Identifying the type of begonia you have is the first step in learning how to care for begonias inside. There are three forms of begonias: tuberous, fibrous, and rhizomatous. Generally speaking, rhizomatous and fibrous begonias make great indoor plants, but tuberous begonias can be cultivated indoors but struggle to survive since they require more humidity and light than the other two types.
Proper placement is the first step in taking care of begonias indoors. One piece of advice for growing begonias inside is to arrange them in an area with plenty of humidity and bright, indirect light.
Set your begonia houseplants on a shallow tray with water and pebbles if the air in your home is particularly dry, especially in the winter. Your growing begonias will be able to acquire the humidity they require indoors in this way without the soil being waterlogged or the leaves being exposed to too much moisture that can lead to disease.
Indoor-grown begonias are particularly prone to root rot and overwatering. Make sure to only water begonias when they actually require it when caring for them. Many experts advise delaying watering a plant until it exhibits symptoms of dehydration, such as drooping leaves. This will assist in avoiding unintentional overwatering, which is the main cause of begonias dying indoors. Additionally, to prevent spreading a fungus, water your begonia houseplant underneath the leaves each time.
The fact that begonia plants are naturally pest-resistant is yet another suggestion for growing them indoors. An infestation of pests on a begonia is incredibly uncommon. It is best to keep the leaves dry since they are still prone to fungus problems like powdery mildew.
Begonias are beautiful indoor houseplants because they produce beautiful flowers and foliage. Begonia houseplants can flourish inside if they are placed properly.
How long can begonias be kept inside?
Even with proper care, the average lifespan is barely 2 to 3 years. If it gets too cold, cane begonias such as angel wings go dormant.
Can begonias be grown year-round indoors?
Both wax begonias and angel wing begonias have fibrous roots, which means that their stringy root balls are simple and well-known. These are the begonias that are frequently offered as bedding plants and in hanging baskets. Both rhizomatous varieties (like Rex begonias), which are planted primarily for their foliage, and fibrous-rooted begonias make excellent indoor plants during the winter.
These kinds of begonias will grow (and perhaps even blossom!) all year long with only a little bit of room and a light window.
Bewildered by Begonias?
You actually need to know what sort of begonia you’re cultivating in order to know how to care for it over the winter. While tuberous begonias must be preserved as bulbs for the winter while hardy begonias should simply be left outside, fibrous and rhizomatous begonias are simple to grow as indoor plants. Check read our post on How To Grow Different Varieties of Begonias if you’re unsure of what kind of begonia you have.
How To Overwinter Fibrous and Rhizomatous Begonias
- Bring your begonias indoors before the first cold to avoid losing them permanently. Take use of the great early fall season (when neither the heat nor the air conditioning is running continually) to acclimatize your plants to the interior environment as well, to lessen temperature and humidity shock.
- Leave in Pots: Instead of having to pot up your bedding begonias, try burying them in the ground in lightweight pots that you can remove in the fall.
- Repot if Necessary: While begonias are typically repotted in the spring, if yours are too root-bound and struggling, transplant them to a larger pot before bringing them inside for the winter.
- Trim Back: To give leggy begonias more shape, lightly pinch or prune the backs. Cut back the tops of rootbound plants or bedding plants to a size that is similar to the root ball before repotting.
- Carefully inspect: Avoid bringing pests or diseases inside! Before bringing begonias indoors, take care of any minor issues and discard any that appear infected or unhealthy.
- Ideal lighting consists of bright, filtered light with possibly some winter sun coming through an east-facing window. Begonias with blooms prefer more sun than those with leaves. Even though the light is dimmer indoors, avoid overexposing your begonias to the sun, especially if they are accustomed to growing in the shade.
- Water: Don’t let your begonias get too dry or too wet; keep them evenly hydrated. Begonias dislike “wet feet,” so after watering, empty the drainage tray or decorative planter to prevent puddles from forming.
- Feed your begonias sparingly all winter long with fertilizer. Although they don’t hibernate, these species will slow down a bit in the winter. When they are growing, feed them more, and when they are slowing down, feed them less.
- Maintain a temperature of no lower than 55 F at night and between 65 and 73 F during the day for your begonias. Be cautious of drafts and frozen window glass that could harm plants.
- A pebble tray can help your begonias get more humidity so they can adapt to the environment change. Rex begonias may require misting or a little assistance from a humidifier if you are overwintering them.
