Outdoors, most grow best in containers in filtered shade. They need light to germinate so don’t cover them. In March or April pull new shoots that form on the tubers away with your fingers. You can "force" the sprouts out by placing the bulbs in a warm place (65-75 F) for 1-2 weeks. Ensure you completely cover tubers with compost. From the team at Gardeners' World Magazine, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine – try 3 issues for only £5. The seed-started begonias tend to be a bit smaller and difficult to grow, while bulb begonias are sturdier and larger plants. Regular pruning will keep them in shape. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Begonias: outdoors. Fibrous-rooted begonias can be grown from seed in early spring. Cut them from top, going to the bottom - not side to side. Fibrous-rooted and hanging begonias tend to be grown as annuals. Keep plants well watered but allow the soil to dry out between waterings – this is especially important for tuberous begonias, which can rot in waterlogged soil. Begonias are flamboyant, tender perennials used in bedding, pot and hanging basket displays. Harvesting the Seed. Stop watering completely, move the pots under cover and lay them on their sides, off the ground, to dry out. Allow leaves to wither away naturally. ", "Not very good at gardening but love flowers, you made it so easy to understand ,thanks!". Larger flowered types are often grown as specimen house plants, as are rex begonias, which have impressive foliage. Fibrous rooted begonias can be packed quite tightly into mixed summer displays of other bedding plants. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This shows something is happening in there. Gently push the corms into place and once planted, water thoroughly. The plant’s growth will slow or stop, and the plant may lose some of its leaves.  Vine weevil can be a problem with pot-grown begonias. Behonias have a tendency to rot, and this may be why it is wilting. There are hundreds of cultivars of B. rex to choose among, usually classified by leaf size—small (three inches or less), medium (three to six inches), or large (more than six inches). In addition, use plants with a slow to moderately slow rate of growth, as quick-growing types will rapidly overtake the begonia and crowd it out. 15 begonias to grow – Begonia ‘Million Kisses Elegance’ In contrast to most begonias, Begonia ‘Million Kisses Elegance’ has subtle pink flowers, complemented by fresh green leaves. Tuberous Begonia Care Sprouting is when small pink or white eyes become visible. Sow seeds onto moist, seed or multi-purpose compost. Begonias can be started from seed, but it takes about 4 months for them to be ready to go outdoors. Begonia leaves can range from nearly round to oblong. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Water regularly and feed weekly with a high potash fertiliser like tomato feed. Begonias can be propagated by seed or cuttings, with cuttings being the preferred method. Large spherical blooms stand proudly on sturdy stems, and are popular with bees and butterflies. Support wikiHow by Once dried, store in a cool, dry, dark place until spring. Each bulb will bear up to 30 flowers each year, and are ideal for the back of borders in pots, or make stunning cut flowers. Discover how to grow colourful begonias, with this step-by-step Grow Guide. Although Begonias are shade plants, they do need light to grow as seedlings. In terms of culture, these are not particularly difficult to grow and can thrive indoors, providing you meet a few basic requirements. Grow Begonias from Tubers: A combination of beautiful double-flowers and textured foliage make the tuberous-rooted begonias attractive plants to grow. Can I re-pot it and plant it deeper? If the shade is too dense, your begonias won’t grow properly. If your tubers seem slow to sprout, move them from the cool storage area to a warm dark place. Rex begonia ceases growing if the temperatures fall below 58 °F – be mindful in the winter months. If you don’t have any indoor window space for potted begonias, you’ll need to use a fluorescent lamp in order to provide them with a bit of light. % of people told us that this article helped them. There are many types of begonia to grow, from popular tuberous begonias, fibrous-rooted types and hanging begonias, which are ideal for hanging baskets. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. It’s a firm favourite with wildlife – pollinators and birds are drawn to this variety as it offers food and shelter. Begonias can handle partial sun, but avoid placing them in direct sunlight. It's Easy to Grow Tuberous Begonias. Having bought them from a catalog, the step-by-step, "I have not had luck with begonias but I am going to give this a shot! By far the best-known cane-type begonias are the angel wing begonias, which grow on upright stems with interesting leaves and magnificent displays of a pendant and drooping flowers.The dragon wing begonia, another beauty, also belongs in this category. I have, "I am very glad to find the information about growing begonias. In Southern California that is our coastal areas, to about 15 miles inland. The flowering types struggle in dark or very poorly lit areas where as the Begonias grown purely for foliage fair a little better. Put your old coffee grinds in with the soil, you will be amazed. Begonia flowers range in size from half an inch to almost a foot across. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Hang a few baskets of tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberhybrida) on your front porch and you’ll notice that folks will slow down as they pass to enjoy the begonias.Wouldn’t the showy blooms here make you take a second look? Tuberous begonias don’t come true from seed so propagation by cuttings is recommended. Keep reading for tips from our horticulture reviewer on pruning your begonias! Begonias are ideal for growing in pots and hanging baskets or can go straight into flower borders. Begonias also get sunburnt, seen as a pale brown or yellow scorch mark on all, or part, of the leaf. Known as wax begonias or bedding begonias, annual begonia plants (Begonia semperflorens) grow quickly and easily fill in spaces in the garden that will benefit from attractive foliage and frilly flowers. The begonia plant will stop producing leaves and plant will no longer be viable. ", grown them in my polythene grow house most are doing really well. If you want to grow begonias, choose a shady spot that gets some dappled light. unlocking this expert answer. Hopefully it will work. A sure sign is the ovaries start to grow fatter. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Pot them up into individual pots and put them in a heated propagator. Lack of light will cause the tuberous begonias to put energy into the development of the tuber. No, nothing is certain. Annual … Save on a bare-root collection of 12 agapanthus, six each of 'Queen of the Ocean' and 'Polar Ice'. Make sure, however, that water does not sit in the depression of the corms, as this could lead to rotting. From October, reduce watering and remove flowers so the plants to put energy back into the tuber. Place the propagator in a shaded spot and expect to see signs of growth within four weeks. Grow all types on in a greenhouse and harden off after all risk of frost has passed. Some gardeners spray plants with a systemic fungicide in May to prevent the problem. This article has been viewed 318,781 times. