Tuberous begonia - wintering the plant from A to Z, photos and videos Selo.Guru

Why do you need to prepare in the fall?

Begonia is an ornamental flower grown both outdoors and at home.

Reference. From the beginning of November until the last days of February, the plant falls into a dormant state, in which it regains its strength after the end of the growing season.

Dormant period and awakening of tubers

If you do not follow the rules for storing tuberous begonia in winter, then in the spring, due to the insufficient number of buds laid by the tubers, the plant will bloom poorly. To preserve a perennial, you must adhere to a number of rules:

Young bulbs grown from seeds require a cool place, moderate light and infrequent watering. It is not necessary to dig them out of the pot; simply cutting off the above-ground part will be enough.
large tubers of indoor begonias are left in pots and placed in a cool place. In this case, when trimming the dried ground part, leave 1 to 3 cm.
Begonias growing in open ground are dug up after flowering and placed in storage under special conditions. At the end of the dormant period, planting material is removed from storage and begins to be prepared for germination.

In March-April, after the buds of the flower swell and it comes out of its dormant state, cuttings are carried out and the begonia is planted in a peat mixture. Two months before this procedure, the tubers are removed from the container in which they were stored and planted in a container for the purpose of germination.

It is permissible to divide the tubers into several segments, the main thing is that each of them contains several buds. Places of cuts and cuts are treated with charcoal or ash.

Important! Sprouted begonia should be planted in open ground at the end of May or early June.

Begonia after winter: care and planting in spring

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

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 winter in boxes with a lump of earth, then simply take them out.
The tubers are planted with the top side up (the flatter or concave part with the buds (tubercles/irregularities)).
For good germination, begonia tubers need a temperature of 17-20 degrees Celsius, high humidity and regular watering. In 2-3 weeks, the first shoots of begonia reach approximately 5-6 cm in height. In general, tubers germinate unevenly and for a long time.
It is at this stage that it is recommended to propagate tuberous begonia by cuttings or division. The tubers can be cut into several parts, the main thing is that each has 3-4 buds. Typically, old tubers are divided into 2-4 parts; it is advisable to treat the cut areas with charcoal.
After the sprouts get stronger, grow and the first leaves form, the begonia tubers from the boxes can be planted in separate pots. Sprinkle soil mixture on top of the sprouts to the base of the first pair of leaves. It is advisable to add wood ash and humus.
It is recommended to plant begonia in open ground in early June, and in separate pots/containers on the balcony in mid-late May.
For planting in open ground, choose a place protected from the winds with loose nutritious soil in partial shade or light, but with a minimum of scorching rays of the sun.

INTERESTING ON THE TOPIC:

1. WHAT FLOWERS BLOW IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER? + PHOTO

2. PREPARING HOSTA FOR WINTER - EASY AND QUICK!

3. HOW TO PREPARE PHLOXES FOR WINTER?

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

We wish you a successful winter and a great mood!

Begonia will delight and delight with the luxury of its flowering for many years if you take responsible care of its storage in the off-season and ensure proper care of the flower in winter.

How does a plant overwinter in an apartment and in open ground?

Caring for tubers of plants growing in the garden and at home has significant differences. To properly prepare them for winter, you need to know the characteristic features of each variety.

The maintenance of perennials growing outdoors is as follows:

Flowers are removed from the street after the first serious frost. You should not rush to dig up tubers when the temperature drops slightly, since such conditions are not capable of harming them. The plant needs to be given the opportunity to gain strength and prepare for the dormant period.
After the flower's stems and leaves die, they are cut off.
The tubers removed from the soil are placed in a box and allowed to dry thoroughly.
Containers with planting material are put away for storage until spring.

Care for begonia growing at home is carried out somewhat differently:

There is no need to dig up the tubers: the plants remain overwintering in their pots.
After the stem and leaves begin to fade, they are cut off.
From this point on, the frequency of watering is reduced to a minimum.
The container with the flower is placed in a cool place.
To prevent the soil from drying out completely, moisten it regularly.
In the spring, the begonia must be transplanted into new soil. Before the procedure, the plant is divided into several segments in case of formation of a large number of buds.

In some cases, the plant remains green and does not shed its leaves throughout the winter, then it is left untouched until spring, and only then is replanted.

Attention! When purchasing indoor begonia in the last days of summer, you need to check whether it has tubers, since there are annual varieties.

The video below describes the nuances of preparing indoor begonias for winter:

Preparing tubers for storage

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

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

Begonia tubers should be dried before storing.

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

Read also: Preparation 30 insecticide reviews

Begonia, which grows at home , is stored differently. Preparations for hibernation begin in October. First, reduce watering, and after a month, stop it altogether. When the upper part of the flower fades, it is cut off. If it does not die off, leave it in its previous state.

