Whether you grow them in containers or umbrageous garden spots , tuberous begonias offer petal - packed blooming from leaping to decrease .
Tuberous begonias are pretty plants with dual bloom reminiscent of camelia flowers or even mini roses . Though , as their name implies , they are perennials that turn from tubers , they are often grown as annual . Tuberous begonias are hardy in the lovesome climate of zone 9 - 11 but still prefer meek summery weather condition . They also grow well in container and can make a colorful accession to your houseplant collection .
Tuberous begonias have flowers uncommitted in almost every color ( except blasphemous and majestic ) . They are monoecious , intend they flower with both female and male peak on the same plant . The female blossoms come out first , often with single petals and a row of exposed flower theatrical role . Then the showy male person flowers appear with a clump of petals conceal hidden flower parts .
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Tuberous begonias bloom throughout the summertime , provide a perpetual showing of color . You wo n’t involve to do much deadheading as the plants will naturally neglect their spent blossoms . This can , of track , make a messy position — peculiarly with advert hoop in high - traffic areas . So , it ’s unspoilt to identify container - grown plants where a sprinkle of petal debris wo n’t be a job .
Where to Plant Tuberous Begonia
Tuberous begonias are shade - loving plants , but do good from exposure to morning or dappled afternoon sunlight . If the filth is right , they are just the thing to brighten up a garden bed under a tree . You could also utilise tuberous begonia to add color in due north - confront topographic point where other plant might fight from a deficiency of sunlight .
In most area , tuberous begonia will need to be dug up and economize over the wintertime , so keep that in mind when placing your plants so you could easily get at the tubers when it is time to winter .
Tuberous begonia also process well in containers on fishy patios and porches with filtered sunlight . Many gardener prefer to grow tuberous begonias in containers so they can check the flora ’s dirt , moisture , and nutritive tier — and move the plant if inclement weather condition is expect .
Credit: Kim Cornelison
How and When to Plant Tuberous Begonia
you’re able to start purchase or put in tuberous begonias in former winter or former spring ( about 8 weeks before the last rime ) . Before planting , ready them for growth by placing them in a warm area ( about 70 degrees Fahrenheit ) with indirect sunlight . Within a few calendar week , pocket-sized buds should seem in the cupped area of the root . After your genus Tuber have stock , plant them in grow pots with a well - draining potting mix and urine sparingly until each industrial plant has one or two leaf .
After leaves have go forth , plant your tubers at once in the ground ( about 8 to 12 inches asunder ) or in a container ( about 5 in apart ) that has splendid drain and cover them with about 1 column inch of stain . go forward watering meagerly while the plants establish themselves .
Tuberous Begonia Care Tips
Tuberous begonias may not class as low - care plants — specially when grown in the land , but their pretty flush are worth the extra effort .
If you are mature tuberous begonia in the ground , allow these plants to grow as long as possibleup to the first frost . At this gunpoint , dig up the tubers with a low amount of soil around them and let them to dry in a sheltered location like a garage or shed . Once fully dry and after the stems have fall in off , bump off any remaining soil from the tuber and store it in a cool , dry location until outflow .
Light
Tuberous begonias generally do well in the morning Lord’s Day and good afternoon shade . Finding the right balance is cardinal because exposure to some gentle sunshine will produce vivacious , colorful flush , but too much Lord’s Day cause leaves to sear and can damage the tender petals of the plant .
Soil and Water
The primary key to success when growing tuberous begonia is prefer the right soil . celebrate your plants protect from harsh weather condition is crucial too , but tuberous begonia require well - draining dirt to flourish . Almost any type of soil will do , but if your soil is too wet , the genus Tuber — which serve as storage systems for water system and nutrients during quiescence — will rot . If your territory is clayey or clay - comparable , work in some decayed leaf mould and grit to loosen it up before planting .
If you are imbed your tuberous begonia in a container , choose a good - timbre , well - draining potting mixture that contains hummus or — even unspoilt — make your own using four part decay leaf modeling , one part garden loam , and one part course Baroness Dudevant .
When water your tuberous begonias , be careful not to let the grunge become too soggy . It is also important that the plants dry out out a turn between tearing , otherwise , the tuber are susceptible to rot . That articulate , tuberous begonias are not drought - kind and will need to be watered jolly frequently — most likely every two to four days or more during the hot months . Check your plants often for signs of under- or overwatering . If they look drooping or start dropping lots of prime , the grease is likely too wet or too dry .
Credit: Graham Jimerson
Temperature and Humidity
Tuberous begonia tend to be illiberal of very high temperature ( anything above 85 degrees ) and gamey humidness . They are also sore to rain , farting , and other contrary weather shape . Being native to gamy - altitude areas with cool climates , they execute best with cool nights and tax shelter from the raging summer atmospheric condition .
Tuberous begonia are also frost - bid and will in all probability suffer damage at temperatures below 50 stage . If your neighborhood has frigid wintertime , you may need to move the plants to a protected area or dig up the tubers and stack away them through the frozen calendar month to be replanted again in the spring .
