How to Grow Double Begonias
- 1. Plant from Starts Plant double begonias from starts in May through August in USDA zone 8. In USDA zone 9, you can plant any time between April and October. ...
- 2. Select a Site ...
- 3. Dig the Planting Holes ...
- 4. Plant Double Begonias in Pots ...
- 5. Slide Seedlings Out of the Pots ...
- 6. Soak the Soil ...
- 7. Fertilize After Planting ...
- 8. Water the Begonias Regularly ...
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How do you plant double begonia tubers?
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How far apart do you plant double begonias?
Tubers: When planting young tubers of Double Begonia, place the hollow side up and keep 1-inch spacing. Place them in a shallow pot in a moist potting mixture.
Which side is up on a begonia bulb?
concave sideQuick guide to planting begonia tubers Place your begonia tuber on the soil surface with the convex side of the tuber underneath. This is where the roots will appear. The concave side facing upwards is where the growing shoots appear. Push your begonia tuber firmly down into the top of the compost.
What month do you plant begonia bulbs?
In late February or early March, plant the tubers (concave side up) just below the soil level. Soil should be somewhat moist. Cover with paper or plastic wrap and place on a window sill or other location with indirect maximum light. Temperature should not fall below 60°F.
How long do double begonias last?
Once in full swing, they'll flower repeatedly for months, still going strong well into autumn. Providing twice the flower power of a single variety, the big, bold blooms of double begonias are one of the absolute 'must-haves' in any summer container display.
How many begonias can be planted together?
Typically, you can fit 3-5 begonia tubers in a 10-12” diameter planter, depending on how full you want the planter to look. If you want to combine the begonia tubers with some green, white and gold foliage plant with Candidum Caladium and Color Festival Hosta for a fresh appearance.
How do you wake up begonia tubers?
Wake Up The Tubers If you purchase begonia tubers in the spring, they may have only recently come out of refrigeration. To help them wake up, put the tubers in a 70°F room where they'll get bright indirect light. After a couple weeks, you should see the first sprouts, and that means it's time to plant.
How deep should begonia bulbs be planted?
1” deepPlant the tubers 1” deep in moist growing mix and water sparingly. When the plants have one or two leaves, transplant them into individual 8” pots or combine several in a larger container. If you are planting directly into the garden, position the sprouted tubers about 5” apart and cover them with 1” of soil.
How long does it take for begonia bulbs to sprout?
Begonia tubers take 6-8 weeks from planting to sprout, which is another reason that starting them inside during the colder months of the year is a good idea.
Is Miracle Grow good for begonias?
Miracle-Gro is a great fertilizer to use on begonias. The brand also has several different formulas that you can use for these plants. It can be applied to both young and older plants.
Do begonias come back every year?
This results in at least four months of blooms a year and if looked after properly, they will come back year after year so one purchase will give years of enjoyment in your garden. Begonias are extremely versatile and can be used in different ways.
How many begonia bulbs are in a hanging basket?
When planting up hanging baskets, allow 3 tubers for each 12” basket. Immediately after potting, water well and then grow them on in bright, frost-free conditions, watering only when the compost gets quite dry.
How far apart do you plant begonia bulbs?
Plant the begonia tubers hollow side-up, spaced three inches apart. Cover them with 1/2 inch of the soil mixture. Use a 6-inch (15.2 cm) pot for up to two small, 1 to 3-inch (2.5 to 7.6 cm)diameter bulbs or one larger bulb.
How many begonias are in a 16 inch hanging basket?
A guideline for planting quantities: 5 tubers for a 14″ basket / pot. 7 tubers for a 16″ basket / pot.
Do double begonias come back every year?
However, if stored during the winter and replanted in the spring, the tuber will give new shoots, leaves, and flowers, which means that the double begonia can be treated as a perennial that will decorate your garden or balcony for years.
How do you keep double 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.
Why are the flower buds dropping before blooming?
Too much or too little watering can cause the Double Begonia to drop the flower buds even before they bloom. Giving the right amount of water is es...
Does Double Begonia grow back every year?
This begonia species is an annual houseplant. So it won't grow back each year, you'll have to replant them in spring.
Does this plant need deadheading?
Double Begonia is a self-cleaning plant, so it does not require deadheading. It will naturally drop off any spent flowers. But if you want to clean...
Is Double Begonia pet friendly?