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

Secrets of preparing a garden flower

In this procedure, it is important to find the golden mean when extracting tubers from the ground. Severe frosts will destroy the plant, but digging it up beforehand is not recommended. After the leaves and stems dry, the begonia bulbs begin to actively gain mass, and buds are laid for flowering in the next season. Extracting from the soil too early will significantly reduce the number of flowers during the growing season.

After the first signs of plant wilting appear, you must immediately stop watering. If begonia grows in a garden plot, it is recommended to cover the bush in rainy weather, preventing moisture from entering.

After the foliage turns yellow and falls, the stems are carefully trimmed with pruning shears, leaving stumps 2 to 3 cm high. After frost sets in, deal with the plant as follows:

using a garden fork, remove the tubers from the soil so that the soil remains on the roots;
the dug up bulbs are dried in a dry and slightly cool place (in conditions with high humidity there is a risk of rotting);
placed in pre-prepared containers; paper bags or vegetable boxes are well suited for this purpose.

The air temperature during storage of planting material should be from +7 to 9 °C.

Features for first years

Reference. In the first year of life, the tubers of the plants are still quite small and weak, and therefore they require special care. If you leave them for storage in winter along with adult specimens, the risk of their death will increase significantly.

After the dormant period begins, young tubers are brought from the garden plot and, together with a lump of earth, placed in a container where the peat mixture has already been prepared.

The peculiarity of first-year children is that they do not fully fall into a state of sleep. It is not uncommon for the foliage and stems at the top to remain green throughout the winter. For this reason, the boxes with them are placed in a cool place with good lighting. Watering is not carried out at this time: lightly moistening the soil 1-2 times a month is quite enough. With the onset of spring, young begonias enter a stage of intensive growth.

In April, first-year plants must first be planted in peat pots, and closer to summer - in the ground.

In the second year of life, begonia independently prepares for the dormant stage, this is expressed in the death of its upper part.

Is it necessary to dig in the fall?

Since begonias are heat-loving plants, proper preparation for winter is of great importance for its further growth. Whether to dig up tubers for the dormant period or not depends on the type and condition of the perennial:

large tubers growing in open ground are recommended to be removed from the ground after wilting and stored in a suitable container with peat in a cool place;
large bulbs of indoor plants at all, leaving them in the same containers;
flowers with small tubers and specimens sprouted from seeds are stored in a cool place with high-quality lighting.

How to prepare tuberous begonia for winter

Before digging, a certain time must pass, during which the plant will be maximally prepared for the procedure. Already in September, it is necessary to significantly reduce the volume of watering and completely stop applying any fertilizers that activate life processes both in the tuber and in the above-ground part.

Advice! To stop the flow of excess moisture in damp autumn weather, it is recommended to build protection over the begonias, for example, stretch a film. In bad weather, without waiting for the tubers to ripen, you can dig up the bushes without cutting the stems and move them in a clod of earth to a room where they will ripen. After the bush withers, treat it in the same way as street begonias.

The buds and shoots that have just begun to grow should be removed, but the stems should not be touched, allowing them to wither naturally. Then, after the leaves fall and the stems droop, trim the above-ground part to a low stump (1 cm).

In this form, the bushes last 1-2 weeks without watering or any other intervention.

What to do to store the plant until spring?

Important! There are several options for properly storing begonias in winter. The most popular is the basement.

Well-dried perennial tubers are placed in suitable containers: wooden boxes, boxes. The planting material is sprinkled with sifted sand, and the container is removed to the basement.

Also, to make a mixture for the purpose of forming layers between tubers, you can use in equal quantities:

peat;
sand;
sawdust.

This method is convenient for storing tubers in large quantities.

It is prohibited to lower the bulbs into the cellar, since high humidity will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the plant.

It is recommended to periodically inspect and immediately dispose of rotting specimens.

A place under a window or next to a balcony door is a good place to store tubers in an apartment. There are two methods of storage at home:

in a box - the bulbs placed in containers are sprinkled with sawdust or sand;
in pots - perennials growing in containers are cut off and left as is, installed in a cool place, and with the onset of spring they are transplanted into new soil.

In an apartment, begonia tubers can be stored in the refrigerator. This method is optimal only for a small amount of planting material. The bulbs are placed in plastic bags with pre-made holes and sprinkled with sawdust. In the absence of sawdust, you can wrap each tuber in plain paper and place it in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator intended for storing vegetables.

Attention! During storage, the tubers should be isolated from each other, which will reduce the risk of rotting.

If you follow all the rules of maintenance during the winter, next season you will be able to observe active growth and abundant flowering in begonias.

Basic methods and conditions of storage in winter

There are several methods for storing such plants.

The most common way is in the basement . Dried Begonia tubers are placed in boxes or wooden crates. They fill the top with sifted sand and put it in the basement. You can make a mixture of sand, peat and sawdust in equal quantities. This method is convenient for large quantities of planting material.

