Begonias are a very common choice when you’re looking to add colorful flowers to your garden beds. These are incredibly pretty flowers that are going to add charm to your property.
When you plant begonias you want to be able to see them bloom for as long as possible. Some people who are new to caring for them don’t know how to keep them blooming, though.
Is it possible to keep begonias blooming for long periods of time? Or is there nothing that you can do aside from taking care of them normally?
Read on to get information about keeping begonias blooming. You’ll have a much better idea of what you should be doing after you read all of the information below.
Begonias Can Bloom All Summer
It’s possible for your begonias to bloom all summer long if you’re caring for them properly. This is great news for anyone who wants to plant flowers that will look gorgeous for as long as possible.
You can easily get the begonias to stay in bloom so long as you understand how to care for them. Learning exactly what you should be doing shouldn’t take all that long either.
It’s notable that begonias are unlike many of the other popular annual flowers. These have a slower growth pattern that’s easier to control.
You should be able to count on begonias to continue producing big and beautiful blooms throughout the summer. It’ll make your garden beds look that much more vibrant this year if all goes well.
Below, you’ll get the information that you need to care for begonias the right way. So long as you’re following this advice, it’s going to be easy to get optimal results.
Plant the Begonias in Good Soil
Planting the begonias in good soil is a vital element of keeping them blooming all summer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re planting the begonias directly in the ground or if you’re keeping them in containers.
The type of soil that you want to use will be well-draining, a bit loose, and nutrient-rich. Depending on the type of soil that you have on your property, it might be necessary to create an ideal soil mixture for the begonias.
It shouldn’t be hard to get soil that is going to help these flowers to thrive. Ensuring that you get things right will reward you with flowers that are beautiful and fairly easy to take care of overall.
The “well-draining” aspect of the soil is among the most important factors. These flowers simply don’t do well in soil that gets too wet and isn’t able to dry out properly.
Typically, when gardeners have issues with begonias the soil is to blame. Poor soil quality will make it very tough for the begonias to thrive.
Put the Begonias in an Ideal Spot
Putting the begonias in an ideal spot will also be important. If you place them in a spot where they won’t do well, then you can’t expect them to stay in bloom.
The begonias should do fine with a bit of direct sunlight, but they won’t be able to do well if they get too much. Ideally, you’re going to want to plant them somewhere that gets a good bit of shade during the warmest parts of the day.
If possible, plant the begonias in a location that will allow them to receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade. This keeps them from getting scorched when it’s really hot outside.
When you don’t take the time to protect the begonias from the harshness of the sun, they’re not going to do as well. They won’t be able to produce as many blooms as they otherwise would.
Anyone who wishes to see beautiful flowers throughout the summer months will benefit from thinking about where to plant the begonias. Putting a bit of thought into the location truly will make a difference.
Water the Begonias Properly
Watering the begonias properly will be another factor that will help them to keep blooming. You need to find the right balance of giving them enough water without keeping the soil too moist.
Remember that watering too much is dangerous for these flowers. When you water them more often than you should, it’s going to be easy to cause root rot and other such problems.
Well-draining soil makes it easier to avoid watering the begonias more than you should, but you’ll still need to be mindful. Begonias that are planted in garden beds should need about an inch of water each week to thrive.
When you water the flowers, it’s going to be best to do so in the morning. This allows the afternoon sun to help the soil dry out a bit.
Essentially, you want to try to keep the flowers from sitting in water. They don’t like “wet feet” as most gardening enthusiasts would say.
When you’re caring for begonias in containers you’ll have the same concerns. Always use your fingers to check the soil before watering so that you don’t accidentally water the plants when the soil is still fairly moist.
Fertilize the Begonias
Fertilizing is something that can keep the begonias blooming and looking nice. You just need to know how to fertilize these flowers without going too far.
Begonias will deplete the soil of nutrients as they continue to flower. Fertilizer is something that will help to add nutrients back so that the blooming process can continue until the autumn begins.
It’s recommended to fertilize begonias every ten to fourteen days when you’re growing them in containers or pots. If your begonias are in your garden beds, then you’ll be able to fertilize them every three or four weeks to get good results.
Use a fertilizer that will give the soil a nice low dosage of nutrients. Don’t give the flowers too much fertilizer at once since it could harm the plant instead of helping.
Many gardeners recommend using a 15-15-15 fertilizer for begonias when you’re just looking for pure growth. It could also be good to use a simple blooming formula such as 7-9-5 fertilizer when you want the biggest, prettiest flowers possible.
Using half of the recommended dose of fertilizer should help you to keep the flowers safe. So long as you don’t use the fertilizer more often than recommended, everything should be great.
Final Thoughts
You should feel substantially more confident about keeping begonias blooming now. For the most part, all you need to do is keep caring for the flowers to the best of your ability.
Planting the begonias in good soil is going to be a crucial aspect of getting them to stay in bloom. If they’re planted in soil that doesn’t have enough nutrients or that doesn’t drain well, then the flowers won’t be able to thrive.
It’s also imperative to plant the flowers in a good location. Try to find them a spot where they can get full sun in the morning and shade during the afternoon.
Watering the begonias the right way will keep them healthy. You want to ensure that they get enough water without sitting in water for long.
Fertilizing the flowers can really help them to grow. A 7-9-5 fertilizer is the best one to use when you’re concerned about helping the begonias to produce bold blooms that everyone can enjoy.
Keep all of this information in mind and you’ll definitely be able to get good results. The begonias will continue to look beautiful all summer, and you’re going to be so happy that you planted them in your garden.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.