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How to winterize potted begonias


How To Overwinter Begonias - Storing The Tubers Or Keeping Live Plants

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Overwintering begonias is easy, and a great way to save your favorite varieties every year. In this post, I’ll talk about three different ways to do it. Then I’ll show you how to dig and store the tubers, leave them in the ground, or keep them in their pots.

Though they are most commonly sold as annuals, you can keep begonias over winter and enjoy them year after year.

This is great news, because they’re so pretty, and I hate to watch them die in the fall. Plus it saves you money, since you won’t have to buy new ones every spring.

It’s easy to overwinter begonias, and there are a few ways to do it. In this detailed guide, I will share everything you need to know in order to be successful.

I’ll explain three different methods you can try, and show you exactly how to save begonias over winter. Including leaving them in the ground, digging up and storing the tubers, or keeping them as indoor plants.

Table of Contents

Will Begonias Survive The Winter?

Yes, with the proper care, begonias will survive the winter. Though they are most commonly used as annuals, they’re actually tender perennials that can live for many years.

In the right climate, they can even stay in the ground through winter. But if yours in not hardy to the area that you live in, then you’ll have to bring them indoors in the fall.

Related Post: How To Overwinter Plants: The Complete Guide

Methods Of Overwintering Begonias

The method you choose for overwintering begonias will depend on a few things. Where you planted them, where you live, and what type you have. Here are your three options…

  1. Leaving begonias in the ground over winter
  2. Overwintering begonias in pots
  3. Digging up and storing begonias for winter

How To Overwinter Begonias

Before I go into the details of the different methods you can use for overwintering begonias, it’s important to understand that there are two distinct types.

One type has tubers (also called bulbs), and the other does not (referred to as “fibrous”). So, before you can decide how to keep them over winter, check the tag to see if yours is tuberous or fibrous.

1. Leaving Begonias In The Ground

As long as the type of begonia you have is hardy in your climate, then you can overwinter them right in the ground. If they have tubers, then they’ll survive as long it stays above 50°F.

During the winter, the foliage on tuberous varieties may die back if the bulb goes dormant. In that case, cut it down to the ground.

2. Overwintering Begonias In Pots

If your begonias are in a container, you can overwinter them right in the pot. Just make sure to bring them indoors before the temperature drops below 60°F.

Fibrous varieties like rex, angel wing, and wax, can be kept alive as a houseplant through the winter. But it’s much easier to allow the ones that have bulbs, like rieger, to naturally go dormant.

3. Digging & Storing Begonias For Winter

If your tuberous begonias are planted in your garden, you can dig them up and store them over winter. But in order for that to be successful, you must lift them before the first frost.

Leaving them in the ground too long will result in frost damage, which means they probably won’t survive in storage.

Overwintering a begonia in a pot

Preparing Begonias For Winter Storage

In this section I am going to give you all the details about how to dig up begonia tubers, and what you need to do in order to successfully store them for winter.

If you discover that yours doesn’t have tubers, you can skip the next few sections, and learn about how to keep them as a houseplant below instead.

When To Lift Begonia Tubers

Since they are not frost hardy, you’ll need to dig up your begonia tubers before it gets too cold outside. Ideally, you should lift them before it gets below 50°F.

Don’t worry if the foliage is still alive, that’s normal. It will naturally die back as the bulbs start to go dormant.

How To Dig Up Begonias

I find it easiest to dig up my begonias using a garden fork, but a spade shovel would also work. It’s important to dig at least one foot away from the main stem, or you could wind up cutting or damaging the tubers.

Once you pop them out of the ground, gently shake or brush off the excess dirt. Don’t rinse it off though, it’s better to leave a little extra soil on them than risk having the bulbs be too wet.

Curing Begonia Tubers Before Overwintering

For best results, you should cure (dry) begonia tubers before overwintering them. That way, there’s less risk of them rotting or molding.

First check to make sure none of them were damaged when you dug them up, and also look for signs of rot. Rotting or damaged bulbs should be discarded, as they won’t survive the winter.

