Pink Double Begonia Tubers

Planting Instructions for Pink Double Begonia

1. When to Plant: Plant tubers outdoors once all danger of frost has passed and nights stay above about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. For earlier flowers, start them indoors in shallow pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost, then move the sprouted plants outside when the weather warms.
2. Choosing the Right Location: Pick a spot in partial to full shade with bright, indirect light, such as a shaded garden, covered patio, or balcony. Keep plants out of hot afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves and fade the soft pink flowers, though gentle morning sun is fine. Make sure the soil or potting mix drains freely.
3. Planting Depth and Spacing: Plant tubers about 1 to 2 inches deep with the hollow, concave side facing up, where the new shoots emerge. Space tubers 8 to 12 inches apart in beds, or a few inches apart in containers.
4. Watering After Planting: Water gently after planting so the soil is evenly moist but never soggy. Until shoots appear, let the surface dry slightly between waterings to prevent the tubers from rotting.

Care Instructions

1. Watering: Water whenever the top of the soil starts to dry, keeping it consistently moist but never soggy. Good drainage is essential, since waterlogged soil can rot the tubers. Water at the base rather than over the leaves, and check hanging baskets daily in hot weather.
2. Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season to encourage abundant blooms and lush foliage. Dilute according to the label, since too much fertilizer can burn roots, and reduce feeding as the season winds down in fall.
3. Pest Monitoring: Watch for powdery mildew, slugs, and aphids, especially in humid, shady spots. Keep plants spaced for airflow, remove damaged leaves promptly, and handpick slugs in the evening.

After Blooming

1. Foliage Care: Flowers continue from summer through frost. Remove faded flowers during the season to keep plants producing fresh blooms, and in fall let the foliage yellow naturally so it can feed the tuber.
2. Lifting and Storing: Pink Double Begonias return each year outdoors only in mild-winter areas, about USDA zones 8 through 10. Elsewhere, dig the tubers in fall before a hard frost, let them dry, and store them in a cool, dry, dark place so you can replant them next spring.

Additional Tips for Growing Pink Double Begonia

1. Hanging Baskets: The full blooms spill gently over the edges of hanging baskets. Use a light, well-draining potting mix, hang the basket in bright shade, and pair with trailing ferns or ivy for added texture and contrast.
2. Compact Size: Plants typically grow about 8 to 14 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide, ideal for window boxes, containers, and the front of shady borders.
3. Pet Safety: Begonias are toxic to dogs and cats if chewed, and the tubers contain the highest concentration of irritating compounds. Eating them can cause drooling, mouth irritation, and vomiting. Keep plants and stored tubers out of reach of pets and contact your veterinarian if ingestion occurs.