yearbook > BEGONIA > LEGGINESS

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BEGONIA GUIDES

pink flowering begonia shrubs growing outside

Container GrowingDeadheadingFeedingHanging BasketsLeggyOverwinteringProblemsPropagationRe - PottingStarting TubersVarieties

Begonias are a group of tender perennials which are often grown as half - sturdy yearbook here in the UK .

Part of the Begoniaceae home , they lean to originate from tropical and subtropical climates including South America and Asia , hence why they sometimes struggle when grown in our very different temperate climate.1Begoniaceae – A Genus Worth Exploring . ( n.d . ) . Piedmont Master Gardeners . Retrieved March 13 , 2023 , fromhttps://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/begoniaceae-a-genus-worth-exploring/

a leggy Begonia boliviensis plant with long stems and red flowers

One of the most common issues gardeners experience when farm begonias is the plants becoming leggy or straggly , which can be because of a number of factors :

This process is explain in more astuteness below .

1) Light Conditions

Most begonias grow well in mottled or fond nicety .

If a begonia plant is produce too marvelous and becoming leggy , it is more often than not a sign that the works is not receiving enough light .

Try move the plant to a slightly lighter fleck where it will receive more wakeful .

pink begonia with some of its petals turning brown growing outside

“ Most Begonias originate in the understories of tropical timberland , ” explains Horticulturist Colin Skelly .

“ This is why they prefer part - shade or mottled shade .

“ If you ca n’t provide dappled shade then attempt to find a location that has sun in the morning but is shaded for the rest of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . ”

a potted begonia plant with dry red leaves being lifted from the soil to check for issues

However , make trusted it does not receive harsh midday sunlight , as this can scorch the leaf and cause the works to wilt .

2) Soil Conditions

Begonias can also become leggy due to the wrong grime or nutrient conditions .

Begonias are thirsty plant and grow well in a peat - free multi - purpose compost .

However , if their soil is too rich , or if manure has been summate , this may cause the plant to put on exuberant growth .

pink flowering begonia with trailing stems growing in a hanging basket outside

Tuberous and sinewy take root begonia plants require feeding during the summer months to encourage blooms .

However , if feed with too much nitrogen , this may cause the plant life to become leggy .

Instead , fertilise with a weekly high - potassium feed , which will promote flowering rather than growth .

3) Older Plant Problems

Even if grown in the right conditions , begonias can turn a loss their broken leaves and become leggy over time as part of the natural ageing process .

Unfortunately , there is not much you could do about that , though pruning can help oneself ( see below ) .

Try growing Modern begonias instead – there areplenty of varietiesto choose from .

4) Tip Pinching To Encourage New Canes

When develop begonias , diminished plants can benefit from having their growing tips pinch off , which will promote side growth and a bushier use as they maturate on .

“ Tip pinching is also helpful to further new cane from the base of the plant , ” adds Janeen Randle , the president of the Melbourne Begonia Society .

Whether a fledged begonia has become leggy due to growing experimental condition or sometime age , the flora can be cut back to its common shape using a pair of clear and sharp secateurs , cutting back to just above a leaf node .

“ The secure elbow room to manage leggy begonias is to remove old dark-brown stems at ground spirit level , cut back by about two - thirds , preferably piddle the cutting around 10 mm above an outward facing bud , ” explain Janeen .

To revitalize an overgrown begonia , the plant can be cut back to 10 - 12 cm above the soil surface and reserve to regrow .

References