Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias 2024

Hey folks!! Welcome back!!

I hope you are doing appreciable in your gardening field. Are you looking to grow a beautiful plant that adds colorful vibes to your home garden? If yes, then why not try Begonias? Begonia is One of the plants that includes about 1300 species or more as annuals, shrubs, perennials, climbers, etc. It tends to produce colorful blooms and leaves in the plant that looks attractive. 

Caring for Begonias is easy but tricky. You have to prove the plant on time. Provide them with sufficient sunlight. Keep in mind to feed them with a warm climate as they thrive well in it and many more are explained below in this guide. 

So, let’s throw some light on all the segments of growing and caring for begonias in your home garden. Stay connected with the guide to understand the begonia care properly.

Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias

What are Begonias?

Begonias are one of the plants that require low maintenance for their growth and will play beautifully in your home garden with their blooms, which will last for a long time. It is famous for its bush and attractive foliage. 

At the time of summer, this plant will bloom for various weeks continuously that is from summer till late autumn. The blooming capacity of a plant depends on the variety of begonias You are growing in your home garden. 

Even some of its varieties tend to grow all along in the year and make your garden area attractive and eye-catchy and are adored by everyone.

Types of begonias:

  • Wax begonia
  • Cane begonia
  • Rex begonia
  • Tuberous begonia
  • Rhizomatous begonia
  • Interspecific begonia 

How to Grow Begonias in Your Garden?

Growing a plant is not a difficult task. All it needs is your little efforts towards them. Like other plants, there are numerous ways by which you can grow begonias in your home garden. 

Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias

But one of the best methods is through seeds. Follow the below steps to learn how to grow begonias with the help of seeds: 

  • At first, choose a seed starting tray and purchase the seeds from the market or you can make use of old seeds that you have stored from the parent plant. 
  • Then take an empty container and fill the soil in it.
  • Now you have to show the seeds in that container.
  • It is suggested to provide the plant with indirect sunlight so that it helps in the process of germination.
  • You will observe the seedlings will begin to emerge after the tenure of three weeks. 
  • Provide them with sunlight unless the plant is established properly.
  • If you are growing it indoors, then you can make use of fluorescent lights, but make sure to turn them off at the time of night.
  • Now, after observing 2 to 3 leaves from the seedlings, you can transplant them to a new container as they are ready to grow. 
  • Last, but not least, you have to care for your plant and provide them proper attention so that they grow well, and you can enjoy its benefits. 

Begonia Care: How to Care for Begonia in Your Garden? 

Caring for your begonias is not a difficult task to perform. All you need is your efforts so let’s get started to know about getting tips for your begonias to grow in your home garden. They are as follows:

Sunlight needs

  • One of the needs of the plant is sunlight it requires a good amount of sunlight for its growth.
Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias
  • If you have grown them indoors, then you can provide them with indirect sunlight.
  • The ones that are planted outdoors in the garden will receive shade, which can let them grow.
  • Make sure you are not providing direct sunlight to the plant as it will ruin its leaves and begin to fade its colors. 

Soil needs

  • What about the soil requirements of begonias? They will prosper well if you provide them with porous and rich soil.
  • Also, you can make use of organic matter like compost that can be added to the soil mix.
  • Choose the soil that is slightly acidic for your begonias. 

Water needs 

  • Water this plant one time in a week so that it grows well and feeds you with the desired results.
  • You have to wait so that the top inch of the soil becomes dry. 
  • Before watering the plant, check the moisture by inserting the finger inside the soil about an inch.
  • Keep in mind not to overwater your begonias as it will lead to root rot in the plant and will damage the plant with time. 
Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias

Temperature and Humidity needs

  • Begonias will thrive well indoors if the temperature range is about 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • They like to remain humid and hate the cold draft that will ruin the plant’s growth.
  • Keep in mind to feed them with a humidity level that is below 50%. 
  • To increase the humidity in the plant, make use of a small humidifier or you can use a pebble tray by keeping it under the plant and filling it with water. 

Fertilizer needs 

  • Fertiliser helps in the aggressive growth of the plant. The requirement of fertilizer depends on the variety of growing in your home garden.
  • You can make use of water-soluble fertilizer for your indoor begonias, you have to mix water with it. 
  • It will help you in receiving a good amount of blooms at the time of spring.

Pruning needs 

  • As you know, pruning is needed by every plant so that it maintains a healthy shape and size, The Same is the case in Begonias. 
  • It is said to be a self-cleaning plant so it is not required to remove the damaged blooms at a time when the plants growing actively.
  • Prune the plant when it becomes leggy by simply painting the stems so that the healthy buds emerge.
Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias

Propagation

Step 1- At first, you have to choose the stem cuttings(4-5 inches long) from the mother plant with the help of sharp and sterilized scissors. 

Step 2- Remove its leaves from the bottom leaving the top leaves likewise. 

Step 3- As we are using peat moss or sphagnum moss, we need to keep the water so that it soal the water for about ten minutes. 

Step 4- Excess water from the soil needs to be removed. 

Step 5- Take a pot and fill the moss in it. 

Step 6- Then you have to keep the cutting in it gently by being covered with moss except for leaves. 

Step 7– Now, make sure to keep your container in a place where they can nourish them with bright, indirect sunlight. 

Step 8- Keep the moss moist and you will observe the sprouts(about 1-2 inches long). Then you have to take a pot and fill potting mix to it. 

Step 9- Put the rooted cuttings in the pot. After a few weeks, you have to keep the potted cuttings in their old place. 

Step 10- Growth will be more if you fulfill their needs by providing efficient sunlight, water, etc.

Some common problems with Begonias

Various problems are faced by the plant and the same is the case with the begonias. 

It becomes challenging for Gardener to prevent those problems, but first, you need to know about those common problems with the begonias: 

Begonia Care: How to Grow and Care for Begonias

Brown-colored leaf tips

One of the problems with the begonias is the brown color of the leaf tips in the plant. It is because of the excess supply of sunlight to the plant which makes them dull. Also, less supply of watering can be the cause behind this issue. 

Spots on the leaves

Sometimes there are holes or spots on the leaves that disturb the look of the plant in the garden. 

As you know, there are various best that like this plant, so they come near the plant so that they can take the fluid from the plant to satisfy their hunger.

So you have to remove those logs or pests from the plant by hand if possible. Otherwise, you can make use of homemade solutions to prevent it. 

Yellow colored leaves

Oh! Another main problem faced by this plant is the turning of leaves into yellow color which shows the exact sign of overwatering. So you have to keep in mind, not to overwater the plant. 

Feed them with water when the soil becomes dry and that can be checked by inserting a finger in the soil and effect. If it feels dry about an inch, then is the right time to water your plant. 

Wrapping up the context

In this guide, you come to know that Begonia is One of the plants that includes about 1300 species or more as annuals, shrubs, perennials, climbers, etc. It tends to produce colorful blooms and leaves in the plant that looks attractive. 

Caring for Begonias is easy but tricky. You have to prove the plant on time. Could you provide them with sufficient sunlight? Keep in mind to feed them in warm climates as they thrive well in it and many more are explained in this guide.

Thanks for reading! Happy gardening! 

Anna Scott

Anna Scott loves gardening and has been doing it for a long time. She wants to help new gardeners learn from her experience. Through her writing, she shares tips and advice on how to make gardens beautiful. Anna hopes her words will inspire new gardeners to succeed.

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