can be kept as a houseplant, while tuberous varieties should be stored dormant in a cool, dark location. Overwintering begonias is easy, and it's a great way to save your favorite varieties every year.

Do begonias do better in pots or in the ground?

Begonias prefer growing in light, rich soil with a good concentration of humus, similar to the makeup of potting soil. So it's no surprise the plants tend to thrive in containers. Begonias planted in a pot should be spaced 4-6″ apart and with the tubers buried hollow-side up.

Should you deadhead tuberous begonias?

Removing dead flowers reduces the chance of infection from diseases if the fallen flowers remain on the ground or the container soil surface. Cutting back leggy growth on overgrown begonia stems rejuvenates the plant into producing new healthy growth.

Where do you pinch off begonias?

How to Pinch: To pinch your begonias you need to remove the growing tip of each stem where the next leaf will come out. Usually you remove it by pinching it off with your fingernail (yes, that's why it is called pinching and no, I don't know who thought of calling it that).

What do you do with tuberous begonias in the winter?

Place a layer of peat moss, vermiculite, or sawdust in a small cardboard box. Lay the tubers on the storage medium, then cover the tubers with additional peat, vermiculite, or sawdust. Store the tubers in an area with a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not allow the tubers to freeze.

How do I save 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 potting soil in a warm environment.

Do tuberous begonias need to go dormant?

REQUIRES winter dormancy. This means you need to begin in fall by reducing the water to the plants until the tops have died back and the soil is completely dry. Once the plant has gone completely dormant most gardeners remove the tuber from the soil. The tuber is usually found where the stems meet the ground.

Do begonias like to be in bigger pots?

Begonias like to be root-bound, and can struggle if repotted too often. When it's time for repotting begonias, be certain to choose a container that is only one size larger than the current one. They can start to suffer if they're planted in a pot that's too large.

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!

How often should you water tuberous begonias?

Begonias thrive in soil that is neither dry nor saturated. Your goal is to find a moisture level and watering schedule that is justttt right. 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.

Can you overwinter tuberous begonias indoors?

The stems of hardy begonias, will die back naturally if you're leaving them outside for winter under a mulch. If you're bringing hardy begonias inside to overwinter, cut the stems back to three or four inches above the tuber before bringing them into a frost-free space.

How do you keep potted begonias blooming?

For maximum blooms, begonias should be lightly fertilized every 10 to 14 days when grown in pots and containers. For bedding plants, fertilizing every three to four weeks is enough to do the trick. But the real key is to use a light dose of nutrients in place of full strength applications.

Is 40 degrees too cold for begonias?

Most species of begonias can be damaged by temperatures lower than 45 or 50 degrees.

Can I grow tuberous begonias indoors?

Begonia tubers can also be started inside a terrarium. Though begonias like humidity, avoid overwatering. Wet soil can cause the tubers to rot. Once the first leaves appear, move the pots to a warm sunny windowsill or put them under grow lights.

Can you overwinter begonias in a garage?

To get to Lyons's question: Yes, if it's easier for you, you could leave the tuberous begonias in the soil in the box and place the box in the garage, he said. Don't water them through the winter. Here's the process that Clark described for overwintering tuberous begonias.

11 Tuberous begonia care Images