Allow them to cure for a week or so before storing. To do that, simply spread them out on a shelf or the ground in an above freezing and dry location.

Red flowers on a begonia outside

How To Store Begonia Tubers Over Winter

Storing begonias in the right place over winter is important for the best success. If yours are in pots, then you can skip the section about packing them up, because you can just store them right in the container.

Packing Begonia Tubers For Storage

Once they have had time to cure, I store my begonia tubers in a cardboard box filled with a dry packing material.

You could use a paper bag to store them instead, or something similar. But don’t use anything made out of plastic because it holds too much moisture.

I usually use peat moss, pet bedding, or coco coir as my packing medium. But, you could use saw dust, wood chips, or a mix of perlite and vermiculite.

Place each tuber into the box so they aren’t touching each other, then fill the empty spaces with your packing material. As long as they aren’t touching, you can layer several bulbs into each box.

Where To Store Begonias In Winter

Whether you packed your begonia tubers in a box, or kept them in their pots, where you store them for winter is the same.

Keep them in a cool, dry, dark location, where the temperature stays between 50-60°F.

Some examples of good places to store them are an unfinished basement, a heated garage, or even a root cellar if you have one. Learn all about storing bulbs for winter here.

Tuberous begonia in full bloom before winter

Begonia Winter Care Tips

The specific details of caring for begonias in the winter depends on whether yours is tuberous or fibrous. Below are some quick tips for both. You can learn all about how to grow begonias here.

Winter Care Of Tuberous Begonias

If you’re overwintering tuberous begonias in pots, then water sparingly (or not at all) until spring. Take great care not overwater them, or the bulbs will rot.

They may continue to send out new growth during the winter, but this will be spindly and weak. If that happens, cut off the weak sprouts as they appear, and stop watering it all together.

For those packed in boxes, just peek at them every now and then to make sure none of them are rotting or molding. If you find any that are, toss them out before it can spread to the others.

Fibrous Begonia Winter Care

Caring for fibrous begonias over winter is very similar to your other houseplants. Put them in a place where they get bright, indirect sunlight.

Keep the soil consistently moist, but take care not to overwater them or the roots will rot. Make sure they stay away from any heat sources, as they prefer indoor temps between 65-75 °F.

Moving Begonias Back Outside In The Spring

After overwintering begonias indoors, you might be very antsy to move them back outside in the spring. But, in order for all of your efforts to pay off, you must move them back out at the right time.

When Move Begonias Back Outside

Once all chance of frost has passed in the spring, it’s safe to move your begonias back outside. If you kept them alive all winter, then you’ll need to slowly acclimate them back to living outdoors.

Start by placing them in a full shade spot where they’re protected from strong wind and weather. Then slowly move them to their permanent location outside over the course of a couple of weeks.

When To Plant Begonia Tubers

On the other hand, if you overwintered begonia tubers, then you should wait to replant them in your garden until the soil has warmed to 60°F. Use a handy soil thermometer to check it.

You can start them indoors 6-8 weeks before you want to plant them outside. Soaking them in warm water or a compost tea solution can help to break their dormancy faster.

For potted bulbs, move the container to a bright location 6-8 weeks before you want to move it outside, and begin watering it.

Allow any excess water to drain from the pot, and add bottom heat to help wake it up faster.

My weeping orange begonia that I overwinter every year

FAQs About Overwintering Begonias

In this section, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about overwintering begonias. If you can’t find the answer to yours here, ask it in the comments below.

Can begonias grow indoors over winter?

Yes, begonias can grow indoors over winter. Non-tuberous (aka: fibrous) varieties can easily be kept as houseplants.

However, the ones that have bulbs will naturally go dormant during the winter. So all of the leaves and flowers will drop off.

Can you leave begonias in the garden over winter?

You can leave begonias in the garden over winter if the type you have is hardy in your zone, or it never gets below 50°F outside. Otherwise they must be brought indoors.

How long can you store begonia tubers?

You can store begonia tubers for several months. However, don’t try to keep them in storage for too long, or they will eventually dry out and die. It’s best to plant them every year, even if you don’t get to it until later in the summer.

