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Use a soilless planting medium that is equal parts peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. Amend the medium with a couple of tablespoons of ground limestone to help control humidity. Mix together well and moisten with water. Gently remove the begonia from its container and immediately transplant it into the new medium.
When can I transplant begonias?
Begonias can be transplanted to the flower garden in late spring as soon as the danger of frost has passed. They will thrive—even bloom, depending on the variety—from then until fall when overnight lows dip below freezing.
Can you repot begonia?
Propagate Begonias from a Single Leaf With a sharp knife, cut a mature leaf from the plant where the leaf meets the stem. Now clip the cut end into a point. Rooting begonias this way will give you a whole new plant grown from the roots that develop at the end of the petiole.
What is the best potting soil for begonias?
Use light potting soil with extra perlite to promote proper drainage. In the garden, grow begonias in sandy loam soil. If you have heavy clay soil, grow begonias in raised beds filled with compost and topsoil.
How do you split begonias?
It’s best to divide the tubers in the early spring, after the buds have begun to swell. Use a sharp knife and divide into as many pieces as you like, as long as each piece has at least one bud on it. But remember, the smaller the piece, the less food reserves it has and the longer it will take to reach flowering size.
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.
What type of begonia do I have?
All begonias with glossy leaves are of this “wax leaf” begonia type. The other major subtype with fibrous roots is the “cane stem” or “angel wing” begonia, which is identified by its elongated, erect canes which can resemble bamboo. Some of these canes reach 12 feet in height, though 2 to 3 feet is more common.
What do I feed begonias?
“Begonias are heavy feeders, and for best bloom production should be fed every two weeks,” Roberts said. He recommends a high nitrogen plant food with a 10-10-5 formula early in the season.
Can you root a begonia stem?
All begonias, however, can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings, sometimes called tip cuttings. The basic idea of this kind of propagation is that a plant will clone itself by sprouting roots on a piece of stem that is put in water or a moist growing medium.
How do you take begonia cuttings?
Cut a young, clean, healthy leaf from right at the base. Cut off its stalk. Make slashes along the underside of the main vein. Pin the whole leaf down onto firmed, moist compost. Warmth and moisture will encourage growth at the damaged parts of the vein. Several young plants will form on each leaf.
Can you use Miracle Grow on begonias?
Once a week apply half strength (1/2 T Miracle Grow or other soluble plant food per gallon) fertilizer solution in place of regular watering, being sure to give the basket enough so that liquid seeps from the bottom of the pot. Tuberous begonias are not heavy feeders, so don’t overdo it.
Do begonias like sun?
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 fix transplant shock?
Keep roots moist – Keep the soil well-watered, but make sure that the plant has good drainage and is not in standing water. Wait patiently – Sometimes a plant just needs a few days to recover from transplant shock. Give it some time and care for it as you normally would and it may come back on its own.
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.
Can begonia tubers be divided?
Unlike potato tubers, you can’t cut begonia tubers into pieces to produce more plants. Although some growers divide begonia tubers, they must make the divisions when the plant is actively growing, and the tuber pieces often become diseased and rotten.
How cold can begonias tolerate?
The American Begonia Society considers 55 degrees Fahrenheit the lower end of begonias’ comfort zone, though some hybrids may be more cold-tolerant. In any case, when your forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s, it’s time to give your begonias some protection.
Should begonias be cut back?
The begonia foliage should be trimmed back, and the tubers can be dried and stored in a cool, dry location through winter, just as canna or dahlia bulbs are stored. Fibrous rooted and rhizomatous begonias do not die back once a year like tuberous begonias.
Can I save my 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.
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.
