Garden Care Guide

Begonia Care

Begonia sp.

Likes bright places without direct sun, and high humidity. It should be watered as the soil dries out; avoid overwatering and wetting the leaves. It is grown for its decorative leaves or flowers.

Frost-tender (protect from frost) · 5 °C / 41 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Every 10-15 days (when the top 3-4 cm of soil has dried), 0.2-0.5 L depending on pot size.
  • Pruning: Remove only yellowing or drying leaves.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Keep it away from heat sources such as radiators and cold drafts.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
February
  • Watering: Every 10-12 days (check soil moisture).
  • Pruning: At the end of the month, before growth begins, you can prune weak branches to shape the plant.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: If you are considering repotting, you can prepare at the end of the month. Dust the leaves with a damp cloth.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
March
  • Watering: Once a week (as the topsoil dries), 0.3-0.7 L.
  • Fertilizing: Once a month, give a balanced NPK (e.g. 20-20-20) liquid fertilizer at half dose with irrigation water. Do not overfeed.
  • Pruning: Cut off the elongating shoot tips to encourage a bushy form.
  • Plant protection: Check the new shoots for aphids.
  • General care: The best time for repotting. You can propagate by cuttings.
  • Pests & diseases: Increase ventilation against signs of powdery mildew (white powder on the leaves).
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Give liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove elongating shoots and spent flowers.
  • Plant protection: Against the risk of powdery mildew, do not wet the leaves; use a fungicide containing sulfur if necessary.
  • General care: Turn the plant regularly so that all of it receives equal light.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see aphids or mealybugs, wipe them off with alcohol-soaked cotton or apply neem oil.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Give liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering. Water at the base without wetting the leaves; wet leaves trigger powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases.
  • Plant protection: In hot weather, check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins. Apply mulch 5-7 cm thick over the root zone; it conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not press mulch against the stem.
  • Pests & diseases: If there are signs of spider mites (webbing and wilting on the leaves), spray the leaves with water or use a miticide.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Give liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread. Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Give liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread. Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Give liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread. Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Make this month's feeding the last of the season; afterward, the plant needs to prepare for winter.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Remove only dead leaves.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Keep checking for indoor pests such as mealybugs.
  • Frost risk: Move the plant away from window areas that may cool at night.
November
  • Watering: Every 10-15 days (soil should be quite dry).
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Protect it from cold drafts and the drying effect of radiators. Place a bowl of water next to it to increase humidity.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
December
  • Watering: Water sparingly when the topsoil dries; do not leave water in the saucer.
  • Pruning: Remove yellowing leaves.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides