Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Identifying Your Begonia Type
- Preparing Tuberous Begonias for Dormancy
- Best Storage Methods for Begonia Tubers
- Wintering Wax and Rex Begonias Indoors
- Common Challenges and Easy Solutions
- Planning for the Spring Return
- Choosing Varieties for Next Year
- Safety and Care Tips
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
There is a special kind of satisfaction in seeing your favorite begonias return to the garden year after year. These plants are beloved for their lush foliage and vibrant flowers that brighten up shady corners and hanging baskets. While tuberous begonias are tropical plants that cannot survive a freezing winter outdoors, saving them is a rewarding and straightforward process.
At Longfield Gardens, we want to help you enjoy your garden to the fullest, and that includes preserving your favorite plants for next season. For a broader overview, see All About Begonias. This guide will teach you exactly how to identify your begonia type and provide the specific care it needs to survive the cold months. Whether you have tuberous begonias that need a nap or wax begonias you want to keep as houseplants, we have you covered.
By following a few simple steps, you can keep your plants healthy and ready for a head start next spring. Learning how to winter begonia plants correctly is an easy way to save money and maintain the beautiful varieties you love.
Identifying Your Begonia Type
Before you start the wintering process, you must know which type of begonia you are growing. Not all begonias handle winter the same way. Some types want to go completely dormant, while others prefer to keep growing indoors as houseplants.
Tuberous Begonias
These are the most common begonias for wintering. They grow from a thick, brown, pancake-like root called a tuber. Popular varieties like Non-Stop, Illumination, and On Top belong to this group. These plants produce large, showy flowers and thrive in part-shade containers or garden beds. Tuberous begonias require a period of dormancy in a cool, dry place to survive the winter.
Fibrous and Wax Begonias
Wax begonias are often used as bedding plants or in borders. They have smaller flowers and succulent-like stems with fleshy roots rather than a large tuber. Wax begonias do not go dormant. If you want to keep these over the winter, you must bring them inside as active houseplants.
Rex and Rhizomatous Begonias
These varieties are mostly grown for their stunning, colorful foliage. Like wax begonias, they do not have a dormant period. They grow from thick stems that crawl along the surface of the soil. These make excellent year-round indoor plants if they are given enough humidity and light.
Key Takeaway: Always check the root system of your plant. If you find a solid, woody tuber, the plant needs a dry, dormant rest. If the roots are thin and hair-like, the plant needs to stay in a pot and continue growing indoors.
Preparing Tuberous Begonias for Dormancy
Tuberous begonias tell you when they are ready for winter. As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop in early fall, the plant will naturally start to look a bit tired. This is a normal part of its life cycle.
Timing the Harvest
Wait for the first light frost to touch the foliage. A light frost will turn the leaves black or yellow, which signals the plant to send its energy down into the tuber. If your area does not get frost early, you can start the process in late October by cutting back on water.
Lifting the Tubers
Once the foliage has wilted, it is time to lift the tubers from the ground or their pots. Use a garden fork or a small trowel to gently loosen the soil around the plant. Be very careful not to nick or bruise the tuber, as damaged spots can lead to rot during storage.
Lift the entire plant, soil and all. Shake off the excess dirt, but do not worry about getting them perfectly clean yet. At this stage, the stems may still be attached to the tuber.
The Curing Process
Curing is just a fancy word for letting the tubers dry out. This is a critical step to prevent mold. Place the tubers in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. A garage or a covered porch works well, as long as it stays above freezing.
Leave the tubers to dry for about a week. During this time, the remaining stems will become brittle and eventually fall off on their own. If they do not fall off, you can gently snap them away from the tuber once they are completely dry.
Cleaning and Inspection
After the curing period, gently brush away the remaining dried soil with your hands or a soft brush. Inspect each tuber for any soft spots or signs of pests. Healthy tubers should feel firm, much like a potato. If you find a small soft spot, you can often trim it away and let the area dry again, but very mushy tubers should be discarded.
What to Do Next:
- Watch the weather for the first light frost of the season.
- Stop watering your potted begonias to encourage the leaves to yellow.
- Find a flat tray or cardboard box to use for the curing phase.
Best Storage Methods for Begonia Tubers
Once your tubers are clean and dry, they need a safe home for the next few months. The goal is to keep them dormant, which means keeping them cool, dark, and dry.
Choosing a Storage Medium
Storing tubers "naked" in a box can cause them to shrivel up. It is better to nestle them into a material that regulates moisture. We recommend using one of the following:
- Peat moss
- Vermiculite
- Coarse sawdust
- Dry shredded paper
Packing the Tubers
Choose a sturdy cardboard box or a plastic bin with holes for ventilation. Place a layer of your chosen storage medium at the bottom. Arrange the tubers on top so they are not touching each other. This prevents any rot from spreading from one tuber to another. Cover them with another layer of material.
