Begonias are beloved for their vibrant blooms and lush foliage, but when winter rolls around, they need special care. Bringing begonias indoors during the colder months protects them from frost and lets you enjoy them year-round. With the right care and environment, begonias can continue to flourish as houseplants, bringing color and life to indoor spaces throughout winter.
This guide will walk you through how to transition begonias indoors, identifying different types of begonias, and providing essential care tips so they can stay healthy during the winter months. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or growing begonias for the first time, you’ll find valuable information to help your plants survive and even thrive during the colder season.
Bewildered by Begonias?
Begonias come in several varieties, each with unique characteristics and care requirements.
Types of Begonias
Fibrous-rooted begonias, such as wax begonias and angel wing begonias, are common choices for hanging baskets and bedding plants. These varieties, along with rhizomatous types like Rex begonias, make excellent houseplants and can thrive indoors year-round with proper care.
Tuberous begonias, on the other hand, require a different approach. These varieties need to be dug up and stored as bulbs during the winter months. Knowing the unique dormancy needs of tuberous begonias helps prevent unnecessary offseason growth spurts.
Hardy begonias are perennial plants that can typically be left outdoors, even in colder climates. These can be ideal for gardeners who want low-maintenance solutions.
If you’re unsure about what kind of begonia you have, we recommend consulting a comprehensive guide with images and identification tips. Understanding the type of begonia you have is the first step in providing appropriate winter care.
Transitioning Begonias Inside
Moving begonias indoors requires careful planning and execution for a smooth transition. These steps will help your plants adjust to their new indoor environment with minimal stress. A well-thought-out strategy for moving plants indoors reduces the risk associated with temperature shock and helps maintain the plant’s vigor over the winter months.
Choose the Right Time
Timing is crucial when bringing begonias indoors. The best practice is to transition plants before the first frost hits, typically in early fall. This allows begonias to gradually adjust to environmental changes when temperatures are milder, reducing the shock of sudden temperature fluctuations. Monitor local weather reports and keep a keen eye on nighttime temperatures to gauge the best timeframe for this transition.
Preparation Tips
Prepare your begonias for transition by leaving bedding plants in their existing pots to reduce transplant stress. For plants that have become extremely root-bound, repotting in early fall before moving them inside can refresh the soil and give roots room for expansion.
We recommend that you pinch back any leggy growth to maintain a compact shape, and thoroughly inspect plants for signs of disease or pests. Minor problems can often be treated with natural or chemical remedies, but plants with severe infestations might need to be discarded to prevent the issue from spreading indoors.
Creating the Right Environment
When setting up the indoor space for begonias, the environment plays a critical role in plant health. Place your plants in bright, filtered light close to an east-facing window is often the best choice. For blooming varieties more direct sunlight is beneficial, whereas foliage varieties thrive under slightly less intense light.
Grow lights can provide an essential boost if natural light is lacking. Indoor temperatures should be maintained between 65°F to 73°F during the day and above 55°F at night. Increasing humidity with pebble trays or humidifiers can also help begonias adjust to the typically drier indoor air, promoting a healthy transition from outdoor conditions.
Ongoing Winter Care
Once begonias are settled indoors, consistent care is key to keeping them healthy throughout the winter months. Following these guidelines can make sure that your begonias not only survive but thrive during the colder season. Regular attention to their needs can prevent common issues and promote continuous growth.
Watering and Humidity
Indoor begonias are particularly vulnerable to problems with watering. Check their soil moisture regularly and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Overwatering is a significant risk that can lead to root rot, so empty the drainage trays often. You can also try techniques like bottom watering to allow for capillary movement without direct contact with the roots.
Increase the humidity around your begonias with methods like pebble trays or humidifiers to replicate their natural environment more closely. This helps reduce stress during the winter months when homes can become arid due to heating systems.
Light and Temperature
It’s also important to maintain the right light and temperature conditions. Regularly rotate your potted plants so that all sides of the plant receive even sunlight exposure. In homes with insufficient natural light, supplement with grow lights. Keep daytime temperatures from 65°F–73°F, and nighttime temperatures above 55°F to mimic warmer climate conditions.
Fertilizing and Pruning
Lightly fertilize actively growing plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer to keep them nourished, although reduce the amount of fertilizer for plants entering dormancy during winter. Remove dead leaves and flowers promptly to prevent decay and disease. Prune excessive growth using sterile pruners to maintain the shape and vigor of the plants, and provide support for weak stems to prevent lasting damage.
