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  • Roses
    • Types of Roses
    • Easy Roses
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    • Prune Your Own Garden Registration
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    • Autumn Crocus
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    • Himalayan Sweet Box
    • Hydrangeas, Mophead & Lacecap
    • Jack-in-the-pulpit, Cobra Lily
    • Japanese Anemones
    • Japanese Forest Grass
    • Japanese Maples
    • Japanese Skimmia
    • Japanese Snowbell
    • Japanese Spirea
    • Japanese Spurge
    • Kale, ornamental
    • Katsura Trees
    • Kousa Dogwood
    • Laurustinus viburnum
    • Lavenders
    • Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub, Pieris japonica
    • Mediterranean Spurge
    • Mexican Mock Orange
    • Montana Clematis
    • Mountain Ash
    • Oregon Grape Holly
    • Oriental Poppies
    • Oriental Lilies
    • Paperbark Maple
    • Pearl Bush
    • Persian Ironwood
    • Peruvian Lily, Alstroemeria
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Tuberous Begonias

Amanda's Garden Consulting Co.

Tuberous Begonias 101

how to grow tuberous begonias
These tuberous begonias are five years old.
Tuberous begonias (Begonia x tuberhybrida) are tropical plants that do not tolerate frost. Because they are frost tender they should be stored in a frost free location over the winter. They are also prone to rotting, especially since their tubers are concave and collect water.  Over crowding often leads to powdery mildew and too much sun fries them, so why does anyone grow them? Because their flowers are exquisite and come in many colours except for blues and purples. They are also quite easy to grow once you get the hang of it. Hopefully this article will help you attain tuberous begonia greatness. 
tuberous begonia tubers
The bigger the tubers the bigger the plant and flowers.
​Start tubers in February for June blooms. Plant tubers indoors in a cool 65 degrees F. (18 C.) dark area 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Place tubers so the depression or hollow end is facing up in shallow pots or trays with moistened potting soil and a slow release fertilizer. Firm them into the soil and lightly cover their tops. If they are planted too deeply they are prone to rot. 
tuberous begonia female flowers
Begonia flowers are either male or female on the same plant. This is a female.
tuberous begonia male flowers
This is a male flower as it only has stamens.
​Reviving Stored Tuberous Begonias
When you remove them from storing, look for new buds emerging from the tubers. If there’s plenty of room in the existing pot there’s no need to repot into a larger one; just remove ¼ to ½ an inch of soil from the top and an inch from the sides and bottom and place back in their pot. Be careful not to knock off any of the buds. On the other hand, if the tuber has reached the edges of the container, replant into a pot one or two inches larger. Tuberous begonias are prone to rotting so don’t place in a pot that is too large. 
tuberous begonias
New buds indicate that this begonia is alive and ready to take out of storage.
potting up tuberous begonias
Plant tubers in pots that are about one inch larger than the tuber.
​Soil & Fertilizer
Good drainage is essential, so mix 2 parts potting soil with one part vermiculite or sand. Add a slow release fertilizer according to instructions. Apply a balanced (15-15-15) liquid fertilizer at 1/2 strength once a month. Avoid applying when the soil is dry, water first, wait a day, then fertilize. Stop fertilizing in August. Don’t over fertilize as it often leads to rotting.
growing tuberous begonias
Tall begonias often need support so their soft stems topped with heavy flowers don't break.
staking tuberous begonias
A small tomato cage helps this dazzling red begonia stay upright.
​After Potting & Watering
Place in an east facing window or where they will receive bright light but not direct strong sunlight in a frost free location. Water when the soil is slightly dry to the touch – not bone dry. Avoid watering in the centre of the plant to prevent rotting, but do water thoroughly. Don’t place outside until all the danger of frost has passed.  
tuberous begonia care
When potting, place the tuber round side down and concave side up. Little pink buds should be facing up.
how to grow tuberous begonias
Just cover the tuber with soil, don't bury it.
