Questions re Reiger Begonia

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

My daughter wasa married in late August, and I won a planter full of begonias in a game at one of the wedding showers in early July. The pot was hand-painted in the wedding colors by her stepmother, and the blooms are a perfect match, as well. So, I was investgating whethre I could overwinter these begonias to enjoy next year. The tag/label identifies the palnts as Reiger begonias, which are described online as winter-blooming houseplants. These were in full bloom in early July, and continued to bloom all summer on my sunny deck. We are just now clearing the deck of flower pots for winter. The begonias are still blooming wonderfully, though the plants have gotten a bit leggy and started to lean over. So, this doesn't match the description I'm reading online.

So, in order to preserve these plants, should I cut them back and let them dry out for winter? Should I allow them to continue to grow inside? (We don't have any very sunny windows, except on the frigid enclosed front porch). Should I prune and propagate in smaller pots over winter? Any thoughts would be welcome. I will try to attach a picture from today.

Not having luck with the picture. It won't download, despite multiple attempts.

Featured Answer

iochroma

3 years ago

I find these Begonias to be an exercise in frustration, but if you want to keep them, spray them now with a good fungicide before they get mildew (which they WILL get). A copper soap should work. I would keep them right in a good bright window and much drier than you might think all through the winter.

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Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
i would propagate some pieces ....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Reiger+begonia+propagation&t=ffcm&iax=videos&ia=videos

i would also bring the pots in.. and try to finesse them thru winter .. i would presume they will be looking pretty ratty by march ... so i would again propagate some cuttings ... to have some fresh new plants ready for next summer ...

i would not keep my hopes up.. that they will be pretty and gorgeous all winter.. in a house with the furnace running.. especially if forced air.... the humidity make be lacking for these water hogs ... again.. they should make it.. just they might not be pretty ...

even better.. if you could keep them under lights..

ken
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
ya know.. there is a begonia post with 1045 replies.. just a few down from your post.. we need mcdole to give you an answer ... ken
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docmom_gw
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks, Ken!! I had no expectations of a beautiful plant over winter. I just want it to survive to be enjoyed some time in the furure. However, if it is "supposed to be" an indoor, winter-blooming plant, I wouldn't mind trying to allow it to revert to its "natural" behavior.

I do have a light set up, but I use it for getting vegetable seedlings an early start. Peppers can get going as early as late February, so I don't know how long the begonia would be allowed to hog space. Also, the lights are up in a rarely used bedroom, so the begonia wouldn't be enjoyed much up there.

I will go check out the other begonia thread.

Martha
docmom_gw
Original Author
3 years ago
I found the "begonia" thread, LOL. There don't appear to be any hard and fast rules about sticking to the topic, which I am absolutely fine with. :) I'll wait to see if anyone more knowledgeable pipes in here. It seems the replies to threads only show up in your thread if you are "following" that forum. I hadn't listed houseplants as a forum I frequent (my cats make houseplants a fantasy). There was a reply there (Thank You!).

Martha
hc mcdole
3 years ago
Whenever I bought them in the past, I treated them as annuals. Here is an article on how to keep them going over winter. Not sure if it is worthwhile, but is always a learning experience. Seems like a greenhouse would be best for trying this.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/maintain-rieger-begonia-flowers-67228.html
docmom_gw thanked hc mcdole
docmom_gw
Original Author
3 years ago
Is it likely that my plant is actually a true Rieger begonia, since it was already blooming beautifully in early July, and has continued to do so? Certainly the tag in the pot indicates that it is, but its blooming behavior doesn't seem to match. And I only care because I might treat it differently if it is a different variety. I think I will see whether I can keep it going and take some cuttings later this winter. Thank you for all the replies.

Martha
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
There don't appear to be any hard and fast rules about sticking to the topic, which I am absolutely fine with. :)

==>>> the forums are dying... so any post about anything is OK with me ... i miss the good old days ...

ken
docmom_gw
Original Author
3 years ago
Aint that the truth. I agree with you, Ken. It's really been a loss for me.