No, because begonias are toxic for pets. Although they are non-toxic for humans, they can still cause irritation and allergies.
How tall do double begonias grow?
These low-growing annuals are ideal as a bedding plant. They grow from 6-to-18 inches tall and flower from early summer through the first frost. Double begonias are the same species as singe flower begonias.
What is a double begonia?
Double begonias are cultivated varieties that have flowers with double sets of flower petals. Other common names are wax begonia and bedding begonia.
How to water a garden after planting?
Water the garden bed or container after immediately after planting. Soak the soil until it is damp as deep as the planting holes.
How to fertilize a plant after planting?
Add a side dressing of 10-52-17 liquid fertilizer to each plant right after planting. Dilute the fertilizer in water using the dilution recommendations on the package label. Avoid getting fertilizer on the foliage when applying.
How to remove a seedling from a pot?
Remove the seedlings by turning each pot or cell pack on its side and gently slide the seedling out of the pot. Handle the seedlings by the root ball to avoid damaging the tender stalks.
How to break up root bound seedlings?
If the seedlings are root bound when you take them out of the pots, break up the outside of the root ball by gently pulling the roots lose. Root-bound seedlings have a solid casing of roots outside of the soil.
Can you plant single begonias from seed?
You can plant single begonias from seed, but double begonias are better planted from starts. Planted from seed, double begonias rarely resemble the parent plant. If the seedlings are root bound when you take them out of the pots, break up the outside of the root ball by gently pulling the roots lose.
How do I fertilize double begonias?
To fertilize the Double Begonia plant, I would suggest pouring the solution around the base instead of spraying it directly on the plant. You should avoid applying fertilizer to the foliage because the leaves and stems can be damaged by direct contact with strong fertilizers. Over-fertilizing can scorch the leaves leading to fertilizer burns.
How to grow begonias indoors?
Trim the stems to 5 inches and allow the tuber to dry at an indoor temperature in a shaded place out of direct light for 1 week. Now pull off any stems or roots from the tubers and remove the soil around it. Do not wash the tuber. Place the Begonia tuber in a plastic bag with peat moss or vermiculite.
How to kill begonias?
If you live in a dry climate, supplement your Begonia plant with a fine mist via the sprinkler for 15 minutes in the afternoon and sufficient bottom watering when the soil is dry. The quickest way to kill any begonia plant is overwatering since it causes root rot.
How long does it take for a double begonia to bloom?
It takes about 12 to 14 weeks for a Double Begonia to start blooming after its planted. You have so many colors to choose from since it comes in a variety of colors ranging from pink, yellow, white, and scarlet. You can either grow a single colored Double Begonia or pair your favorite colors together.
What is the disease that causes a begonia to rot?
It’s a fungal disease that represents Begonia stem and root rot. Symptoms include rotting stems above soil level, darkened foliage, and rotting roots. Once infected, the plant cannot be treated; the only option is to dispose of the plant.
What causes begonia leaves to grow?
A fungal infection that spreads fast between Begonia species. The top surface of the leaves will have white, powdery, and thread-like growth. Powdery mildew feeds on the leaf cells leading to poor growth, but it will not kill the plant.
Why do double begonias have bugs?
These pests colonize the Double Begonia stems or leaves to feed on the plant sap. Large infections can slow down the growth rate. The honeydew secreted by the mealybugs blocks the pores and interferes with photosynthesis. Hose the plant with a strong spray of water to wash off the pests and their honeydew.
What is a begonia bulb?
As with other types of bulbs, a begonia tuber is filled with stored food energy that the young plant will use to fuel its growth. If you cut a begonia tuber bulb in half, you’ll see it resembles another, more familiar type of tuber -- a potato (but begonia tubers are not edible!).
How long does it take for a begonia to bloom?
The key to getting a big plant with tons of blooms is getting an early start. It usually takes about 3 months for the tubers to wake up, leaf out and begin flowering.
What is the outer surface of a begonia tuber?
Like a potato, the outer surface of a begonia tuber is covered with growth points or “eyes”. Begonia tubers have two sides: one is dished (concave) and the other is domed (convex). The domed side of the tuber should rest on the soil surface, so it sits like a bowl.
How to warm up begonia tubers?
To help Begonia tubers warm up from their winter dormancy, place in a warm location (about 70°F) with indirect sunlight, preferably an east, west, or south facing window. If you don’t have good natural light, grow lamps can provide the necessary light for growth. Water slightly every few days, or when the soil has dried out.
