How to Raise Begonias

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Begonis are perennial herbs from the tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and Asia. There are more than 1,500 known species with a wide variety of growing habits in the genus. Most begonias are terrestrial plants with tuberous roots, but some grow as epiphytes. Begonias are widely cultivated as ornamental plants because of their attractive flowers and often colorful leaves. Some species may be treated almost like annual bedding plants with their tubers stored indoors during the winter. Others, such as rex begonias, are best grown as perennial houseplants. Knowing what type of begonia you have is important as different types have different growing requirements. The American Begonia Society provides an identification guide on its website.

Difficulty:
Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:
  • Mister or sprayer
  • Peat moss
  • Perlite

Indoor Begonias

  1. Cultivate showy foliage begonias such as rex begonias on a windowsill with bright but indirect sunlight and a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Mist daily to keep humidity levels above 50 percent. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out in between waterings and aim to moisten the potting medium rather than soak it through. Allow all excess water to drain away as begonia roots are prone to rotting if waterlogged.
  2. Fertilize potted begonias every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer at a quarter of the recommended strength during the warmer months of the year. Reduce to once a month during the winter and do not fertilize at all for two months in midwinter.
  3. Repot indoor begonias when the plant becomes top heavy or the rhizome has completely outgrown the pot. Use peat moss with 30 percent perlite as a potting medium and choose a pot only slightly larger than the original. Stem cuttings and rhizome cutoffs may be placed in a small container of water on a windowsill until they produce roots and then potted.

Outdoor Begonias

  1. Transplant begonias bought in pots to their outdoor bedding destination after danger of frost has passed. Begonias grow best in rich but well-drained soil and partial sunshine or high shade. They make excellent bedding plants when planted in mass with about 10 inches between plants.
  2. Tuberous begonias may be planted once the tubers have begun to sprout and danger of frost has passed. Make sure the tubers are placed with their concave side facing upwards. Plant tubers six inches apart and cover them with soil to a depth of two inches. Soak the soil and do not water again until the surface of the soil is dry. Dig up tubers once the plants have started to yellow in the fall. Store them in dry sand in a cool place until the next spring.
  3. Propagate outdoor begonias by planting stem cuttings with at least two leaves directly into the soil during the summer. Stem cuttings from bedding begonias may be brought indoors during the fall and overwintered with their ends in water. Most will quickly produce roots and grow until the next spring on a bright windowsill.

Tips & Warnings

  • Place potted indoor begonias in a dish of water lined with pebbles. Make sure the container is not touching the water so that the soil does not become waterlogged.

  • Pinch out the growing tips of bedding begonias to encourage flower production and bushy growth.


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