Use tuberous begonias to brighten shady spots in your yard. Tuberous begonias are not hardy in Minnesota and can either be grown as annuals or their tubers can be overwintered indoors. An orange tuberous begonia. Tuberous begonias are popular for their beautiful flowers that come in a variety of colors and forms.
Can you save tuberous begonias?
There's no need to throw them away when cold weather hits and the tops die. The tubers can be saved over the winter and planted again the next spring for another year of showy color. Take the following steps to save your potted tuberous begonia tubers: Remove plant from pot before hard frosts occur.
What to do with wet begonias?
Wet tubers rot, which is obviously not a fun time. Now its time to pop the tubers into the seed trays. These are trailing begonias which will be in some hanging baskets when ready. These tubers do have a right way up and a wrong way up.
How do you plant tuberous begonias?
Tuberous begonias are sensitive to cold and should not be put outdoors until the nights are above 50°F. For earlier blooms, start your begonias indoors, eight weeks before the last frost date. Plant the tubers 1” deep in moist growing mix and water sparingly.
What is eating my tuberous begonias?
A variety of insects, including aphids and thrips, cause damage and disease as they feed on tuberous begonias. Tiny thrips transmit tomato spotted wilt virus, which causes poor flower quality, stunted growth and spots or rings on tuberous begonia leaves.
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How do you keep tuberous begonias over winter?
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.
How many years can you keep begonia tubers?
2 to 15 yearsOur tubers range in age from 2 to 15 years. It's important to keep a tag with each one so you know which is which. I like to have all the tubers potted up by March 1.
How do you store begonia tubers for next year?
Don't toss those tuberous begonias - save for next summerRemove plant from pot before hard frosts occur. ... 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.More items...•
Can you leave begonia tubers in the ground?
If your tuberous begonias are planted in your garden, you can dig them up and store them over winter. But in order for that to be successful, you must lift them before the first frost. Leaving them in the ground too long will result in frost damage, which means they probably won't survive in storage.
What do you do with begonia bulbs in the winter?
Cut back begonia stems to three or four inches above the tuber in fall as you prepare to overwinter them. Do this for tuberous begonias when you bring them into a frost-free space for winter. The stems of hardy begonias, will die back naturally if you're leaving them outside for winter under a mulch.
How do you dry begonia tubers?
0:581:55Growing & Storing Plant Bulbs : How Do I Dry Out Begonia ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce or twice during the winter dig up a couple of these tubers. If they're withered and dry mistMoreOnce or twice during the winter dig up a couple of these tubers. If they're withered and dry mist them lightly with water if they're mouldy let them dry out on the surface.
Can I bring begonias inside for winter?
You can also bring rhizomatous begonias, which grow best in pots, inside to live out the winter as houseplants. They will likely lose their foliage initially, but with weekly watering and a good source of indirect sunlight, begonias will typically produce new growth in a few weeks.
Can you leave begonias tubers in pots over winter?
You should also be overwintering a begonia grown outdoors in containers. Pot-grown begonia plants can be stored in their containers as long as they remain dry. They should also be relocated to a protected area that's cool, dark, and dry. Pots can be left in an upright position or slightly tipped.
How do you know if your begonia is tuberous?
However, the sure way to identify a tuberous begonia is to observe the roots -- fleshy tubers that store energy for the plant each winter while the plant is dormant.
Do begonias come back every year?
Most begonias are annuals (last only one season). You can save tubers from tuberous begonias to replant the next year or bring annual begonias in as houseplants in winter. Some rhizomatous and hardy begonias (B. grandis) are perennial, or come back year after year, in warmer regions.
Do tubular 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.
Will potted begonias come back?
You can also bring rhizomatous begonias, which grow best in pots, inside to live out the winter as houseplants. They will likely lose their foliage initially, but with weekly watering and a good source of indirect sunlight, begonias will typically produce new growth in a few weeks.
Do begonias come again?
Most begonias are annuals (last only one season). You can save tubers from tuberous begonias to replant the next year or bring annual begonias in as houseplants in winter. Some rhizomatous and hardy begonias (B. grandis) are perennial, or come back year after year, in warmer regions.
Do begonias reseed themselves?
Even though most begonias are self-fertile, they require a mechanical means of pollination such as insects or wind. This is to be distinguished from plants that are self-pollinating, which means that they are capable of both selfing and creating seed without an external pollinator.
