Begonias in full bloom are one of my favorite sights in summer gardens. These shade-loving flowers produce blooms in all sorts of sizes and colors. Begonias are generally easy to care for, and some varieties actually make great houseplants.
But when they are not growing in their ideal conditions, begonias will stop blooming. There are a few common reasons this happens, and the good news is that most of the causes are treatable if caught early on.
So, if your begonias aren’t blooming this season like you’d expect, with some adjustments you should be able to get them showing off their beautiful flowers again soon. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons your begonia may not be blooming, and how you can both prevent or fix the problem!
Begonias are prized for their colorful and abundant blooms that brighten up gardens and patios. But sometimes these plants don’t bloom as prolifically as we would like.
The good news is that with a few simple adjustments to their care, you can get your begonias bursting with flowers. In this article, we’ll walk through the top strategies for getting begonias to bloom abundantly.
Choose the Right Begonia Variety
Not all begonias are big bloomers. Begonia rex varieties are grown primarily for their stunning ornamental leaves, not their flowers. Make sure you select tuberous or wax begonia varieties which are known for their prolific blooms.
Some top blooming varieties include Nonstop tuberous begonias, Dragon Wing begonias, and the Whopper and Cocktail series of wax begonias.
Give Them the Right Amount of Sunlight
Begonias need a balance of sunlight to produce abundant blooms. Too much sun will scorch them, while too little light will lead to sparse flowering.
Most begonias bloom best with 4-6 hours of morning sunlight per day. If you have a shady garden, choose a rex begonia for its colorful leaves. And for sunnier sites, go with bronze-leafed varieties that tolerate more light.
Water Thoroughly But Avoid Overwatering
Begonias hate sitting in wet soil. Overwatering causes floppy, dropping foliage and flowers. Always allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
For container plants, ensure pots have drainage holes. Use a lightweight potting mix, not heavy garden soil. For in-ground plantings, amend soil with peat moss or coco coir to improve drainage.
Apply a Balanced Fertilizer
Fertilizing begonias every 2-3 weeks gives them a boost of nutrients for prolific blooming. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer like 20-20-20 according to label directions. Always water plants before applying fertilizer.
Deadhead Frequently
Deadheading or removing old flowers triggers new bloom production. For begonias, snip off each spent flower stalk back to a larger stem. Frequent deadheading encourages continuous waves of new flowers.
Remove Female Flowers
Here’s a trick to get bigger, showier blooms: pinch off the smaller female flowers as soon as they form. This forces the plant to put energy into the larger, flamboyant male flowers.
Check for Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs and aphids will compromise begonia health and flowering. Check for pests like sticky foliage or white spots. Treat infestations early with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Discard badly infested plants.
Prevent Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew thrives in the same moist shady conditions as begonias. Avoid wetting foliage, water in the morning, and space/prune plants to increase air circulation. Treat powdery mildew with baking soda spray or fungicides.
Give Them Rich, Well-draining Soil
Begonias thrive in nutrient-rich, airy soil that drains well. Incorporate compost, worm castings, peat moss when planting. For containers, use a quality potting mix, not garden soil.
By choosing the right begonia variety, providing ideal growing conditions, and practicing proper care, you can get an abundance of colorful begonia blooms in your garden. Follow these tips and you’ll have begonias flowering from spring until frost.
You Haven’t Watered Enough
If begonias don’t get enough water, they won’t dry out and won’t bloom.
I think over watering begonias is far more detrimental to begonias than under watering them. But there is a point where begonias will shrivel and shrink and cease to bloom if they are too dry.
Soil should feel evenly moist. Not bone dry, and not soggy wet. The easiest way to check is to just sink your finger into the soil.
If it feels dry add water if it is still moist, leave them be. I would check daily and then eventually you will find a pattern and can stick to a watering schedule that works.
They need at least 4-6 hours of direct morning sun a day to bloom.
While begonias are known as shade flowers, they actually need some direct sun in order to get blooms. Deep shady pockets of the garden are not a suitable location for blooming varieties.
4-6 hours of sun in the morning is ideal. If you do have a very shady area in your garden try a non-blooming variety of begonia. Rex begonias have intricate foliage colors and patterns and unremarkable blooms. They brighten up the shade with no blossoms at all.
You’ve Been Watering Too Much
Too much water will cause them to wilt and the flowers to drop.
