Gardening: Begonias

Begonias come in various species and types, with colors ranging from yellow and white to red and pink. Fibrous-rooted or tuberous, Begonias reproduce quickly and provide a colorful addition to an outdoor planting area or indoor floral display. Use them in flower beds, containers or indoor pots for added color spots throughout your house and garden. Begonias are virtually maintenance-free after they get acclimated.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Fertilizer or plant food
• Planters
• Mulch

1. Plant begonia seeds no more than ¼ inch deep in small pots filled with a moistened peat moss mix. Water generously. Place in a window area that receives plenty of sunshine. Water as the soil gets dry. Transplant or thin the seedlings when they reach 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches tall.
2. Prepare your soil or container

   Plant cuttings or transplant seedlings outside or in pots and hanging baskets after all danger of frost has passed. Plant fibrous root begonias about 2 inches deep, just enough to cover the root ball. Plant tuberous varieties slightly under the soil and 10 inches apart. Plant begonias in a combination of topsoil and peat moss or compost. Add fertilizer to the soil at the rate recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Provide just enough water, but don’t overdo it.

   Water established plants, outdoors or indoors, only when they begin to dry. Begonia roots and tubes rot quickly when over-watered. Morning watering is best as it gives them an opportunity to dry before nightfall. Use mulch around your plants to maintain moist soil without over-watering.

4. Transplant indoor plants outside during warmer months, and pot outdoor begonias and bring them indoors during winter months. Refrain from potting or re-potting your plants in containers that are too large for them. Begonias like to feel "at home" in their containers. A good rule of thumb is not to plant them in any container larger than their root ball. Tuberous varieties can be transplanted to larger planters than their tubes, but still use caution not to have too large an area.