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Tuberous Begonias offer magnificent value for money, especially when you consider how much of a show they give for their initial cost.
And although this lush, tropical looking plant is often sold as a half-hardy annual, tuberous begonias are mostly perennial, and - unlike the fibrous rooted cousins - they can be over-wintered for progressively better results year after year.
HOW TO OVER-WINTER POT GROWN TUBEROUS BEGONIAS
If your begonias have been grown in pots outside then the easiest way to winterize them is to leave them in their pots. Preparation can begin as early as August - in order to give them time to adjust - by bringing them indoors to a cool, and well-ventilated room. Begin withholding more and more water until the foliage dies back - then stop watering altogether. Leave the foliage in place to die back naturally, then - within a few weeks - you will be able to remove the dried-up stem and leaves without causing damage to the tuber.
The next thing you need to do is to remove the tuber from the compost, clean it off and remove any damaged or soft parts with a sterilised knife. Dust it – especially any cut areas - with a fungicidal powder. From this point on the tuber can be stored until it is ready to be replanted in the spring.
Tuberous Begonias offer magnificent value for money, especially when you consider how much of a show they give for their initial cost.
And although this lush, tropical looking plant is often sold as a half-hardy annual, tuberous begonias are mostly perennial, and - unlike the fibrous rooted cousins - they can be over-wintered for progressively better results year after year.
HOW TO OVER-WINTER POT GROWN TUBEROUS BEGONIAS
If your begonias have been grown in pots outside then the easiest way to winterize them is to leave them in their pots. Preparation can begin as early as August - in order to give them time to adjust - by bringing them indoors to a cool, and well-ventilated room. Begin withholding more and more water until the foliage dies back - then stop watering altogether. Leave the foliage in place to die back naturally, then - within a few weeks - you will be able to remove the dried-up stem and leaves without causing damage to the tuber.
The next thing you need to do is to remove the tuber from the compost, clean it off and remove any damaged or soft parts with a sterilised knife. Dust it – especially any cut areas - with a fungicidal powder. From this point on the tuber can be stored until it is ready to be replanted in the spring.
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Store the tubers as a single layer inside a suitable cardboard box - spaced evenly apart - and keep them in a dry, frost-free and dark place until the spring. Alternatively, pack the tubers in dry peat, sand, sawdust, or vermiculite to prevent excessive moisture loss.
HOW TO OVER-WINTER TUBEROUS BEGONIAS GROWN IN THE GROUND
If your begonias are planted directly in the ground then you can start preparing begonias for winterizing at the end of the autumn season. Begin by cutting back on water, but make sure they are allowed to dry out between each watering.
When the tops of tuberous begonias are damaged by the first autumn/winter frost, do not to make the mistake of removing all the old stems and foliage. Instead allow the plant to die back naturally so that the tuberous storage organ can benefit from absorbing the nutrients and carbohydrates that remain in the old growth.
Carefully lift the entire plant leaving the root-ball and soil as intact as possible. Place in a cool, dry storage area allowing the tubers to harden off for a couple of weeks. After this period you can remove any remaining soil as well as any old stems and roots.
Cut away any damaged or soft parts with a sterilised knife. Dust it – especially any cut areas - with a fungicidal powder. From this point on the tuber can be stored until it is ready to be replanted in the spring.
.Store the tubers as a single layer inside a suitable cardboard box - spaced evenly apart - and keep them in a dry, frost-free and dark place until the spring. Alternatively, pack the tubers in dry peat, sand, sawdust, or vermiculite to prevent excessive moisture loss.
Store the tubers as a single layer inside a suitable cardboard box - spaced evenly apart - and keep them in a dry, frost-free and dark place until the spring. Alternatively, pack the tubers in dry peat, sand, sawdust, or vermiculite to prevent excessive moisture loss.
HOW TO OVER-WINTER TUBEROUS BEGONIAS GROWN IN THE GROUND
If your begonias are planted directly in the ground then you can start preparing begonias for winterizing at the end of the autumn season. Begin by cutting back on water, but make sure they are allowed to dry out between each watering.
When the tops of tuberous begonias are damaged by the first autumn/winter frost, do not to make the mistake of removing all the old stems and foliage. Instead allow the plant to die back naturally so that the tuberous storage organ can benefit from absorbing the nutrients and carbohydrates that remain in the old growth.
Carefully lift the entire plant leaving the root-ball and soil as intact as possible. Place in a cool, dry storage area allowing the tubers to harden off for a couple of weeks. After this period you can remove any remaining soil as well as any old stems and roots.
Cut away any damaged or soft parts with a sterilised knife. Dust it – especially any cut areas - with a fungicidal powder. From this point on the tuber can be stored until it is ready to be replanted in the spring.
.Store the tubers as a single layer inside a suitable cardboard box - spaced evenly apart - and keep them in a dry, frost-free and dark place until the spring. Alternatively, pack the tubers in dry peat, sand, sawdust, or vermiculite to prevent excessive moisture loss.
WHAT NEXT?
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Check the begonia tubers occasionally over the winter period to ensure they are still dry and rot-free. Remove any that look suspicious to prevent the risk of further infection.
Plant again in spring after the soil has warmed and once the threat of late frosts are over – this will be around the third week of May in the south-east of England.
For more information click onto:
How do you Harden off Seedlings?
Can You Over-winter Citrus Outside?
How and Why does Over-watering Kill Plants?
How to Grow Bulbs
How to Over-Winter Brugmansia
How to Over-Winter Dahlia Tubers
How to Over-Winter Geraniums
How to Over-Winter the Glory Lily
How to Over-Winter Lily Bulbs
How to Over-Winter Rare and Species Tulips
How to Over-Winter Roses
How to Overwinter Strawberries
How to Protect and Over-Winter Bananas
How to Protect Tree Ferns Over Winter
How to Save and Recover an Over-watered Plant
Plant again in spring after the soil has warmed and once the threat of late frosts are over – this will be around the third week of May in the south-east of England.
For more information click onto:
How do you Harden off Seedlings?
Can You Over-winter Citrus Outside?
How and Why does Over-watering Kill Plants?
How to Grow Bulbs
How to Over-Winter Brugmansia
How to Over-Winter Dahlia Tubers
How to Over-Winter Geraniums
How to Over-Winter the Glory Lily
How to Over-Winter Lily Bulbs
How to Over-Winter Rare and Species Tulips
How to Over-Winter Roses
How to Overwinter Strawberries
How to Protect and Over-Winter Bananas
How to Protect Tree Ferns Over Winter
How to Save and Recover an Over-watered Plant
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