If you have many different varieties, it is helpful to label each one. You can write the variety name directly on the tuber with a soft felt-tip marker or place them in individual paper bags inside the box.
Storing in Pots
If your begonias were growing in containers, you have an even easier option. You can simply leave the tubers in the dry soil within the pot. Move the entire pot to a cool, frost-free location like a basement. Do not water the pot at all during the winter. In the spring, you can lift the tuber to refresh the soil and start the growing process again.
Ideal Winter Conditions
The storage location is the most important factor in success. You want a spot that stays between 45°F and 55°F.
- Too cold: If the temperature drops below freezing, the tubers will turn to mush and die.
- Too warm: If the area is too warm, the tubers may try to sprout too early or shrivel up from moisture loss.
- Too damp: High humidity or wet storage material will cause rot.
Basements, unheated crawl spaces, or insulated garages are usually the best spots in most US homes.
Key Takeaway: The perfect storage spot is cool, dark, and dry. Check your tubers once a month during the winter to ensure they remain firm and free of mold.
Wintering Wax and Rex Begonias Indoors
If your begonias do not have tubers, they cannot go dormant. Instead, you must treat them like houseplants. Bringing these varieties indoors allows you to enjoy their foliage all winter long.
Moving Plants Inside
Timing is everything when bringing plants indoors. Do not wait until the heater is running full blast and the outdoor air is freezing. The shock of moving from cold outdoor air to a hot, dry living room can cause the plant to drop all its leaves.
Bring your begonias inside when night temperatures consistently drop below 55°F. Before bringing them in, give them a gentle spray with water to wash away any lingering hitchhikers like aphids or spider mites. For a step-by-step refresher, see How to Overwinter Begonia Plants.
Lighting Needs
Indoors, begonias need bright, indirect light. A window facing east or west is usually ideal. Avoid south-facing windows where the midday sun might be too intense and burn the leaves. If your home is naturally dark, a simple grow light can help keep the foliage vibrant throughout the winter.
Watering and Humidity
This is where many gardeners struggle with indoor begonias. The air inside a heated home is very dry, but begonias love humidity.
- The Pebble Tray Trick: Place your pots on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water. As the water evaporates, it creates a humid microclimate around the plant. Just make sure the bottom of the pot is sitting on the pebbles, not in the water.
- Watering Habits: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry. Begonias are prone to root rot if they stay too wet. Use room-temperature water to avoid shocking the roots.
Avoiding Fertilizer
Plants grow much slower in the winter because there is less sunlight. Stop fertilizing your indoor begonias in late fall. Wait until you see new growth in the spring before you start feeding them again. This prevents a buildup of salts in the soil that can damage the roots.
Common Challenges and Easy Solutions
Even with the best care, you might run into a few hurdles while wintering your begonias. Most of these issues are easy to fix if you catch them early.
Tubers Starting to Shrivel
If you check your stored tubers and they look a bit wrinkled, they are losing too much moisture. This usually happens if the storage area is too dry or the packing material is too loose. A very light misting of water on the packing material (not the tuber itself) can help. You want the material to be barely damp, like a wrung-out sponge.
Mold or Soft Spots
If you see white fuzzy mold on a tuber, the storage area is likely too damp or lacks airflow. Remove the affected tuber immediately. If the damage is minor, you can cut away the soft spot and dust the area with a little sulfur powder or cinnamon (a natural antifungal) before letting it dry and repotting it in fresh, dry material.
Leggy Growth on Indoor Plants
If your wax or Rex begonias are growing long, skinny stems with very few leaves, they aren't getting enough light. This is called "reaching." Move the plant closer to a window or add a small desk lamp with a LED grow bulb. You can also pinch back the long stems to encourage the plant to grow bushier.
Dropping Leaves
It is normal for a begonia to drop a few leaves when it first moves indoors. It is simply adjusting to the new environment. However, if it continues to drop green leaves, it may be sitting in a draft or getting too much water. Keep plants away from heating vents and cold doorways.
What to Do Next:
- Set a recurring reminder on your phone to check your stored tubers once a month.
- Group your indoor begonias together to help naturally increase the humidity around them.
- Keep a small fan in the room with indoor plants to improve air circulation.
Planning for the Spring Return
Wintering your begonias is only half the journey. The excitement really begins in late winter or early spring when it is time to wake them up.
Waking Up the Tubers
About 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost in your area, you can bring your tuberous begonias out of storage. Look for small pink or red "eyes" or buds on the hollow side of the tuber. For planting depth details, see How Deep Do I Plant Begonia Corms?. This is a sign that the plant is ready to grow.
