Overwatered Begonia [What do look like?]

Begonias are one of the most popular and beautiful houseplants, with a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of leaves and flowers. These plants are easy to care for and require little direct light, but it is important to control your watering level. Indeed, excess or lack of water can have a negative impact on the health and growth of the begonia.

In this article, we will focus on overwatering begonia and how it affects its appearance. We’ll also talk about under-watering and how to prevent it to ensure your begonia remains healthy and beautiful. Knowing the signs and solutions for overwatering or underwatering is critical to keeping a healthy and thriving begonia.

1. How often to water Begonias?

The frequency of watering a begonia depends on several factors, such as the season of the year, the weather and the location of the plant. In general, it is recommended to water begonias once a week during spring and summer, when the plant is in full growth. However, during the fall and winter, when the plant is dormant, it can be watered less frequently, every 10 to 14 days.

It is important to note that the weather can also affect the frequency of watering. In hot, dry climates, more frequent watering may be necessary than in cool, humid climates. In addition, the location of the plant can also influence the frequency of watering. For example, if the begonia is near a window with direct light, more frequent watering may be necessary due to increased evapotranspiration.

In general, it is important to learn to know the begonia and its specific watering needs, and adapt the frequency of watering accordingly. The key is not to water too frequently, as this can lead to overwatering, which will be discussed in the next section.

2. Causes of overwatered Begonia

There are several reasons why a gardener may end up overwatering a begonia. Some of the more common causes include:

Pot too large: If the pot in which the begonia is located is too large compared to the size of the root of the plant, it is likely that the excess soil will retain more water than necessary, which can lead to watering excessive.

Type of soil: If the soil used in the pot is not suitable for begonias, it is likely to hold too much water and not allow proper drainage, which can lead to overwatering.

Lack of drainage: If the pot does not have a good drainage system, excess water may not drain properly, which can lead to overwatering.

Lack of knowledge: Many times, novice gardeners can overwater simply due to a lack of knowledge about begonia watering needs.

If you take into account these causes that we have just mentioned, you will surely avoid overwatering your begonia. The next section will discuss the signs of overwatering and how to fix it.

Advice: If you have come this far, surely you may be interested in reading one of the following articles:

3. What do overwatered begonias look like?

If a begonia has been overwatered, it is likely to display some symptoms that indicate it is suffering. Some of the more common symptoms include:

Yellowing leaves: If the leaves of your begonia turn yellow, it is likely a sign of overwatering. This is because too much water can suffocate the roots and cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Rotting roots: Too much water can cause begonia roots to rot, which can make the plant weak and more prone to disease.

Base rot: Begonia base rot is another sign of overwatering. This is because overwatering can cause the base of the begonia to rot and become weak.

Dormant: If the begonia is not growing or blooming as it should, it is likely a sign of overwatering.

If your begonia exhibits any of these symptoms, it is likely a sign of overwatering and it is important to take steps to correct it. The next section will discuss how to fix overwatering a begonia.

3.1 Signs of underwatering begonias

Identifying the signs and symptoms of an underwatered begonia is just as important as an overwatered one. Underwatering can be just as damaging to begonias as overwatering. Some of the more common symptoms of an underwatered begonia include:

Dry Leaves: If the leaves of your begonia become dry and fall off easily, it is likely a sign of insufficient watering.

Reduced Blooming: Lack of water can cause your begonia to not bloom as much as it should or even not bloom at all.

Weak stem: A weak stem can be a sign of insufficient watering. If the begonia doesn’t get enough water, its stems can become weak and more prone to breaking.

Dormant: Begonias can stop growing if they don’t get enough water. This can make the plant look unhealthy and more prone to disease.

You should be aware that the symptoms of an underwatered and an overwatered begonia can be similar, so it is key to carefully test the begonia to determine what the problem is.

4. Rescue overwatered begonia

There are different ways you can rescue an overwatered begonia, depending on whether it is in a pot or planted in the ground. Next, we describe the steps you must follow in both cases.

4.1 Potted begonias

Remove the begonia from the pot and drain any excess water.
Allow the begonia to dry out for a few minutes before replanting it in the same or a new pot.
Use a quality substrate and make sure the pot has good drainage to prevent excess water in the future.
Regulate the frequency of watering and make sure the soil is dry before watering again.
In case of detecting root rot, apply some fungicide (ask an expert) and trim all rotten roots. Also disinfect the pot or change it before transplanting.

4.2 Begonias planted in the ground

Reduce the frequency of watering and make sure the soil has good drainage.
If the soil is too wet, drain the area around the begonia to allow excess water to drain off.
Regulate the frequency of watering and make sure the soil is dry before watering again.
If you suspect that there are fungi on the roots, apply a fungicide. You could take the plant out of the ground to trim the roots in poor condition. But given the state of health of the plant, it may not survive the stress of transplanting.

Although rescuing an overwatered begonia can be a process that requires time and patience, with a little care and attention, the begonia can be saved and future watering problems avoided.

5. How to fix underwatered begonia

To rescue a begonia that has suffered water stress due to lack of irrigation, we must follow the following tips:

Assess the situation: Before beginning the rescue process, it is important to assess the state of the begonia and determine if it is still possible to save it. If the leaves are dry and yellowed, the begonia is probably too damaged and cannot be saved.

Water properly: Once you have assessed the situation, it is important to properly water the begonia. Do this with a moderate amount of water and allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.

Provide shade: Begonias that have suffered water stress can also be damaged by direct sun exposure. Therefore, it is important to provide the plant with shade to prevent further damage.

Apply fertilizer: To help the begonia recover from lack of watering, you can apply a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer to help stimulate new leaf growth.

Be patient: Finally, it is important to be patient and give the begonia time to recover. Recovery can take several weeks or even months, depending on the severity of the situation.

With this we end this article. I hope I have cleared up all your doubts both about overwatering and underwatering a Begonia. 😉

More inforamtion:

Growing Begonias – begoniaswa.org.

Rhizomatous Begonia – www.logees.com.

Begonia (Tuberous) – pwfourstar.com.