P
Pulse Beacon

How do you treat tuberous begonias

Author

Ethan Hayes

Published Apr 18, 2026

Water the plants regularly to keep the potting soil slightly moist. Provide a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Be sure to provide plenty of air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Use a sharp knife to cut spent blooms as soon as they fade.

What do you do with tuberous begonias in the winter?

Tuberous begonias should be dug up and stored indoors during winter until the return of warmer weather in spring. Begonias can be dug up in fall once foliage has faded or just after the first light frost. Spread begonia clumps on newspaper and leave this in a sunny area until thoroughly dry — about a week.

Do tuberous begonias come back every year?

If tuberous begonias are exposed to freezing temperatures for extended periods of time, the portions of the plants that are above the ground will die. But in the spring, the plant will regrow from its underground tubers that stay dormant throughout the winter.

How do you treat tubular begonias?

  1. Tuberous Begonias thrive in soil that is evenly moist but well drained. …
  2. Fertilize plants once a month with a balanced (20-20-20), water-soluble fertilizer mixed as directed.
  3. Keep plants tidy by removing spent flowers; cut the flowers off close to the stem using a sharp knife.

Why are my tuberous begonias turning brown?

Underwatering and excess direct sunlight are the most common causes of begonia leaves turning brown. Brown leaf tips and edges are usually due to watering problems or low humidity. Brown patches or spots are usually caused by excess direct sunlight or disease.

Do non stop begonias come back?

Luckily you can overwinter your Begonia Nonstop and see it thrive next year too. Wait for the colder temperatures to put the plants in dormancy. They will drop all their leaves and flowers and you can even let them be through the first frost.

How do you care for begonias outside?

Outdoors, rex begonias like part- to deep shade, ordinary potting soil, and water when the top inch or so of the soil is dry. Give them a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month, or add granular timed-release fertilizer to the potting soil at planting time. Avoid misting the leaves; alkaline water just desiccates them.

Why are my tuberous begonias rotting?

Water. The most common reason begonia leaves rot is too frequent watering. Begonias are succulent plants with stems that are mostly water, which makes them very sensitive to moisture and fungus. Overwatering begonias causes their leaves to turn yellow, a process called chlorosis.

How do you treat tuberous begonias outside?

Begonias need to be watered consistently. But between waterings, it’s best to let the top inch or two of soil get dry to the touch. Check your begonias often during hot, dry weather. If the plants start dropping flowers or wilting, it means the soil is either too wet or too dry.

How do you keep tuberous begonias blooming?

Select a location receiving more direct morning or evening sunlight than mid day sun. Early morning / late day sunlight is much cooler with less intense rays. By keeping begonias out of the mid-day direct sun, the plants have less stress, and will produce more blooms.

Article first time published on

Can you use Miracle Grow on begonias?

Once a week apply half strength (1/2 T Miracle Grow or other soluble plant food per gallon) fertilizer solution in place of regular watering, being sure to give the basket enough so that liquid seeps from the bottom of the pot. Tuberous begonias are not heavy feeders, so don’t overdo it.

What fertilizer should I use on begonias?

Logee’s Plants recommends feeding wax and tuberous begonias with balanced 15-15-15 fertilizer or a blooming formula such as 7-9-5, depending on whether the plant is grown for its foliage or flowers. Apply the fertilizer as a liquid solution composed of 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer in 1 gallon of water.

How do you fertilize begonias?

Feeding for Blooms For healthy plants and abundant blooms, apply 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer (view example on Amazon) diluted at a ratio of three parts water to one part fertilizer when you first plant (or transplant) your begonias and approximately every 3 weeks thereafter.

What do Overwatered begonias look like?

Look for the following symptoms and conditions that make it more likely that overwatering is the cause of your begonia drooping; Yellowing leaves, particularly affecting the lower leaves first. Brown leaf tips despite good humidity and soil moisture. Leaves dropping from the plant, often with soggy, limp petioles.

Why does my begonia have dry leaves?

Watering. The most common cause of brown leaf edges is that your Begonia is incredibly dry. Your Begonia likes consistent moisture. … Begonias do not like soggy soil or to sit in water, so be sure to discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer after watering.

How do you revive a begonia polka dot?

Fertilize your Begonia maculata Feed your plant with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer every two weeks. This will give you bigger leaves and encourage flowers to grow on your Begonia. Don’t fertilize in fall and winter. Let your plant rest.

Is Epsom salt good for begonias?

While many gardeners attest to using Epsom salt on their plants to enhance their pH levels or add magnesium, it may not be ideal for begonias specifically. If your plants lack magnesium sulfate, it’s better to find fertilizers sufficient in this mineral.

How do you fertilize begonias wax?

Fertilizer. The wax begonia isn’t picky when it comes to fertilizer, and a general, weaker fertilizer, like 10-10-10, will usually meet the needs of this plant. Giving them a dose of fertilizer monthly during their growing season will help encourage growth and blooming.

What is the difference between fibrous and tuberous begonias?

Fibrous-rooted begonias will look stringy; rhizomatous will have creeping surface stems and roots; and tuberous begonias have a round, flattened brown tuber that looks, well, a lot like a cow pie! Once you know what type you have, either repot them or store the tubers.

How can you tell if begonia is tuberous?

Begonias with tuberous roots are a large group of complex hybrids involving many species and years of breeding and development. They can often be identified by their prominent flowers, which can be single, double, ruffled, scented or multicolored, and range in size from 1/2-inch diameter to the size of a dinner plate.

What is the difference between begonias and non-stop begonias?

GROWERS HINTS: ► Here’s the difference between Non-stop and the regular giant tuberous begonias! Non-stops have more but smaller flowers and leaves. They are more heat tolerant for inland growers and more sun tolerant along the coast.

How do you care for tuberous begonia hanging baskets?

Tuberous begonias crisp and burn in hot, dry air, but may rot or mildew in long periods of dark, humid weather. Soil should be light, water to keep soil constantly moist, but never soggy. The tubers may be listed or sold as Begonia pendula, or simply as “hanging-basket begonias.”

Can you keep non stop begonias over winter?

Though they are most commonly sold as annuals, you can keep begonias over winter and enjoy them year after year.

How long do begonia tubers last?

The lifespan of the tuberhybrida begonias can last for severalyears PROVIDED they break dormancy in the spring, have a good growing season, and are allowed to go dormant again in the fall when their light source lessens.

How do you treat stem rot?

Control is difficult because once symptoms are observed, damage to the stem or roots is usually severe. For small flower beds and potted plants, use a soil drench of a recommended fungicide. A fungicide could also be mixed with soil prior to planting as suggested by the manufacturer. Allow excessively wet soils to dry.

How do you treat mildew on begonia?

If you must use a fungicide, some appropriate ones to use for Powdery Mildew include sulfur, Neem Oil (which is organic), Triforine or Potassium Bicarbonate applied every 7 to 14 days.

Are coffee grounds good for begonias?

Begonias do best with peat moss based soil. No coffee indoors or out. Coffee works well in compost where it is mixed with other things to get a more neutral food for plants.

Should I deadhead my begonias?

Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 11, depending on the cultivar, begonias (Begonia spp.) do not require deadheading to thrive. Rather they self-clean by dropping spent flowers on their own, says the University of Illinois Extension.

Why are my tuberous begonias not flowering?

The tuberous begonia suffers flower bud drop if it is overwatered or overfertilized. The plant needs moist soil that dries between waterings. This reduces disease and encourages blooms. The begonia benefits from application of a water-soluble balanced fertilizer once or twice a month.

Can you use tomato feed on begonias?

How to care for begonias. 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. Feed tuberous begonias weekly with tomato feed in summer, especially pot-grown plants.

Is a begonia an acid loving plant?

Whether grown in containers or in the ground, begonias thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 and lots of organic matter. Peat moss and compost incorporated into soil create a gently acidic, well-aerated mix.