In winter, when it's cold and your fingers and toes are freezing off, there's nothing better than a cozy spot by the warm stove with a cup of hot cocoa. Begonias (Begonia) have an almost identical idea. It doesn't have to be warm, depending on the type, but they definitely shouldn't be freezing. Below we have summarized for you how you can successfully overwinter your begonias.
Overwintering Begonias – What is the process?
Overwintering is the process that ensures that a plant survives the winter by protecting it from the cold and receiving the extra light it needs during the long, dark winter months. Ornamental plants such as begonias bloom throughout the summer, but the flowers die back in cold weather. With proper care, begonias, which are usually treated as annual plants, can be perennial plants and last for many years of life.
Depending on the species, begonias have a different growth habit. There are upright, shrubby, climbing, climbing and trailing types of begonias, which can be divided into these main groups.
- Stem begonias
- Tuberous begonias
- Begonia Rex hybrids
- Begonia Semperflorens Hybrid
- Rhizome begonias
- Shrub begonias
- Winter flowering begonias
Depending on the specific conditions and type of begonia, you can use different methods of overwintering.
Leave the plants in the garden in a warm climate
This method depends heavily on your local climate. In warm climates where winter frosts are rare or non-existent, you can let begonias go dormant on their own so they come back each year as annuals. The change of season usually forces a period of dormancy, especially for tuberous varieties. In this case, cut back the dead or wilted foliage and trim the plant to the ground.
Bring the potted plants indoors
If your begonias are growing in pots, you can easily overwinter them by bringing them indoors. Try to bring the begonias indoors before the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. The bushy varieties make excellent houseplants, provided they receive enough light and moisture - maintaining humidity in the home is a helpful measure. It is best to leave tuberous begonias dormant. You can also bring rhizome begonias, which grow best in pots, indoors to overwinter as houseplants. They will likely lose their foliage at first, but if you water them weekly and provide them with a good source of indirect sunlight, the begonias will usually start to show new growth within a few weeks.
Dig up the tubers
You can overwinter tuberous begonias by digging up the tubers, drying them and storing them through the cold season. In order for this to succeed, the tubers must be indoors before the first frost, ideally before the temperatures outside fall below 15 degrees Celsius. Dig up the tubers with a garden fork as this allows you to carefully clear out the surrounding soil without cutting into any part of the tuber. You can also carefully use a spade. It is advisable to leave at least 30 cm of space outside the plant. After you have safely removed the tuber from the soil, gently shake it to remove any excess dirt. Allow the tubers to dry out in dry air for a few days. Then put them in a box or paper bag and store them in a cool, dark and dry place over the winter.
Also read:How to overwinter an orange tree? Follow these care tips!
Overwintering begonias – further tips
Overwintering begonias is relatively easy. However, following a few additional guidelines and gardening tips will increase your chances of sustaining your begonias through the cold months:
- Overwintering tuberous begonias – pack the tubers well. If storing the tubers in a box or paper bag, consider wrapping them with peat moss, coco coir, sawdust, perlite, vermiculite, or another light, absorbent material that will keep them dry and separate them. This way you can pack several bulbs in one box.
- Move the plants gradually. After the last frost, you can move your potted begonias outdoors in early spring. Place them in the shade and make sure they are protected from wind, rain and sharp temperature changes. After a few weeks of getting used to it, you can then put it in its usual place.
- Replant the tubers. If you have preserved your tuberous begonias, you should wait until the soil temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius before replanting them - a soil thermometer is very handy. You can also place the tubers in a shallow container with loose, well-drained potting soil six to eight weeks before planting and water them lightly regularly. They are susceptible to root rot. So make sure they are not left in standing water at any time.
What can you combine ice begonias (Begonia semperflorens) with – tips & ideascan be found here!
