Growing Full, Bushy Begonias: A Complete Guide

With their colorful, abundant blooms and attractive foliage, begonias bring beauty to gardens, patio containers, and indoors. To keep these prized plants looking their best all season, it’s important to understand begonia care and techniques for promoting lush, full growth This comprehensive guide shares expert tips for encouraging begonias to grow into shapely, bushy specimens that will dazzle

An Overview of Begonia Types

While all are in the Begonia genus, there are thousands of begonia species and cultivars that come in a range of shapes and sizes. The main categories are

• Wax begonias – The most popular outdoor bedding begonias, They produce nonstop flowers and have glossy leaves,

• Tuberous begonias – Grown for their huge, showy blossoms. The tubers are lifted and stored over winter.

• Rex begonias – Prized for their colorful, dramatically patterned foliage. They thrive as houseplants.

• Hardy begonias – Perennial types like B. grandis that are cold hardy and come back each year.

• Cane or angel wing begonias – Tall, woody-stemmed varieties with angel wing-shaped leaves.

• Trailing or hanging begonias – Cascading types perfect for hanging baskets and containers.

While growth habits vary, all begonias thrive in shady, humid conditions and enriched, well-drained soil. Let’s look at how to maximize their bushy potential.

Getting Begonias Off to a Good Start

Creating optimal conditions from the beginning is key to establishing strong, healthy plants:

• Purchase young, compact plants that haven’t become leggy. Avoid blooming ones.

• Check for adequate roots at the bottom of pots and containers.

• Select a partially shaded planting site protected from hot sun.

• Prepare a rich, humus-heavy soil mix for the best growth.

• Space begonias 12-18 inches apart to prevent crowding.

• Water new plants thoroughly and continue regular watering to settle them in.

Giving begonias what they need upfront provides the foundation for lush growth to come.

Encouraging Bushy Growth Through Pruning

The most effective technique for making begonias fuller and more compact is corrective pruning:

• Allow new plants 2-3 weeks of growth to establish.

• Use clean, sterilized pruners to remove leggy stems back to just above a leaf node.

• On cane types, cut tall vertical canes back by one-third to one-half their length.

• For wax and other bushy begonias, pinch off individual stems by hand.

• Time pruning for early-mid summer to shape plants before their peak blooming period.

• Remove spent flowers promptly by pinching to promote new buds.

• Monitor and prune regularly through the growing season to maintain ideal form.

Judicious pruning stimulates dense, bushy regrowth, preventing legginess. Combine with proper growing conditions for the best effects.

Providing Optimal Care All Season

While pruning handles shaping, providing ideal care ensures begonias have the nutrients and conditions to grow strong:

• Water when the top inch of soil is dry, taking care not to oversaturate.

• Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

• Monitor for pests like aphids and diseases, treating promptly.

• Remove spent leaves and flowers to encourage new growth.

• Stake tall varieties like cane begonias for support.

• Maintain humid conditions and avoid dry heat.

• Move container plants to optimal light conditions as conditions shift.

Attend to regular maintenance and adjust care as needed to promote vigorous growth. Healthy plants can better rebound after pruning.

Targeting Leggy Growth

Sometimes begonias start to grow in a leggy, spread out manner later in the season. This requires corrective action:

• Identify overly long stems growing disproportionately.

• Use pruners or pinch by hand to cut back the longest stems by half or more.

• Remove small lower leaves on stems to be pruned to encourage new branching.

• Tip prune stems by a few inches where growth is sparse to renew.

• Focus pruning on outer edges and top of plant to contain size.

• Time it 4-6 weeks before desired shape for regrowth.

Catching leggy growth early and pruning back as needed re-establishes a fuller form. Stay vigilant!

Preparing Begonias for Winter

To ensure begonias come back bushy and healthy the following year:

• Dig up and store hardy perennial types like hardy begonias, tuberous begonias, and rhizomatous types.

• Take stem cuttings in late summer from wax begonias and cane begonias to carry over indoors.

• Cut back leggy growth at end of season to reset plants.

• Provide bright, cool conditions over winter for indoor plants.

• For spring, buy new young plants as needed to supplement overwintered ones.

Proper care before winter hits helps set the stage for next year’s growth.

Tips for Container Grown Specimens

Growing begonias in patio pots and hanging baskets comes with some additional pruning considerations:

• Start with proportionate container sizes – not too large for the plants.

• Space plants evenly and prune lightly after planting to shape.

• Pinch or cut back long trailing stems on cascading varieties like hanging begonias.

• Prune wax and other bushy types as needed during summer to contain size.

• Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves promptly.

• Supplement with new plants midseason if some decline.

Pay close attention to shaping container grown begonias for a proportional, pleasing look.

Know When to Prune Specific Types

While general pruning guidelines apply, each begonia variety has ideal timings:

• For wax begonias, pinch back new growth every 2-3 weeks to encourage bushiness.

• Prune cane begonias in early-mid summer, cutting canes back substantially.

• Tuberous begonias should be pruned in spring as they come out of dormancy.

• Limit pruning on rex begonias to pinching spent blooms, as they are grown for foliage.

• For trailing types, tip prune long hanging stems in early summer for shaping.

Learn when your begonias benefit most from judicious pruning.

With the right care, anyone can grow shapely, floriferous begonias:

• Start with healthy young plants suited to your climate.

• Prune new plants lightly to shape after allowing establishment.

• Prune back leggy growth as needed to encourage bushiness.

• Maintain optimal growing conditions.

• Overwinter carefully for next year’s growth.

• Adjust pruning for container grown plants.

Follow these tips and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, bushy begonias that keep blooming all season!