Begonias Easy to Grow if You Follow Simple Rules

Growing begonias is a breeze, if you keep these tips in mind:

* Place begonias in shade that has occasional bright light. Give them too much shade and they’ll become leggy and won’t bloom well; direct sun will burn them.

* Plant in containers, unless you have soil that drains well. The container potting mix should be light. Mary Sakamoto of the local chapter of the American Begonia Society makes her own by combining one-part planting mix and mulch, one-part medium-sized perlite, one-part oak leaf mold and one-part 1/8- to 1/4-inch orchid bark.

If you plant in the ground, amend by at least 50% with planting mix. (There are a few varieties that do well in native soil.)

* Protect plants from Santa Ana winds, which tear them up and dehydrate them. Take container plants to safety until the windstorm passes, such as under house eaves or in a garage.

* Fertilize monthly with a full-strength solution, or weekly with a quarter-strength solution of a liquid fertilizer such as a 14-14-14 or a 20-20-20. You can also add a time-released fertilizer when potting up and once every spring.

* Water begonias when the soil approaches dryness, but isn’t bone dry. Keeping soil soggy is not a good idea, because the plants don’t like wet feet.

* Prune begonias aggressively in the spring so the new growth is healthy and strong. Also keep them pinched back during the growing season, to assure bushy plants.

* Watch for whiteflies. Giant whiteflies love to dine on begonias. Your best line of defense against them is to check plants every day or two and wash the underside of leaves well with water.

* Expect some wintertime slowing in growth. Don’t be surprised to find that in winter your begonias lose some of their leaves. They don’t like chilly weather.