pruning a wax begonia

If the tuberous begonia is growing in a pot, tip the pot over on its side and move it to a sheltered area. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Common name: Bedding begonia Botanic name: Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum. This plant has been popular since the Victorian age, and it is still popular in gardens and homes today.Depending on the species, this plant can grow anywhere from six inches tall up to … If your begonias start to get overgrown, cut up to a third of the stems at a time to thin them out. Cut the stems back to the ground after the foliage begins to die back at the advent of cold weather. When you do that, place them in flats of soil in which you can winter them. To know how to care for your begonia over the winter, you really need to know what kind of begonia you’re growing. Flower colours range from white through pinks to dark red. Foliage may be green, red, bronze, variegated or white, depending on variety. Native to South American countries of Argentina , Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay , wax begonia is the most popular member of the begonia genus. Select each stem carefully to maintain a uniform shape throughout the plant. Lack of plant vigor and browning leaves are good indications that a compact begonia species needs to be thinned to expose the center of the plant to air and sunlight. Begonias benefit from pruning and in some instances being … Begonias make a great addition to the shaded areas of your garden or your house, but they need to be pruned to control their spread, keep their foliage thick and avoid an overgrown look. The advice given here will help guide you to growing success. Modern hybrids have more colors and greater sun tolerance than the well-loved favorites of yesteryear. References. Once they’ve stopped flowering in the fall, cut back their stems to about 4 inches to help them grow back next year. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Plant in free-draining soil in a … Pinch off new stems when the newly-planted cane begonia is about 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Additionally, begonias grown as annuals often don't have time to grow too tall before dying back to the ground. Fibrous and rhizomatous begonias are easy to grow as house plants, but tuberous begonias need to be stored as bulbs over the winter, and hardy begonias should just be left outside. Last Updated: April 30, 2020 Cut the stems back to a leaf node using clean, sharp sterilized pruning shears or a knife. Wax … Wax Begonia (Begonia Semperflorens) Plant Care Guide Read More » You can also use rubbing alcohol. They also flourish in containers and flower pots, so they make a terrific indoor plant as well. 2 Cut … If you have tuberous begonias (such as the Go Go Yellow variety) and are growing them outside, dig up the bulbs after you have cut them back. If taller begonias start to grow lanky stems or can’t support the weight of the foliage, it’s probably time to prune some of the stems. The wax begonia is a plant that thrives in growing zones 10 and 11 as perennials, but they can also grow in other zones within the country as annuals. Wax begonia (Begonia Semperflorens) are very popular because of their blooming ability, durability and good looks. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. If you have winter-flowering begonias, cut them back in the spring after they have finished flowering. For any green canes, you can shorten them a bit, but leave at least 4 nodes like I did in the photo above. This step is particularly important if you have cane begonias, such as Angel Wings. Variegated begonias need partial exposure to the sun to maintain the color devel… Make this begonia the focal point of your flowering containers. Wondering what are the properties of Wisteria and Wax Begonia? Carry out this practice any time during spring or early summer when your begonia is in its active growth cycle. Choose the longest begonia stem and notice there is a bump, or node, where a leaf or flower will grow. Innumerable flats of these sturdy plants are poked into the soil every spring to create lush beds of flowers. You should be careful not to damage the main stem of the plant while pruning it. How can I keep my plant to a bushy shrub like appearance? Begonia venosa is a species from the South American desert. We provide you with everything wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Suggested uses. The cheerful Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) has been popular since the Victorian era. If you grow begonias as houseplants or live in zone 10 where begonias can grow outdoors, it is best to reduce height or length in spring. Winter-flowering begonias bloom from late autumn to mid-spring. This article has been viewed 39,292 times. Description: Dwarf shrubby begonias to 30cm (1′) tall. Planting and care are major factors ensuring better growth and flowering for the plant. This is because it is easy to grow and care for. Cutting back wax begonia. Disinfect a pair of bypass pruners with isopropyl rubbing alcohol to prevent spreading diseases from other garden plants to your begonias. Deadhead flowers as they expire to keep the plant looking fresh, either by picking the flowers off by hand or clipping the stem just below the flower. Pruning your begonias regularly will keep them under control and looking beautiful in your garden. Stop pinching the tips when the plants fill out to the desired size so the begonia can flower. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Most begonias grow naturally in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11; common species such as wax begonia (B. semperflorens), available at most garden retailers, are widely grown as annuals in colder climates. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. As such, there are lots of colors to choose from including pink, yellow and white. Thin out as much as one-third of the total stems from compact, bushy begonias if the plant becomes too crowded and overgrown. I feed my edible begonia with good quality, organic liquid fertilizer each week. Tuberous begonia s should be pruned or cut back in the late fall before the … Q. Pruning angel wing begonia. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This article has been viewed 39,292 times. For proper watering, first find the type of soil and type of soil drainage favorable for the plant. Fertilizer. Watering is one This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Begonia maculata after pruning and showing new growth If there are very old, woody canes, especially with not that many leaves, just cut the whole canes down to the soil line. Always make your pruning cuts above a leaf or flower node. This helps the plant concentrate its energy, which is reduced during the winter, on the healthier stems, leaves, and blooms. You can prune your begonias severely both above and below the soil line. The seeds are tiny – like particles of dust – and have a very long germination period. The leaves may have bold shapes or striking, often silver markings. I have a Bubbles Begonia for a couple of years now and it is alive, scraggly looking , and I think it needs a pruning to invigorate and increase growth. Wax begonia can be very tricky to grow from seed. Remove any diseased plant parts promptly, following the same procedure, and disinfect the pruners after cutting diseased plant material. I have several stalks that just grow straight up to five feet. Pruning is an important part of Wax Begonia and Candelaria care. Training Plants in the Way They Should Go by Elda Haring While some begonias are naturally compact and low growing, many others need special handling to attain a symmetrical plant or to keep the plants from becoming lanky, sparsely foliaged and unattractive. Make sure to remove the dead leaves and stems from the floor immediately as they may spread disease into the healthy plant. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. The group contains some of the hardiest members of the 1800+ army of Begonia species. The reasons for this heavy use are obviousthey're a durable, ever-blooming plant that provides sweeping color in single or double blooms. Most begonias like moist soils and dappled shade. You can encourage your begonias to become bushier and more compact by pinching them. Wax Begonia and Candelaria pruning is done as follows: Wax Begonia pruning: Cut back the foliage when the plants die back naturally . This will make the plant produce additional blooms. Most common begonias are succulents that perform well in low-moisture environments and require relatively little pruning, especially when trained properly at planting time. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Prune-Begonias-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Begonias-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Prune-Begonias-Step-1.jpg\/aid10233985-v4-728px-Prune-Begonias-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"