Growing & Maintenance Tips for Hanging Basket: Illumination Begonia & Bossa Nova Begonia

Illumination and Bossa Nova Begonias thrive in partial shade. Too much shade and they will stop blooming but too much sun and the leaves will get sunburned. They prefer warm temperatures so avoid putting them outside too early in the spring. Night time temperatures need to be above 10℃

Keep these varieties protected from the wind.

Drought tolerant.

We recommend fertilizing these hanging baskets weekly with a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20. Adding a slow release fertilizer on top of the soil is also recommended if weekly fertilizing is not practical. Follow manufacturers instructions for rates.

If Begonias are kept too wet, their stems will rot at the soil level. It is ideal to water them in the morning and keep foliage and stems dry. The water requirement of these baskets tends to be lower than other baskets. Avoid watering on cool or rainy days but be prepared to water as soon as the warm sunny days come again.

These begonias do not require deadheading but they will drop their flowers on a regular basis. We recommend hanging them in an area where their petals can drop and compost in the soil underneath. If the basket is over a patio, have a broom handy for quick clean up.