How to Prune Begonias

Begonias are often a favorite flower for planting in flowerbeds or containers; and they come in many varieties and can flourish both indoors and out. They can thrive in conditions that range from full sunlight to shade. Pruning begonias helps to extend their healthy lives and increase the number and density of flowers.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• gardening gloves
• pruning shears

1. Put on your gardening gloves and decide just how aggressively you wish to prune your begonias. For a taller plant, you only prune a little. Pruning a lot will encourage more shoots to grow.
2. Using the shears, cut each of the branches to your desired length.
3. Pinch the tips of the cut stem, if you want to encourage side branching and the plant to become bushier.
4. Potted begonias benefit from having the stronger shoots growing from the base of the plant pruned aggressively, because this forces weaker growths that are more likely to fit well with the rest of the plant.
5. Tidy up and dispose of the cut stems.

Tips & Warnings

• When begonias are grown indoors, they can be pruned during any time of the year. When outdoors, begonias should be pruned in the spring.