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Without a doubt, die-hard begonia fans really should understand why and how to overwinter begonias. After all, a single tuberous begonia can live for 15 years or more as long as you offer it proper winter protection. As for exactly how to overwinter begonias, there are a few different ways to do it. The method you choose may depend in part on the amount of winter storage space you have. For instance, if you have a cool, dry area like a basement, attic, garage, or frost-free shed, lifting and storing each tuber may be easiest for you. But if space is at a premium, you might want to take stem or leaf cuttings instead.
Why save begonias
Knowing how to overwinter begonias opens up some new opportunities for you as a gardener. First, if you usually buy all new begonias each spring, now you can save that money—and maybe even spend it on some other new seeds or plants instead. 😉 Knowing how to overwinter begonias also means that the begonia plants you save can steadily grow larger and more robust each year, making them great candidates for propagation. As a result, you’ll have many more begonia plants to spread around and share with friends and neighbors. Finally, if you come across a really standout specimen with, say, extra vibrant, doubled blooms, who’s to say you’ll be able to find another just like it next growing season? As easy as it is to overwinter begonias, you might as well give it a try and reap the rewards accordingly.
Types of begonias worth overwintering
Some begonias are easier to overwinter than others. To sort out which is which, it helps to understand the differences between the different types of begonias.
- Hardy begonias—If you live in a climate with relatively mild winters, you may be able to overwinter these tough, mounding plants by leaving them in the garden, providing a wind break, and adding a thick layer of mulch to guard against frosts. Varieties like Begonia grandis subsp evansiana are hardy to zones 6 or 7 and can withstand temperatures down to 32 degrees F (0 degrees C.) If you have hardy begonias growing in individual pots, wait until after your first frost and then store them in a cool-but-not-freezing garage or shed until spring when the risk of frost has passed.
- Tuberous begonias—Like hardy begonias, tuberous begonias go through a dormant period which makes them good candidates for overwintering. And with so many unusual bloom types and color combinations available, tuberous begonias are definitely worth saving.
Tuberous begonias, like this pink variety, are easy to save as bare tubers from year to year. - Wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens)—Most commonly treated as annuals, wax begonias can be brought inside and grown as houseplants during winter, but they’re fussy houseguests with very specific lighting, temperature, and humidity needs.
Wax begonias are inexpensive so most gardeners purchase new ones every year, but it is possible to save them from year to year if you have the correct indoor growing conditions. - Cane and Rex begonias—As with wax begonias, the cane begonia type and Rex begonias don’t go dormant. But, unlike wax begonias, these two are a bit more forgiving when overwintered inside as houseplants. For best results, they need moist but well-drained soil and bright, indirect light.
Cane begonias, like this angel wing variety, are fun to overwinter as houseplants.
Preparing begonias for overwintering
How you’ll prepare your begonias for overwintering partly depends on whether or not your begonia type goes dormant and which overwintering method you’ve chosen. For example, if you plan to store tuberous begonias, you should let your begonia foliage die back in late summer or early fall before you dig them up. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to bring non-dormant Rex or Cane begonias inside to keep as houseplants, you should begin acclimating them to life indoors sooner—before any cold weather hits.
4 Begonia overwintering methods
The main methods for overwintering begonias include:
- bringing non-dormant begonias indoors to live as houseplants
- digging up and storing dormant tuberous begonias in a cool, dark spot until it’s safe to re-plant them outside in spring
- propagating new begonia plants from stem cuttings
- propagating new begonia plants from leaf cuttings
How to overwinter begonias as houseplants
As for how to overwinter begonias as houseplants, if they’re growing in a garden bed, dig them up before cold weather comes. Trim away any dead or diseased leaves, check for aphids and other potential hitchhiking insects, and then plant in a pot with adequate drainage holes. Your begonias will thrive with bright, indirect light, consistently moist soil, and occasional application of a slow-release, organic fertilizer or compost tea.
How to overwinter begonias as dormant tubers
If you’ve ever stored dahlias, learning how to overwinter begonias as dormant tubers should be a snap for you. First, stop feeding and watering by October, so your begonias can go dormant. As they do, their leaves will naturally drop off. Unearth each entire plant from your garden bed or container garden and gently shake off most of the soil as you go. Lay these now-exposed tubers out on trays or in an open cardboard box in a cool, dry location. Leave them here for about a week to cure. Once any remaining leaves have dropped and the tubers have become drier, look for signs of rot. Discard any tubers that feel squishy or have soft spots. Place the rest in a paper bag or cardboard box filled with dry peat moss, wood chips, or sawdust and store this in a cool, dry spot that maintains a temperature of between 40 and 50 degrees F (4.4 to 10 degrees C.)
How to overwinter begonias as stem cuttings
Use clean, sharp garden snips to cut several three-inch-long stems from a healthy begonia plant. Each cutting should include two or three branch nodes. Carefully remove most large leaves and all flower buds. If you like, you can dip the cut stem into powdered rooting hormone. Next, insert the cut stem into a growing tray filled with pre-moistened, sterile potting mix. Keep medium moist but not waterlogged. To speed rooting, use a seedling heat mat.
How to overwinter begonias as leaf cuttings
Wondering how to overwinter begonias by taking leaf cuttings? You’ll need the same supplies as you’d use for stem cuttings, and the process itself is similar. Instead of rooting stems, though, you’ll be encouraging roots to grow from leaf pieces containing cut or wounded veins. Simply snip a large leaf into three-inch sections and then press the bottom side of these sections into your tray of pre-moistened medium. Again, rooting hormone and a seedling heat mat can work wonders here.
When can you take your begonias back outside?
By about April, you can begin bringing stored tubers out of dormancy by shallowly planting them in a tray or pot of pre-moistened vermiculite, peat moss, or sand and exposing them to temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F (18 to 21 degrees C.) Soon, they’ll grow new roots and shoots.
After your average last frost date has safely passed, you can plant tuberous and other types of begonias back out in the garden or move them into outdoor containers.
All tucked in
Whether you plan to store dormant begonia tubers, keep begonias inside as houseplants, or grow leaf or stem cuttings, by learning how to overwinter begonias, you can save money and save your favorite begonia varieties in the process. Have access to plenty of cool, dark storage space? Then lifting and packing the dried tubers might be your ideal solution. But what if space is tight or you’re growing a non-dormant type of begonia? In that case, consider saving one or two of them as indoor houseplants or start stem or leaf cuttings instead. No matter what overwintering method you choose, when spring returns, you and your begonias will be ready.
More advice on overwintering other plants:
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