They do not tolerate being in standing water. You might have some naturally boggy areas in your garden, this is not a suitable location to plant them. It should just crumble away after the soil is squeezed. If you take a handful of your soil and squeeze in your hand, if it stays in a ball of putty, it needs to be amended with coir or peat. This will help the soil absorb and drain moisture so the container doesn’t get too soggy.įor garden begonias, make sure to amend the soil with plenty of coir or peat to make the soil able to retain water and drain the excess. Also use a potting mix for soil, not black earth or garden soil. If your begonias are in a container, make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom. If it is soggy, quit watering immediately. To correct this, check the soil and make sure it is evenly moist but not wet. It will also cause all the blossoms to drop off. They become a floppy droopy mess when they get too much water. You’ve Been Watering Too Much Too much water will cause them to wilt and the flowers to drop.īegonias have tuberous stems that hold on to water. Choose one of these varieties for the best begonia blooms. Or there is a combination of the two known as rieger begonias. The best blooming varieties are tuberous and fibrous (aka wax) begonias. Chances are if the foliage is very colorful, the blossoms are not going to be spectacular. These varieties might put out a few stalks of small white flowers, but they are not the large rosettes of blossoms that tuberous varieties have.Ĭheck your variety and make sure they are a blooming variety. This includes popular rex begonia varieties. The rhizomatous varieties are known for their beautiful foliage. While all begonias bloom, many varieties are not known for their blossoms. I am going to get this one out of the way first. Replant the tuberous begonias in spring.You Picked The Wrong Variety Begonia rex varieties are known for their incredibly beautiful and varied foliage and produce only small flowers. Room temperatures for storage should be between 40 and 50 degrees F (4-10 C).Ĭheck the tubers occasionally and discard any that are soft or rotten. Place each tuber in a small paper bag and store the bags in a cardboard box. Use a sharp knife to cut spent blooms as soon as they fade.Ĭut back on water in late summer, then dig the tubers when the foliage begins to turn yellow. Be sure to provide plenty of air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Provide a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Water the plants regularly to keep the potting soil slightly moist. Plant the begonias outdoors when you’re sure all danger of frost has passed. You may need supplemental light to prevent the plants from becoming spindly. Plant each tuber into a pot when the shoots are about an inch (2.5 cm) long, then move the pots to bright light. Watch for the tubers to sprout in about a month. Water just enough to keep the potting mix moist. Store the tray in a dark room where the temperature is about 65 degrees F (18 C). Place the tubers an inch (2.5 cm) apart, hollow side up, in a shallow tray filled with moist potting mix and sand. However, you can also purchase tubers and plant them indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. Tuberous begonias are available at most garden centers at spring planting time. Begonias need moist, well-drained soil and are likely to rot in soggy conditions. A location in dappled or filtered light also works well, but the plants won’t survive midday sun or heat. How to Grow Tuberous BegoniasĪlthough tuberous begonias are shade-loving plants, they also require a bit of morning or late afternoon sunlight. Otherwise, you’ll need to dig the tubers and store them during the winter. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 10 and above, you can grow tuberous begonias outdoors year-round. The gold, purple, green, or burgundy leaves are nearly as attractive as the flowers. Types of tuberous begonias include upright or trailing varieties with single, double, or ruffled blooms in tropical shades of pink, yellow, orange, red, and white. Read on for some tuberous begonia growing tips. Keeping the plant alive and healthy requires a bit of extra attention. However, tuberous begonia isn’t a plant-it-and-forget-it plant. If you can’t decide what to plant in that protected, semi-shady corner, you can’t go wrong with tuberous begonia.
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