Indoor Begonia Care
Container-grown begonias (Begonia spp.) bring nature indoors when a plant from one of the many begonia groups is used as a houseplant. Several begonia groups feature bright, colorful flowers, while others are grown primarily for their decorative leaves -- which can be textured, colored and ornamental due to their various shapes. From the 6- to 12-inch-tall wax specimens to cane-stemmed plants that can reach 7 feet tall, begonias grow with a large variety of sizes and forms, including the pendulous tuberous-rooted type. Indoor begonia care requires a few minutes of attention each week.
Pot up your begonias in a neutral or slightly acidic growing medium. Fit the pot to the plant. Allow growing room for the roots, but avoid using pots that are large in comparison to your plant root ball. Excessive soil in a plant container can lead to soggy, stagnant soil that smothers your plant roots and kills your begonia. Shallow, wide pots are recommended for rhizomatous begonias.
Place pots on trays of wet marbles or group several plants to increase atmospheric humidity in the vicinity of your begonias.
Place potted begonias in bright light. An east- or west-facing window provides several hours of sunlight or bright light each day. A south-facing window supplies too much sunlight, unless a sheer curtain filters the light. Light filtering is also required on east or west windows if the windows face a body of water or expanse of concrete that reflects light into the window, increasing the intensity of light.
Water container-grown begonias when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilize your begonias less frequently during the wintertime when growth is slowed. Follow the instructions provided with your houseplant fertilizer.
Place a fluorescent light 6 to 12 inches from the top of your begonia plant. As a low-light plant, begonias require less intensive artificial light than many other types of plants -- which grow with an artificial light as close as 3 inches from the top leaves.
Keep the artificial light on for 12 to 14 hours each day. A timer can make the task of turning the light on and off easier. It also ensures your plant receives the proper amount of light.
Check your plants for dryness several times each week. Under artificial lights plants, often use more water than plants growing in natural light, since growing and flowering is increased.
Remove dropped leaves and flowers immediately to prevent disease.
Fertilize winter-flowering plants with a high-phosphorous fertilizer containing little or no nitrogen. Follow manufacturer's instructions for mixing and frequency of use.
- Growing medium
- Houseplant fertilizer or high-phosphorous fertilizer
- Fluorescent lights (optional)
- Overwatering can lead to dropped leaves on begonia varieties such as the cane-stemmed types, leaving the plants with a leggy appearance. All species of begonias are subject to root and stem rot from soggy potting soil or excess watering.
- Tuberous-rooted begonias go dormant in wintertime.
- The ideal indoor growing temperature for begonias is 66 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guide to Indoor Gardens; Tovah Martin
- The American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants; Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk
- The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, ed.
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images