Begonia Dubbel, Rood
Where to plant begonias
Begonias grow well in dappled or partial shade – avoid south-facing spots as the foliage can burn in direct sunlight. If you’re growing begonias in a greenhouse, shading may be required.
Tuberous begonias are ideal for growing in pots and hanging baskets. They have fairly brittle stems and heavy flowers, so grow them in a sheltered spot. Flowers will go over very quickly if they’re too hot. Fibrous rooted begonias can be packed quite tightly into mixed summer displays of other bedding plants.
Foliage begonias are best grown as house plants, in dappled shade. They will enjoy a holiday in the garden in summer, in dappled shade.
Begonia care
Caring for begonias is easy. Keep plants well watered but allow the soil to dry out between waterings – this is especially important for tuberous begonias, which can rot in waterlogged soil.
Caring for tuberous begonias
- In summer, feed pot-grown plants weekly with tomato feed, or add a slow-release fertiliser pellet to the compost when planting
- Stop feeding from September as plants should be encouraged to slow down for the year
- From October, reduce watering and remove flowers so the plants to put energy back into the tuber
- Once the foliage has been blackened by frost, lift the plants from their pots. Remove the compost from each tuber, cut the stem back to about 6cm and store in a dark, cool, frost-free place until March, when it can be brought back into growth again
Caring for fibrous-rooted begonias
- Feed these annal begonias weekly in summer
- Dig them up and compost when they’ve finished flowering
Caring for foliage begonias
- Remove the small, insignificant flowers so as not to detract from the beautiful patterned foliage
- You can put plants outside in summer, but bring them indoors as the weather cools
How to propagate begonias
Tuberous begonias don’t come true from seed, so propagation by cuttings is recommended. In March or April pull new shoots that form on the tubers away with your fingers. Pot them up into individual pots and put them in a heated propagator. Place the propagator in a shaded spot and expect to see signs of growth within four weeks.
Fibrous-rooted begonias can be grown from seed in early spring. Sow seeds onto moist, seed or multi-purpose compost. They need light to germinate, so don’t cover them. Place in a propagator with a lid or cover pots with a clear plastic bag or cling film to retain humidity.
Foliage begonias such as Begonia rex can be easily propagated by leaf cuttings.
Foliage begonias can also be divided – this keeps the plant growing healthily, as well as giving you a new plant for free.
Pests and diseases
Powdery mildew can be a problem for begonias from May – especially for yellow-flowering types. This fungal disease spreads by spores, so good hygiene should reduce the chances of attack. To prevent the problem space plants out well and ventilate greenhouses. Some gardeners spray plants with a systemic fungicide in May to prevent the problem.
Vine weevil can be a problem with pot-grown begonias.
Find out how to prevent begonias and other bedding plants from becoming leggy, in our Quick Tips video:
Advice on buying begonias
- Begonias are not hardy so if you buy plants or tubers in spring, you will need a warm, bright place in which to grow them before you can plant out in May, after the last frosts
- Begonias like dappled shade, so make sure you have the right spot in which to grow them
- You can buy begonias at nurseries and garden centres, but for more unusual varieties buy online
Where to buy begonias
Begonia varieties to try
Begonia ‘Inferno’ – a tuberous begonia that provides months of bright orange, weather-resistant flowers. It doesn’t need deadheading. Height x Spread: 35cm x 35cm
Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Giant Picotee Mixed’ – tender perennial with serrated leaves and large ruffled pink, apricot or yellow flowers from July to October. H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Begonia ‘Illumination Series’ – cascading flowers in bright colours, weather-resistant flowers. Ideal for a hanging basket. H x S: 60cm x 60cm.
Begonia semperflorens – tender perennials grown as annuals. Small plants with fibrous roots ideal for summer bedding displays. Pink and white flowers. Leathery, shiny green leaves. H x S: 15cm
Begonia rex – grown for its large silver and green foliage that has a rusty brown underside. Tender so needs to be grown as a house plant. H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Begonia luxurians – the palm-leaf begonia. It can be grown as an impressive house plant in a shaded conservatory, and can be put outside in the summer. H x S: 3m x 1m
Where to plant begonias
Begonias grow well in dappled or partial shade – avoid south-facing spots as the foliage can burn in direct sunlight. If you’re growing begonias in a greenhouse, shading may be required.
