Introducing autumn and winter care for begonias in different conditions. We tell you how to prepare tuberous begonia for winter: when to dig up and how to store tubers.

We also describe caring for begonias in winter at home, for young flowers and what to do after winter with begonias in the garden.

Is it necessary and when to dig up begonia for the winter? What is the difference?

Begonias are mostly heat-loving plants and preparing them for winter for flower growers is an important task on which their future fate depends.

When approaching the question of how to care for the fall and how to prepare the begonia for the winter, it is necessary to take into account the type of begonia, its condition and personal preferences.

Tuberous begonia is grown in open ground in the CIS, which belongs to decorative-flowering species or ever-flowering begonia, as an annual plant.

Tuberous begonia is a hybrid variety, united by the presence of perennial tubers.

1. Large tubers of begonias (bloomed in the open ground in summer) experts recommend that after the aerial part of the plant dies off in the fall, they should be placed in peat / sand and stored in a cold place during dormancy. In early spring, begonia tubers begin to germinate.
2. Large tubers of begonias (bloomed in pots in summer) can be left in a pot after the aerial part of the plant dies off in autumn. It is necessary to move the plants to a cold place.
3. Begonias grown from seeds and flowers with small tubers are recommended to be stored in a cold and bright place in winter and moderately watered.

• Each tuberous begonia needs a dormant period - at least 2 months a year, and preferably about 100 days (minimum - January-February).

Preparing tuberous begonias for winter growing outdoors

Now let's move on to a story about how to prepare a tuberous begonia for wintering to get tubers.

After the end of flowering, the aerial part of the begonia gradually dies off and the tubers begin to actively develop, accumulating nutrients. After the accumulation of nutrients in the tubers, the begonias will have a dormant period.

• Some experts recommend that tuberous begonias not be dug out of the ground for as long as possible.

This allows the begonia tubers to accumulate the maximum amount of nutrients. They believe that you should not be afraid of the first frosts and rush to dig up begonias.

This option is suitable for adult plants with large tubers.

• In our instructions for digging up begonia tubers, we provide an option with earlier digging of begonias with a clod of earth.

Tuberous begonia, hybrid

Digging up begonia tubers for the winter

1. In September, when the first frost threatens, dig up a tuberous begonia with a clod of earth as large as possible.
2. Begonias that grew in containers are taken out in a whole lump, tapping on the bottom of the pot.
3. After digging, begonias are sorted according to the size of the tubers. Experienced flower growers recommend that small (less than 2 cm in diameter) and large begonia tubers be divided as small tubers are more prone to drying out.
4. Then the begonia with a clod of earth is placed tightly with each other in boxes and they are placed in a rain-protected, ventilated, bright place with a temperature of 14-16 degrees Celsius. Watering is reduced.
5. At this time, the aerial part of the begonia begins to die off little by little. After the leaves fall, watering the plants is stopped. After flowering, begonias enter a dormant period.
6. After the complete death of the aerial part (1-1.5 months), the tuberous begonia is cut at a level of 2-3 cm from the ground. Pruning helps to avoid infection of tubers by pathogenic fungi.
7. 12-16 days after pruning, begonia tubers are cleaned from the ground and sprinkled with dry sand or peat and put in boxes.

ADVICE. It is convenient to dig up begonia tubers from the open ground with a pitchfork (garden fork).

The main thing is to dig up begonia tubers along with the earth (soil mixture) and in no case shake it off.

• Adult begonias with large tubers can be dug up 12-16 days after pruning the dying shoots. Those. start from point 5.

Tuberous begonia: winter storage

1. Boxes with small and large begonia tubers are stored from November to the end of February at a temperature of 7-9 degrees Celsius.
2. A box with tubers is periodically sprayed: large tubers - 1 time per month, and small begonia tubers - 1 time in 3 weeks so that they do not dry out. They also remove rotten tubers, if any.

• Before storage, the tubers do not need to be divided.

Storage of begonia tubers in the winter in the refrigerator

If you want to store begonia tubers in winter not in the basement or cellar, then after sorting they can be folded into a plastic bag filled with peat, sawdust or moss and put in the refrigerator.

The package with tubers is periodically taken out and moistened, similarly to the 2nd point in the chapter “Storing tubers in winter”.

begonia tuber

Preparing young begonias for winter: care in the first year

Young plants with small tubers after digging out of the garden are recommended to be placed with an earthen clod in separate boxes.

1. Young begonias have a relative dormant period and their aerial parts often remain green in winter. Young flowers overwinter in boxes in a bright, cool place with moderate watering.
2. With the onset of spring, young flowers begin to grow again. In April-May, they are transplanted into separate pots, and in early June, if desired, plants can be transplanted into open ground.
3. Having lived all summer in pots, begonias begin to prepare for a dormant period. After the leaves fall in the fall, watering the begonias is stopped.
4. In October, wilted shoots are pruned from a potted tuberous begonia at a level of 1-2 cm from the ground.
5. Then, until the beginning of March, flower pots are removed to the coldest place in the house or to the basement, cellar, balcony. Occasionally and little watered into the pan, so that the tubers do not dry out.
6. In early March, the pots are transferred to a bright place and begin to water more abundantly. When sprouts appear, begonia tubers are delicately cleaned of the substrate and transplanted into a new soil mixture.

Wintering tuberous begonia in a pot: home care

Begonia with large tubers, which bloomed in a pot in summer, can be left in it for the winter after the aerial part dies off.

1. In order for the begonia to continue to bloom as long as possible, put it in a bright place, but without direct sunlight. Begonias are watered in the apartment at the moment the nutrient substrate in the pot dries out, about once every 10-14 days.
2. When the flowering of the begonia gets tired or it stops blooming itself, then watering is stopped, cut off (2-3 cm from the ground) and transferred to a dark and cool place (basement, cellar).
3. In January-February, tubers are taken out of the ground, wrapped in a wet towel and placed in a plastic bag (it should be ajar) next to the battery.
4. After about 2-3 weeks, the first shoots appear. Tubers are planted for distillation in small pots (500 g plastic cups) with moist soil. The tubers are slightly pressed into the ground.
5. After 2-3 weeks, the begonias are transshipped into a new permanent pot, and the tubers are covered from above with a 2-4 cm layer of soil mixture.

This method is well suited for tuberous begonias growing in pots.

Begonia after winter: care and planting in spring

In March-April, begonia buds begin to swell, and the plant gradually comes out of dormancy. Now you can carry out cuttings of ever-flowering begonias or planting tuberous begonias for germination in wet peat.

1. 2-3 months before planting begonias in a permanent place (March-April), the tubers are taken out of the sand / peat and planted in pots / containers for germination (forcing).
   If the begonia was stored in the winter in boxes with a clod of earth, then they simply take them out.
2. Tubers are planted upside down (flatter or concave part with buds (bumps/bumps)).
3. For good germination, begonia tubers need a temperature of 17-20 degrees Celsius, high humidity and regular watering. For 2-3 weeks, the first shoots of begonias reach about 5-6 cm in height. In general, tubers germinate unevenly and for a long time.
4. It is at this stage that it is recommended to propagate tuberous begonia by cuttings or division. Tubers can be cut into several parts, the main thing is that each has 3-4 buds. Usually, old tubers are divided into 2-4 parts, it is desirable to treat the places of cuts with charcoal.
5. After the sprouts get stronger, the first leaves grow and form, the begonia tubers from the boxes can be planted in separate pots.
   Pour the soil mixture on top of the sprouts to the base of the first pair of leaves. It is advisable to add wood ash and humus.
6. It is recommended to plant begonias in open ground in early June, and in separate pots / containers on the balcony in mid-late May.
7. For planting in open ground, choose a place protected from the winds with loose nutrient soil in partial shade or light, but with a minimum of scorching sun rays.

From the beginning of November to the end of February, begonia is at rest.: at this time, she is gaining strength after an active growing season, i.e. flowering and active development. How this plant "overwinter" will depend on its further growth, so it is important to provide all the necessary conditions for this: significantly reduce watering, stop, greatly reduce the illumination - all that will be discussed below.