Fertilizer
Tuberous begonias are consider " heavy feeder , " meaning they postulate unconstipated fertiliser to sustain their constant bloom . lend oneself a diluted balanced melted fertiliser every hebdomad to two week throughout the summer so the plant can put on the best showing of blossoms . Stop fertilizing when the plant start out to decline in recent summertime or early tumble .
Pruning
Tuberous begonias do n’t require much pruning , but you may dispatch dead or diseased flowers and stems throughout the growing season to give your tuberous begonia ample airflow ( or foreclose evanesce flush from litter the ground ) . With some varieties of tuberous begonia , pinching back or pruning early on in the growing season will stimulate branching and could ensure more flowers in the summer months . If you project to overwinter your plant , prune or cut them back in the former spill .
Overwintering
Like most plant with an underground store system , tuberous begonias commonly need a torpid period to encourage efflorescence and will typically accede quiescence in the fall and wintertime . During the dormant period , it is of import to keep the soil dry because wet will encourage rot and pests . As the soil warms up in saltation , growth will typically emerge from the genus Tuber .
In some climates , it may be necessary to overwinter your tuberous begonias by moil them up and storing them in a nerveless ( around 50 degrees ) , grim place until the undermentioned spring . In the surrender — when the plant begins to decline — stop feed and reduce tearing until the leaves go to turn yellow . If your tuberous begonia are set in the ground , transpose them to pots before the last frost and bring them inside to die back . When the leaves fall off , thin out the stems back to 3 or 4 in ( they will finally drop as well ) . After the parting fall , you’re able to allow the soil to dry out out until the tubers drop their stems .
Once the stems have swing ( balk the urge to help them ) get rid of the sleeping tubers from the pots , brush off the supererogatory soil , and store them in private paper bag in a dry , sheltered location ( like a garage or shed ) . Check your tubers periodically throughout the wintertime for sign of buncombe or pest damage .
Credit: JANET MESIC-MACKIE
Potting and Repotting
When growing your tuberous begonias in container , choose a container with excellent drainage that is large enough to suit the genus Tuber with at least 1 in of blank space all around . Do n’t prefer a container that is too heavy because container - grown tuberous begonias like to be slightly root - bind .
hibernating or storage - bought tuberous begonias can be started indoors in late wintertime or other give ( about 8 weeks before the last frost ) by placing them in a warm area with indirect luminance to reacclimate and sprout . This should take a few weeks . After you have started your Tuber , fill your pick out good deal about halfway with soil , rate the tuber bud side up , and cover it with a stratum of potting mix . Water exhaustively once to stimulate ontogenesis and sparingly after that .
If you have an indoor - grown tuberous begonia that looks cramped or has n’t been repot in a few year ) , you may repot it in late wintertime or early spring before novel growth come forth . Choose a container that is only slightly bigger than the last pot , fill up it with fresh potting mix , and gently remove your begonia from its former pot . agitate off the excess dirt and place the plant in the center , filling in around the genus Tuber with fresh land , but not pack it down . Water your repotted begonia well and only slightly more frequently than usual in the following weeks as it re - establishes itself in the new pot .
Credit: Justin Hancock
Pests and Problems
Tuberous begonia are picky about moisture degree , clime , and grease conditions and are famously prone to issues with rot . In picky , they are susceptible to theme rot , powdery mildew , and botrytis blight — especially if overwatered or planted in poorly drained soil . To keep these issues at bay , be mindful of overwatering , clean up deadened or diseased foliage , and make certain there are at least 5 column inch of space between plants in container and 8 to 12 inches between plant in the ground .
Tuberous begonias are also prone to issues withmealybugs , whitefly , andaphids , but are , for the most part , cervid and rabbit - tolerant .
How to Propagate Tuberous begonia
Amateur multiplication of tuberous begonia is typically done via partitioning or semen . Tuber division can be done as your tuber is waking up from winter quiescence . If your tuber sprout multiple buds , turn out one of the young buds from the tuber ( no more than a duet of column inch ) , cake it with plant fungicide , and insert it into a small grow smoke or tray . Place the grow pot in an airtight cup of tea and keep your new bud in a shaded region with filter out ( not direct ) light . Keep your grow bay window in the dish on a warm pad to encourage growth ( it may take several weeks ) . Once your new tuberous begonia takes root , set out acclimatise it in lowly stage to the environment in which it will grow . As it grows and acclimates , feed it with a diluted liquid fertilizer .
If you opt to propagate via leaf cutting , it will probably take several months , but you will develop a unexampled tuber . Simply switch off off a unseasoned , sturdy leafage and stem turn and insert it into a small pot filled with rooting medium . Keep the cutting in an airtight bag until it is rooted and then you may remove the bag . softly feed your newspaper clipping with a dilute melted plant food and persist in produce as you would a normal potted tuberous begonia .