Tuberous begonias are ideal for growing in pots and hanging baskets. They have fairly brittle stems and heavy flowers, so grow them in a sheltered spot. Flowers will go over very quickly if they’re too hot. Fibrous rooted begonias can be packed quite tightly into mixed summer displays of other bedding plants.
Foliage begonias are best grown as house plants, in dappled shade. They will enjoy a holiday in the garden in summer, in dappled shade.
Begonia care
Caring for begonias is easy. Keep plants well watered but allow the soil to dry out between waterings – this is especially important for tuberous begonias, which can rot in waterlogged soil.
Caring for tuberous begonias
- In summer, feed pot-grown plants weekly with tomato feed, or add a slow-release fertiliser pellet to the compost when planting
- Stop feeding from September as plants should be encouraged to slow down for the year
- From October, reduce watering and remove flowers so the plants to put energy back into the tuber
- Once the foliage has been blackened by frost, lift the plants from their pots. Remove the compost from each tuber, cut the stem back to about 6cm and store in a dark, cool, frost-free place until March, when it can be brought back into growth again
Caring for fibrous-rooted begonias
- Feed these annal begonias weekly in summer
- Dig them up and compost when they’ve finished flowering
Caring for foliage begonias
- Remove the small, insignificant flowers so as not to detract from the beautiful patterned foliage
- You can put plants outside in summer, but bring them indoors as the weather cools
How to propagate begonias
Tuberous begonias don’t come true from seed, so propagation by cuttings is recommended. In March or April pull new shoots that form on the tubers away with your fingers. Pot them up into individual pots and put them in a heated propagator. Place the propagator in a shaded spot and expect to see signs of growth within four weeks.
Fibrous-rooted begonias can be grown from seed in early spring. Sow seeds onto moist, seed or multi-purpose compost. They need light to germinate, so don’t cover them. Place in a propagator with a lid or cover pots with a clear plastic bag or cling film to retain humidity.
Foliage begonias such as Begonia rex can be easily propagated by leaf cuttings.
Foliage begonias can also be divided – this keeps the plant growing healthily, as well as giving you a new plant for free.
Pests and diseases
Powdery mildew can be a problem for begonias from May – especially for yellow-flowering types. This fungal disease spreads by spores, so good hygiene should reduce the chances of attack. To prevent the problem space plants out well and ventilate greenhouses. Some gardeners spray plants with a systemic fungicide in May to prevent the problem.
Vine weevil can be a problem with pot-grown begonias.
Find out how to prevent begonias and other bedding plants from becoming leggy, in our Quick Tips video:
Advice on buying begonias
- Begonias are not hardy so if you buy plants or tubers in spring, you will need a warm, bright place in which to grow them before you can plant out in May, after the last frosts
- Begonias like dappled shade, so make sure you have the right spot in which to grow them
- You can buy begonias at nurseries and garden centres, but for more unusual varieties buy online
Where to buy begonias
Begonia varieties to try
Begonia ‘Inferno’ – a tuberous begonia that provides months of bright orange, weather-resistant flowers. It doesn’t need deadheading. Height x Spread: 35cm x 35cm
Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Giant Picotee Mixed’ – tender perennial with serrated leaves and large ruffled pink, apricot or yellow flowers from July to October. H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Begonia ‘Illumination Series’ – cascading flowers in bright colours, weather-resistant flowers. Ideal for a hanging basket. H x S: 60cm x 60cm.
Begonia semperflorens – tender perennials grown as annuals. Small plants with fibrous roots ideal for summer bedding displays. Pink and white flowers. Leathery, shiny green leaves. H x S: 15cm
Begonia rex – grown for its large silver and green foliage that has a rusty brown underside. Tender so needs to be grown as a house plant. H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Begonia luxurians – the palm-leaf begonia. It can be grown as an impressive house plant in a shaded conservatory, and can be put outside in the summer. H x S: 3m x 1m