Place the tubers in a shallow tray filled with moist potting soil. Position them with the hollow side facing up. Keep the tray in a warm, bright spot. Once you see stems that are a few inches tall, you can move them into their permanent pots for the summer.
Transitioning Back Outdoors
Just as you eased the plants into the house in the fall, you must ease them back outside in the spring. This process is called "hardening off." Start by placing your pots in a shaded, protected area for a few hours a day. Gradually increase their time outside over the course of a week.
Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm before planting them in the ground. Begonias are tropical at heart and will grow much faster once the nights stay consistently above 60°F.
Choosing Varieties for Next Year
If you enjoyed the process of saving your begonias, you might want to expand your collection. At Longfield Gardens, we offer a wide variety of tuberous begonias that are excellent candidates for wintering, including Begonia Upright Double Superba White.
- Non-Stop Series: Known for their incredible flower power and bushy habit. They come in almost every color of the rainbow and are very reliable.
- Illumination Series: These have a beautiful trailing habit, making them the gold standard for Hanging Begonias and window boxes.
- On Top Series: These varieties feature upright growth with picotee edges on the petals, providing a sophisticated look for Upright Double Begonias.
By selecting high-quality tubers and learning how to store them, you can build a stunning collection that matures and improves with each passing year. Larger, older tubers often produce even more flowers than brand-new ones, so your effort really pays off over time.
Safety and Care Tips
While begonias are beautiful, it is important to remember a few safety basics for your home and garden.
Toxicity to Pets
Most begonias contain calcium oxalates, which can be toxic if eaten by dogs or cats. The most concentrated part of the toxin is in the tubers. When storing your tubers or keeping begonias as houseplants, make sure they are kept in a location that is out of reach for curious pets.
Soil and Drainage
Whether you are starting tubers in the spring or keeping wax begonias in pots over the winter, drainage is the most important factor. Always use a high-quality potting mix that contains perlite or vermiculite to ensure water can move freely. Begonias do not like "wet feet." A pot with at least one large drainage hole is essential.
Realistic Expectations
Gardening is a partnership with nature. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a tuber might rot or an indoor plant might struggle. Factors like the age of the tuber, local humidity levels, and unexpected temperature swings in your storage area can all play a role. Don't be discouraged if you lose a plant here or there. At Longfield Gardens, we stand behind the quality of our plants with a 100% Quality Guarantee. Each season is a chance to learn more about what works best in your specific microclimate.
Key Takeaway: Success comes from observation. By checking your plants regularly, you can make small adjustments that lead to big results.
Conclusion
Saving your begonias for the winter is a simple and rewarding way to extend the life of your garden. Whether you are tucking tuberous varieties away for a long winter nap or enjoying the colorful foliage of a Rex begonia in your living room, the process connects you more deeply to the rhythm of the seasons.
At Longfield Gardens, we believe that gardening should be an enjoyable and accessible hobby for everyone. With the right storage conditions and a little bit of patience, you can ensure your favorite begonias are ready to shine again next summer. If you’re looking to add to your collection, explore our selection of premium Begonia Hanging Golden Balcony and start planning your most vibrant garden yet.
To-Do List for Winter Success:
- Identify if your begonia needs a dry dormancy or an indoor home.
- Cure tubers in a dry, shaded area for one week before packing.
- Use a breathable storage medium like peat moss or sawdust.
- Check stored plants monthly for firmness and health.
We are here to help you grow a more beautiful world. If you’re looking to add to your collection, explore our selection of premium begonia tubers and start planning your most vibrant garden yet.
FAQ
How do I know if my begonia tuber has died during storage?
A healthy tuber should feel firm and heavy for its size. If the tuber feels light and hollow, it has likely dried out completely. If it feels mushy or soft when you press on it, it has succumbed to rot. In both cases, the tuber should be discarded as it will not grow back in the spring.
Can I leave my tuberous begonias in the ground if I live in a warm climate?
If you live in USDA zones 9 or 10 where the ground does not freeze, you may be able to leave them in the ground. However, they must stay dry during their dormant period. If your area gets a lot of winter rain, the tubers will likely rot in the soil. In these cases, it is still safer to lift them and store them in a dry place.
When should I stop watering my begonias in the fall?
Start reducing water in late September or early October. This mimics the end of the rainy season in their native habitats and encourages the plant to begin moving energy into the tuber. If the plant is in a pot, you can turn the pot on its side to prevent rain from reaching the soil while the foliage dies back.
Do I need to use fungicide on the tubers before storing them?
While not strictly necessary, some gardeners like to dust their cleaned tubers with a light coating of sulfur powder. This can help prevent fungal growth and rot during the months of storage. If you have had issues with rot in the past, or if your storage area is naturally a bit damp, this is a helpful extra precaution.