![]() Not only will tap water leave unsightly spots on the leaves, but it may also contribute to powdery mildew. Don’t forget to also dispose of the water that has been collecting in the tray or saucer below the pot.Īnother good tip for watering begonias is to avoid getting the foliage wet. Give your begonia a good even soak until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Water your begonia when the soil is dry about two inches deep. If the soil is still dry two inches below the surface, then it’s time for a watering session. You can use a chopstick or your finger to test the moisture level. How can you tell that your begonia needs to be watered? Easy, when it’s dry not only across the surface of the soil, but also about two inches deep. The tubers and canes of some begonia plants act as small water reservoirs, but it’s these same parts that can rot easily when faced with too much water. Begonia retains a lot of water in its stems and waxy leaves, but it also puts a lot of energy into flowering and quick propagation. In fact, the easiest way to kill a begonia is by overwatering it. Watering a potted begonia is truly a balancing act because this plant loves moisture, but hates being waterlogged. Boston fern, begonia semperflorens and African violet How often should I water my indoor begonia? Avoid using sharp items such as knives or skewers that might damage the root structure. Just gently insert a chopstick on the surface of the soil every 1-2 inches and loosen up the soil. When this happens, the air pockets in the soil disappear, thus leaving the plant “starved for air.” The roots of the begonia plant need easy access to oxygen, so aerate the soil every month to dislodge clumps and prevent compaction.Īerating your begonia’s soil isn’t as complicated as it sounds and you don’t need any special equipment to do it. In the garden, worms and microorganisms take care of the aeration, but for the pots indoors, the soil tends to get compacted. When planted in containers, it’s important to keep the soil well-aerated. So never plant your begonia in a container without drainage holes all around and avoid pots with just one drainage hole in the middle. Make sure the soil doesn’t become waterlogged and don’t allow your begonia’s roots to be smothered in water. One of the most important things to watch out for is water retention in the soil. The trick is adding elements such as vermiculite, perlite or sphagnum peat to the soil (about 10 to 20 percent of the mix, depending on the size of the plant and that of the container) to help you achieve porous soil. I know, well-draining is easy to say but often hard to achieve. Begonias prefer loose well-draining soil. ![]() One of the advantages of growing begonias as houseplants is being able to control the kind of soil they’re planted in. What kind of soil do begonia houseplants like? Here’s how to keep your begonia houseplant happy. Whether you’re successful or not will also depend on factors outside your control, such as what kind of light and humidity you’re getting indoors. You can always level up, of course, but you might just want to avoid the frustration. There are so many beautiful wax begonias and rex begonias to choose from to boost your confidence. My advice is to try to play the game in easy mode first. If you’re buying a begonia from a plant nursery, this information should also come on the grower’s label. I wrote about the different types of begonias in this guide. How do I know what kind of begonia I have? Colorful rex begonias take center stage in this houseplant collection. But you should eventually transplant them in the garden. However, you can start tuberous begonias indoors, just to get ahead of the gardening season, especially if you’re in a climate with short summers. The bulbs are also prone to rotting due to overwatering in an indoor setting. Hard mode: cane begonias, such as the Insta-popular ‘Angel wing’ begonia, are a bit of a challenge if you’re new to growing houseplants.ĭo not attempt: tuberous begonias don’t do well in indoor containers because they need a good amount of light and very good drainage. Intermediate mode: rex begonias can be grown indoors provided they get enough humidity (more on that below) Cane begonias and rex begonias grown in pots. If this were a video game about begonias, you could choose four levels of difficulty:Įasy mode: rhizomatous begonias and semperflorens (wax) begonias are relatively easy to grow indoors, even for newbie plant parents. Here are my recommendations (from easy to hard) to set you up for success. The trick to growing begonias as houseplants lies in which variety you’ll choose. But begonias can be equally happy as houseplants and can be grown indoors year-round. ![]() In our previous growing guide, we talked about how begonias can brighten up your garden with their colorful long-lasting blooms and stunning foliage patterns.
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