Types of Tuberous Begonia
‘Go Go Yellow’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Go Go Yellow ' bears large chickenhearted salad days against light-green foliage . It spring up about 1 invertebrate foot tall and produces a lot of flowers .
‘Nonstop Bright Rose’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Bright Rose ' bear glowing rose - pink flowers over a mounding plant with unripened foliage . It grow 10 inches tall and wide .
‘Nonstop Deep Red’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Deep Red ' turn out rich reddish blooms against fat immature foliation . It grows 10 inches improbable and wide .
‘Nonstop Mocca White’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Mocca White ' carry pure - white heyday on chocolate - brown foliation . It grows 12 inch tall and extensive .
‘Nonstop Fire’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Fire ' is a young variety with bloom in vivacious shades of xanthous , Au , orange , and red . The 4 - in - wide of the mark flowers contrast nicely against the mystifying green foliage . It grows 10 inches tall and wide .
‘Nonstop Deep Rose’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Deep Rose ' bears rich rose - pink flower over a mounding plant with green foliage . It grows 10 inches tall and wide .
‘Nonstop Yellow’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Yellow ' hold lovely promising yellow blossom over rich unripe leafage . It grows 10 column inch tall and panoptic .
‘Solenia Cherry’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Solenia Cherry ' has 3 - in - wide fully twofold red blooms . It grows 10–12 inches improbable and wide , and its compact mound habit suits it well forgrowing in containers .
‘Nonstop Mocca Deep Orange’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Mocca Deep Orange ' combines intensely orangish 4 - inch - full blossom with chocolate - brown farewell on stocky mounded works . It grow 12 column inch tall and wide of the mark .
‘Nonstop Rose Petticoat’ Tuberous Begonia
Begonia’Nonstop Rose Petticoat ' shows off two - tone pink flowers over full-bodied fleeceable leaf . It produce 10 inches tall and wide .
Companion Plants for Tuberous Begonia
Tuberous begonias are tropic plant life , so they geminate well with other plants that enjoy similar growing weather like caladium , impatiens , elephant ears , and fern .
Impatiens
Impatiensare hardy in Zones 10 and 11 but are often grown as an annual in other areas . They love shaded or semi - shaded locations and prefer humus - racy , moist , well - draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6 to 6.5 . Impatiens and tuberous begonias are often paired in container garden for blooms that last all summer long — even in the subtlety .
Lobelia
Lobelia erinusoffers hill of intense purple , grim , white , or pink flowers in the surrender or springtime in most regions ( Zones 2 - 11 ) . It grows well in partial shade like the tuberous begonia . This one-year type of lobelia can handle somewhat more sunlight exposure than the begonias — so it wo n’t mind commence about 4 to 6 minute of full sun — but too much hot sun may have the plant to stop blooming temporarily . It also mature well in containers and bring in a lovely spiller for flow basket or plantation owner .
Coleus
Coleusis a rockstar in a shade garden , offering colourful foliage in acute shades of yellow green and Bourgogne . There are even trailing varieties that will spill over the edges of garden boxes and planters , bringing colouring material to fly-by-night corner of patio and landscapes . yearly coleus can be grown in Zones 2 - 11 .
Caladium
Caladium , like tuberous begonia , is dauntless in warmer tropic regions ( zone 9 - 11 ) . It have colorful , arrowhead - shaped leaves with astonishing color patterns in snowy , pink , red , and green . Caladium grows bestin partial tint or filtered sun ( bright sun may singe the leave ) and prosper in container alongside begonia , impatiens , and fuchsia .
Frequently Asked Questions
The most potential reason is either too much or too little sun . In most mood , tuberous begonias set out bloom in June and preserve throughout the summer , but if yours are not blooming , check out their emplacement to ensure they are getting at least 4 hours of early dawn sunshine and are shielded from the harsh good afternoon sunshine .
The next affair to check is the moisture storey . Tuberous begonias need to be watered every few years during the hottest months — but they will not allow being soggy . Let the top two in of land dry out between waterings and see how your plants respond .
Yes , tuberous begonia can be grown from seed , but it may be challenging . The flyspeck seeds need to be started indoors at least 14 to 16 hebdomad before the intended planting escort . Seeds should be shallowly seeded and covered in a germination medium . Keep the soil evenly moist . The seeds will germinate after 2 to 3 weeks at a constant temperature of 70 to 75 ° F . Once the seed have sprouted , they should be strike under lights ( for 12 to 14 hr a day ) in an environment that stays between 60 and 65 ° F for about 4 to 6 calendar week .
Credit: Justin Hancock
An interesting fact is that they are monecious — this means tuberous begonia produce both male and female prime , or unisexual , in clusters of three : the small ones , usually two female , have a bun in the oven next to a larger one , a male .
Credit: Eric Roth
Credit: Graham Jimerson
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Graham Jimerson
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Marty Baldwin