If during the dormant period any of the conditions is not met, then it is more likely that it will not bloom when the time comes for this, because it simply cannot replenish all reserves and gain strength.

During the dormant period, the begonia stem remains green, so you need to carefully monitor when it stops blooming to find out when it will hibernate and start preparing for this period.

How to care at home?

Begonia is a heat-loving plant, so its preparation for winter is an important task., requiring an urgent decision, because its further flowering depends on how the dormant period passes.

But it is also important to provide conditions for this plant if it is grown at home. If a begonia with large tubers bloomed in a pot, then it can be left in it for the winter.

You can find out how to care for begonia after purchase, or you can read about what kind of care a flower growing in a pot needs.

Watering

In winter, watering is less common than in summer or spring., while it is still impossible to allow the substrate to dry out, because this is fraught with the death of the tuber, and stagnation of moisture at the bottom of the pot - rotting. The plant itself should “notify” about the lack of moisture: after the soil dries 1 - 2 cm from the surface.

Temperature and Humidity

A begonia left in its pot for a dormant period can be kept at room temperature, but the coolest place in the apartment (balcony) or house (basement) would be the best option.

But, as a rule, with the beginning of the heating season, the air in the apartments becomes dry. Containers with germinated tubers are placed closer to the light, watering is limited, the maintenance temperature is about 18 ° C. Tubers germinate quite slowly and unevenly. First of all, they take root.

top dressing

Plant fertilization should be done only during the growing season (from late spring to early autumn), and this should not be done in autumn and winter, unless, of course, the cultivated type of begonia is flowering in winter. In this case, you need 1 time per week with a solution of mineral concentrate.

Lighting

This plant, like many others, does not like direct sunlight even during the flowering period, therefore, during the dormant period, it is necessary to provide twilight or a very small amount of diffused light (it all depends on where the plant is located).

pruning

In October, the begonia stops flowering and the aerial part begins to die off., and it is at this time that 1–2 cm of shoots should be left, carefully cutting them off with sterile scissors, as soon as it is clear that the plant is no longer blooming.

As soon as the begonia leaves fall off, it is necessary to stop watering it!

How to save a flower in an apartment?

From the very beginning of November until the end of February, begonias are at rest, i.e. gain strength after flowering. And during this period, tubers of different sizes are stored differently:

• Young tubers emerging from seeds should be in a moderately lit and cool place, they need rare watering. But if it is not possible to dig out a small tuber, then it can also be left in a pot, while cutting off the ground part.
• Large tubers that bloomed in pots, after the shoots dry out, remain in them and are placed in a cool place, their withered aerial part is cut off so that 1–3 cm remains.
• Begonias that bloomed in the open ground, after digging (this should be done after flowering is over), are stored in dry peat or sand and cleaned in a cool place, and at the end of the dormant period they are taken out for germination.

The probability of shrinkage of young tubers of small size is greatly increased if they are stored under the conditions prescribed for large tubers. Therefore, their it is recommended to pull out the tubers of the container in which they grew and place them in dry soil or sand.

Can you help welcome spring?

In March or early April, a home-grown plant begins to wake up, so during this period of time it can already be moved to a cool window sill, where it will get used to bright lighting, while avoiding northern window sills.

After a few days, you can begin to increase the amount of water during watering. It must be at room temperature, settled. At this time, while the begonia is getting used to the new conditions, its tuber will begin to germinate, and it will gradually begin to bloom. This is all that needs to be done to help the flower wake up if it has hibernated in a pot. How to properly grow, water and care for begonia so that it blooms longer, we told.

If in winter the tuber of the plant was stored in soil or sand, it must be planted for germination: planting in containers with a wet substrate according to the 5x5 scheme, or immediately into individual pots (read how to choose a pot and plant a begonia). Boxes or pots where tubers are germinated should be moderately watered, and also placed in a room with a temperature of 16-17 degrees.

Germinated tubers can be transplanted into open ground only when the stem grows and leaves appear on it, i.e. about 2 to 3 weeks later.

During the dormant period, begonia does not require absolutely no attention at all., therefore, it is very simple to make it so that next year it will delight you with its bright and elegant flowers. And it doesn’t matter who does it: a beginner in this business or an experienced gardener.

