Begonias: tips and tricks to care for and protect them in winter

Begonias are delicate plants that do not survive low temperatures and frost. Here's how to take care of it

Begonias are delicate plants that do not survive low temperatures and frost. Here's how to get them through the winter

Le begonias, regardless of the type, they cannot withstand freezing temperatures and require aproper winter care. To ensure this, especially in severe winters, you should overwinter it indoors and doing it is quite simple, you just need to know how to proceed. Remember that begonias are actually perennials, and can live for many years; in addition, with the right climate, they can also remain in the ground during the winter, but in case of very cold winter, then it is necessary to bring them indoors. (Read also: Begonia: how to plant, grow and care for the garden superstar)

Index

How to overwinter begonias

The method you choose for overwinter begonias depends on various elements:

where they were planted
where you live
the type of begonia

Before going into the details of the different methods, therefore, it is important to understand the various types. There is the begonia with tubers, also called bulbs, and the one called "fibrous" and the wax begonia. So, before deciding how to store it during the winter, it is advisable to check what type it is. (Read also: Plants exposed to cold and frost: how to care for and save them)

Overwintering begonias with tubers

If yours begonie tuberose they are planted in the garden, it is necessary to dig to unearth them. Dig up the begonia tubers it must be done before it gets too cold outside; ideally, this should be done before the temperature drops below 10 °. Don't worry if the foliage is still alive, this is normal; it will die naturally when the bulbs begin to hibernate.

For this step you can also use just a garden fork, or the classic spade shovel. It is important to dig at least a foot away from the main stem, otherwise you could end up cutting or damaging the tubers. Once out of the ground, shake the plant gently or brush away any dirt and excess soil; do not rinse, it is better to leave a little more soil to avoid the risk that the bulbs are too wet.

After that, the advice is to check that no bulbs have been damaged and, above all, to check for signs of rot. Rotten or damaged bulbs should be discarded, as they do not survive the winter.

The tubers are then left to harden for about a week before storing them, and to do this they can simply be spread out on a shelf or on newspaper sheets and stored in a dry and frost-free place.

How to care for fibrous begonias in winter

In winter the fibrous begging they need the same care as one houseplant. So, put them in a place where they get direct and indirect sunlight. Remember to keep the constantly moist soil, but be careful not to over-wet them as the roots may rot. Make sure they stay away from any heat sources, as they prefer indoor temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees.

Care for wax begonia in winter

Plants of pot grown wax begonia they can be stored in their containers as long as they remain dry; while, if they are in the ground, they can be carefully transplanted into containers and brought indoors.

Bringing these plants indoors, however, can cause stress, which in turn causes the leaves to fall; to avoid this it is possible to help acclimatize them in advance. However, before moving your plants into the apartment be sure to do a treatment against harmful insects or powdery mildew, perhaps by sprinkling a mix of warm water and bleach-free dish soap.

Keep the begonias near a bright window, and gradually reduce the amount of light to help them adapt to an indoor environment. Increase the humidity levels, but reduce watering during the winter. When warm temperatures return, increase watering and start moving them outdoors to acclimate and reduce stress.

Follow us on Telegram | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube

Other plants that need more care in winter: and how to protect them from frost: