At the first sign of a white patch on any of the leaves apply a fungicide right away. General Care. The American Begonia Society calls Begonia rex “the showboat of the begonia world.” That may be, but the king begonia, or Begonia Rex Cultorum Group as they are more formally known, may just be my Achilles’ heel: a plant that simply will not thrive for me, however much care and attention I lavish on it. Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae.The genus contains more than 1,800 different plant species. Toxicity of Wax Begonias The Begonia plant family is known to be toxic to animals , and ingesting them can lead to vomiting, salivation, or kidney failure in grazing animals. Below, learn how to care for an exotic and colorful member of the Begonia plant genus, the Angel Wing Begonia. Rieger: This category of begonias is winter-flowering. If you happen to live in a zone from 8b to 11, on the other hand, your begonias should be able to last outside all year round. Cane-stemmed begonias. Feed Begonias with a well-balanced plant food every 2 to 3 weeks. A cross between cane and wax begonias, these plants are ideal for hanging baskets, so you can see their hanging flower clusters. If soil is dry to the touch, the plant needs water. However, to ensure proper begonia care, you should be wintering over begonias indoors if you live in areas prone to freezing temperatures, such as northern climates. Light. Once they get their first set of true leaves, you can transplant your baby wax begonias to their own containers and harden them off before planting them up outside. There are so many new varieties of begonias to choose from nowadays! Grow them from leaf cuttings or by dividing the rhizomes. In addition to the wax begonias, there are also the lovely dragon-wing begonias, trailing begonias, showy tuberous begonias, rex begonias, and the list goes on! Indoors they will grow as a perennial and come back year after year. Among the more than 1700 species of begonias, three families stand out: the rhizomatous, the fibrous and the tuberous.. Flowering plants and houseplants can be very easy to look-after (like the aloe vera) or quite difficult (orchids, bonsai). In the winter begonias can tolerate cooler temperatures. Begonia plants, regardless of type, cannot withstand freezing cold temperatures and require appropriate winter care.Overwintering a begonia is not always necessary in warmer environments, as winters are generally less severe. Easy-to-grow rhizomatous begonias have beautiful tropical-looking leaves, often with amazing patterns. Hailing from tropical regions, begonias are flowers that are widely used for decoration at home and in the garden. Called ‘Angel Wing’ because of the shape of the heart-shaped, often speckled foliage, they … The leaves may have bold shapes or striking, often silver markings. Rex: Rex begonias are entirely their own class of begonia. Growing begonias takes a bit of patience, skill and knowledge to get the most out of this fun flower. Tuberous begonias: You can maintain fibrous begonias, which often have waxy leaves and always have traditional root balls, for 2-3 years with proper indoor and outdoor care. If you're looking for a beautiful flower to fill your garden with, begonias are your best bet! Tuberous begonias are usually grown in pots, but there are also hanging basket varieties. The colorful blooms and bright leaves are a beautiful addition to most gardens and shouldn't be shied away from by beginner or advanced gardeners. Diseases. Gradually reduce watering intervals and stop fertilizing the plants at the end of August. Rhizomatous and rex begonias are valued for their decorative foliage. To know how to care for your begonia over the winter, you really need to know what kind of begonia you’re growing. I do not use the heater in the greenhouse unless the temperature goes below 40 degrees. These shade-loving plants bring mounds of color when planted under trees or tucked in planters, hanging baskets, or window boxes. They thrive outdoors in frost-free areas but are equally at home in containers which can be moved into shelter in winter. They cannot be left to overwinter in the garden or containers, unless you are living in a part of the world that no cold winters. Though they are generally only hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11, tuberous begonias are quite easy to take care of. They are rhizomatous, meaning they typically grow horizontally and with shortened stems. When buying begonias. I have begonias growing outside in the summer, and then in the fall I either take cuttings or bring the whole plant indoors to use as a house plant. Fibrous-rooted begonias are annual plants that have round and waxy leaves and small flowers. 3) Put the plant on a regular watering schedule. Rex begonias (Begonia rex) are tropical plants, prized for their colorfully patterned and intriguingly shaped leaves.Although they are at home in a shady garden, they are also popular as houseplants.Many people collect and display several varieties. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. If it doesn’t freeze in your area most of them can be left outside year round. Allow the foliage to yellow until it is completely dead or until the first frost. Begonias prefer light shade, and foliage may scorch when exposed to the full sun. Winter Care for Tuberous Begonias. Rex begonias with good care are usually bothered by only a couple problems and keeping fallen leaf debris cleaned up, making sure it gets adequate circulation of air, and proper water goes a long way in prevention. Begonias are annual flowers and they grow quickly and fill up a lot of space in empty gardens. Tuberous Begonias are tender perennials that will need to be moved indoors for the winter months and stored as dormant tubers. But, if you don’t mind a challenge (these plants are definitely hobbyist plants), the results can be very rewarding. Most rex begonias sold today are named hybrids, although they are not always labeled as such. They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, but can also grow as annuals or as houseplants, needing only basic care and occasional trimming to thrive. Summary of Wax Begonia care: Wax Begonias (Begonia Semperflorens-Cultorum Group) bloom throughout their growing season in partial sun. Begonias are fairly robust but you will need to look out for and treat these problems to keep your plants in tip-top shape. Pests. In zones 8a and cooler, begonias are annual plants. Mealy Bugs. I put my begonias in the greenhouse before the first freeze. For example, some types of tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberosa) have this type of growth habit and do especially well as hanging plants. They are one of the most common ornamental begonias because of their prolific flowering which makes them perfect bedding plants. There are several different types of begonias. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Wax Begonia care. Many have eye-catching flower spikes. Begonias such as Begonia Rex and Begonia metallica are popular houseplants grown for their attractive foliage or flowers. Begonia plants can occasionally suffer from caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, thrips, vine weevil or aphids. Like other begonias, they prefer filtered shade and well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Begonias can be used in mass plantings, or they can be mixed with other annuals. Commonly grown as a houseplant for its foliage, these begonias are also known as painted-leaf or fancy-leaf begonias. Try to water the soil around the plants rather than the plants themselves, to avoid mildew. Begonias make for some beautiful garden decor and they're relatively easy to grow and care for! Tuberous begonias (Begonia Tuberhybrida Hybrids) are among the most spectacular of all begonias but they are also the most difficult to grow. Begonias thrive in a … Take care not to damage the tuber. Wax Begonia varieties don’t need quite as much room to grow; you can space them six to eight inches apart. Just as with indoor begonias, outdoor begonias like to be somewhere where they’ll get light, but nothing too strong. If it is wet, it has received too much. When planting Begonias outside, space them about 12 inches apart to allow for adequate growing room. Foliage begonias . Stake stems as required. These easy-to-grow plants prefer warm temperatures, humidity, and moist, well-drained soil. Too much water can cause root rot and kill the begonia. Although it is noteworthy that there are an infinite number of species and varieties of this plant, it is true that generally require the same care to grow well. 2) Begonias like to sit in locations that have daily full to partial morning sunlight. A vital part of any plant’s life is the proper lighting. 7 Steps to Take How to Care for a Begonia 1. Begonias are a large family of beautiful tropical flowers that can liven up any garden. This group includes cane (angel wing) begonias and wax begonias (Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum) (2). The choice of the type of begonia if we want it to grow indoors is important. Both grow from a clump of roots and are winter hardy in growing zones 9-11. Planting and Care. You can then place them outside in partial shade. The soil should be kept moist, but not wet or soggy. They endure the elements of wind and rain and greatly enhance your garden from June through October. Begonias have a reputation for being difficult. Inspect the plant carefully for any signs of disease or insect damage. Outdoor Placement. Continue reading to find out just how to care for potted Begonias. Find out which species your begonia belongs to. In terms of natural light, you will find that Begonias tend to do well in just about any window apart from north-facing windows. Wax begonias are typically grown as annuals, reaching 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. Wax begonias: The most common are Begonia semperflorens varieties, also called wax, annual, or bedding begonias. Wax begonias and angel-wing begonias are usually grown as outdoor annuals or indoor houseplants. Read on to find out what you need to know about growing begonias. They prefer room temperatures and slightly moist, rich, well-draining soil … Dig … When conditions are warm inside, Rex begonias … If your plant buds in September, pinch the buds off. Noteworthy Tips on How to Care for Your Alluring Angel Wing Begonia. Tuberous begonias can suffer from powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots, or … The hotter the climate, the more shade they will prefer. These begonias (Begonia coccinea) can grow to 2m with straight stems and showy clusters of pendulous waxy flowers from mid-summer to late-autumn. Fibrous and rhizomatous begonias are easy to grow as house plants, but tuberous begonias need to be stored as bulbs over the winter, and hardy begonias should just be left outside. Three essential care tips for begonias. Plant them as soon as possible after purchase. They’ll bloom from spring to fall in red, pink and white. All types of begonias are considered annuals outdoors, unless you live in very warm climates. 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