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Proper storage of tuberous begonias in winter - necessary condition. If they are not observed, the tubers will lay a small number of buds, and flowering will be poor.

First of all, you must comply terms of extraction from the soil. If you are late, waiting for the first frost, he may suffer. The tubers of this flower do not tolerate even short-term freezing. But you can't dig them out before. As soon as the foliage begins to dry out, the flower begins an active set of tuber mass and laying buds for the next flowering. Therefore, early removal from the ground will reduce the number of flowers during the growing season.

When you notice the first signs of wilting, stop watering. In open ground conditions, it is recommended to cover the bush in case of rainy weather.

Watch closely for the condition of the aboveground part. As soon as all the foliage turns yellow and falls off, it's time to act. Don't use a big shovel you can damage the delicate roots with it. Carefully cut off the stems that have not fallen off with garden shears or secateurs.

Do not cut the foliage to the base - you may damage the bulb. Leave stumps 2-3 cm long.

After digging out of the ground, thoroughly clean the tubers. Dry them in a room with warm, dry air. If there is high humidity in the room, rotting processes may begin in the tubers. During the preparation for winter, the tubers ripen, this process lasts 15-20 days.

Sometimes autumn unexpected frosts occur, and the leaves of the plant immediately freeze. It is wrong to assume that the root part is also frozen. Most often, with short-term frosts, the underground part remains unharmed. Dig up such specimens and try to save them.

How to save tuberous begonia in winter at home?

The temperature in the wintering area should not exceed 9-10 degrees. This is a necessary condition for laying flower buds. Humidity while need increased (70-80%). There are several ways to ensure this, depending on the conditions you have:

Basement or cellar

For this method, it is necessary to prepare a container in which the tubers will be placed. It can be a cardboard box or a wooden box. It is recommended to pour on the bottom a layer of sand, peat or sawdust.

Experienced flower growers respond well to the use of modern vermiculite material for these purposes.

Vermiculite- mineral powder, widely used in horticulture and indoor floriculture. It does not rot or decompose under the influence of the atmosphere, so insects and bacteria do not multiply in it. The tubers placed in it will be in a certain temperature regime with sufficient air access. In addition, they are not subject to infection by diseases and pests. To store tubers, vermiculite is mixed with peat or sawdust.

The tubers are laid out on the prepared pillow in one layer, so that they do not touch each other. From above, the laid plants are covered with a layer of mixture for storage. She should also cover the distances between the tubers. Each copy should be literally surrounded by a pillow of backfill mix.

Refrigerator

In the absence of a basement or cellar, tubers can be stored in the refrigerator. The finished, dried material is placed in a bag, sprinkled with peat and vermiculite, or a mixture of sand and vermiculite. The package needs make holes for air access. The package is then placed in the refrigerator.

If you have enough space in your refrigerator, you can put the tubers in the lower vegetable storage box, filling them with a mixture of peat as in the previous option. It is also convenient to use food containers. Tubers are placed in them and covered with a mixture of peat and vermiculite, or sawdust and peat, just like in boxes. Make sure that the backfill mixture is completely dry, otherwise the begonias will rot or be affected by the fungus.

How to keep a tuberous begonia in a pot in an apartment in winter?

The previous storage methods are used for large, adult tubers. Young specimens are small, and with such storage they will dry out. It is recommended to store them by placing them in pots with earth. Deepen the tubers into the ground, you can have several in one pot, and put in a dry, cool room. One or two times depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. The soil with stored tubers needs to be moistened.

Wintering of first-year begonias

The storage of first years obtained from seeds is different, because their dormant period is relative. The aerial part of them does not die off in autumn, and they must winter in pots.

Since the leaves of small tubers remain, they need light. But the temperature of the content should not exceed 15 degrees. Water the first years sparingly to avoid rotting.

Inexperienced flower growers mistakenly treat young nodules in the same way as with large, mature ones. But this cannot be done, because the first years grown from seeds continue to grow in the winter. If stored incorrectly, then they dry up.