- Adjustment Period: Part begonias drop some or all of their leaves in response to the shock of being moved indoors before growing them again. Don’t worry; simply trim back lanky stems and continue to care for your begonia until new leaves appear.
A begonia grows outdoors or indoors.
Both as indoor houseplants and as annual bedding plants, begonias are very common. Around 1500 different begonia species, including those from Central and South America, Asia, and Africa, are indigenous to tropical areas of the planet. There are seven different types of begonias, which are generally classified by their species and growth habits, according to the American Begonia Society. All of these are tropical plants that favor warm, muggy weather. Everyone is susceptible to frigid temperatures. The only begonias that are frequently grown as landscape plants in Iowa are wax begonias and tuberous begonias.
The common annual begonias grown in the home landscaping are semperflorens or wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum). The leaves of most other varieties of begonias are smaller and typically green, bronze, or burgundy in color. Typically, flowers are white, pink, or red. There are both single and double bloom types. In the landscape, wax begonias are renowned for their resilience, tolerating both part shade and full sun. Wax begonias, once established, can withstand droughts even though the majority of begonias aren’t known for it.
Begonia x tuberhydria, or tuberous begonias, have more colorful, showier, and larger flowers. The leaves are more angular and bigger. Tuberous begonias come in both trailing and erect varieties, and both are frequently grown in containers. These begonias have tuberous roots and need to spend the fall and winter indoors during a brief dormant period. After that, they can be planted in containers in March so that the plants can get started before being moved outside in May. Wax and tuberous begonias can be crossed to produce hybrids. These are known as Rieger begonias (Begonia x heimalis) and are distinguished by their brilliant, showy flowers (similar to tuberous begonias) and vibrant leaves. Given that Rieger begonias demand slightly cooler growth conditions than other varieties, you frequently see more of these begonias in late-winter garden centers and florists.
Rhizomatous begonias called Rex begonias (Begonia rex) are frequently grown as houseplants. Instead of flowers, they are famous for their colorful, spectacular leaves. In addition to leaves that curl into a tight circle, leaves are frequently curled or twisted. A bewildering variety of leaf hues, including green, white, purple, silver, pink, maroon, lavender, black, and other combinations, are available in Rex begonia cultivars. The small blossoms on this attractive houseplant won’t be missed.
Begonia coccinea, B. albo-picta, B. lubbersii, and various hybrids are cane-type begonias that grow from thick, upright stems that resemble canes and fibrous roots. The stems are described as being of the cane type because they have swollen nodes that resemble bamboo. The prized angel wing and dragon wing begonias are among those that are typically grown as indoor houseplants. Throughout the year, clusters of pink, white, or red flowers cascade from stem ends. Large, asymmetrical, speckled or variegated leaves are as appealing. Cane-type begonias have a tendency to be more tolerant of changing light or moisture conditions, hence this type is sometimes regarded as the simplest to grow indoors.
Rhizomes, as the name suggests, are huge, inflated stems that resemble roots and are present just below the soil’s surface in rhizomatous begonias. These plants have many stems that sprout from the soil, as you might anticipate, making them dense and luxuriant houseplants. These begonias are famous for their enormous, flashy, and vibrant foliage as well. Usually, leaves have darker veining or variegation that makes them spotted or marked. A well-known cultivar of this kind of begonia is beefsteak. While some plants will develop colorful blossoms in the spring, they are frequently ornamental.
The stems and blossoms of trailing begonias (Begonia boliviensis and hybrids), which spill over the edge of the basket, are perfect for hanging baskets. When cultivated in warm, damp, shady locations, the flowers are plentiful in spring or all year long (depending on the cultivar), providing for a lovely display.
Begonia grandis, also known as shrub-type begonias, are multi-stemmed plants that resemble cane-type begonias but can grow up to 6 feet tall in the right conditions. They are not frequently planted in containers since many will eventually grow to be too big. In Florida and other warm climates, these kinds of plants are more frequently planted as landscaping plants.
The majority of begonias require similar maintenance. They prefer warm environments (preferably between 60 and 80 °F indoors or outdoors) and continuous, regular wetness. But when the soil is consistently damp, the roots will swiftly decay. Although they enjoy light, they cannot tolerate bright, direct sunshine. Indoor kinds thrive in rooms with eastern windows and some morning sunlight. Outdoor varieties that are planted during the growing season thrive in partial shade with little afternoon sun.