Transplanting to larger containers
Roots will develop from the bottom, sides and top of the tuber, and stems will sprout from the top. After about one month, the stems will be 1 inch tall. Once they have reached this size, it's time to repot the tubers into larger containers, either 5- to 6-inch pots, or their permanent summer containers.
Thinning stems
Small tubers will produce small plants; large tubers, large plants. Flower size is not affected by tuber size, but by the number of stems on each tuber. If you would like bigger flowers, thin the shoots when they're about 3 inches tall. Small tubers should have two or three stems, large tubers three to six stems, so pinch off any extras.
Propagating by root cuttings
A common way to propagate tuberous begonias is to root cuttings. If you thin out the stems when they are about 3 inches tall, you can use those cuttings. Some gardeners cut a small piece of tuber with each shoot to increase the chances of the stem rooting, but the wound on the tuber may allow disease-causing organisms to attack the tuber.
Propagating by seed
Tuberous begonias can also be propagated from seed, but the seeds must be started in December or January for summer bloom! Fill containers with fine-textured potting mix and moisten it. Press seeds onto the surface of the medium and cover them lightly with milled sphagnum.
Get To Know Your Begonias
Most tuberous begonias have an upright growth habit, but there are also cascading types that are perfect for hanging baskets. Flower sizes also vary.
Pre-Sprout The Tubers
A begonia tuber is shaped like a little brown bowl. Sprouts emerge from inside the cupped area and roots form on all sides of the tuber. For best results, encourage the tubers to sprout before planting them in pots or in the garden. Put them in a warm (70°F) area with indirect light.
Location. Location. Location
Begonias are tropical plants, but their foliage and flowers can be damaged by too much sun, and they will not grow in hot, dry weather. Tuberous begonias prefer the filtered light beneath high trees, or at least 4 hours of morning sun.
Care and Feeding
Providing good air circulation and removing spent blossoms and wilted leaves, will help your plants stay healthy. Tuberous begonias have brittle stems, so they need to be protected from strong winds. Upright types with large flowers benefit from being staked. This will help keep the stems from breaking off at the tuber.
Aftercare in Growing Zones 4-7
Begonias may be treated as annuals, or you can store the tubers indoors and replant them again next spring. If the plants are in pots, move the pots to a protected location before risk of frost. Stop watering and let the plants die back naturally.
Aftercare in Growing Zones 8-11
In warm climates, begonias will begin to enter dormancy in late fall. Flowering slows down, and the foliage will start to yellow. If the plants are in pots, simply stop watering and move the pots to an area where the soil will stay completely dry during the winter. The tubers may remain right in the pots.
When Should You Think About Storing Your Tuberous Begonias for the Winter?
In northern climates where it freezes, the tuberous begonia must be dug up and the tubers stored indoors for the winter. This should be done after the first light frost.
How to Overwinter Your Tuberous Begonias
When the time comes to dig up your begonias, simply follow these easy steps:
How to Restart Begonia Tubers in the Spring
When you plan to restart your begonias, it's best to get started in late winter or early spring. Tubers planted in February should bloom around June, while tubers started in March or April should bloom around July. It's also important that the sprouts appear before planting. Here is a helpful guide:
What Are Tuberous Begonias?
Tuberous begonias ( begonia tuberhybrida) are a hybrid species of begonias grown from tubers. They were created through years of cross-breeding and development. Here are just some of their distinctive features:
What Kind of Soil Do Tuberous Begonias Need?
Tuberous begonias can survive in many types of soil. The most important thing is perfect drainage, as they need to be able to shed excess water in order to avoid root rot. But while they need well-drained soil, they are not drought tolerant.
What Are Some Other Ways to Propagate Begonias?
Though restarting your begonias from tubers may be one of the easiest options, you can also propagate them using other methods. While trying to start begonias from seeds can be notoriously difficult, these two methods of asexual propagation are quite easy:
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a handful of answers to frequently asked questions related to begonias and how to care for them:
Tips
At the end of the outside growing season tuberous begonias need a rest and will not bloom all winter inside. Even plants in warm climates need a few months rest.
Warnings
Don’t let pots with begonia bulbs get too soggy. The bulbs or new stems will rot.
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. This article has been viewed 343,493 times.
