I have my first blooming begonia--I am wondering, are begonias plants to be cut off for display or just left in the pot? Mine is a hanging plant in a basket. Thanks, Karen (liebran) (Do I dead head them or let them form seeds-where are the seeds??)
Blooms-cut off or not??
Not sure what type you are talking about but I assume it is a tuberous one? Tuberous and semperflorens (wax) bloom over a long period. You can deadhead if you want or let them drop off by themselves. Seed pods will develop if they are pollinated but it takes lots of patience to grow them from seed if you are so inclined. You can cut the blooms off for display but they look great on the plant and last longer this way. Just bring the plant indoors and display it for a few days.
The other types are canes (angel wings) and rhizomatous. Canes will bloom off and on through the summer if conditions are right. Rhizomatous usually bloom in early spring. Rexes (a form of rhizomatous) usually bloom late summer. Blooms are a bonus on these types of plants but most are grown for their leaves which are a show in their own right.
Thanks, they look so great on the plant that I am just leaving them there. Do I have to bring them in for the winter or are they perennial? Thanks for answering some newbie questions.
There are very few hardy begonias so do bring them indoors. If they are tuberous, they will go dormant so don't keep them wet during this time (slightly moist but no more). A lot of people will dig the tuberous up, shake off loose dirt, let them dry off, and store in a bag of peat moss or wood shavings in a cool, dry place. I have my 3 or 4 in a coconut lined basket that I leave in the basket and store in the garage all winter. I may give it a tad of water every 3 to 4 weeks but not soak it. By April, new growth usually appears.
All others should be kept under lights or a bright location in the house, cut back on water, but do provide humidity.