Features of the dormant period of room begonia

A plant grown at home also needs winter storage. The difference is that the plant does not have to be removed from the soil.

autumn, as soon as the stems begin to wither and dry out, they drastically reduce the frequency of watering and the amount of water. The finally wilted leaves are carefully cut off and the pot is removed in a dark, cool place. Such conditions are necessary in order for the plant to rest and gain strength for flowering in the next season.

No need to disturb the resting bush: to move it from place to place, to transplant it. Check the status of the root system. It is only necessary to ensure that the earth does not dry out and slightly moisten it periodically. This is especially important during heating, as the air in the apartments is dry, and the tubers can dry out.

Plants keep well on insulated balconies or under the balcony door. Just like garden begonia, indoor begonia can be stored in basements. They put it there right in the pot in which they grew it. To limit light, cover the pots with newspaper or a thick cloth.

Do not transplant tubers into new soil before wintering - they will begin to grow, and this is highly undesirable.

It is very important that the plant pot not getting too much light especially direct sunlight. The plant will wake up ahead of time and sprout, not having time to lay a sufficient number of flower buds.

Tuber awakening

The wintering period ends at the begonia in March-April. Remove the tubers from the wintering place and warm them in the room. You can also germinate them in wet peat or sand before planting in open ground. Before that, dip them for a while in a solution of potassium permanganate.

In the presence of many buds on one large tuber. Before planting, you can cut it into pieces. cut places treat with ash, sulfur or charcoal.

Young plants have elongated shoots by spring, they need to be cut and rooted in separate containers.

Compliance with these simple storage rules will help you enjoy summer lush and abundant flowering of the beautiful begonia.

You can find all the details, including for such varieties as, on the pages of our website. Our experts will give you many tips and tricks to help you enjoy the beauty of this beautiful plant.

Photo

Tuberous begonia is a flower that loves warmth. They are able to survive the winter period only in a state of sleep.. Since September, the flower has been preparing itself for a state of rest, shedding leaves and getting rid of the stems. Let's talk about storing tuberous begonias in winter.

In the first year of life, Begonia tubers are small and weak, so they need special care. If you leave them for the winter to be stored together with adult plants, then there is a possibility of death of the first years.

Young tubers are removed from the garden and placed together with an earthen clod in boxes. where the peat mixture has already been prepared. The peculiarity of the first years is that their rest period is a relative concept. Often their upper part (stems and leaves) remains green for the winter. Therefore, flowers in boxes are placed in lighting and a cool place. Watering at this time is required infrequently. It is enough to slightly moisten the soil once or twice a month. In spring, the plant again enters the stage of active growth. In April, they should be transplanted first into pots with peat, and then, closer to summer, planted in the ground.

In the second year, the plant is already independently and consciously preparing for hibernation, and this time in autumn by October, his upper part to be cut off.

Rest period and awakening of tubers

The period of rest or hibernation in the ever-flowering begonia starts in November and continues until the beginning of spring. With the help of this event, the plant hides from the cold. The main task of flower growers during this period is to preserve the tubers and protect them from drying out.

If the flower is stored early, she may not have time to prepare for bed, as the supply of nutrients at this moment will be insufficient. So do not rush and remove the flower at the very beginning of autumn. The optimal time is the end of October - the beginning of November. The main thing is to have time before the onset of frost.

With the onset of heat, namely in March - April, the flower buds swell and the flower wakes up. At this time, cuttings should be carried out and planted in a peat mixture.

A couple of months before planting, the tubers must be removed from the container in which they were stored and planted in a container for germination.

Tubers should be planted so that their crown looks up. Usually it is concave or flat, with kidneys. Germination requires heat, not lower than 18 degrees, and daily watering.. In a few weeks, the first shoots will appear.

Tubers can be divided, the main thing is that each part of them has several buds. The incision site is treated with ash or charcoal. It is desirable to treat the places of cuts with charcoal.

The difference between wintering begonias at home and in the open field

Caring for tubers of domestic and garden plants is significantly different. In order to properly prepare them for the winter, some features of both should be taken into account.:

1. Begonia tubers living in the open field much larger than those that grow in pots in the house. Garden flowers should be harvested at the onset of the first hard frost. The rule of the golden mean is important here, since the first light frosts are not able to kill the plant, so there is no need to rush either. Let the flower gain strength and prepare for hibernation on its own. The optimal time is when the leaves and stems of the plant die off by themselves. After that, the stems are cut off, and the tubers themselves are placed in a box and left so that they can dry out. After that, containers with plants are stored for storage until spring.