Begonias have tuberous stems that hold on to water. They are very sensitive to overwatering. They become a floppy droopy mess when they get too much water. It will also cause all the blossoms to drop off.
To correct this, check the soil and make sure it is evenly moist but not wet. If it is soggy, quit watering immediately. Let the soil dry out.
If your begonias are in a container, make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom. Also use a potting mix for soil, not black earth or garden soil. This will help the soil absorb and drain moisture so the container doesn’t get too soggy.
For garden begonias, make sure to amend the soil with plenty of coir or peat to make the soil able to retain water and drain the excess. If you take a handful of your soil and squeeze in your hand, if it stays in a ball of putty, it needs to be amended with coir or peat.
It should just crumble away after the soil is squeezed. You might have some naturally boggy areas in your garden, this is not a suitable location to plant them. They do not tolerate being in standing water.
Since they prefer shade, excessive direct sun can harm them and prevent flowering.
Begonias are shade-loving perennial plants, too much sun and they will burn up and not bloom.
If the leaves are crispy and the plant is stunted, take a look at the amount of sun they are getting. Shade plants like 4-6 hours of direct sun. I find early morning sun or late afternoon sun is best. The strong mid afternoon sun can burn them and they won’t bloom.
There are some begonia varieties that can take more sun. The Cocktail series of wax begonias features dark bronze leaves that can tolerate more sun than the regular green leaf varieties.
There is also the Solenia series of tuberous begonias that can take more sun than other varieties. Choose these for planting in sunnier areas.
Begonias. How to get bigger flowers and increase bloom production.
FAQ
How do you encourage begonias to flower?
Begonias are heavy feeders, but should only be fertilized during the growing season. For best flower production, fertilize begonias in flower beds every three to four weeks and begonias in containers every two weeks with a high-phosphorus flower fertilizer like 15-30-15.
Why are my begonias not flowering?
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comWhy has my begonia stopped blooming? – QuoraAug 9, 2022 — There are several reasons a begonia might stop blooming, including too much or too little water, not enough light, or low temperatures. If you think …
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Reddit · r/begoniashttps://www.reddit.comWhat conditions does this begonia need to bloom? Not 100% sure which kind it is because it looks so different in different light. But I want it to bloom!
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Longfield Gardenshttps://www.longfield-gardens.comTips for Growing Tuberous Begonias – Longfield GardensWatering. Begonias need to be watered consistently. But between waterings, it’s best to let the top inch or two of soil get dry to the touch. Check your begonia…
How do you keep potted begonias blooming?
Begonias need to be fed a consistent dose of fertilizer that is geared toward flower production – and not just growth. That means giving the plants very little nitrogen and far more phosphorous. Begonias do not require high nitrogen levels.
How do you force a begonia to bloom?
Force blooming by letting young begonias mature indoors. If you’re growing new begonias, you can “force” them to bloom as soon as you plant them outside by starting them indoors. Begin growing your begonias from seeds, tubers, roots, or rhizomes in a container inside during the late winter.
How do you keep begonias blooming all season long?
After working out how to grow begonias, the next step to ensuring they stay blooming all season long is to by finding the right balance of the water, sunlight, soil and fertilizer they need as well as deadheading them and removing mildew where appropriate. This should keep begonias bright, healthy and flowering.
Are begonias blooming?
Keeping your begonias flowering and thriving throughout their blooming season is vitally important to ensuring your yard is decorated to its full potential with these vibrant plants.
How do you care for a Begonia plant?
To get the most out of these charming plants, you’ll need to fertilize them regularly, keep them in partial shade, and provide rich, well-draining soil. If you notice your begonias aren’t blooming as well as you’d like, check for common problems like soggy soil or garden pests. Force blooming by letting young begonias mature indoors.
How do begonias grow?
Unlike many other annual flower selections, begonias have a slower, more controlled growth pattern. As their foliage fills with early season flowers, the plants tend to keep on producing massive bloom sets without running out of steam by late summer or fall.
Can begonias grow in shade?
If your begonias get too much shade, they’ll still grow well, but they’ll produce more leaves than flowers. Provide your plants with well-drained soil. Good soil conditions will help your begonias stay healthy and produce beautiful blooms. If you’re planting the begonias in a garden bed, check that the soil drains well.