​Health & Flowers
To prevent powdery mildew, a common begonia disease, provide them plenty of air circulation so each plant has plenty of space. Remove spent blooms to promote more blossoms. For larger flowers, thin the shoots when they are 2 inches tall to two to three stems for small tubers. For large tubers keep 3 to 6 stems. Avoid thinning hanging begonias as they are grown for many small flowers, not a few large ones. If you want more flowers pinch back stem tips in May.  
how to grow tuberous begonias
Healthy, large begonia flowers.
growing tuberous begonias
Provide begonias with lots of space to allow good air circulation.
Hardening Off
Since begonias are tender, they must be hardened off before they go outside. A couple of weeks before your last frost date, take them outside for an hour in a protected and shady location. Each day thereafter increase the time outside by an hour. Remember tuberous begonias don’t do well in hot sun, so keep them away from afternoon sun. 
sun damage on tuberous begonias
A damaged leaf caused by too much sun.
Overwintering
It's time to overwinter begonias when their foliage yellows and their stems break off from the tuber, or when they are hit by their first frost, whichever comes first. To encourage dormancy, by gradually easing up on their water. Lift those that are planted in the garden and place on some dry newspaper in a frost free location. Wait a week for their stems to break off from the tuber and remove all debris.  Either plant each tuber in pots slightly wider than the tuber or place them in paper bags or boxes filled with sterile potting soil or vermiculite. Place in a cool but frost free location. For those that are already in pots, there’s no need to unpot them. Bring them inside and remove any debris. Store the tubers in a dry, frost free location. Allow the soil to dry, but not so dry it pulls away from the pot and the tuber shrivels.
tuberous begonia overwintering
It's September and this begonia is declining.
storing tuberous begonias
Allow stems to break free from the tuber before storing.
storing overwintering tuberous begonias
Store begonias in their pots or in paper bags or cardboard boxes.
Powdery Mildew
It’s common for tuberous begonias to succumb to powdery mildew late in the season. It looks like a white powder and it appears on the foliage and flowers. It’s caused by lack of air circulation due to too many stems or from being planted too close together. Morning fog and dew and dry soil also promotes this prevalent tuberous begonia disease. To learn how to control powdery mildew click here.
tuberous begonia,Begonia x tuberhybrida,summer bulbs,February gardening,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Powdery mildew has attacked this begonia.
tuberous begonia,Begonia x tuberhybrida,summer bulbs,February gardening,The Garden Website.com,the garden website,Amanda Jarrett,Amanda’s Garden Consulting
Powdery mildew looks like a white powder on leaves, flowers and stems.

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  • Home
  • About, Services, Contact
  • Amanda's Garden Blog
  • Ask Amanda
  • Roses
    • Types of Roses
    • Easy Roses
    • Climbing Roses
    • Portland's Rose Test Garden
    • Rose Insects & Diseases
    • Pruning Roses
    • Rose Sawfly
    • Rose Bloom Balling
  • Pruning Basics 101
    • Pruning Tools
    • Winter Pruning
    • Pruning Grapes
    • Pruning Clematis
    • Prune Your Own Garden Registration
  • Lawn Basics
    • Lawn Reno, Seed & Sod
    • Lawn Maintenance Schedule
    • Spring Lawn Care
    • Moss in Lawns
    • Lawn Alternatives
    • Lawn Grub Control
  • Mulch & Mulching
    • Living Mulches - Groundcovers
  • Propagation
    • Growing Seeds Outdoors
    • Growing Seeds Indoors
    • Hardening Off Plants
    • Taking Cuttings
    • Seed & Plant Catalogues
  • How to Garden Topics
    • Fall Garden Chores
    • Planting Know-How
    • Soil Building
    • Soil pH
    • Watering Tips & Techniques
    • Drought Gardening
    • Sheet Mulching, Lasagna Gardening
    • Cover Crops
    • Composting
    • Compost Tea
    • Houseplant Winter Care