Finally, there are numerous ways to reproduce begonias. Rooting stem cuttings in water or in perlite while misted is a fairly simple process. Additionally, leaf section cuttings, which involve placing pie-shaped leaf wedges on moist soil and allowing new plantlets to grow from the cut edges, can be used to propagate many begonia varieties, particularly the houseplant varieties. This method of plant propagation is uncommon, further demonstrating the distinctiveness of the genus Begonia!
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How are indoor begonias cared for?
Flowering Pot Begonias: These begonias are generally used to provide homes a quick burst of flower color. Depending on the type, they flower at various periods of the year.
Tuberous begonias: These plants are tuber-based and come in a variety of shapes, from hanging basket varieties with several trailing stalks covered with flowers to those with short upright stems and enormous saucer-shaped petals. The majority of tuberous begonias provide magnificent summer and fall blooms.
You can store tubers during the winter and replant them in the spring. Stop watering and remove any remaining shoots at the conclusion of the flowering season. Remove tubers from the ground and store them in a cool, dry area in dry peat moss. HGIC 1159, Begonia, contains more details on tuber storage and transplanting.
These evergreen, compact Lorraine, Cheimantha, or Christmas Begonias grow to a height of about 11/2 feet and produce winter blooms. Although they might be double or semi-double, flowers are mostly single. From late autumn through early spring, flowers bloom. Typically weak, stems need assistance. When the plant is young, pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth.
Begonias from the Elatior genus: These begonias resemble Lorraine begonias but have larger flowers, including the Reiger begonia. All year long, Elatior begonias are in bloom.
After flowering, Lorraine and Elatior begonias are often abandoned, but they can be restarted by being cut back to 3 inches above the crown. Cut back on the water and keep in a cool place. more water in the spring. Cuttings can be made from fresh growth.
The flowers of the Begonia x hiemalis cultivar Elatior begnoia come in a variety of hues, including yellow, white, red, pink, and orange. Barbara H. Smith, HGIC, Clemson Extension, provided the image.
Evergreen Flowering Begonias: Although these begonias don’t have as spectacular of a flower display as flowering pot begonias, they do have the benefit of having year-round foliage. There are numerous varieties, ranging in size from tiny (6-inch) bushy plants to tall (10-foot) cane-stemmed varieties. In hanging baskets, there are also trailing varieties.
Wax begonias, the most popular bushy variety, are often grown as annuals outdoors in the summer but can also be dug up and potted in the fall and brought inside for the winter. Elephant ear and fuchsia begonias, which are less common and a little harder to grow than wax begonias, are other members of this group.
Cane-stemmed Cane-stemmed begonias can grow as tall as 10 feet if they aren’t clipped. In order to promote new growth at the base, it is a good idea to trim down excessively long stems in the spring or early summer. It could be necessary to stake the tall, bamboo-like stems. One of the easiest plants to grow is the cane begonia. In the spring and summer, eye-catching hanging clusters of red, pink, or white flowers bloom. Some begonias with cane stems bloom all year round.
Both the flowers and the foliage on these begonias are lovely. While the majority of leaf surfaces are shiny, others are drab. A leaf might be light, dark, or mahogany in color. The leaves frequently resemble angel wings. Even though many of the species and variants in this genus go by the moniker “angel wing begonia,” one of the species, B. coccinea, has the name.
One of the most straightforward begonia varieties to grow is the Angel Wing begonia (Begonia aconititolia x coccinea). Barbara H. Smith, HGIC, Clemson Extension, provided the image.
Shrimp begonia, also known as B. limmingheiana, is a trailing plant that is frequently used in hanging baskets to add color during the winter months when the more common basket begonias are dormant.
Begonias, a type of flowering indoor plant, prefer direct sunshine and a bright location. An east window is ideal for morning sun. Many cane and shrub species bloom best in some direct sunlight. Winter sun exposure for a few hours is advantageous.
Keep the soil evenly moist; only slightly let it dry in between waterings. in the winter, use less water (stop watering tuberous begonias in fall). Avoid moist or soggy soil at all costs. When the plant is fully grown, fertilize it every other watering with balanced liquid fertilizer at half intensity. Never let plants stand in a water saucer.
Begonias are frequently lanky. Branch tips should be pinched to encourage lateral development. Stop pinching when the plant is full enough to allow it to blossom (if it is not already flowering).
During the summer, begonias grown indoors should be transferred to a partially sunny outdoor setting. Some begonias should be kept in the shade since they cannot stand direct sunshine. In HGIC 1454, Indoor PlantsMoving Plants Indoors & Outdoors, you can get more details on moving indoor plants.