Benefits of Overwintering Container Begonias
Overwintering begonias indoors offers several advantages. By bringing these plants inside, you can enjoy their beauty year-round and get a head start on the next growing season.
Advantages of Indoor Care
Overwintering begonias lets you nurture plants adapted to the unique growing conditions of your home and garden. This can lead to healthier, more robust plants compared to starting anew each spring. It helps you reduce waste and avoid having to repeat purchases year after year, so you can invest in more plants or higher quality varieties. Mature, established plants give you an opportunity for early season growth and faster blooms once you put them back outdoors.
Considerations
However, while overwintering has many benefits, it’s important to consider the time and effort required for indoor plant care. You need proper indoor space and special equipment like grow lights to maintain adequate conditions throughout winter, plus you have to be able to provide consistent care and observation throughout the months indoors.
If you don’t have the necessary indoor space or ability to provide proper plant care, composting annual begonias like wax varieties and purchasing new plants each spring is a more convenient option. This approach forfeits long-term benefits in nurturing plants already acclimated to specific growing conditions, but it saves you the hassle of trying and failing to grow the plants indoors if you don’t have the time or space.
Common Issues and Solutions
Even with proper care, indoor begonias may face some challenges during the winter months. You can maintain healthier plants if you’re aware of potential problems and know how to address them.
Leaf Drop and Stretching
It’s normal for begonias to drop some leaves initially when moved indoors. However, excessive leaf drop or stretched, leggy growth may indicate issues. These might stem from insufficient light, improper watering practices, or temperature stress. Analyze environmental conditions and make necessary adjustments, such as moving plants closer to a light source or tweaking their watering routine. Keep the plants away from drafts and cold windows to mitigate temperature-related stress.
Pest Problems
Indoor environments, although controlled, can sometimes lead to pest issues. Regularly check your plants for signs of aphids, mealybugs, or spider mites, which can quickly spread if left unchecked. Treat using insecticidal soap or neem oil to counteract minor infestations, while more severe cases may require isolation of the affected plants to prevent pests from spreading to other houseplants.
Disease Prevention
Environmental management is the best way to prevent diseases in indoor begonias. Avoid overwatering and ensure good air circulation to minimize the risk of fungal infections. Promptly remove dead or diseased plant, and clean leaves with a damp cloth to keep dust accumulation at bay, promoting effective photosynthesis and vitality.
Preparing for Spring
As winter comes to an end, it’s time to prepare begonias for their return to outdoor living. This transition should be gradual to prevent shock to the plants.
Gradual Reintroduction to Outdoors
To acclimate begonias to outdoor conditions, it’s best to begin the process after the last frost date has passed. Start with short periods of exposure in a shaded area to allow the plant to gradually adapt. Over a week or two, you can gradually increase outdoor time, bringing the plants inside at night until temperatures consistently stay above 50°F. This strategic reintroduction helps transition the plant’s metabolic pathways more smoothly to their outdoor-growing state.
Transplanting Tips
When you’re ready to transplant begonias into garden beds or outdoor containers, choose the right location with the proper light conditions for your begonia variety. Prepare the soil with organic matter to improve drainage and fertility, setting the groundwork for a successful growing season. Careful handling during transplantation prevents root damage and maintains the plant’s health. Monitoring and regular care in these initial critical weeks promotes successful adaptation and strong growth.ng also reduces waste and repeat purchases year to year.
FAQs About Overwintering Begonias
Dropping leaves initially is normal, but check thoroughly for signs of disease or pests, which require discarding plants. Also, watch for pests like aphids and mealybugs that can spread quickly to other plants in the confined indoor space. Leggy, stretched growth indicates plants aren’t getting enough sunlight, signaling it’s time to supplement with grow lights.
Gradually transition begonias outdoors after spring’s last frost date passes, starting with short shade exposures for a few hours before leaving them outside overnight. Transplant overwintered begonias into beds/containers anytime that overnight temperatures stay above 50ºF. When preparing garden beds, I recommend organic lawn care methods.
While actively growing, feed begonias biweekly with half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing dormant or distressed plants. Then, in spring, when transplanting outside, mix slow-release granules into the soil for steady nutrients all season long.
