How much sun do Begonias need? Can you grow this plant under indirect sunlight?
These tricky matters are still mysteries to many gardeners, as they sometimes want to bring these gorgeous flowers indoors. This matter will be thoroughly elaborated in this article.
Sunlight is also a determining factor in the seedling’s development. If you are stuck figuring out the proper duration, you have landed on the right site. Let’s get started!
About The Begonia Plant
The Begonia is a genus belonging to the Begoniacea family, placed in the perennial plant category.
It contains about 2000 different species that are native to the moisture subtropical and tropical climates, such as South Africa, Central America, or southern Asia.
Although it lives in cold regions, don’t mistake it as a tropical evergreen tree. This plant is quite special because of its monoecious characteristics.
That means both male and female flowers thrive separately on the same seedling.
The Begonia takes root in various soil conditions and requires little to develop.
For that reason, it is easy to grow, and when the blossom season comes, gardeners will be rewarded with stunning foliage and beautiful flowers.
Its fruit looks like a winged capsule and contains a wide variety of minute seeds. As regards the green leaves, they are known for big sizes and variegated marks, which usually form an asymmetrical shape.
Remember that this plant is quite toxic to home pets, such as dogs or cats, so keep it away from them.
How Much Sun Do Begonias Need?
4 to 6 hours of sunlight are the optimal conditions for Begonia’s growth.
Bright sunshine could wreak havoc on the entire plant’s development, especially delicate leaves, as it does not tolerate the strength and heat of the full sun.
The best time is morning and late afternoon when the direct sunlight arrays become less intense and provide more partial shade.
In some hot regions, you should take some measurements to prevent it from being harmed by excess heat during the noon or early afternoon.
Artificial sunlight, like a grow light,is also a great facilitator for indoor begonias. Fourteen hours are enough, and you should not let the exposure rate extend this threshold.
Can Begonias Grow In Indirect Sunlight?
Totally yes.
All Begonia varieties would grow under filtered sunlight. That’s why this plant favors sunshine, dabbled with afternoon shade, as mentioned earlier.
This prevents it from being susceptible to heat stress. Like humans, the outdoor Begonias could easily get sun-scorched when exposed to the hot afternoon sun for many hours.
The consequence is heat stress, causing its body to lose excess water and then die gradually.
For indoor plants, I always place them in window boxes, under the morning sun, so that the tree can absorb much sunshine.
However, when noon or afternoon sets in, moving it out of this location is advisable.
Avoid facing it directly to a hot windowsill at all costs. Please don’t plant it in full shade as well since its blossoms cannot grow to the full due to the non-dense foliage.
How To Ensure Optimum Light For Begonias?
Below are four factors needed to determine whether the light is good for your Begonia’s growth.
Light Intensity
Light intensity is the most important pillar among different Begonia sun requirements. Indeed, it can exert many impacts on your plant’s development, especially its leaves.
A proper intensity level is from 200FC to 400FC. The range is equivalent to between 2150 and 4300 lux.
Suppose you are growing Begonias to produce its seeds in mass; the range of 2000FC to 2500FC will be best for a good yield.
The more the light intensity increases, the more density your plant displays. And its green foliage’s colors will dim as the photosynthesis process is interrupted and unable to happen as usual.
Light Duration
The exposure rate is another deciding factor that gardeners should pay attention to.
This includes the photoperiod, morning or evening light time, and even the duration during your seedling facing the sun.
Depending on different Begonia types, there are many warnings about the light duration. Given the Tuberous types, its bright blooms only bud when the daytime is longer than the night.
Light Quality
It is highly recommended to consider the quality of sunshine. Suppose you want your plant to grow faster than usual.
In that case, tweaking the sunlight quality is a feasible remedy, as the emission of different colors affects your mature Begonias in a separate manner.
The ideal color temperature is 3000k, yet you can heighten this rate to 4000k to facilitate the development of foliage. Here are some specific light colors that are commonly used.
- Violet color, with a wavelength between 380 and 430mm, helps enhance the fruit’s production.
- Blue, with a wavelength of 430 to 500mm, promotes the leaves’ thickness.
- Green and cyan colors, with a 500-565mm wavelength, aids the photosynthesis procedure.
- Orange color, with a wavelength between 580 and 625mm, is a facilitator to the flower bed’s development.
- Red color, with a wavelength of 740 and 10000mm, is beneficial for the seed’s germination process.
Location For The Plant
Location is of tremendous importance. If you decide to grow your seedlings indoors, east-facing windows are the best place that provides natural indirect light.
Sometimes, this spot could become dangerous in summer months due to the harsh sunshine. Under this circumstance, you had better purchase a curtain to avert the glare arrays.
What Happens If Begonias Don’t Get Enough Sun Or Get Too Much Sunlight?
Signs Of Light Deprivation
- Some etiolation marks appear on the tree’s stems
- The discoloration starts to happen on the plant’s leaves, leading to their stunted growth
- Leaves begin to fall off in large numbers after a time when yellow leaves pop up
- The leave’s size is smaller than normal
- A load of diseases is followed, like the fungal ailment rendered by powdery mildew
- The eventual death is a looming scenario if the issue of light deprivation still exists.
Signs Of Light Saturation
- The Begonia bends toward the ground
- Brown spots pop up and stretch throughout its body
- The entire appearance seems droopy and lacks of energy
- The edges, along with the tips of the tree, could be burned
- Leaf bleaching could happen, making the foliage change its color to yellowish-white
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Begonias Grow In Shade?
Yes.
As presented above, the Begonia can grow well in full shade or shady conditions, but only for a short time. A total absence of sunshine will impede its growth and finally result in its death.
Which Begonia Species Thrive In Shade?
There are many Begonias that can thrive better in the shade, particularly the dark-leafed varieties.
Some are enumerated, such as the Tuberous, Reiger, or Elatior begonias, requiring a nice shady spot and not tolerating full sun.
Although they love the shade, these species are still showstoppers. That means they often display colorful blossoms and dazzling rose, white and yellow hues.
The Bottom Line
This post has solved the question: How much sun do Begonias need? In general, 4 to 6 hours of direct light are the best exposure duration to facilitate your healthy plants.
Keep in mind the sun requirements for Begonias, together with potential hazards caused by the issue of light saturation and deprivation.
Thank you for your genuine support, and have a nice day!
