With the large selection of different begonias there is something for everyone. Here's what you should consider when planting begonias.
Begonias (Begonia) are incredibly versatile: With their colorful flowers, they bring summer freshness into your home or decorate the shady corners of your garden. Some of the plants even love full sun and can light up your balcony. And so that the tropical beauties also thrive optimally in your home, the right planting is the first step.
Begonias: origin and characteristics
Begonias mostly come from the rainforests and mountain forests of the tropics and subtropics. The hot tropical sun above these is intercepted by the large leaf canopies of the trees. There, in the lower layer of the forest, on the mighty branches of old trees or on rocks and water, the strikingly crooked leaves of the begonias blend into the lush green of the vegetation. It is humid there all year round and the temperatures only drop slightly lower in the mountain forests. In these conditions, the begonia feels comfortable. So to encourage a begonia to bloom profusely, you should do everything you can to make the plant feel at home.
When buying the begonia you can pay attention to a few things to increase the chances of success. You can find out more about this in our special article.
When to plant begonias?
If you want to plant your begonia outdoors, it is best not to do so before May 16th. Because although they are perennial, begonias planted out, with the exception of a few species, do not survive the local winter. Even the so-called ice begonia (Begonia semperflorens) is not frost tolerant. So it is better to wait for the icy saints before planting the sensitive plant in the ground. In order to then bring the plants over the winter, you have to dig up the plants again in autumn before the first frost. The only exception here is the Japanese slate leaf (Begonia grandis var. evisiana), which also survives sub-zero temperatures in sheltered places and is therefore one of the hardy begonias .
The right location for begonias
Begonias cover an unbelievable variety of species. No wonder, then, that the demands on the location are diverse. The soil or substrate should be slightly acidic with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Since many begonias flower profusely, they need a sufficient, nutrient-rich substrate. Humus garden soil with a good addition of compost meets the needs of the plants. As far as light is concerned, begonias like it bright, but not too sunny. They come from tropical forests, where the sun shines more intensely, but the plants are protected from strong sunlight. A location in the semi-shade or partially even in the shade is therefore exactly the right thing. You can also place the plants under trees or shrubs to protect them from the blazing sun. Only the ice begonias are an exception here: they also thrive in direct sunlight without suffering any damage. A good thing, because they are predestined for sunny balconies and shadeless terraces. In fact, with adequate water supply, they'll be even prettier in the sun than in partial shade or shade.
The right approach to planting begonias
You can plant begonias in your garden, keep them in containers or cultivate them as houseplants. If you put the plants outdoors, you should choose a cloudy day for them. If you did not overwinter the plants in your house, they were grown in large greenhouses. The plants are therefore not used to the radiation of the direct sun. In the midday sun, they quickly get sunburned. Ice begonias that are to be planted in the sun can also be put outside in the shade for a few days, because even there the radiation is higher than inside the house.
Use nutrient-rich and humus-rich garden soil for planting the begonia, ideally enriched with a good portion of compost. Begonias that have been planted out also benefit if you put some good compost in the hole you dug before you put the plant in. If you put the plant in a bucket or pot, you should make sure that it has a drainage hole for excess water. After planting or potting, you should press the soil down lightly so that the begonia is secure. In the end, that's all that's missingCast on.
Caring for begonias after planting
After planting, the begonia is well supplied with nutrients from the fresh soil for the first few weeks. Start fertilizing again after two weeks at the earliest. Of course, the plant is still thirsty and should be watered regularly. You can find out everything you need to know about caring for begonias here.
Popular begonia species include Ice Begonia (Begonia semperflorens) and Elatior Begonia (Begonia x hiemalis ), which we will present to you in more detail in our special articles.