How to Care for Begonias

It feels great when the tree you plant blooms brilliantly with beautiful foliage. Begonias have both of these lovely traits. Best of all, they are relatively easy to care for, whether you grow them indoors or outdoors. In short, begonia is a wonderful plant. Follow these steps to take care of this perfect plant.

Table of Contents

Begonia Indoor

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Choose a type of begonia that grows indoors. The list of begonias that are well adapted to indoor conditions is very long. It is important to remember that some species of begonias are grown for their brightly colored flowers, while others are loved for their unique and pretty foliage. Most begonias purchased at a nursery will be labeled as indoor or outdoor plants.

There are two main types of begonias commonly grown based on their growth habits. There are also some hybrids between these two strains.
Cane Begonia is an upright begonia that looks like a bamboo plant. Angel Wing Begonia is a popular example.
The branched fibrous root begonia attaches directly to the central core like a turnip leaf. This group of sugar collectors includes the Rex Begonia species.
If you’re still not sure if your plants will do well indoors, ask the nursery staff.

Plant the plant in a pot with a good potting soil suitable for indoor conditions. When potting plants, you must keep three factors in mind: the type of soil, the size of the pot, and the amount of soil you use. ^{[1] X Research Source}

When choosing a potting soil, the soil should be relatively neutral or slightly acidic on the pH scale.
The pot should be a bit wide for the size of the plant–you should allow room for the roots to grow, but don’t choose a pot that’s too big.
Pots that are too large can lead to overuse of soil. When the pot contains too much soil, it can lead to mushy soil and potentially “waterlogged” plants.
Some people grow begonias in pots with a top layer of gravel or small rocks. You don’t have to bury the trunk under the gravel. Just plant the tree above the gravel.

Place indoor begonias in a place with lots of bright light. Begonias love light, so place them on a window sill facing east or west so they get a few hours of light each day. Avoid south-facing windows from February to September, as they let in too much light, unless you use thin curtains that filter out light. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Remember to filter the light coming through the east or west windows if they face brick or water walls.
If you choose to use a fluorescent light, you should place it 15-30 cm above the plant. You should keep the lights on for about 12 hours a day, although some begonia growers leave the lights on for up to 14 hours. Remember to water the plants more often when you use artificial light. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Keep begonias warm in the house. The minimum temperature at night should be maintained at 13ºC. Begonias are not very cold tolerant and will die if the temperature is lower.

Water the begonia carefully. Water the plant when the soil surface feels moist but not wet. You should water the plant more often when it is warm, there is plenty of light and the tree is blooming and growing new branches. Water until water comes out of the drainage holes. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings in low light and low temperatures in late fall and winter.
If possible, use distilled room temperature water. Promptly remove any drained water from the trays and dishes.
Mist the leaves of Rex begonias twice a week or provide high humidity to prevent leaf drop. Use warm water to spray.

Fertilize begonias. You should apply a water-soluble fertilizer to flowering plants once a month from February to September. Fertilize less often in the late fall and winter months as the plants will not thrive during this time. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Mix fertilizer according to the instructions on the label.
Wait three months before fertilizing if the potting mix you use already contains fertilizer.

Prune the tree regularly. You should remove wilted flowers and dead leaves, prune broken branches to promote plant growth. Dust the leaves if necessary.

Cut off the small flowers of Rex begonias so the plant can focus on growing foliage. Use a spray bottle of water to spray the foliage. You should also increase ventilation around the tree to prevent collisions.”

Maggie Moran

Gardener

Maggie Moran is a professional gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran
Gardener

Pro Tip : If you see mold on the leaves, mix 1 tablespoon (15ml) of baking soda with 1 quart of water and spray on the leaves. This solution will prevent mold growth! Then, place the plant in a sunny, well-ventilated place, like a windowsill.

Thu Hai Street Outdoor

Choose a suitable planting location. Plant the plant outside in a slightly shaded, frost-free location. Use tuberous begonia varieties to grow in pots or hanging baskets. Use filamentous begonia varieties to create beautiful flower beds. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Place begonias where they receive early morning or late afternoon sun for their most vibrant blooms. You can also place them in locations where they receive scattered sunlight all day.
Avoid growing begonias in pots on hot surfaces like plastic or concrete.
Plant tuberous begonia indoors 3 months before the last spring frost for the strongest flowering. See planting notes.

Plant begonias in nutrient-rich soil. Begonias love nutrient-rich fertility. You can create this type of soil by adding peat moss to the soil, as well as decaying compost. You also have to make sure the roots have good drainage, or they will end up with root rot.

Try to avoid growing begonias in areas with strong winds, as their very weak stems can break in high winds.
After finding a good location and preparing the soil, dig a hole just enough to place the pot with the distance between the holes about 30-45cm.

Water the begonias outdoors. You must water the plant so that the soil is just moist, not soggy. That means letting the top layer of soil dry out completely before watering again. Wet soil can lead to root rot or plant death. ^{[7] X Research Sources}^{[8] X Research Sources}

Water the potted begonia until water comes out of the drainage holes. Remove any drained water from the tray or dish immediately after watering.
Check hanging baskets of begonias regularly as they can dry out in a day. If the ground feels dry to the touch, water the plant.

Fertilize. Begonias prefer a balanced fertilizer, which means a fertilizer that is neutral rather than acidic or basic. Sprinkle slow-release granules where you plan to plant begonias. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Read and stick to the dosage on the label.
Fertilize every three months by sprinkling it into the soil around the plant.
Use a water-soluble fertilizer for flowering plants once a week if you are not using a granule fertilizer.

Regularly remove wilted flowers and dead leaves. This helps the healthy parts of the plant continue to grow well.

Cut down begonias. Trim back bed or fibrous root begonias to 7.6 cm every 4 months in temperate climates where there is no frost to regenerate the plant. This will ensure they continue to grow and stay healthy.

Bring bed-grown begonias that live outside in the winter and grow them indoors. Dig them up before the first frost and put them in a pot. Cut the plant down to about 7cm to start new growth. See how to care for indoor plants above.

Advice

Bring tuberous begonia indoors after a light frost but before freezing cold. Cut off the foliage and let the pot dry. You can lift the pots and store them in peat or in pots. Keep them in a cool, dark place where mice can’t get in.
In early spring bring tuberous begonias to plant, or repot the bulbs that have been stored indoors. Place the pot in a bright spot and water regularly. Plant tuberous begonias outdoors after frost has cleared.
Tuberous begonia needs a winter rest period and is not a good houseplant. Lorraine and Reiger or Elatior type begonias also need hibernation.
The life cycle of begonias is not long. Most of them only live 2 to 3 years with good care. Tubers of tuberous begonia usually keep for 4 to 5 years in good condition.
Wax begonias, an outdoor bed-grown begonia, will bloom year-round if kept warm. Cane type begonia (Angel Wing) and striped begonia (Rex or fpiage begonias) are also good houseplants. The cane type will hibernate if the temperature is too cold.

Warning

Many types of begonia have fleshy, crunchy bodies that break easily. Keep them away from wind or areas that will break.
Over-watering is a major cause of indoor begonias that die. Do not let the pot get too wet.

Things you need

Mist sprayer for begonias
Land for planting
Fertilizer blooms

Steps

Begonia Indoor

Thu Hai Street Outdoor

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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