What is the best time to plant begonia young plants?
Begonias are popular for their large flowers and beautiful foliage colors and patterns. They’re also easy to grow and care for.
Whether you’re growing them as an annual or a perennial, begonias love to have a good start indoors. They will do best with a light and warm spot that receives indirect sunlight.
Spring
Begonias are one of the easiest to grow and most rewarding plants, as long as you give them the proper care. The best time to plant begonia young plants is in spring when the soil is warm and the flowers are ablaze with color.
There are several types of begonia young plants, and some varieties have different care requirements than others. You should learn about the type of begonia you want to grow before deciding when to plant it in your garden.
If you’re growing begonias as annuals, plant them in the late spring after all danger of frost has passed. You can also start them indoors in pots about 8 weeks before you expect to plant them outdoors, if you’re willing to wait that long.
In the garden, tuberous begonias are often grown as annuals for flowering in summer and fall. They’re available as tubers that can be started in the garden or purchased as fully grown plants.
Tuberous begonias are best planted in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Water the plants regularly until the flowers bloom. Once the flowers have faded, cut back the foliage and decrease watering.
When you plant begonias in the ground, add a layer of mulch a few inches away from the succulent stems. Mulching helps retain soil moisture and prevents weeds.
Once the plants are in place, fertilize them monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. For container begonias, apply a liquid fertilizer each month in the growing season, so the plants can absorb the nutrients they need more easily.
Adding more humidity is another way to keep begonias healthy and happy. It can be hard to find enough humidity in homes and offices, but a fan or humidifier can help bring the air up to the right level for your plants.
If your begonia leaves and flowers start falling off, this is usually an indication that you’re overwatering or that your begonia is infected with fungal disease. In these cases, prune off the dead or dying leaves and stems to avoid infection and promote new growth.
You should also check for thrips and powdery mildew on begonia plants in the garden. These pests can damage begonia flowers and leaves, as well as spread diseases to other begonias in your garden. Spray your begonias with a systemic fungicide in May to control these insects.
Summer
If you live in an area where it is warm enough to plant begonia young plants outdoors, they can be planted in late spring or early summer. They can thrive until the first freeze in fall, depending on the variety you choose. In colder areas, start begonia tubers indoors at least a month before the last frost date, and then plant them outside in May.
Begonias have long been a garden favorite, and you can find them in a wide range of colors and bloom sizes. They add a colorful splash of color to your garden or patio containers. With their bright flowers and unique foliage, begonias are easy to grow, hardy and long-lived.
There are three main types of begonias: tuberous begonias (Begonia semperflorens), fibrous begonias (Begonia rubrum) and rhizomatous begonias (Begonia rex). Fibrous-rooted begonias can be propagated by leaf cuttings or division. They can also be grown from seed.
In the spring, plant begonia tubers into individual pots or into a large seed tray, hollow side up. Place the tubers 2.5 cm deep and keep them in a warm spot that is at least 18degC until the leaves appear. Once the leaves have developed, pot on into larger pots filled with John Innes No. 2 or peat-free multipurpose compost.
When begonias are young, they prefer light, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. They do not like “wet feet” and soggy soil can rot their roots. For optimal results, amend the soil with a mixture of equal parts potting soil, perlite and peat moss.
Once you see flower buds, apply a weak solution of a low-nitrogen/high-phosphorus fertilizer. Feed begonias once every two weeks to encourage flowers and healthy growth.
These are beautiful flowers with a variety of bloom colors to choose from, including solid white and brilliant orange, red, pink and yellow. They are also available in hybridized forms, such as bicolors and picotees, which have petals edged with contrasting colors.
Because they need some sun to flower, begonias should be placed in sunny areas of the garden or under trees or a covered patio for best results. But don’t over-water, as this can burn the foliage and flowers.
Fall
Begonias can be propagated from seeds, rhizomes, roots or tubers, and they do well planted indoors in late winter or early spring. However, if you are growing begonias from corms or tubers, it is best to start them in the garden in late fall before the last frost date. This gives the plants time to grow before the soil freezes, which can damage them.
The most common types of begonias include fibrous-rooted, hardy bedding or container types and tuberous begonias. Each type has its own requirements for begonia plant care and will perform differently in the garden.
Fibrous-rooted begonias can be grown in containers and window boxes as bedding, or they can be used to add color to a bed that has many shady plants. These plants are easy to grow in full sun or part shade and will be attractive to birds, bees, and butterflies.
They do require regular feedings, especially in the spring and summer when they are actively growing. Apply a weak dose of half or quarter strength liquid flower fertilizer at least once a week as part of your begonia plant care routine.
If the leaves of your begonias are yellowing, it usually means that they aren’t getting enough water. This could be due to lack of humidity or a disease, such as powdery mildew.
You should try to increase humidity by running a humidifier or by placing your begonias on a pebble tray filled with water. If these methods don’t work, you may need to prune your begonias and give them better air circulation (an oscillating fan works wonders).
This is a good time to transplant your begonias if they are in containers or window boxes. If you are repotting them, you should dig up the old plants and replace them with fresh ones, taking care to remove any old soil that is on the roots or stems.
In addition to being able to enjoy the beauty of begonias, you can also harvest them to eat or to dry. They are a popular choice for dried flowers and can be found at your local craft or hobby store.
Winter
Tuberous begonias are grown from tubers and produce big, colorful flowers in a range of colors throughout summer. They are typically planted as annuals, or dug up and stored for the winter. They can also be started indoors in pots as early as 8 weeks before the danger of frost is over.
Tubeous begonias grow best in warm soil, so they should be planted outdoors in late spring after the threat of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures have stabilized to 45degF or more. In colder zones, they can be started indoors as early as 4 to 6 weeks before the frost date.
In most cases, you’ll want to plant begonias in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. They like regular watering, but be sure the soil does not become too soggy, which can lead to root rot or rhizome rot.
Begonia plants can be overwintered indoors to ensure they bloom again and again each year, as long as you provide them with a bright spot near a window that gets filtered light. This will give them a chance to get used to the new environment and prevent fungus problems like powdery mildew, mealybugs, whitefly and spider mites from appearing.
If you’d like to learn more about how to keep your houseplants healthy and happy through the winter, I recommend downloading my free Winter Houseplant Care eBook. It’s packed with tips on how to give your begonias the right care during this time of year.
Whether you’re growing them as an annual or as a perennial, all begonias need to be given plenty of sunlight and water during the growing season. Aside from the basics, begonias also need to be enriched with lots of organic matter. A mixture of equal parts of potting soil, perlite and peat moss makes a good all-purpose mix for begonias.
Some begonia varieties are more heat-tolerant than others, so choose ones that will grow well in your climate. Begonias add color to shady gardens and patios, as well as containers and hanging baskets.
For the best begonia flowering, prune rhizomatous and fibrous begonias back to encourage fuller foliage and bushier growth. They should be deadheaded regularly to clean up the stems and remove rotting old flowers.