Can you overwinter begonias in pots?

Yes, you can overwinter begonias in pots. Fibrous types can be kept as a houseplant, while tuberous varieties should be stored dormant in a cool, dark location.

Overwintering begonias is easy, and it’s a great way to save your favorite varieties every year. And now that you know how to store tuberous begonias, you can start a collection!

If you struggle to keep indoor plants alive over winter, then you need my Winter Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you all you need to get them to thrive all year round. Download your copy today!

More Posts About Overwintering Plants

Share your tips for overwintering begonias, or for how to store begonia tubers in the comments below.

How to overwinter begonias: with advice from the experts

(Image credit: Alamy)

As you prepare the garden for the winter you might think your gardening tasks are over for the year. However, if you’ve enjoyed colorful begonia blooms all summer, learning how to overwinter begonias should be a priority in fall.  

It’s easy to overwinter begonias to provide color next summer. All it takes is a little space, a bit of care and some good advice from garden experts, who share their tips on how to overwinter begonias below. 

Make sure planning ahead for the next growing season is on your list of garden ideas.

So alongside planting your winter hanging baskets and thinking about how to plant bulbs and other winter garden ideas, take time to show those hardworking, repeat-flowering summer blooms some love and find out how to overwinter begonias, the way the experts do it. 

How to overwinter begonias

There are three distinct types of begonia plant to consider when you’re thinking about overwintering begonias: 

Tuberous begonias

Hardy tuberous begonias

Begonia semperflorens, also known as wax begonia

Read our experts' tips on the approaches to take when overwintering the different types of begonias.  

How to overwinter tuberous begonias 

(Image credit: Alamy)

As part of your job list when planning a winter garden is overwintering tender plants. Learn how to overwinter tuberous begonias correctly and they will reward you with just as good a show of flowers next summer. Tuberous begonias are the larger-flowered more showy, often double-flowered varieties most often grown for container planting, but grown in flowerbeds too. This is the type of begonia that most people prize for their spectacular flowers, and it is well worth the minimal effort involved to overwinter tuberous begonias. 

Award-winning begonia growers Blackmore & Langdons specialises in tuberous begonias. ‘We ship our large flowering double begonias to collectors all over the world. The flowers on some of our exhibition quality plants can reach up to 12 inches in diameter,’ says company director Nick Langdon.  

When you’re growing varieties as special as this, knowing how to overwinter begonias is a must. The technique is simple, and similar in approach to overwintering dahlias. 

Reduce water
‘The autumn months are critical to the success of saving begonia tubers for use the following year. Tubers can be lost through incorrect or hurried ripening,’ says Nick Langdon of  Blackmore & Langdons ‘Following their season of flowering the plants will go naturally towards dormancy. Lessen the amount of water given at this time until the leaves start to turn yellow, which can be as late as November into December. The leaves will fall of their own accord indicating the plant is ready for a rest.’

Stop watering and cut the stems down
At this stage you should no longer be watering the plants. Cut the stems down to three or four inches above the tuber. The stems will gradually fall away but don’t be tempted to force them, they will drop when ready. 

Remove the tubers from their pots
Take the tubers from their pots with some stems still attached and lay them in shallow trays. The remaining stems and soil will gradually come away but again, on no account force them as they will ripen and come away when ready. Some tubers will take longer than others but all will eventually die back.

Store for winter
There will be no sign of growth and the tubers will be plump and dry, ready for storing for the winter. Place in dry peat, a paper bag or just in open trays that allow for good airflow, tubers can sweat so be mindful that they need to be kept dry. A temperature of around 50°F (10°C) is best for storage. 

Check the tubers every so often
It is advisable to check the tubers periodically for any signs of rot or pest damage, if any rot is found just remove with a sharp knife.

Tuberous begonias in flowerbeds
Tuberous begonias used as bedding plants in flowerbeds can be ripened in the same way as pot grown plants, above, advises Nick Langdon, ‘But they may be left in the garden until the first, hopefully mild, frosts touch the foliage. When this happens, lift the tubers with a good ball of soil, place in a cool, frost proof place and wait for the stems to drop away.’ Then continue as above to store for winter. 