1. Caring for a house plant in winter looks a little different.. The tubers are not dug up, but remain in their pots. At the first appearance of wilting stems, they are also cut off. Watering from this point on is reduced to a minimum. In the spring, Begonia must be transplanted into new soil, after dividing it into several parts if many buds have formed on them.

When buying an already germinated homemade Begonia at the end of summer, be sure to check if the flower has tubers in the pot. Since there are annual varieties. They do not leave tubers and their life span is only one season.

It is not uncommon for homemade Begonia to not shed its leaves for the winter and remain green. In this case, you do not need to cut it. The plant remains in its place until the spring transplant.

Is it necessary to dig for the winter?

Begonias are heat-loving flowers, so preparing them for winter is very important for further growth. When answering the question “do I need to dig it out for the winter”, it is worth considering the type of plant and the condition:

1. Street large tubers flower growers advise after withering, dig out and place in a bowl with peat to a cool place.
2. Large tubers of domestic plants are left in pots in the same place for the whole winter.
3. Sprouted begonias from seeds and flowers with small tubers also clean and store in a cold, lit place.

Preparing tubers for storage

The result of storage and further growth depend on how well the planting material is prepared for the winter and how you take care of this plant.

Firstly, Begonias that grow in the garden must be dug up before the first hard frost.. At this time, the upper part of the plant is cut off, while leaving stumps no less than 1 centimeter in size.

Secondly, the tubers are cleaned in a dry and cool place where they must dry out. Only after they are completely dry can it be put away for storage.

It is best to dig out the lubni with a pitchfork and in no case should you shake off the ground from them.

Begonia that grows at home, is stored differently. Preparation for hibernation begins in October. First, watering is reduced, after a month, it is completely stopped. When the upper part of the flower fades, it is cut off. If it doesn't die, leave it as it is.

Compliance with the rules of storage is the key to successful wintering and further growth in the future.

The main methods and conditions of storage in winter

There are several methods for storing such plants.

The most common way is in the basement. Dried begonia tubers are laid out in boxes or wooden boxes. They fall asleep from above with sifted sand and clean it in the basement. You can make a mixture of sand, peat and sawdust in equal quantities. This method is convenient for a large amount of planting material.

Storage in the cellar is prohibited, as it has very high humidity. This is very harmful for Begonia.

From time to time it is necessary to sort out and remove the rotten ones.

The second, no less popular way of storage is in an apartment.. The best place would be the area at the balcony door or under the window. There are two types of storage in the house:

1. In the box when the tubers are placed in them and covered with sand and sawdust.
2. in pots. Flowers that grew in a pot remain in it, are cut off and transferred to a cool place. In this case, it is necessary to water the plant no more than once a month.

In the spring, after germination, they are transplanted into new soil.

The third way to store is in the refrigerator. Suitable for small quantities of planting material. To do this, Begonia tubers are placed in plastic bags with sawdust, after making breathing holes in them.

If there is no sawdust, you can take plain paper and wrap each tuber in a separate sheet.

The bags are placed in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for vegetables.

Compliance with all of the above storage rules guarantees the successful growth and flowering of Begonias in the next season.

Begonia will delight and delight with the luxury of its flowering for more than one year, if you responsibly take care of its storage in the off-season and ensure proper care of the flower in winter.

Types of begonia

• decorative leafy;
• bushy;
• tuberous.

Each of them in the winter requires certain conditions of detention.
Bushy and decorative leafy species do not need special wintering conditions. So that they do not die in winter, it is enough to cut off the wilted stems and mulch the bushes with straw or garden leaf fall when cold weather sets in.

The most demanding for care and maintenance in winter.

The beauty and duration of flowering of this magnificent flower directly depends on how to care for begonias in winter.
If the begonia does not bloom for a long time, or it has small and few flowers, this indicates that it was stored incorrectly in winter.