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. Within a day of purchase, plant seedlings about 12 inches apart. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Flowers will go over very quickly if they’re too hot. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Tuberous begonias have fairly brittle stems and heavy flowers, so grow them in a sheltered spot. These types don’t go dormant, but they will slow down some over the winter. Plant the begonias in mid-spring, and water them every few days so the soil stays moist but not wet. Feed tuberous begonias weekly with tomato feed in summer, especially pot-grown plants. Begonias: You Have to Grow More Than One Kind Such a wide variety of plants and many that are easy to grow, you’ll keep a few around all year. Once tuberous begonias start blooming, they can flower continuously for four months. You can grow tuberous begonias in any pot that has drainage holes and is large enough to fit the bulb. Seed started begonias tend to be small and are a bit harder to grow indoors. If you’re planting the begonias in a pot, plant them in a mixture of peat moss and soil-free potting mixture. Yes. If grown outdoors, they should be placed in partial shade. Also, red-leaved begonias handle heat better than green-leaved begonias. However, we do have so many microclimate areas that this is not a hard and fast rule. Nitrogen rich succulent fertilizers are also quite effective in my experience because they are typically slow release and less harmful for delicate begonias. If you give your begonias a vacation in a sheltered garden during the summer, they require additional water and dappled shade to thrive outdoors. Both varieties come in many color options including shades of pink, white, purple, yellow, and red. Fertilize tuberous begonias every 4 to 6 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer; work a slow-release fertilizer or compost into the planting spot. Used in containers, hanging baskets and bedding schemes, begonias provide continuous colour throughout the summer until the first frosts. Space tuberous begonias 12 to 18 inches apart. Begonias grown from tubers are more tolerant indoors and grow into larger plants. Feed weekly in summer and dig them up and compost them when they’ve finished flowering. If the second toe is longer, is it certain that I will have problems? Do you root the cuttings in water or soil? All begonia foliage is varied and attractive, and the flowers are long lasting. Throw fibrous-rooted and hanging types on the compost heap. What should I do? Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. They come in every color except for blue. Although they are annuals that require yearly replanting, they are well worth the effort. Begonias grow well in sun or shade – avoid south-facing spots as the foliage can burn in direct sunlight. Expert Tip: When selecting companion plants that grow well with Rex begonias, be sure to choose ones that require the same growing conditions of cooler temperatures and moist soil. Where To Grow Begonias. All Begonias types just need a good bright location out of direct sunlight and they're all set to grow, look beautiful and flower happily. Sprinkle the plant in two days. They are easy to care for and all grow … scented varieties on my front porch and bloom all summer so I wish to make sure they come back next year. Many are "angel-wing" shaped. If no luck, try to soak the bulbs in lukewarm water for 1/2 hour and then put on the bed on moist, warm peatmoss sphagnum. Place the pot in a tray with pebbles and water, making sure the pot base doesn’t sit in the water to prevent root rot. Houseplants do best when the temperatures range between 60 and 85 °F. Thanks. Dormancy occurs from early June to August. They can be a focal point when planted in mass and are excellent specimens for container combinations. Approved. Temperature: Keep your begonias between 65° to 73° F during the day, and no colder than 55° F at night. Choose an area with indirect sunlight and partial shade. Once the plant begins to grow again in the spring, resume your normal watering regimen. Other types can be bought as pot-grown plants or plugs. Also, don’t mist your begonias. Alternatively, add a slow-release fertiliser pellet to the compost when planting. Some varieties may take a lot longer but a month is normally the time period for the majority of begonias. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. Begonias grow well in sun or shade – avoid south-facing spots as the foliage can burn in direct sunlight. "The instructions in this article were clear and easy to follow. Deadhead and pinch back regularly to make sure more flowers grow. Keep reading for tips from our horticulture reviewer on pruning your begonias! Starting Tuberous Begonias Indoors It takes 12 to 14 weeks for a tuberous begonia to bloom after the tubers are planted, so most gardeners like to start their begonias indoors eight weeks before the last frost date or even sooner. Once the foliage has been blackened by frost, life the plants. I planted my begonias a month ago and they're still not growing. The seeds are very delicate, so it is difficult to start your plants this way. Even under perfect conditions, Begonias can be difficult to raise from seed (the seeds are small, slow to germinate, and hard to find), but if you are determined, seeding is best done indoors in flats. Should I add leaf mold to my soil if I am planting begonia tubers? There are also some very charming single-flowered varieties. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. If you use a peat moss mixture, soak the moss in boiling water and allow it to cool prior to planting the begonias. Flowers will go over very quickly if they’re too hot. Powdery mildew can be a problem for begonias from May – especially for yellow-flowering types. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. If grown indoors, they can be placed near a window, or in a porch. Turn heads with tuberous begonias. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can use a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer on your soil/soil mixture for some added nutrients for the begonias. Never feed tuberous begonias into September as plants should be encouraged to slow down for the year. The plants which are half-hardy, make colourful summer bedding and excellent pot plants in the greenhouse or on the patio. When sprouts appear, the tubers are ready to be planted. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Grow-Begonias-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Begonias-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Grow-Begonias-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1385000-v4-728px-Grow-Begonias-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"