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

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

The second, no less popular storage method is in an apartment . The best place would be the area near the balcony door or under the window. There are two types of storage in the house:

In a box , when the tubers are placed in them and covered with sand and sawdust.
In pots . Flowers that grew in a pot remain in it, are trimmed and transferred to a cool place. In this case, you need to water the plant no more than once a month.

In the spring, after germination, they are transplanted into new soil.

The third storage method is in the refrigerator . Suitable for small quantities of planting material. To do this, Begonia tubers are placed in plastic bags with sawdust, after making holes in them for breathing.

The bags are placed in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for vegetables.

Compliance with all of the above storage rules guarantees successful growth and flowering of Begonia in the next season.

-Video

–Search by diary

–Subscription by e-mail

– Regular readers

-Statistics

Wednesday, April 04, 2012 12:36 + to quote book

Tuberous begonias grow well and bloom only in conditions that are comfortable for them. Here you need to follow several basic rules: 1. Tuberous begonia is sensitive to bright sunlight. In hot, dry weather in the sun, flowers and leaf tips may wilt, but bloom well in partial shade. However, with strong shading, the shoots become elongated, the leaves fall off, and few or even none flowers are formed. Therefore, for lush flowering, it needs a bright place, but without direct sunlight, or partial shade (it is better if it is sunny before lunch, and partial shade after lunch). For loggias and balconies facing south, shading of begonias during the midday hours is necessary. 2. Begonia does not tolerate drafts and places exposed to the wind. The shoots of tuberous begonias are fragile and break in strong winds, so it is necessary to provide protection from the winds. And because of drafts, begonias drop flowers and buds. 3. The place for begonias should have good ventilation, because... she does not like stagnant air (which happens on glazed loggias and balconies), she needs a constant flow of fresh air. 4. Proper watering is very important. Tuberous begonia does not tolerate flooding, so the pot must have good drainage. To preserve flowering in hot, dry weather, you need to water the ground under the begonias early in the morning (while the ground has not yet warmed up after the cool of the night), but not with cold water. When watering during the day, burns appear on the leaves. And also, if you water overheated soil with cold water during the day or evening, the roots may die.

5. High air humidity (not lower than 50-60%) also promotes lush growth and flowering of tuberous begonias. If the air is very dry, you need to place containers of water next to the pots with begonias or spray the air around them, but it is not recommended to spray the begonias themselves, so as not to cause brown spots and rot on the leaves and petals. 6. The optimal air temperature for the normal well-being of tuberous begonias is in the range of 20-24°C, some varieties feel good even at temperatures below these values, but higher temperatures have a depressing effect on tuberous begonias. 7. Tuberous begonia loves feeding, but there is no need to overfeed it. Fertilizers that she did not have time to process appear on the surface of the soil in the form of white deposits, and sometimes change its acidity. Also, overfed plants are less resistant to pests and diseases.

The first feeding is carried out in the spring (after the shoots begin to grow, but not before the tuber is completely filled). It is recommended to carry it out with nitrogen fertilizers. Moreover, 1-2 such feedings are enough, because... an increased dose of nitrogen promotes active growth of green mass, and a plant fed with nitrogen grows a trunk and burdock leaves, but does not bloom. Later (until autumn) fertilizing is done with water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers. The first such feeding is carried out at the beginning of budding, and then repeated every two weeks. The last fertilizing (in September) is carried out after the end of flowering; the dose of nitrogen in it is significantly reduced (it is best to use potassium fertilizers that do not contain chlorine).

It is not recommended to feed tuberous begonias with organic fertilizers. Begonias also do not like chlorine-containing fertilizers.

Read also: How to butcher a bull carcass

After continuous summer flowering, closer to autumn, when the days become shorter, begonias begin to grow tubers. During this period, it is necessary to create all the conditions for begonias so that the tubers, exhausted during the flowering period, have time to accumulate enough nutrients before leaving for the dormant period.

At the beginning of autumn, tuberous begonias stop feeding and gradually reduce their watering. The last fertilizing is carried out after the end of flowering (in September), the dose of nitrogen in it is significantly reduced (it is best to use potassium fertilizers that do not contain chlorine).

It is recommended to remove new buds that appear in September so that begonias do not waste energy on flowering. On the contrary, it is advisable not to cut off fading shoots for a longer period of time (until the leaves completely wither and the stems completely dry out), since food is still supplied from the tops to the tuber. All this helps to increase the mass of the tuber. Tuberous begonias that are grown in pots are left outside until the first autumn frost. In central Russia - until October.

The rest period of tuberous begonia should be at least 2 months. In any case, by the end of February your begonia will have time to rest. Therefore, by mid-October - early November (not earlier), if the above-ground part of the begonias has not died off by this time, you need to cut off the stems of the begonias near the ground.