Caring for begonias grown in the ground

Mature plants have fairly large tubers. If they grew in open ground, then, trying not to damage them, they dig them out at the onset of the first frost.
However, it is not worth rushing to dig up the plant, since autumn frosts do not damage the tubers.
It is necessary to wait until the flower independently prepares for wintering - that is, the vegetative part dies off, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

In addition, at the end of the growing season, the tubers significantly increase in size, increase their mass, since when the aerial part dies off, all the nutrients go into them. At the same time, renewal buds are laid, from which new shoots will develop after overwintering begonias.

After digging, you need to cut off the frozen stems, leaving shoots (hemp) no more than 3 cm high on the surface. This procedure prevents the formation of pathogenic fungi that contribute to the infection of tubers.

Then the plant is cleaned of soil, put in a box and placed to dry in a well-ventilated, warm, dry room. Two weeks later, when the roots dry out, the shrunken shoots and the remaining earth are removed.

Next, the tubers are placed in wooden boxes in several rows and sprinkled with river sand or dry with the addition of vermiculite.
The addition of vermiculite is highly desirable, because due to its ability to regulate the moisture of the substrate, the risk of root rot is significantly reduced.

Important: sprinkle the tubers with a sand mixture so that they are isolated from one another - this reduces the percentage of their lunge.

Begonia prepared for wintering is placed in a cool place where the temperature should not exceed 10 ° C, the humidity is about 60% - these are usually basements and cellars.
The plant is in a dormant period for almost three months - from mid-November to almost the end of February, during all this time it is impossible to water, otherwise sleeping buds will wake up.
Periodically, but at least once a month, the condition of the tuber is examined for the presence of mold and root rot.
If a lesion is found, it is cleaned and treated with colloidal sulfur or brilliant green. If the lesion is extensive, then the plant is removed to prevent the spread of infection.

In early spring, in March, when dormant flower buds begin to awaken on the tubers, they are removed from the sand and placed for germination in a moist substrate prepared on the basis of peat with the addition of high-quality humus and river sand, taken in the same volume.
Containers with germinated tubers are placed closer to the light, watering is limited, the maintenance temperature is about 18 ° C.
Tubers germinate quite slowly and unevenly. First of all, they take root. Sprouts that appear later should be shaded from the sun and ventilated more often, but avoid drafts.

This time is well suited for the division of tubers, their reproduction. The cut is processed with colloidal sulfur in powder or crushed charcoal.

Many manage to successfully save begonia in winter in boxes with a clod of earth on the loggia, if it does not freeze through, or in the coolest places in the apartment - at the balcony or front door.

How to save young begonia tubers in winter

All these actions are good for healthy and strong tubers. In the case when they are very small and flabby, you will have to act differently.
The fact is that the behavior of a young plant and an adult flower differ significantly, therefore, tubers of different sizes are stored differently during the dormant period.

• Small first-year nodules of a flower in winter must be kept in a cool place and must be watered periodically, otherwise the root system may dry out.
  The rest period of the first years is rather arbitrary, since their shoots do not fall off for the winter period, although growth stops.
• Having dug up such a nodule, it is placed in a plastic bag filled with dry peat and placed in a household refrigerator. Periodically inspect the begonia. In the case of premature sprouts, they must be broken out, since they are not viable.
• Young begonias can be left to winter in boxes set in a cool, bright place, moderately watered. With the onset of spring, they are seated in separate pots with a substrate.
  They are transplanted into the soil when a stable positive temperature occurs.

Winter care for home begonia

Begonia, grown in pots in summer, blooms until late autumn. With the onset of cold weather, she plunges into a state of rest. At this time, it is not recommended to transplant begonias, but it is necessary to reduce watering. Watering should be done only when the soil in the pot is completely dry, as excess moisture can cause root rot.

With the beginning of the heating season, the air in the apartment becomes very dry, so you need to spray the air near the flower every day using a spray bottle.

As you can see, caring for begonia in winter is not difficult, you just need to show a little attention to it, the answer to which will be a richly and brightly blooming garden.

Tuberous begonia - how to save in winter (video)