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.
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 sunlight 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 wet or soggy soil at all costs. When the plant is fully grown, fertilize it every other watering with balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Never let plants stand in a water saucer.
Begonias are frequently lanky. Branch tips should be pinched to encourage lateral growth. Stop pinching when the plant is full enough to allow it to flower (if it is not already flowering).
During the summer, begonias grown indoors should be transferred to a partially sunny outdoor location. Some begonias should be kept in the shade because they cannot stand direct sunlight. In HGIC 1454, Indoor PlantsMoving Plants Indoors & Outdoors, you can find more details on moving indoor plants.
How much time can begonias survive indoors?
- By adding pea gravel to a shallow metal or plastic container, you can make a pebble tray. Place your plant container on top of the stones, just above the water’s surface, and just cover them with water. Your plant will be surrounded by an area of humidity when the water evaporation creates it.
- The lifespan of any begonia is short. 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 thrive indoors?
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Native to South America’s Andes Mountains are tuberous begonias. The weather is hot during the day and cool at night. This helps us understand how they are cared for. They take some effort to develop but are definitely worth it. Bedding begonias are more widely available and quite simple to grow.
Tuberous begonias are among the most showy indoor plants if you enjoy growing flowering houseplants, both for their flowers and their attractive leaves.
Types of plants
Begonias can be broadly divided into two categories. While others are grown from tubers, some are grown from seeds. Begonias grown from seed have a tendency to be tiny and more challenging to grow indoors. They are frequently used as outdoor border bedding plants.
Tuber-grown begonias are more resilient indoors and develop into bigger plants. Both varieties of begonias are available in a wide range of hues, including white, pink, purple, yellow, and red. More than 1,000 different types of tuberous begonias fall into one of two categories: upright or hanging.
Light requirements
Begonias are perfect for indoor growth because they prefer shade outside. Avoid direct sunlight if you decide to plant them outside. Place them close to a window inside that gets enough of filtered light. An east-facing window in the morning sun is ideal. They thrive indoors with grow lights as well. For indoor begonias, any container will do, even an old collander!
Is a begonia a houseplant or an outdoor one?
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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Overwintering Tuberous Begonias
During the winter, tuberous begonias should be dug up and kept within until the warmer weather returns in the spring. Begonias can be removed in the fall, either after the first light frost or when the foliage has faded.
Begonia clumps should be spread out on newspaper and left in the sun for about a week or until completely dry. Cut away any residual leaves after they have fully dried, then gently shake off extra soil.
Begonias should be dusted with sulfur powder before being stored to avoid fungus or powdery mildew issues throughout the winter. Begonia tubers can be kept separately in paper bags or lined in a single layer on top of newspaper. Put these in a cardboard box and store it somewhere cool, dark, and dry.
A begonia planted outdoors in containers should also be overwintered. Begonia plants planted in pots can be kept there as long as they stay dry. They must also be moved to a secure location that is cold, dark, and dry. Pots can either be left upright or slightly tilted.
Overwintering Annual Wax Begonia
For continuous growth, some begonias, like wax begonias, can simply be taken indoors before the arrival of cold weather.
Instead of digging up these begonias for the winter, bring them inside. Of course, if they are already in the ground, they can be gently moved into containers and kept inside to develop all winter long.
It is frequently helpful to acclimate wax begonias beforehand because moving them indoors can stress plants, which results in leaf drop.
However, make sure to cure them for insect pests or powdery mildew before bringing wax begonias indoors. Plants can be sprayed or gently washed with warm water and dish soap that doesn’t include bleach to achieve this.
To assist wax begonias adapt to an indoor environment, keep them near a bright window and gradually cut back on the light. Increase humidity levels while reducing watering during the winter.
Increase their watering and start relocating them outside once the weather warms up. Once more, acclimating plants helps them experience less stress.