How to overwinter hardy begonias

(Image credit: Alamy)

Hardy begonias can be grown in pots as well as in flower borders. As the name suggests, hardy begonias are more resilient to cold weather than tuberous begonias but they still require some protection. The process for overwintering hardy begonias is very simple. 

In milder climates you can overwinter hardy begonias grown as bedding plants in situ outside in the ground, provided they are growing in a sheltered spot in well-drained soil. They will need to be covered with a thick mulch as they won’t survive outside without adequate protection from frosts. A variety well worth growing is Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana, above, which is hardy down to 0°C (32°F). 

Pot grown hardy begonias should be brought into a cool greenhouse or frost-free shed and can then be overwintered in their pots.  

Can I keep begonias in pots over winter?

Pot-grown hardy begonias will need to be brought inside for winter protection, but they can be kept in their original pots, as Emily Barbosa Fernandes, a small space gardener from California and a consultant at HouseGrail ,  explains: ‘Bring them in after the first frost, and set them in a cool area of your house and then slowly acclimatize them to the warmer indoor temperature. You want to keep the humidity level around 35-48% and water sparingly.’

Once the frosts are over in spring, container-grown hardy begonias can simply be placed back outside ready to flower again.

(Image credit: Future)

How to overwinter Begonia semperflorens

(Image credit: Getty )

Begonia semperflorens, also known as wax begonias, make great summer bedding plants and are usually grown as annuals. Most people don't try to overwinter them, but discard them after the first frosts and replace them every year with new plants. Here's our gardening experts' advice on how to overwinter begonia semperflorens to enjoy them again next year.

Keep an eye on the weather and in fall, before the first frosts are forecast, dig up your begonia semperflorens plants and plant them up in containers to overwinter inside in a cool room, or keep them in a conservatory or glazed porch. 

According to gardening expert Lindsey Hyland of Urban Organic Yield, The next step is to make sure that your plant has enough light and fresh air. Too much light will cause the leaves on the begonia plant to burn, but it still needs plenty of light or else it will not survive for many weeks under artificial lighting. 

Emily Barbosa Fernandes of HouseGrail has had success overwintering begonia semperflorens, and says: ‘They like to be in a cool area and watered sparingly. Before planting them in the new container make sure to prune their leaves.’ 

She adds: ‘Begonia semperflorens don’t like being brought in and out of the cold without getting used to it so slowly acclimatize them to the warmer temperature before taking them back outside. ’

Another option, rather than overwintering the original plants, is to take cuttings from your begonia semperflorens in late summer/early fall and grow these on over winter to create new plants. 

Do you cut back begonias in the winter? 

Cut back begonia stems to three or four inches above the tuber in fall as you prepare to overwinter them. Do this for tuberous begonias when you bring them   into a frost-free space for winter. The stems of hardy begonias, will die back naturally if you’re leaving them outside for winter under a mulch. If you’re bringing hardy begonias inside to overwinter, cut the stems back to three or four inches above the tuber before bringing them into a frost-free space. 

(Image credit: Alamy)

By learning how to overwinter begonias in the right way, you should be able to enjoy their gorgeous blooms all over again next summer. 

Karen is the houses editor for homesandgardens.com and homes editor for the brand’s sister titles, Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors, and an experienced writer on interiors and gardens. She loves visiting historic houses for Period Living and writing about rural properties for Country Homes & Interiors, and working with photographers to capture all shapes and sizes of properties. Karen began her career as a sub editor at Hi-Fi News and Record Review magazine. Her move to women’s magazines came soon after, in the shape of Living magazine, which covered cookery, fashion, beauty, homes and gardening. From Living Karen moved to Ideal Home magazine, where as deputy chief sub, then chief sub, she started to really take an interest in properties, architecture, interior design and gardening. 

