How Are Begonias Shipped by Suppliers?
Begonias are a popular choice for gardeners, offering flowers in colors that blend with a range of landscape designs. They’re also easy to grow and do well in shade or sun.
Whether you’re planting in containers or a hanging basket, begonias thrive in rich soil and regular watering until established. Once they’re established, begonias can tolerate a little drought but overwatering can cause root rot and fungal diseases.
Shipping
Begonias are a popular choice for gardeners. Their blooms are colorful and easy to care for, and they thrive in a variety of conditions from sun to shade. They are perennials in frost-free regions and annual in colder climates unless they are brought indoors for the winter.
They are also easy to grow from tubers. They can be purchased at Breck’s as bulbs or started from seed in the fall, and then planted outdoors when nighttime temperatures are consistently 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.
If you choose to purchase begonia suppliers as tubers, you should plant them six weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. This gives them time to become established before the heat of summer, and it makes the planting process more convenient.
You should place the tubers in a pot that is at least 6 inches high and 8 inches wide, with soil that drains well. Keep them in light, but not direct sunlight, and water them regularly when the top of the soil is dry to encourage new growth.
Alternatively, you can plant the tubers directly in the ground after the last frost date, and then bring them inside in the winter to be kept as houseplants. However, begonias do best in partial shade so that they can retain their vigor.
A few varieties of begonias have been specifically bred to be ideal shippers, including Benary’s Nonstop Joy series. This line of begonias has been selected for a strong stem, increased branching and tough foliage.
This selection produces single open-faced flowers in shades of deep pink and dark red with glossy dark green leaves. It makes a dramatic statement in mass plantings or as a thriller element in containers with other shade-tolerant annuals.
The begonia’s self-cleaning flowers make them an excellent low-maintenance addition to bedding plants and container plantings. They tolerate both shade and sun, and their compact habit makes them perfect for edging or massing in borders and pathways.
For added versatility, double begonias can be used in beds and planters as well as hanging baskets to provide a riot of color throughout the summer. Double begonias are available in a variety of flower shapes, heights and colors.
Planting
Begonias are a popular, hardy annual that is often grown as a container plant or in flower beds. They’re known for their flamboyant, colorful flowers and are easy to care for and grow. They are also resistant to disease and drought and are suitable for shady gardens, patios and containers.
There are many different types of begonias, ranging from the wax begonias that are common in garden beds to the more shade-tolerant tuberous begonias, which offer larger, brighter colors. Some are even fragrant!
All varieties are drought tolerant once established, but they do need to be watered consistently. Keep them evenly moist but not soggy and avoid getting the leaves wet to prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
When planting begonias, choose a container that is at least a little bit bigger than the plant. “Putting a small begonia in a big pot or potting one before the plant is ready for an upgrade may lead to root rot and other fungal problems,” says Spangler.
If you are starting begonias indoors, start them about 8 weeks before your average last frost date in your area. Once the weather warms up and overnight temperatures are above 60 degrees, you can transplant them outdoors.
Tubers are sensitive to cold, so make sure you plant them in well-draining soil that is at least 8-12″ deep and tuck them in without completely covering the roots. Leave a little soil on the indented side of the tuber where leaf sprouts will form, facing up.
For container planting, choose a well-draining, medium-sized container and fill it with good quality potting mix. Loosen the soil a bit and then gently tuck in the begonias.
When planting outdoor begonias, select a location where the soil drains well and has partial shade. Unless the begonias are hardy in your region, you’ll need to protect them from direct sunlight, particularly during hot weather, as this will burn and dry them out.
For a successful display, keep your begonias watered regularly until they are established. You can then reduce watering, especially during times of extreme heat, to encourage healthy growth and retain the blooms for as long as possible.
Care
Whether you have them in a pot or in the garden, begonias are an easy plant to care for. They thrive in a variety of conditions, from sun to shade. They come in every color you can imagine and in many forms, from upright, structured cane-like plants to pendulous hanging basket varieties.
To get your begonias off to a good start, plant them in soil that is well-drained. If you are planting in containers, fill them with a high quality potting mix or a similar soil mixture. Begonias are somewhat drought-tolerant once they’re established, but you should still keep the soil moist in between waterings.
When your begonias have fully grown, they will need fertilizing regularly with a slow-release granular or liquid fertilizer. This will give them the nutrients they need to grow and produce more flowers. If your begonias are not flowering yet, they can also benefit from a little pruning and pinching of their stem tips.
If you are growing begonias indoors, make sure to place them in a sunny window that receives bright light. They should be kept away from drafts and dry air, since this can cause spots on their leaves.
You can easily propagate begonias from cuttings by taking a few inches of stem and snipping it under a leaf node. This will produce new shoots that you can then plant in a container and grow them to flowering size.
While begonias are easy to grow, they do need regular maintenance in order to stay healthy. They prefer rich soil that is evenly moist but not soggy and they are sensitive to root rot.
Fertilize with a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer at the time of planting or use a liquid fertilizer once a month during the growth season. Be careful not to overwater begonias because they are not able to absorb enough water through their leaves.
In addition to regular weeding, you’ll need to prune begonias periodically. This can be done simply by clipping off dead or rotting leaves. You can also pin back the stems if they become too leggy.
Maintenance
Begonias are low maintenance plants that bloom year-round in warm climates. They can be pruned in the spring to encourage more stems and flowers. They also need a light touch of fertilizing in the growing season to encourage new growth and healthy leaves.
Most begonias love bright, indirect light but they can tolerate lower lighting conditions if the plant is watered regularly and given a good houseplant fertilizer. Never expose them to direct sunlight, as this will burn their leaves and cause the plant to stop growing.
They prefer a well-drained, humusy soil that is free of clay and sand. Use a potting mix that drains excess water and retains enough moisture to prevent the roots from drying out. Alternatively, plant begonias in a garden bed with good, loose soil that has been amended with compost and other organic materials to promote healthy growth and strong root systems.
For most varieties, tuberous begonias can be propagated from cuttings. Start 7-10cm (3-4in) cuttings in April, insert them in sandy cuttings compost and then keep them moist and alight at 18-21degC (64-70degF) until they form rootlets.
If you live in an area where the ground is frozen, you will need to remove your begonia tubers and store them in a cool place. You can use a bag of wood shavings or vermiculite to protect the roots from freezing temperatures.
In cooler areas, begonias will go into winter dormancy and their growth will slow down or stop altogether. Water them less frequently during this time and resume your normal watering regimen once the weather warms up again in the spring.
They can be grown in a variety of garden soils, but they do best in rich, humusy soil that has been amended with compost and other materials to promote healthy growth and strong root systems. It should be free of clay and sand, and have a pH level that ranges from 6 to 7.
For most varieties, tuberous begonias are available in scrumptious shades of apricot, pink, yellow, cerise and two-toned shades. These cane-stemmed begonias produce a wide range of colors and patterns, and some are very prolific bloomers. They are also great in hanging baskets and window boxes, where they can cascade with a multitude of gorgeous blooms.