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Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained potting mix. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes; begonia tubers must never sit in waterlogged soil or they will rot. Self-watering pots are ideal. Keep in mind the mature size of the varieties you have chosen and plan your container sizes accordingly.
How do you care for potted begonias?
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 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 keep potted 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 do well in pots?
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.
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.
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.
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.
What to plant with begonias in containers?
If you want to combine the begonia tubers with some green, white and gold foliage plant with Candidum Caladium and Color Festival Hosta for a fresh appearance. These bulbs and perennials don’t have to be planted in a container – they would also fill a shaded garden nook just as well!Jan 30, 2020.
Can I put begonias in full sun?
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.
Do you need to 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.
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.
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.
What kind of pots do begonias like?
I like to use clay pots for my begonias. They allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant. When potting, always place a clay shard over the hole in the bottom of the pot to help drainage.
How long do potted begonias last?
Pour water over the stones, just short of covering them, and set your plant pot on top of the stones, above the surface of the water. As the water evaporates, it will create a zone of humidity around your plant. No begonia has a long life span. Most only live for 2 to 3 years, even with good care.
Can I leave my begonias in pots over winter?
Tuberous begonias should be dug up and stored indoors during winter until the return of warmer weather in spring. Pot-grown begonia plants can be stored in their containers as long as they remain dry. They should also be relocated to a protected area that’s cool, dark, and dry.
Can I save begonias for next year?
The tubers can be saved over the winter and planted again the next spring for another year of showy color. 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.
How can you tell if begonia is tuberous?
Begonias with tuberous roots are a large group of complex hybrids involving many species and years of breeding and development. They can often be identified by their prominent flowers, which can be single, double, ruffled, scented or multicolored, and range in size from 1/2-inch diameter to the size of a dinner plate.
How do you keep begonias alive outside?
And here’s the best part: Unlike their tuberous cousins, annual begonias don’t require a lot of light. These are shade-loving plants outdoors; so any somewhat-sunny windowsill will keep them alive and flowering—just make sure it’s well insulated so they don’t get too cold at night.
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.
Do begonias come back every year UK?
These fibrous-rooted, tender perennial begonias are usually grown as annuals. Their flowers can be white, pink or red and are produced throughout the summer until the first frosts.
