Hanging begonias are not hardy. Because the picturesque flower cascades sprout from perennial tubers, you can overwinter the magnificent balcony flowers. Read this guide to learn how to overwinter hanging bulbous begonias in hanging baskets and balcony boxes.

Hanging begonias are very sensitive to cold - including their tubers

Are hanging begonias worth wintering?

The most beautiful hanging begonias come from the stunning Tuberhybrida series (Begonia × tuberhybrida). Due to their tropical origin, the colorful flowers are extremely sensitive to frost. Thanks to their robust tubers, hanging begonias can still reach a proud age. Overwintering hanging begonias is always a worthwhile project for hobby gardeners. Read the instructions below to find out how.

Preparation begins in the fall

If your hanging begonias are still in full bloom in September, start preparing for the upcoming winter. With this modified care program, you can prepare the slate leaf plants for the move to their winter quarters:

  • Do not fertilize hanging begonias from the beginning of September
  • From the beginning of autumn, gradually water less
  • Stop watering in mid/end of October

The aim of the preparation is that the above-ground parts of the plant move in in good time before the first frost. This process is important because valuable nutrients are transferred to the tubers as an energy reserve for the next year.

Cut hanging begonias, clean, sort out - this is how it works

Unlike dahlia bulbs, tuberous begonias do not tolerate frost at all. Hanging begonias should not be abused with temperatures below 8° to 10° Celsius. Before moving to the winter quarters, drawn-in shoots and adhering soil must be removed. Here’s how to do it competently, step by step:

  1. Cut tendrils back to 2-3 cm
  2. Take the begonia tubers out of the substrate
  3. Brush off tubers
  4. Cut off the roots with disinfected bypass scissors or a sharp knife
  5. Dust cuts with wood ash or rock dust

Discard any tuberous begonias that are damaged, have rotten spots, or are infested with pests.

Storing hanging begonias and overwintering - tips

The tubers of trailing begonias overwinter in a dark, dry and cool place. The balcony plants have similar requirements as deciduous flowers. The tubers should not lie around openly. The following tips provide practical information on how and where to store and overwinter the tubers of begonia:

  • Wrap bulbs in newspaper and place on a wooden shelf
  • Store in a box with sand, sawdust, or unfertilized coconut soil
  • Overwinter in a wicker basket filled with straw

We recommend a windowless, frost-free room with temperatures around 8° Celsius as winter quarters for hanging begonias. The basement, garage, summer house (€24.90) or attic are shortlisted. Under these ideal conditions, all bulbous flowers from distant lands like to keep company during the winter, such as dahlias, canola or magic flowers.

tips

For trailing begonias, hibernation ends in February. The bulbous begonias can easily be pulled forward on the windowsill for an extra long flowering period on the balcony. A night in lukewarm water or camomile tea awakens the floral spirit. Pot the tubers about three centimeters deep in loose substrate with the concavity upwards. Pour in soft water, put on a transparent hood and place the pot in a bright, warm window seat.

Category:

Indoor plants