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Positively, die-hard begonia followers really must understand why and the easiest way to overwinter begonias. In any case, a single tuberous begonia can reside for 15 years or additional as long as you provide it right winter security. As for exactly the easiest way to overwinter begonias, there are a selection of different methods to do it. The tactic you choose may rely partly on the amount of winter area for storing you may have. As an illustration, if in case you’ve gotten a cool, dry area like a basement, attic, storage, or frost-free shed, lifting and storing each tuber is also greatest for you. However when space is at a premium, you might want to take stem or leaf cuttings instead.
Why save begonias
Determining the easiest way to overwinter begonias opens up some new options for you as a gardener. First, within the occasion you usually buy all new begonias each spring, now it may possibly prevent that money—and probably even spend it on some completely different new seeds or vegetation instead. 😉 Determining the easiest way to overwinter begonias moreover signifies that the begonia vegetation you save can steadily develop larger and further sturdy yearly, making them good candidates for propagation. Due to this, you’ll have many additional begonia vegetation to unfold spherical and share with buddies and neighbors. Lastly, within the occasion you come all through a really standout specimen with, say, additional vibrant, doubled blooms, who’s to say you’ll be succesful to find one different equivalent to it subsequent rising season? As simple because it’s to overwinter begonias, you might as properly give it a attempt to reap the rewards accordingly.
Types of begonias worth overwintering
Some begonias are easier to overwinter than others. To kind out which is which, it helps to know the variations between the assorted sorts of begonias.
- Hardy begonias—Once you reside in an area climate with comparatively light winters, you may have the ability to overwinter these highly effective, mounding vegetation by leaving them throughout the yard, providing a wind break, and together with a thick layer of mulch to guard in the direction of frosts. Varieties like Begonia grandis subsp evansiana are hardy to zones 6 or 7 and may stand as much as temperatures proper right down to 32 ranges F (0 ranges C.) If in case you’ve gotten hardy begonias rising particularly individual pots, wait until after your first frost after which retailer them in a cool-but-not-freezing storage or shed until spring when the possibility of frost has handed.
- Tuberous begonias—Like hardy begonias, tuberous begonias bear a dormant interval which makes them good candidates for overwintering. And with so many unusual bloom varieties and color mixtures accessible, tuberous begonias are positively worth saving.
Tuberous begonias, like this pink choice, are simple to keep away from losing as bare tubers from yr to yr. - Wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens)—Largely dealt with as annuals, wax begonias can be launched inside and grown as houseplants all through winter, nonetheless they’re fussy houseguests with very specific lighting, temperature, and humidity needs.
Wax begonias are low cost so most gardeners purchase new ones yearly, nonetheless it is potential to keep away from losing them from yr to yr if in case you’ve gotten the appropriate indoor rising circumstances. - Cane and Rex begonias—As with wax begonias, the cane begonia type and Rex begonias don’t go dormant. Nevertheless, not like wax begonias, these two are a bit additional forgiving when overwintered inside as houseplants. For biggest outcomes, they need moist nonetheless well-drained soil and vivid, indirect light.
Cane begonias, like this angel wing choice, are pleasant to overwinter as houseplants.
Preparing begonias for overwintering
The best way you’ll put collectively your begonias for overwintering partly depends upon whether or not or not or not your begonia type goes dormant and which overwintering approach you’ve chosen. As an example, within the occasion you propose to retailer tuberous begonias, it is best to let your begonia foliage die once more in late summer time season or early fall sooner than you dig them up. If, alternatively, you’re planning to convey non-dormant Rex or Cane begonias inside to take care of as houseplants, it is best to begin acclimating them to life indoors sooner—sooner than any chilly local weather hits.
4 Begonia overwintering methods
The first methods for overwintering begonias embrace:
- bringing non-dormant begonias indoors to reside as houseplants
- digging up and storing dormant tuberous begonias in a cool, darkish spot until it’s protected to re-plant them exterior in spring
- propagating new begonia vegetation from stem cuttings
- propagating new begonia vegetation from leaf cuttings
How one can overwinter begonias as houseplants
As for the easiest way to overwinter begonias as houseplants, within the occasion that they’re rising in a yard mattress, dig them up sooner than chilly local weather comes. Trim away any lifeless or diseased leaves, confirm for aphids and completely different potential hitchhiking bugs, after which plant in a pot with ample drainage holes. Your begonias will thrive with vivid, indirect light, persistently moist soil, and occasional utility of a slow-release, pure fertilizer or compost tea.
How one can overwinter begonias as dormant tubers
Once you’ve ever saved dahlias, finding out the easiest way to overwinter begonias as dormant tubers should be a snap for you. First, stop feeding and watering by October, so your begonias can go dormant. As they do, their leaves will naturally drop off. Unearth each whole plant out of your yard mattress or container yard and gently shake off most of the soil as you go. Lay these now-exposed tubers out on trays or in an open cardboard discipline in a cool, dry location. Depart them proper right here for a few week to remedy. As quickly as any remaining leaves have dropped and the tubers have become drier, seek for indicators of rot. Discard any tubers that actually really feel squishy or have mushy spots. Place the rest in a paper bag or cardboard discipline full of dry peat moss, wood chips, or sawdust and retailer this in a cool, dry spot that maintains a temperature of between 40 and 50 ranges F (4.4 to 10 ranges C.)
How one can overwinter begonias as stem cuttings
Use clear, sharp yard snips to cut a variety of three-inch-long stems from a healthful begonia plant. Each lowering must embrace two or three division nodes. Rigorously take away most large leaves and all flower buds. Once you like, you’ll dip the scale back stem into powdered rooting hormone. Subsequent, insert the scale back stem proper right into a rising tray full of pre-moistened, sterile potting mix. Maintain medium moist nonetheless not waterlogged. To rush rooting, use a seedling heat mat.
How one can overwinter begonias as leaf cuttings
Questioning the easiest way to overwinter begonias by taking leaf cuttings? You’ll need the equivalent offers as you’d use for stem cuttings, and the strategy itself is comparable. Instead of rooting stems, though, you’ll be encouraging roots to develop from leaf objects containing scale back or wounded veins. Merely snip a giant leaf into three-inch sections after which press the underside side of these sections into your tray of pre-moistened medium. As soon as extra, rooting hormone and a seedling heat mat can work wonders proper right here.
When can you take your begonias once more exterior?
By about April, you’ll begin bringing saved tubers out of dormancy by shallowly planting them in a tray or pot of pre-moistened vermiculite, peat moss, or sand and exposing them to temperatures between 65 and 70 ranges F (18 to 21 ranges C.) Shortly, they’ll develop new roots and shoots.
After your widespread remaining frost date has safely handed, you’ll plant tuberous and completely different types of begonias once more out throughout the yard or switch them into outside containers.
All tucked in
Whether or not or not you plan to retailer dormant begonia tubers, preserve begonias inside as houseplants, or develop leaf or stem cuttings, by finding out the easiest way to overwinter begonias, it may possibly prevent money and save your favorite begonia varieties throughout the course of. Have entry to a great deal of cool, darkish area for storing? Then lifting and packing the dried tubers is prone to be your good reply. Nevertheless what if space is tight in any other case you’re rising a non-dormant sort of begonia? In that case, take note of saving one or two of them as indoor houseplants or start stem or leaf cuttings instead. It does not matter what overwintering approach you choose, when spring returns, you and your begonias will most likely be ready.
Additional suggestion on overwintering completely different vegetation: