How to Care for Rhizomatous Begonias

Rhizomatous begonias are bright, colorful pink plants that do well indoors.

Rhizomatous begonias are one of the three major groups of begonia flowers. These begonias have thick stems and grow on the ground in a horizontal direction. Rex begonias and beefsteak begonias are good examples of the rhizomatous variety. Although they are native to the tropics, they do well indoors because they don't tolerate extreme heat very well. Most of these begonias are found growing in the shade when discovered in the wild.

Things You'll Need

• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Keep rhizomatous begonias in a sunny area inside your home. If they are kept outdoors, they need to be in partial shade to avoid burning.

2. Use fertilizer rich in nitrogen every month during the warmer temperatures of the spring and summer.

3. Water rhizomatous begonias thoroughly at each watering, but allow the pot soil to dry completely before watering again. These flowers usually do not tolerate very wet soil.

4. Prune dead flowers and leaves often. You can break apart some of the matted leaf clumps and root them in the soil to start new plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Rhizomatous begonias grow best in organic matter such as mixtures of peat and compost.

• Use insecticide if needed to keep mealy bugs away.

References

• "Orlando Sentinel": Rhizomatous Begonia
• Department of Horticulture Science, Texas A&M University: Begoniaceae Begonia Family
• University of Illinois Extension: Rex Begonias