Are tuberous begonias annuals or perennials? They are grown as bedding plants in spring, similar to marigolds, impatiens and petunias. Although they are perennial in a warmer climate, most gardeners treat them as annual flowers. Tuberous begonias are probably the second-most popular outdoor begonia for gardeners.
Do begonias come back every year? Are begonias a perennial plant or an annual flower? There are no perennial begonias. There are forms that make great houseplants and will grow year-round indoors, but outdoors the plants are all unable to tolerate frost.
How do you keep tuberous begonias over winter? Remove plant from pot before hard frosts occur. Cut back most of the top of the plant, leaving the ball of roots and soil intact. Place in a dry, cool storage area (a basement or garage) and allow the tubers to cure for several weeks. After curing, shake off the soil and remove the remaining stalks and roots.
Are begonia tubers perennial? Tuberous begonias are considered tender perennials, which means they can’t tolerate freezing temperatures. Tubers will spend the winter resting and storing food to use when growth starts again the following spring. Remove tubers from their pots just before the first frost.
Are tuberous begonias annuals or perennials? – Related Questions
How to overwinter tuberous begonias?
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.
Should begonias be deadheaded?
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 11, depending on the cultivar, begonias (Begonia spp.) do not require deadheading to thrive. Rather they self-clean by dropping spent flowers on their own, says the University of Illinois Extension.
Can you cut back begonias?
Cutting back large, overgrown begonias may be necessary to restore them to their usual shape. Use clean, sharp shears or a knife to cut the stems back to a leaf node. Begonias can be cut back to within 3 inches of the soil to revitalize them, if necessary, but pinching and pruning is not the end of the story.
What grows well with begonias?
Tuberous begonias look great planted in small groups or singly in a container. They also look good planted with cascading annuals, such as alyssum and lobelia. In a shade garden, pair them with hostas and bergenia.
How big do begonia plants get?
They grow 12 to 18 inches tall and wide and thrive in part shade to full shade locations. They’ll bloom from early summer until frost with clusters of slightly fragrant, light pink flowers, and they have large heart-shaped medium green leaves.
How to propagate strawberry begonia?
To propagate, gently push the plantlets/offsets into soil, either in the same pot as the mother plant or in a nearby small pot (leaving them attached to the main plant), and wait a few weeks. The plantlets will quickly develop roots of their own.
When to transplant rex begonia?
Wait to repot until the container is filled with roots. This will be clearly obvious if you gently remove the plant from its pot. If there is still loose soil, allow the begonia to grow more. When the plant’s roots hold all of the soil, it’s time for a transplant.
How to pot strawberry begonia?
To keep up with your strawberry begonia’s rapid growth, repot your plant every spring into a larger pot. Over time, however, your mother plant will likely begin looking a bit bare in the center or develop woody stems. If this happens, just propagate the mother plant from its plantlets and replace it.
What soil plant begonias?
In the garden, grow begonias in sandy loam soil. If you have heavy clay soil, grow begonias in raised beds filled with compost and topsoil.
How to take care of a begonia houseplant?
Begonias grown indoors are especially susceptible to root rot and overwatering. When you take care of begonias, make sure that you only water them when they need to be watered. Many experts suggest you actually wait until the plant shows signs of being dry, such as drooping leaves, before you water them.
How many begonias in a flat?
The number of flowers or other plants in a flat can vary according to the size of the plants or the pots in which they’re planted. The National Gardening Association says most nursery flats hold 50 plants.
When to dig up tuberous begonia?
Tuberous begonias should be dug up and stored indoors during winter until the return of warmer weather in spring. Begonias can be dug up in fall once foliage has faded or just after the first light frost. Spread begonia clumps on newspaper and leave this in a sunny area until thoroughly dry — about a week.
How big do begonias grow?
Begonia plants are typically under 1 foot tall, with loads of colorful flowers up to 4 inches wide. Begonias are generally hardy in zones 9 & 10, and in colder zones (2 – 8), they can be grown as annuals and overwintered indoors to grow year after year.
Can begonias be used as cut flowers?
Not only is it gorgeous, but after the flowers die, you can root your begonia cutting to make a new houseplant. … To keep your mini-arrangement looking natural, it’s nice to cut one stem so the flower’s head is resting just at the vase’s neck, and cut the other a bit taller so the flowers seem to be growing upward.
How to make cane begonias bloom?
Water the soil thoroughly and often enough to keep it slightly moist but not soggy. Use a dilute solution of any flowering houseplant fertilizer spring through fall or whenever the plant is actively growing. Flowering plant fertilizers are higher in phosphorous and help promote bloom.
Can i plant a begonia in a planter?
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 to care for begonia bulbs in winter?
Keep wax begonias in a bright window and gradually reduce the amount of light to help them adjust to an indoor environment. Increase humidity levels but cut down on watering over winter. Once warm temperatures return, increase their watering and begin to move them back outdoors.
How to revive tuberous begonia in pot?
Take the following steps to save your potted tuberous begonia tubers: Remove plant from pot before hard frosts occur. Cut back most of the top of the plant, leaving the ball of roots and soil intact. Place in a dry, cool storage area (a basement or garage) and allow the tubers to cure for several weeks.
How to plant begonias from seeds?
Begonias need light to germinate, so simply broadcast the seeds across the surface of the potting mix and press them against the surface of the soil with your fingertips or a flat piece of cardboard. Do not cover the seeds. Try to distribute them evenly across the soil, but it’s okay to have them spaced fairly closely.
How do you care for begonias indoors?
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.
What temperature is best to plant begonias?
They prefer daily temperatures around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and overnight lows in the mid-60s, but they can often tolerate higher temperatures with protection from harsh sun rays. Begonias can be transplanted to the flower garden in late spring as soon as the danger of frost has passed.