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 is a begonia plant cared for indoors?
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.
Begonias are either indoor or outdoor plants.
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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Will 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!
Are begonias evergreen plants?
One of the most durable and conventional houseplants you’ll find is a begonia. They are easily adored, yet they can also be despised for being “outdated plants Grandma used to raise.”
Nevertheless, they are generally laid back, easygoing, and somewhat forgiving of the odd lack of attention. There are thousands of cultivars and nearly a thousand species, giving consumers a really vast array of options. While practically all commercially cultivated begonias are inexpensive to buy, some of the more uncommon types may cost a little more.
There are essentially two types of Begonia that you can cultivate as indoor plants. Then there are the foliage varieties, which are cultivated primarily for their entrancing and distinctive leaf patterns, colors, and markings.
Choose the patterns you choose while buying because there are so many various sorts and styles of foliage Begonias available.
The second choice is the flowering species, which have stunning blossoms. The blooms more than make up for the fact that the leaves aren’t particularly attractive this time of year. Again, choose a plant you like, making sure it has plenty of buds to extend the display and only a few open flowers.
Begonias are further broken down into sections based on how they look or how they grow once you’ve selected either a blooming or a foliage variety. The Cane, Rhizomatous, and Tuberous Begonia varieties are the most common. For a healthy long-term relationship, you must be aware of and respect each partner’s slightly different needs, even when the care requirements are relatively similar.
The Cane Begonias, which have brittle thick canes with slightly hairy knobbly stems and an almost arthritic aspect, were probably the indoor plants that your grandmother grew. By today’s standards, they are not particularly appealing.
Fortunately, the newer cultivars that are frequently sold are frequently a little more compact and less “leggy” despite the enormous diversity on offer. However, if you allow them, they can still expand widely, so if you want to preserve a smaller, more controlled-looking houseplant, it’s necessary to have them trained and clipped.
Since all cane begonias are normally evergreen, they can be maintained indoors permanently as house guests all year long without losing leaves in the winter. Although flowering can occur at any time of the year, it usually happens in the fall and winter.
Because of the gorgeous flower display they put on over the Summer that lasts for months and months, outdoor gardeners love the Tuberous Begonias (below). They are also grown indoors as houseplants for the same reason.
Huge blooms can be seen on several tuberous begonias that are in bloom in this photo by Darorcilmir.
Gigantic amounts of stored energy in the tubers that develop beneath the soil’s surface enable the production of large, impressive-looking flowers over the majority of the summer. The plant usually goes into dormancy after flowering is ended.
These houseplants can be grown year after year (see anything else section), but they will only stay in your home for a short time as they rest up for the following year’s exhibition.
Normal foliage kinds include the Rhizomatous Begonias (see below), which may have the advantage of being much smaller than Cane and Tuberous Begonias.