Begonias

Looking for a versatile houseplant that can offer fancy foliage, stunning blooms and can forgive occasional forgetfulness?  Begonias can be brought right inside from their normal place in the garden, where they’re usually found as a bedding plant or container plant, and become a prized houseplant that will produce year round rewards.

The key to helping a Begonia houseplant thrive is to properly identify it.  While there are over 1,000 varieties of Begonias, there are actually three types of Begonias, based on root structure, commonly used for houseplants.

Fibrous Begonias:  Wax Begonias with their prolific blooms and Angel Wing Begonias with their aptly named foliage are the more popular fibrous types of Begonias for indoor houseplants. 

Rhizomatous begonias:  With their stunning foliage and ability to thrive in low light, Rhizomatous Begonias are prized as ornamental houseplants.   Most varieties flower in winter, but compared to the extravagant foliage, the blooms are modest.

Tuberous begonias:  These can be a little tricky as houseplants, but the blooms are amazing and offer large flowers, some even resembling roses and camellias.  Try the Non-Stop Begonia for a year round show!

While the varieties are seemingly endless, and the types a little confusing for the novice botanist, there are enough similarities that care tips can be given that will cover all types of Begonia houseplants.

Light

Begonias are prized as houseplants due to their ability to produce blooms in lower light conditions, but for optimum blooms, placing them near an east facing window to reap the benefits of the morning sun is the best bet.  Foliage Begonias can handle lower lighting conditions such as those hard to handle north and south facing rooms.  If you notice stems of the Begonia becoming too limp, try a small increase in the light level.

Water

Begonias like moisture, but not in their delicate faces, it tends to spot and damage leaves and flowers.  Using a pebble tray produces humidity similar to their native environments, which helps any houseplant thrive.   Be careful not to overwater, the surface of the soil can be allowed to dry out slightly between watering.

Potting

All types of Begonias need a potting medium that allows for good drainage, as they can be susceptible to root rot.  A mix with peat or organic material works best.  As for the pot type, Begonias tend to like it a little on the snug side, as too much room can promote pockets of poor drainage.

Care and Feeding

Begonias don’t like major changes.  Dramatic shifts of lighting and temperature in particular can lead to problems.  Keeping care constant is the best course of action for Begonias.  Fertilizing once a month, particularly for blooming varieties is another consistency that will pay off.