BEGONIA: care in autumn and how to prepare for winter

Introducing autumn and winter care for begonias in different conditions. We tell you how to prepare tuberous begonia for winter: when to dig up and how to store tubers.

We also describe caring for begonias in winter at home, caring for young flowers and what to do with begonias in the garden after winter.


Contents of the article:

When and when should begonias be dug up for the winter? What is the difference?

Begonias are mainly heat-loving plants and preparing them for winter is an important task for flower growers, on which their future depends.

When approaching the question of how to care for autumn and how to prepare for winter, it is necessary to take into account the type of begonia, its condition and personal preferences.

Tuberous begonia, which belongs to ornamental-flowering species, or ever-flowering begonia, as an annual plant, is grown in open ground in the CIS.

Tuberous begonia is a hybrid variety combined by the presence of perennial tubers.

  1. Large tubers of begonias (blooming in the open field in summer) experts recommend placing in peat/sand after the aerial part of the plant dies off in autumn and storing in a cold place during dormancy. In early spring, begonia tubers begin to germinate.
  2. Large tubers of begonias (blooming in pots in summer) can be left in the pot after the aerial part of the plant dies off in autumn. It is necessary to move the plants to a cold place.
  3. Begonias grown from seeds and flowers with small tubers are recommended to be stored in a cold and bright place in winter and moderately watered.

Preparing tuberous begonia for winter growing outdoors

Now let's move on to the story of how to prepare tuberous begonia for wintering to get tubers.

After the end of flowering, the above-ground part of the begonia gradually dies off and the tubers begin to actively develop, accumulating nutrients. After the accumulation of nutrients in the tubers, the begonias will have a dormant period.

This allows the begonia tubers to accumulate the maximum amount of nutrients. They believe that you should not be afraid of the first frosts and rush to dig up begonias.

This option is suitable for mature plants with large tubers.

Tuberous begonia, hybrid

Digging up begonia tubers for the winter

  1. In September, when the first frost threatens, dig up the tuberous begonia with as large a clod of earth as possible.
  2. Begonias that grew in containers are taken out in a whole lump by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
  3. After digging, begonias are sorted according to tuber size. Experienced flower growers recommend that small (less than 2 cm in diameter) and large begonia tubers be divided as small tubers are more prone to drying out.
  4. Then the begonia with a clod of earth is placed tightly with each other in boxes and they are placed in a bright, ventilated place protected from rain with a temperature of 14-16 degrees Celsius. Watering is reduced.
  5. At this time, the aerial part of the begonia begins to die off little by little. After the leaves fall, watering the plants is stopped. After flowering, begonias enter a dormant period.
  6. After the complete death of the aerial part (1-1.5 months), the tuberous begonia is cut off at a level of 2-3 cm from the ground. Pruning helps to avoid infection of tubers by pathogenic fungi.
  7. 12-16 days after pruning, begonia tubers are cleaned from the ground and sprinkled with dry sand or peat and put in boxes.

TIPS. It is convenient to dig begonia tubers from the open ground with a pitchfork (garden fork).

The main thing is to dig out the begonia tubers together with the earth (soil mixture) and in no case shake it off.

Begonia tubers: storage in winter

Next, we describe the storage of begonia tubers in winter, and the 1st paragraph is a continuation of the previous chapter.

  1. Boxes with small and large begonia tubers are stored from November to the end of February at a temperature of 7-9 degrees Celsius.
  2. The box of tubers is periodically sprayed: large tubers - 1 time per month, and small tubers of begonias - 1 time in 3 weeks, so that they do not dry out. They also remove rotten tubers, if any.

Storage of begonia tubers in the winter in the refrigerator

If you want to store begonia tubers in the winter not in the basement or cellar, then after sorting they can be put in a plastic bag filled with peat, sawdust or moss and put in the refrigerator.

The bag with tubers is periodically taken out and moistened, similarly to the 2nd point in the chapter “Storing tubers in winter”.

Begonia tuber

Preparing young begonias for winter: care in the first year

Young plants with small tubers after digging out of the garden are recommended to be placed with an earthen clod in separate boxes.

