How to Cut Leaves on a Begonia

Begonias are nature’s gift of beauty and diversity to the amateur garden enthusiast and professional landscaper. With well over 1,000 species, a stunning variety of foliage, and blooms that run the color spectrum, the begonia is the perfect perennial.
Since begonias are so hardy and easily established with an abundance of flowering blooms, they do require occasional pruning. Pruning of blooms and leaves is essential for begonias to encourage new growth and healthier blooms.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Pruning shears
• Gardening gloves

1. Enjoy the beauty of your begonias. The first step is the easiest and the most enjoyable. Look closely at your begonias and notice any changes in blooms or foliage.
2. Inspect your begonia. Check the plant every day or at least a few times a week for new growth. Generally, the begonias will produce new growth from the tips of limbs. Any fresh growth will be evidenced by a sharp tip that will become a new leaf.
3. Cut new growth. It may seem anathema to the inexperienced gardener, but cutting new growth assures that the gardener determines how the plant grows. This doesn’t mean to cut all new growth, but rather any growth that is going to cause the plant to take an unkempt or wild appearance.
4. Prune the leaves. Remove any begonia leaves that are discolored or dead. Begonias have a variety of hues and textures to their foliage, but they also are among the easiest plants to detect dead-and-diseased leaves on, because they so readily stand out from the rest of the plant.
5. Use pruning shears. Don’t simply pinch off leaves. Instead, use pruning shears to remove unwanted leaves as close to the stalk as possible.
6. Examine frequently. After pruning, check your begonia every few days to determine if you need to repeat the pruning process again.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be careful when using pruning shears.