How to keep begonias from rotting?
Mulching: Since begonias are susceptible to rot due to wet conditions, mulching should be done cautiously. Use bark mulch around plants to preserve soil moisture and prevent weeds from growing. Keep mulch a few inches away from the succulent begonia stems to prevent them from rot. Begonias in containers don't need mulching.
Why do begonias rot?
Pests/Disease: The biggest problems with begonias is their propensity to rot if exposed to poor drainage or wet conditions.
What color are begonias?
The Cascading Begonia Mix produces blooms of peach, pink, yellow, red and white that tumble down the sides of patio pots and hanging baskets, creating an upbeat display of season-long color. Perfect for shadier spots that need a lively burst of cheer and charm, begonias scalloped petals play perfectly off their lush and lasting foliage. Extremely easy to care for. (Begonia)
How to save a tuber?
Or, save tubers for next spring. Here's how to do it: 1 You can dig up plants and their tubers from the ground after the first frost has killed off the tops and foliage has yellowed. 2 Cut back foliage, but leave some soil on the roots. 3 Cure your tubers by letting them dry in a warm, dry location out of direct sun, for one week. 4 Store tubers between layers of paper or dry sand in a room with temperatures between 40F-50F. It's important to make sure they stay dry, since they're susceptible to rot. 5 Then, in late winter or early spring, you can repot your tubers inside to give them a healthy start for the new season!
How tall are begonias?
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.
What side of a tuber is the bottom?
The top side of the tuber has a hollow dip, and the bottom is rounded with roots. Plant with the round side down. The hollow dip is the top, and sometimes it will already be sprouting buds. If the buds are coming up, try not to bump or break them, and carefully place the tuber in the ground.
How tall do tuberous begonias grow?
Most begonias grow in the height range of 6-14" and come in many different varieties specific to the flower form: double, ruffled, picotee, roseform, and hanging basket.
How long does it take for a sage plant to grow?
Temperature should not fall below 60°F. Water sparingly until growth begins (may take up to 5-6 weeks to see growth above ground although roots have started). Once shoots emerge from the soil, remove paper or plastic wrap and begin watering regularly. An application of a good liquid plant food will improve growth.
Do tuberous begonias grow in shade?
Characterized by their bright, showy blooms and ability to grow and flower in the shade, begonias make wonderful additions to the garden border as well as containers and hanging baskets. Most begonias grow in the height range ...
Do begonias rot?
It is very important that the garden bed or container you choose has good drainage as begonia tubers are susceptible to rot if allowed to sit wet too long.
How to grow begonias in soil?
If your begonias are planted directly in the soil, your only recourse is to loosen the soil around the root ball, pull out the entire root ball and attached soil, and move each begonia to an individual pot filled with nutrient-rich potting mix. ...
How to get rid of dead begonias?
Once the acclimation period is over and the pots are indoors full-time, give each begonia plant a “winter haircut.”. Pluck off brown, wilted, and dry blooms and leaves with your fingers, and use pruners to snip off stems that look similarly lifeless.
How cold can begonias survive?
1. Bring your begonias in at night when temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C). Like tuberous begonias, most fibrous begonias cannot survive temperatures below 45 °F (7 °C). Keep a close eye on the weather forecast during the fall and be ready to move your begonia pots indoors when the evenings become chilly.
How long do begonias stay indoors?
While making sure to keep them indoors whenever it falls below 50 °F (10 °C), also bring the begonias in to their permanent indoor growing spot for increasing stretches over a period of about 2 weeks. This helps acclimate the plants to indoor conditions.
How long do begonias last?
You can maintain fibrous begonias, which often have waxy leaves and always have traditional root balls, for 2-3 years with proper indoor and outdoor care. For tuberous begonias, which often have larger and more abundant leaves than their fibrous ...
How to cut a plant from the root ball?
Separate the stalk of the plant from its root ball. Use pruners to cut the stalk right about at the previous ground level. Discard the entire top part of the plant—everything visible above ground—and keep only the root ball with the surrounding soil attached to it.
How to pull a root ball out of a pot?
Pull the root ball from the pot or ground before the first frost. For an outdoor pot, grasp the base of the plant’s stalk and pull the entire root ball out. If the plant is planted in the ground, loosen the surrounding soil a bit before pulling up the root ball.