    • Hummingbirds in Winter
    • Winterize Your Garden
    • Ponds in Winter
  • Growing Food
    • Spring Veggie Gardening
    • Fall Veggie Garden Clean-up
    • Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting
    • Harvesting
    • Growing Potatoes
    • Winter Veggie Gardening
    • Taming Tomatoes
    • Speeding up Tomato Harvest
    • Tomato Tips
    • Saving Tomato Seeds
    • Raspberries
    • Tomato Troubles
  • Plant Pests 1
    • Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects
    • Garden Inspections
    • Cloches
    • Helping Pollinators
    • Critters in the Garden
    • Black Sooty Mould
    • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
    • Dogwood Anthracnose
    • Viburnum Leaf Beetle
    • Dormant Oil/Lime Sulfur
    • Japanese Beetles
    • Peony Blotch/Measles
    • Slugs & Snails
    • Horsetail, the Weed
    • June Beetle
    • Powdery Mildew
    • Soil Solarization
    • Rhododendron Leaf Spot
    • Plant Rusts
    • Black Knot
  • Container Growing
    • Choosing a Container
  • Feeding Plants 101
    • Fertilizers & Ratios
    • Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
    • Organic Plant Food
  • Monthly Flower Arrangements
    • Christmas Wreaths
  • Plant of the Month
    • Spring Flowering Bulbs
    • Colourful Fall Plants
    • Abelia
    • American Sweetgum
    • Ash (Fraxinus) Trees
    • Astilbes
    • Azaleas, Deciduous
    • Aubretia, Rock Cress
    • Aucuba, Japanese Spotted Laurel
    • Autumn Crocus
    • Bear's Breeches
    • Beautyberry, Callicarpa
    • Black-eyed Susans
    • Bleeding Heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis
    • Calla Lilies
    • Catalpas
    • Chinese Windmill Palm
    • Columbine
    • Chrysanthemums
    • Crocuses
    • Dahlias
    • Dawn Redwood
    • Daylily
    • Delphiniums
    • Devil's Walking Stick, Aralia spinosa
    • Doghobble, Leucothoe
    • Dwarf Alberta Spruce
    • Dwarf Burning Bush
    • Elderberries, Sambucus
    • Evergreen Clematis
    • English Daisies
    • Fawn Lilies, Erythroniums
    • Fall Asters
    • Flowering Currants
    • Flowering Quince
    • Fritillaria
    • Garden Peonies
    • Garden Phlox
    • Ginkgo biloba
    • Grape-hyacinths
    • Handkerchief or Dove Tree
    • Hardy Fuchsia
    • Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
    • Heathers
    • Heavenly Bamboo
    • Hellebores, Lenten roses
    • Himalayan Sweet Box
    • Hydrangeas, Mophead & Lacecap
    • Jack-in-the-pulpit, Cobra Lily
    • Japanese Anemones
    • Japanese Forest Grass
    • Japanese Maples
    • Japanese Skimmia
    • Japanese Snowbell
    • Japanese Spirea
    • Japanese Spurge
    • Kale, ornamental
    • Katsura Trees
    • Kousa Dogwood
    • Laurustinus viburnum
    • Lavenders
    • Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub, Pieris japonica
    • Mediterranean Spurge
    • Mexican Mock Orange
    • Montana Clematis
    • Mountain Ash
    • Oregon Grape Holly
    • Oriental Poppies
    • Oriental Lilies
    • Paperbark Maple
    • Pearl Bush
    • Persian Ironwood
    • Peruvian Lily, Alstroemeria
    • Phalaenopsis, Moth Orchids
    • Photinia, Fraser
    • Poinsettias
    • Primroses
    • Persian Silk Tree
    • Portuguese Laurel
    • Rose of Sharon
    • Saucer Magnolia
    • Shrubby Cinquefoil
    • Sneezeweed, Helenium
    • Snowberry
    • Snowdrops
    • Solomon's Seal
    • Star Magnolia
    • Strawberry Tree, Pacific Madrone
    • Stewartia
    • Torch Lily, Kniphofia uvaria
    • Tree Peonies
    • Tuberous Begonias
    • Variegated Wintercreeper
    • Viburnum, Pink Dawn Bodnant
    • Virginia Creeper
    • Weigela
    • Winterhazel, Corylopsis
    • Winter Camellia, C. sasanqua
    • Winter Daphne
    • Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens
    • Witch Hazel
    • Wood Anemones
    • Yews
  • Garden Tours & Such
    • NW Horticultural Society July Garden Tour 2024
    • Burnaby in Blooms
    • Burnaby's Century Gardens
    • South Delta Garden Club Tour 2023
    • Garden Club Events
  • Website Index
  • May Garden Chores 2025
  • Subscribe
  • Need Help?
    • Gift Cards