Begonia Pearcei

Begonia pearcei

They do best in situations with shade or morning sun/afternoon shade. Most varieties have flowers that hang down a little, making tuberous begonias ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes rather than garden beds and borders. No matter where you grow them, make sure they have good drainage to prevent rot.

Is begonia a good indoor plant?

Begonias are some of the most beautiful, visually interesting plants you can grow indoors. However, they can be a bit picky about light and water, though not overly delicate, making them a great intermediate-level plant project.

Do all begonias come back year after year?

Yes, with the proper care, begonias will survive the winter. Though they are most commonly used as annuals, they're actually tender perennials that can live for many years. In the right climate, they can even stay in the ground through winter.

Do begonias do better in pots or in the ground?

Begonias prefer growing in light, rich soil with a good concentration of humus, similar to the makeup of potting soil. So it's no surprise the plants tend to thrive in containers. Begonias planted in a pot should be spaced 4-6″ apart and with the tubers buried hollow-side up.

How long do potted begonias last?

No begonia has a long life span. Most only live for 2 to 3 years, even with good care.

Do you deadhead begonias?

Most begonias don't need deadheading but look better if you snap off old flower stems. Don't deadhead sunflowers because the seeds are important food sources for birds.

How often do you water begonias?

Begonias thrive in soil that is neither dry nor saturated. Your goal is to find a moisture level and watering schedule that is justttt right. A good rule of thumb is to water every two to four days. When it's hot and dry you'll need to water more often than when the air cools down and the soil holds more moisture.

How do you keep indoor begonias alive?

Keep soil evenly moist, allowing it to dry only slightly between waterings. Reduce water in winter (stop watering tuberous begonias in fall). Always avoid wet or waterlogged soil. When plant is in full growth, fertilize with balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength at alternate waterings.

Are begonias hard to keep alive?

Let's cut to the chase, begonias can be difficult plants to grow as houseplants, too often the leaves start crisping and no matter what you do, you can't stop it until the plant dies. Sometimes you end up overwatering exacerbating the problem by causing root rot leading to less water uptake.

Is there any way to save begonias over the winter?

Place a layer of peat moss, vermiculite, or sawdust in a small cardboard box. Lay the tubers on the storage medium, then cover the tubers with additional peat, vermiculite, or sawdust. Store the tubers in an area with a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not allow the tubers to freeze.

How do I save my begonias for next year?

Put them on screen trays or pack them in dry peat, sawdust, sand or other insulating material. Store tubers in a dry, dark, cool (above freezing) area. In the spring, start begonia plants by placing the tubers on damp potting soil in a warm environment.

How many times a year do begonias bloom?

Once begonias begin flowering, they bloom continuously from summer to frost. There are several different types of begonias. Wax begonias and angel-wing begonias are usually grown as outdoor annuals or indoor houseplants. Both grow from a clump of roots and are winter hardy in growing zones 9-11.

Is Miracle Grow a good fertilizer for begonias?

Begonias do not need a lot of fertilizer, especially when they are very small. Try watering seedlings with ¼ strength fertilizer. You can use premade soluble fertilizers like Miracle-Gro™ or Peter's™ as they are the easiest to dissolve and apply initially.

Do coffee grounds help begonias?

Begonias benefit from an acidic soil, which the peat moss gives it. Adding some used coffee grounds to the soil will work wonders for begonias.

What problems do begonia have?

Disease problems associated with begonias include Botrytis blight and stem rot, powdery mildew, and Pythium root and stem rot. The major pests of begonias are mealy bugs, spider mites, thrips, scales, snails, and slugs. Begonias may be sensitive to insecticidal soaps.

Do begonias like to be in bigger pots?

Begonias like to be root-bound, and can struggle if repotted too often. When it's time for repotting begonias, be certain to choose a container that is only one size larger than the current one. They can start to suffer if they're planted in a pot that's too large.

How do you keep potted begonias blooming?

For maximum blooms, begonias should be lightly fertilized every 10 to 14 days when grown in pots and containers. For bedding plants, fertilizing every three to four weeks is enough to do the trick. But the real key is to use a light dose of nutrients in place of full strength applications.

How do I know if my begonia is tuberous or fibrous?

Gently dig up your begonia and take a look at the roots. Fibrous-rooted begonias will look stringy; rhizomatous will have creeping surface stems and roots; and tuberous begonias have a round, flattened brown tuber that looks, well, a lot like a cow pie!

How do I keep my begonias from getting leggy?

Cut back the growing tips on begonias branches every 2 to 4 weeks or if your plants become leggy. The plant will produce new branches from the pinched point. Additional stems provide more opportunities for the begonia to create flowers. Tuberous begonias die back every year.

Why are my begonias all leaves and no flowers?

They may be receiving too much or too little sunshine. Move them to another location and see if they begin producing new buds in a couple of weeks. If you haven't been regularly fertilizing your begonias, it's time to start. If they have become leggy, prune them back.