Tuberous begonia is a monoecious plant, that is, flowers of different sexes are formed on one plant: male (larger, double) and female (single-double with a three-lobed seed pod under the sepals). To prolong the flowering of tuberous begonia, it is recommended to remove the female flowers at the very beginning of their development, and leave the male flowers. There has long been debate on the Internet between supporters and opponents of removing female flowers. Ultimately, everyone decides for themselves whether to remove or not to remove female flowers.

During the dormant period, tubers of different sizes are stored differently. Young first-year begonias with small tubers, grown from seeds, will try to grow tubers and are unlikely to retire. There is no need to force them to winter rest and there is no need to cut off the above-ground part of begonias either. Pots with such begonias are kept in winter in a bright, cool place with moderate watering (in winter, their shoots stop growing, but often remain green). If small begonia tubers are stored in the same way as large ones, then the likelihood of them drying out in winter increases significantly. Begonias grown from standard tubers manage to grow fairly large tubers by the dormant period.

They are stored differently: 1) If begonias were grown in open ground, then after the first autumn frosts they are dug up with a clod of earth. The above-ground part is cut to 2-3 cm with pruning shears. Without clearing the soil from the roots, the tubers are placed in boxes and transferred to a warm, ventilated room. After about 2 weeks, remove the remaining shoots, which by this time are easily separated. The tubers are dried and stored in the basement at a temperature of 6-10°C and air humidity of 80-85%. The gaps between the tubers are covered with peat. If there is no basement, then you can store them in the refrigerator by lightly shaking them off the ground, putting them in a cardboard box and sprinkling the tubers with dry peat, sawdust or sand. 2) If begonias were grown in pots, after the shoots die, the tubers can be left for the winter in the same pots. After the first frost, pots with begonias are brought indoors and watering is reduced. By mid-October - early November, watering should be completely stopped. If the upper part has not died off by this time, cut off the stems of the begonia near the ground and place the pot in the basement or a dark, cool place with a temperature of 5-12 ° C, where it will overwinter until February. 3) Young first-year begonias with small tubers, grown from seeds, are stored in a completely different way in winter, since they have a relative period of rest - their above-ground part often remains green in winter. Young begonias remain overwintering in pots placed in a bright, cool (about 10-15°C) place with moderate watering.

Cited 9 times Liked by: 2 users

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

Winter care for a flower in a pot at home

A plant left in a pot for a dormant period requires proper care. Important conditions for its storage are the following factors:

Watering. It is carried out much less frequently than in spring and summer, but overdrying the substrate is unacceptable, as it will lead to the death of the tuber. Likewise, excessive moisture at the bottom of the container will contribute to rotting of the bulbs. Moisturizing will be needed only after the surface layer has dried 1–2 cm.
Climate regime. For the begonia remaining in the pot, room temperature is quite suitable, but it is best if the plant is installed in a cool place: on a balcony, in the basement of a private house. The optimal temperature is considered to be from +17 to +18 °C. During the heating season, it is recommended to humidify dry air using a spray bottle.
Lighting. During storage, it is necessary to provide the perennial with twilight or minimal penetration of sunlight into the place where the pot is located.

Reference. In the spring (around March), the begonia that overwintered in the pot will gradually begin to wake up, so it needs to be moved to the windowsill so that the plant gets used to natural light. In this case, it is necessary to avoid windows facing the north side.

Useful tips

To ensure proper wintering for perennials, you should follow several recommendations:

do not plant begonia before the end of the dormant period, which usually lasts until the beginning of March;
break off the sprouts that appear on root crops before spring;
when sprouts form in winter, move the boxes with tubers to a cooler place;
sprouted tubers in the refrigerator - sort out, dry well and wrap each specimen in paper;
Be sure to germinate the bulbs before planting;
Plant garden begonias in the ground only after the appropriate air temperature has become stable.

Proper maintenance of begonia with the provision of the necessary conditions in winter is a guarantee of active development and abundant flowering of the perennial throughout the next season.

Types of begonia

Before we talk about how to preserve begonia in winter, let's start with the fact that there are several types of begonia:

decorative deciduous;
bushy;
tuberous.

Each of them requires certain conditions during the winter. Bushy and decorative deciduous species do not require special wintering conditions. To prevent them from dying in winter, it is enough to cut off wilted stems when cold weather sets in and mulch the bushes with straw or garden leaves.

Tuberous begonias are the most demanding of care and maintenance in winter.

The beauty and duration of flowering of this magnificent flower directly depends on how to care for begonia in winter. If begonia does not bloom for a long time, or it has small and few flowers, this indicates that it was stored incorrectly in winter.

How to organize proper wintering of begonia tubers?