Q&A for How to Care for a Begonia

It is best to keep them receiving sun in the morning as well as some afternoon shade for these flowers to grow well.

You can cut back the stems to a leaf node, or cut them back to about 3 inches above the soil in order to revitalize the flower.

The best food for begonias is a well-diluted fertilizer. Look for one formulated for this plant at your local garden store.

You should only water the plant when the soil becomes slightly dry to the touch. It is best to keep the soil moist at all times.

I suggest anywhere that gets good light and is relatively warm and humid.

No as a rule. Begonias are very unappetizing to deer. When deer begin to invade a garden looking for something to eat, however, they quite often don’t differentiate between flowers and plants, so I would suggest you install deer or protective fencing.

First, you need to cut off and remove all the affected leaves. Then, mix one tablespoon of baking soda per quart of water and spray the remaining leaves with it. It would also be a good idea to increase the air circulation around the plant to prevent further incidences.

If you’re looking to cut back the growth of your begonia plant, check out the wikiHow How to Prune Begonias for step-by-step advice that’ll ensure you get it right.

Many begonias are annuals and will die off and need replanting the next year. However, there are perennial varieties too, both tender and hardy, which will last longer if cared for properly and are especially suited to warmer winter climates. Ask your local nursery for advice on getting a begonia that lasts longer if that’s of interest to you. If you have tuberous begonias, you can save the tubers once the begonias have died down, store them in a cool, dry and dark place indoors and replant these next spring.

Browning begonias can mean that the plant has too little shade and is exposed to too much sunlight. Try providing more shade for the plant and see if that improves the leaf color. Another possibility is root rot, which might mean the leaf litter or other debris is covering the roots too much and touching the lower leaves of the plant. Try clearing away any such debris and ensure the roots are not planted too deeply, and this might improve things for the plant.

Yes, begonias can bloom in pots, provided they’re well cared for. This means providing sufficient watering and giving them blooming plant fertilizer, mixed according to the label’s instructions. Once a month, from February through to September, fertilize your potted begonia with a high-phosphorous, water-soluble fertilizer with little to no nitrogen. During the winter months, fertilize much less frequently, as this isn’t blooming or growth time.

You’ll find that most begonias prefer partial shade conditions and indirect sunlight. They are not that tolerant of direct sunlight and will not cope with midday sun or heat. However, they do need some early morning or late afternoon sunshine, so try to position them in partial shade that allows for sun at either end of the day.

Begonias can be grown indoors but to be successful, you’ll need to choose a variety that’s suitable for indoor growing. Fortunately, many begonia varieties fit this need, such as cane begonias and rex hybrid begonias. The label on the begonia should specify it’s suitable for indoor growth but if not, ask the staff at the nursery before purchasing. Be aware that indoor begonias can be more prone to root rot from overwatering and some begonias might not find the environment has enough humidity for their liking, so some begonias will need misting with warm water to provide humidity.

It is likely the begonias are suffering from a lack of water. Check the soil; if it’s dry, then the begonia plants need watering immediately. If it’s really hot outside, and the begonias are in direct sunlight, this can cause them to droop too; try moving them to a cooler, shady spot.

The answer depends on the variety you’ve chosen, as some begonias do better indoors than others. If you want to grow begonias indoors, check the plant label for suitability to keep inside. Good varieties for indoor growth include cane begonias and rex hybrid begonias. However, if you want to keep an outdoor begonia alive during winter, you’ll need to let it overwinter indoors. For some begonias, you’ll need to slowly transition the plant from outdoors to indoors, to ensure it doesn’t drop all its leaves once inside.

Stop watering it immediately and give it a rest from more watering until the soil dries out. Keep it out of direct sunlight while it recovers. Use a fungicide on the leaves to control any outbreaks of fungal infection. For more help, see How to Save an Overwatered Plant . In future, you might find it helps you to use a soil water gauge, to help you know when the soil is sufficiently moist to not have to water the plant.

In some cases, such as with rex begonias, dried out leaves may indicate there isn’t sufficient humidity for the plant. To rectify, mist the plant more frequently with warm water. If the leaves are burning, this can indicate the plant is getting exposed to too much light and/or heat. Change the plant’s position to a shadier spot or somewhere with indirect light.

If you have cold winters, the begonia tubers should be unearthed, brought indoors and stored in a cool, dry and dark place that is above freezing for the duration of the winter. You can plant them outdoors again in the following spring.

It is important to avoid overwatering begonias as they are susceptible to root rot, especially when grown indoors. Water the begonia when the surface of its potting soil feels dry to the touch. Water the plant more frequently when it’s warm, if it’s growing under bright light (such as under artificial lighting) and when the begonia is flowering or producing new growth. Always check the soil first, to ensure it’s dry before watering. If the begonia needs humidity, mist the leaves with warm water as well.

Yellow leaves on a begonia often indicate that the plant is being overwatered, so check how often you’re watering and water less if this is the cause. Before watering, check the soil is dry, as that’s the right time to water. Another reason might be that the leaves are sitting near plant material on the soil that’s constantly damp; if so, clear away any piles of leaves and spent flowers to ensure adequate airflow. It’s also possible that the plant has a viral or fungal disease, in which case more of the plant will likely become infected if left untreated.

Yes, you can. Place it in moist soil, near a window with direct light. I have saved many broken branches this way.

Trim it and feed it used coffee grounds.

The leaves can be propagated by removing a healthy leaf. Then, you want remove the stem and to cut the leaf into radial pieces in between the ribs, making sure that each cutting has a little bit of the point where all the ribs connected to the stem. Plant as many of the sections as you can get from this in potting soil and keep it moist until you see a new little plantlet growing.

It sounds like your begonia is getting root bound. You may need to re-pot it in a larger pot.

Only in mild climates where the temperature does not go below 55 F for very long.

If you do not have a conservatory, try a window with full sun. You can get your colors back.

I put the plant on a shelf of my fruit cellar off the floor, let it rest, with no water and they start to grow about May or early June. I've done this for about 6 years.

Yes, cut them off. Begonias love terracotta pots. Also, use your old coffee grounds in the soil. You can also cut and replant them.

There are thousands of species of them. All of them can be used as houseplants. Some are hardier than others outdoors. Your best bet is to post a picture of it on a horticulture group for identification and input.

Yes. Dead stems and leaves during storage can cause mildew, rot, and blight, killing the corms.