  1. Young begonias have a relatively dormant period and their above-ground parts often remain green in winter. Young flowers overwinter in boxes in a bright, cool place with moderate watering.
  2. With the onset of spring, young flowers begin to grow again. In April-May, they are transplanted into separate pots, and in early June, if desired, plants can be transplanted into open ground.
  3. Having lived all summer in pots, begonias begin to prepare for a dormant period. After the leaves fall in the fall, watering the begonias is stopped.
  4. In October, pruned withered shoots of potted tuberous begonia at a level of 1-2 cm from the ground.
  5. Then, until the beginning of March, flower pots are removed to the coldest place in the house or to the basement, cellar, balcony. Occasionally and little watered into the pan, so that the tubers do not dry out.
  6. At the beginning of March, the pots are moved to a bright place and watered more abundantly. When sprouts appear, begonia tubers are delicately cleaned of the substrate and transplanted into a new soil mixture.

Overwintering of tuberous begonias in a pot: care at home

Begonias with large tubers that bloomed in summer in a pot can be left in it for the winter after the aerial part has died.

  1. To keep the begonia in bloom for as long as possible, put it in a bright place, but out of direct sunlight. Begonias are watered in the apartment at the moment the nutrient substrate in the pot dries out, about once every 10-14 days.
  2. When the flowering of begonia gets tired or it stops blooming by itself, then watering is stopped, cut off (2-3 cm from the ground) and transferred to a dark and cool place (basement, cellar).
  3. In January-February, tubers are taken out of the ground, wrapped in a wet towel and placed in a plastic bag (it must be ajar) next to the battery.
  4. After about 2-3 weeks, the first sprouts appear. Tubers are planted for distillation in small pots (500 g plastic cups) with moist soil. The tubers are slightly pressed into the ground.
  5. After 2-3 weeks, the begonias are transshipped into a new permanent pot, and the tubers are covered from above with a 2-4 cm layer of soil mixture.

This method is well suited for tuberous begonias growing in pots.

Some experts recommend taking begonias out in winter to a warm place to "warm up" in the sun: every other day for 2-3 hours.

Begonia after winter: care and planting in spring

In March-April, begonia buds begin to swell, and the plant gradually comes out of dormancy. Now you can carry out cuttings of ever-flowering begonias or planting tuberous begonias for germination in wet peat.

  1. 2-3 months before planting begonias in a permanent place (March-April), the tubers are taken out of the sand/peat and planted in pots/containers for germination (forcing).
    If the begonia was stored in the winter in boxes with a clod of earth, then they just take them out.
  2. Tubers are planted upside down (flatter or concave part with buds (bumps/bumps)).
  3. Begonia tubers need a temperature of 17-20 degrees Celsius, high humidity and regular watering for good germination. For 2-3 weeks, the first shoots of begonias reach about 5-6 cm in height. In general, tubers germinate unevenly and for a long time.
  4. It is at this stage that tuberous begonia is recommended to be propagated by cuttings or division. Tubers can be cut into several parts, the main thing is that each has 3-4 buds. Usually, old tubers are divided into 2-4 parts, it is desirable to treat the places of cuts with charcoal.
  5. After the sprouts get stronger, grow up and form the first leaves, the begonia tubers from the boxes can be planted in separate pots.
    Sprinkle potting mix over top of seedlings to the base of the first pair of leaves. It is advisable to add wood ash and humus.
  6. It is recommended to plant begonias in open ground in early June, and in separate pots / containers on the balcony in mid-late May.
  7. For planting in open ground, choose a place protected from the winds with loose nutrient soil in partial shade or bright, but with a minimum of scorching sun.

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Now you know how to prepare tuberous begonia for winter, how to store tubers and how to plant flowers in spring.

We wish you a successful wintering and good mood!

Tuberous begonia: preparing for winter

Begonia flowers are often compared to roses for their beauty, but begonia is not so capricious. However, she is very afraid of the cold, so in the fall she needs special care to prepare the plant for winter, dig up the tubers on time and correctly and store them in proper conditions.

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