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Tuberous begonia winter care


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

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. 

How to store begonia tubers in winter?

During the cold season, dormant begonia tubers can die, so they are not left in the garden or in containers outside. Plants should be kept indoors during this period.

Begonia tubers dormancy is an important part of the growth cycle, so plants need to be provided with the right conditions during the winter months.

When should I start preparing for storage?

As early as the beginning of September, all buds should be removed from begonias, thereby stimulating the transition to a dormant period. After this operation, the plants begin to store nutrients in the tubers.

Begonia tubers should be moved indoors before the first frost. A light frost that only affects the leaves but does not damage the underground tubers is a good signal to start preparing them for storage. At this time, the leaves, as a rule, already have time to turn yellow, wither and dry completely.

Digging up begonia tubers

Using clippers, old stems should be cut to a height of 5 cm from the ground and allowed to dry completely. Next, using a shovel or fork, you need to carefully loosen the soil around each plant below the roots, departing from the crown 6-8 cm. Dig deep enough to loosen the soil below the roots and not injure the tubers.

Begonia tubers are dug up in autumn and stored in the basement.

Next, carefully remove the dry stem and roots. Tubers with spots and signs of rot must be disposed of immediately. Next, the planting material of begonias should be spread out in a cool, well-ventilated place so that they dry. After 2-3 weeks, the tubers must be cleaned of the remaining soil and the stem removed. Any remnants of foliage and stems can provoke rotting processes.

Storage methods

Before storing begonia tubers, carefully inspect all specimens and remove affected areas. Next, the tubers must be placed in a paper bag with a small amount of fungicide and shaken so that the powder covers the tubers. Planting material treated in this way should be placed in a cardboard box and the gaps between them should be filled with dry sawdust, vermiculite or peat.

Alternatively, simply wrap each tuber in paper and place in a box. This will be a good prevention of the spread of diseases and pests. Tubers should be stored at a temperature of 4-10°C. During the winter, stored material should be periodically checked and diseased specimens removed.

For better storage, begonia tubers can be wrapped in newspaper. If there is a lot of planting material, it is worth decomposing them into various paper bags, sorting by type and color.

Begonia tubers can be planted in spring when the danger of frost has passed. The landing site should be protected from strong winds, but open to the morning sun.

storage in winter, wintering at home, how to save

Tuberous begonia is a flower that loves warmth. They are able to survive the winter period only in the state of sleep . Since September, the flower has been preparing itself for a state of rest, shedding leaves and getting rid of the stems. Let's talk about storing tuberous begonias in winter.

Table of contents

Features of wintering of first-year tuberous begonias

In the first year of life, Begonia tubers are small and weak, therefore they need special care. If you leave them for the winter to be stored together with adult plants, then there is a possibility of death of the first years.

In winter, tuberous begonias go into dormancy, which usually lasts from November to February

Young tubers are removed from the garden and placed together with an earthen clod in boxes , where the peat mixture has already been prepared. The peculiarity of the first years is that their rest period is a relative concept. Often their upper part (stems and leaves) remains green for the winter. Therefore, flowers in boxes are placed in lighting and a cool place. Watering at this time is required infrequently. It is enough to slightly moisten the soil once or twice a month. In spring, the plant again enters the stage of active growth. In April, they should be transplanted first into pots with peat, and then, closer to summer, planted in the ground.

In the second year, the plant prepares for hibernation on its own and consciously, and this time in autumn , by October, the upper part dies off, which then must be cut off.

Dormancy and awakening of tubers

Everblooming begonia dormancy or hibernation period begins in November and lasts until the beginning of spring . With the help of this event, the plant hides from the cold. The main task of flower growers during this period is to preserve the tubers and protect them from drying out.

If the flower is stored early, she may not have time to prepare for bed, as the supply of nutrients at this time will be insufficient. Therefore, do not rush and remove the flower at the very beginning of autumn . The optimal time is the end of October - the beginning of November. The main thing is to have time before the onset of frost.

Awakening of tuberous begonia after wintering

With the onset of heat, namely in March - April , the flower buds swell and the flower wakes up. At this time, cuttings should be carried out and planted in a peat mixture.

A couple of months before planting, the tubers should be removed from the container in which they were stored and planted in a sprouting dish.

Tubers should be planted with the top of the tubers facing up. Usually it is concave or flat, with kidneys. Germination requires warmth, at least 18 degrees, and daily watering . In a few weeks, the first shoots will appear.

Tubers can be divided, the main thing is that each part of them has several buds. The incision site is treated with ash or charcoal. It is desirable to treat the places of cuts with charcoal.

Sprouted flowers are recommended to be planted in the open ground at the beginning of summer . The place for this should be sheltered from the wind, with fertilized soil. Direct sunlight should also not fall on the flower.

The difference between overwintering begonias at home and in the open field

Caring for tubers of indoor and garden plants is very different. In order to properly prepare them for winter, some features of both :

9 should be taken into account0106
  • Tubers of outdoor begonias are much larger than those grown in pots indoors. Garden flowers should be harvested at the onset of the first hard frost. The rule of the golden mean is important here, since the first light frosts are not able to kill the plant, so there is no need to rush either. Let the flower gain strength and prepare for hibernation on its own. The optimal time is when the leaves and stems of the plant die off by themselves. After that, the stems are cut off, and the tubers themselves are placed in a box and left so that they can dry out. After that, containers with plants are stored for storage until spring.
    • Begonia tubers are dug up for the winter and placed in a box
    1. Caring for a house plant in winter looks a little different . The tubers are not dug up, but remain in their pots. At the first appearance of wilting stems, they are also cut off. Watering from this point on is reduced to a minimum. In the spring, Begonia must be transplanted into new soil, after dividing it into several parts if many buds have formed on them.

    When buying already sprouted homemade Begonia at the end of summer, be sure to check if the flower has tubers in the pot. Since there are annual varieties. They do not leave tubers and their life span is only one season.

    Green begonia leaves must not be plucked, thereby forcibly putting the flower to rest.

    It is not uncommon for domestic Begonia to not shed its leaves for the winter and remain green. In this case, you do not need to cut it. The plant remains in its place until the spring transplant.

    Is it necessary to dig for the winter?

    Begonias are thermophilic flowers, so preparing them for winter is very important for further growth. When answering the question “Is it necessary to dig it up for the winter”, it is worth considering the type of plant and condition :

    1. Outdoor large tubers are advised by flower growers to dig up after withering and place it in a dish with peat in a cool place.
    2. Large tubers of domestic plants are left in pots in the same place for the whole winter.
    3. Germinated begonias from seeds and flowers with small tubers are also harvested and stored in a cool, well-lit place.

    Preparing tubers for storage

    The result of storage and further growth depend on how well the planting material is prepared for the winter and how you take care of this plant.

    First, Begonias that grow in the garden must be dug up before the first hard frosts . At this time, the upper part of the plant is cut off, while leaving stumps no less than 1 centimeter in size.

    Begonia tubers should be dried before storage

    Secondly, the tubers are removed in a dry and cool place where they should dry. Only after they are completely dry can it be put away for storage.

    It is best to dig up lubni with a pitchfork and in no case shake off the earth from them.

    Home grown begonia is stored differently. Preparation for hibernation begins in October. First, watering is reduced, after a month, it is completely stopped. When the upper part of the flower fades, it is cut off. If it doesn't die, leave it as it is.

    Compliance with storage rules is the key to successful wintering and further growth in the future.

    Basic winter storage methods and conditions

    There are several methods for storing these plants.

    The most common way is in the basement . Dried begonia tubers are laid out in boxes or wooden boxes. They fall asleep from above with sifted sand and clean it in the basement. You can make a mixture of sand, peat and sawdust in equal quantities. This method is convenient for a large amount of planting material.

    Do not store in the cellar due to the high humidity. This is very harmful for Begonia.

    From time to time it is necessary to sort out and remove the rotten ones.

    Begonia tuber material can be stored in boxes filled with peat with sand, or in a refrigerator in a plastic bag filled with peat, moss or sawdust

    The second, no less popular way of storage is in apartment .

    Learn more