How to Winterize Begonia Bulbs Easy and Correctly

Whoever must be want to have flowers that can blooms in time, there are many kind of flowers in this wolrd, annual or perrenials. In country such as United States geography of the Northern Hemisphere results in four weather rotations: Fall season from 23 September to 20 December, Winter 21 December to 20 March, spring from 21 March – 20 June and summer from  June 21 to September 22. The right time in growing flowers or housplant in this area is a must. But in tropical countries, the plants can easily grow and be planted any time only by paying attention where its stored, watering techniques, soil conditions, fertilization and maintenance to avoid pests that can inhibits their grow.

One of beautiful flower that you can plant is Begonias. It is tuberous shrubs that grow well in partial shade or indirect sunlight and in last summer they produce colorful blooms. They grow best in fertile and well-drained soil. Hardiness zones of tuberous begonias 3 through 10.

When cooler temperatures is started in late fall, dug up begonia tubers and stored in a controlled container to ensure that they willl survive over the winter is a must . Move begonias to a sheltered area that receives  partial shade with no rainfall if you planted in a pot. Then in the spring, they can be replanted. Actually begonias will begin a dormancy period in October or November even in areas with little or no frost. This is the right time to begin winterizing begonia bulbs.

Step to winterizing begonia bulbs:

• Dig up the tubers of begonias carefully, use pruning shears to remove all of the foliage. Then leave the tubers in a clump of soil.
• You have to set the tubers and soil in a cool place and dry for three weeks to cure.
• Use a knife to cut off the stalks, roots and any rotted spots after you shake off the soil from the tubers.
• Then you can use powdered fungicide to dust the tubers to avoid fungi.
• Fill a paper bag with vermiculite, sand, sawdust or peatmoss to place the tubers in.
• Last you have to put the bag of tubers in a cool place and dry between 35 to 50 degrees F.

Proper wintering is possible of begonia to grow well with this following rules:

The active period of begonia continues to the end of February. In the early days of winter, its best to store begonias in a container, so it does not need to be planted. To be note, avoid plactic to store them.

Keep checking periodically, when rot is detected, cut it off by using a sterile and sharp knife to avoid crushing the tissue at the cut.

Winter planting material, before planting in the spring, it is necessary to germinate. In this case, the tubers are placed at a certain distance from each other, leaving 3-4 cm above the soil surface (sand). To get sprouts, the soil surface is moistened with water.

It is necessary to germinate begonia before planting in the spring. You have to place the tubers at a certain distance from each other, 3 to 4 cm above the soil surface. Then you can misting by using sprayer to get sprouts on the surface.

Depending on age of begonia, the tubers can be stored in the winter in several ways. If these are the seedlings of the first year, the tops of the young plants remain green in winter, they do not need to be cut. Put them in pots during winter. Give them light as long as they retain leaves because they need it. Bulbs should be stored in a bright and ventilated place at a temperature not exceeding + 59°F. Water them in every 2 or 3 weeks or else you can spray them. It is important to avoid waterlog that will cause rot roots. If the first year tubers caring them must be correct.

Experience of gardeners recommend you to do these following things:

• In September, you need to give them fertilizer.
• In the cold climates, begonias can be stored in the windows that face to the east side
• In winter, the plant does not need lot of nutrients. In excess, root rot is possible.
• Once the node have produced new stems, winter cuttings can be done.

How to care for begonias after winter

Begonias will begin the following growth phases in early spring. The tubers begin to germinate. So what you are going to do now is more intensive care, it is what the plant needs. Well soil-mixed for germinating begonias is peat, compost, rotten leaves with sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2.

Within several weeks begonias grow unevenly. In this period, plants need to protect from strong wind and direct sunlight. When warm weather is coming, you can plant begonias outside: the soil should be loosened with sand. To plant a tuber at least 15×15 cm of area is needed, and 30×30 cm for large tubers. After planting, the soil is covered with compost. The soil moisture should be monitored and avoid waterlogging. Watering them in the morning time is more effective. Mostly in winter flowers or houseplant need more caring including begonia. Poor flowering in summer will happen if you store the tubers improperly. So, you need to try to avoid this mistake. Well, now you know how to store begonia tubers over winter, winterizing the tubers and how to grow this beautiful begonia in spring.