- 1). Locate the tuberous begonia plants in a shady location such as the north side of your house or under a shade tree. Two or three hours of exposure to morning sun will not harm tuberous begonia plants, but exposure to harsh afternoon sun will cause the leaves to turn white and the plants to decline. Move pots to a shady location if the sun becomes too harsh. If planting in the ground, choose the location carefully. Only place outside after all danger of frost has passed.
- 2). Plant tuberous begonias in a container with several drainage holes. Place a 1-inch layer of pea gravel over the bottom of the pot so the holes cannot get clogged with potting soil. Use fresh, new potting soil and plant the begonias at the same depth they were planted in the previous container. Plant tuberous begonias in a location where water does not stand after a rain. Tuberous begonias require evenly moist soil but the roots quickly rot if left sitting in water.
- 3). Fertilize tuberous begonias every 10 to 14 days with a water soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength. It is better to use multiple applications of a diluted fertilizer, than a few heavy applications. Also, overfertilization causes the leaf margins to turn black.
- 4). Water tuberous begonias when the soil become slightly dry but has not dried out completely. Water the roots thoroughly. The soil around the tuberous begonias should not remain waterlogged. Water around the roots only. Do not get the leaves and flowers wet to avoid mildew or fungal problems.
- 5). Prepare tuberous begonias for winter by withholding water when the leaves begin to turn yellow in the fall. Tuberous begonias require a dormant period to bloom the following spring. After the first frost, when the top of the plant declines, trim off the desiccated portions of the plant, bring it indoors and store in a cool dry place until spring. Do not water during this time. Trim off any other parts of the plant that dry out over the winter.
If the tuberous begonias are planted in the ground, trim the stems back to 5 inches after the first frost. Dig the tubers from the ground and set out at room temperature and allow the top of the plants to dry. Remove the dried plant tops by hand and store the unwashed tubers in a plastic bag in which you have punched holes for aeration, and filled with a mixture of half peat moss and half vermiculite. Store the bag between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit until February. - 6). Plant the tubers in February, in a mixture of one-half vermiculite and one-half peat moss. Push the tuber into the surface of the planting mixture. Do not cover the tuber or allow water to cover the tuber, but keep the planting mixture moist around the tuber. When new growth is 1 inch tall, plant the tubers in well-drained containers in new potting soil by slightly covering them. Set or plant the new plants outside in a suitable location in spring, after all danger of frost has passed.
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