Begonia, how to care for them

Partager

1

Striking bright colours ranging from yellow through red to pink smother a low, stemless herbaceous bush that flowers abundantly and spectacularly. Begonia (Begonia spp.) is best known for that long, easy display: give it rich, well-drained soil and remove the spent flowers regularly, and the colours will shine all the brighter.

Planting and care are major factors ensuring better growth and flowering for the plant.

Planting and repotting begonia

Indoor begonia

When planting or repotting your begonia, its best to use flower plant soil mix or a mix of leaves and soil mix.

If you’re planting the tubers directly, germinate the tubers in a pot first, hollow side facing upwards at a depth of 1¼ to 1½ inches (3 to 4 cm) early March.

Outdoor begonia

Annual begonia outdoors

Sow in a tray from January to March, transplant in April and transfer to the ground during the month of May.

If you purchase it directly in a nursery pot, transfer it to the earth earliest in April.

• Water regularly after having transferred it to the ground.
• Mulch will contribute to the moisture retention the plant needs.

Perennial begonia outdoors

Plant anytime from April onwards, directly in the ground, preferably in a shaded spot.
In the ground or in a garden box, keep a buffer space of about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) between neighboring plants.

• Alternate your begonias with other bulbs that flower in summer, reading these pages that include advice and tips.

Propagating Begonia

Indoor begonia

This often is carried out in November, after the blooming and when the leaves have wilted away completely.

• Delicately unearth the tubers from the ground.
• Let them dry.
• Carefully split the tuber in half.
• Place each tuber in a dry spot with no light until the following spring.
• Come spring, you can plant it back and it will grow and bloom anew.

Outdoor begonia

Annuals are multiplied through sowing.

Tubers and perennials are propagated through crown or tuber division in spring.

Pruning and caring for Begonia

The care that begonia requires is quite easy and only consists in very little attention, especially once it has settled in well.

• Remove wilted flowers regularly, since this step helps boost new flower-bearing.
• Cover it with dried leaf mulch before winter in order to protect it from freezing.

• Water begonias at the base rather than over the foliage, since droplets sitting on leaves and flowers encourage grey mould; powdery mildew, by contrast, is favoured by high humidity, crowding and poor air circulation.
• Let the surface of the compost dry slightly between waterings, because begonia tubers and fleshy stems rot quickly in soil that stays permanently soggy.
• On botrytis-prone plants like cyclamen and African violets, remove spotted or decaying leaves and pull spent flower stalks out whole, since damp rotting tissue can harbour grey mould; occasional yellowing leaves are often just natural ageing.
• Feed begonias grown in pots and hanging baskets with a liquid fertiliser for flowering plants during the flowering period, since the limited compost is exhausted far faster than garden soil.

Begonia after flowering

Indoor begonia in winter

Begonia enters in a dormant state when its leaves have all wilted and fallen off.
Certain varieties have evergreen leafage; for these wait until no more flowers appear.

• Don’t cut the stems because you might risk damaging the tuber.
• Put your begonia in a cool and rather dark place.
• Ideal wintering temperatures are around 55 to 57°F (12 to 13°C) but no colder.
• Reduce watering to the point of only watering when the soil has dried deep down.

Outdoor begonia in winter

This only relates to perennial begonia.

• Cover it with dried leaves over the winter, or any other suitable plant-based mulch so that it may be protected from the cold.

Which begonia, and how is it handled?

Begonias are grown as indoor tubers, as outdoor annuals or as outdoor perennials, and each of the three is planted, multiplied and overwintered differently. Use the table to find the routine that matches the begonia you have.

Whichever type you grow, a rich, well-drained soil and regular removal of spent flowers give the longest display.

Popular begonia varieties to choose from

Begonias come as tuberous types for pots and baskets, bushy bedding forms, trailing kinds and foliage plants for indoors. The table below compares widely sold varieties so you can match one to the spot you have in mind.

All there is to know about begonia

This very beautiful plant native to South America gathers a great number of species that differ in hue and form.

It owes its name to the governor of Saint Domingue, a certain Michel Begon. Considered an herbaceous plant since it has no stem, it is part of the group of plants that are typically called bushes.

Its striking bright colors range from yellow to red and pink, and they’ll irradiate all the more that the begonia is made to grow in a good quality substrate.

• Intersperse your begonia with more bulbs that bear flowers in summer, all the advice is given for each variety.