Begonias are plants that can be kept both outdoors, on the balcony or in the garden, and indoors if you have a room with windows that let in plenty of light. For this reason, the question often arises whether they are for sun or shade, and there are also more than a hundred different varieties: some are herbaceous, others bushy, but all are different.
So if you’re wondering if begonias are for sun or shade, or which ones to put in one place and which ones in another, then we will reveal the doubt.
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Where do begonias live?
Begonias are plants found in Asia, America and Africa. To be more exact, They live in tropical and subtropical forests, almost always in the shade of jungle or forest trees and palms.. Since they are also usually small, they have a hard time capturing the light they need, which is why many of them have bicolor leaves: green on the upper side, and garnet red on the lower side. This allows them to take full advantage of the light.
But beware: this does not mean that we have to put our colored begonia in full sun. If we did, it would burn, as it is not genetically prepared to withstand the direct impact of sunlight on its leaves.
Now well, Are some begonias sunny? The answer is no, but some species can tolerate it for a few hours a day.as long as it is early in the morning, or late in the afternoon, because the degree of sunshine is too high for them at plant level.
Which begonias can be in the sun (a few hours)?
If you have, for example, a balcony or a terrace exposed to the sun for a few hours a day, and you want to have a few begonias, which species should you choose? Well, based on my own experience, I recommend these two:
Begonia semperflorens
Image – Flickr/Serres Fortier
It is the one that best tolerates direct light. The Begonia semperflorens it is the one that is often planted in roundabouts and narrow alleys, as well as in window boxes and around trees. It is about 20 centimeters tall at most, and develops rounded green or reddish leaves. The flowers are very small, about one centimeter, and can be white or pink.
begonia rex
The begonia rex It is a type of beautiful begonia, with leaves that can be red, green, bi or tricolor. It tolerates direct light less well than the previous species, but if you give it a little time (an hour in the early morning or late afternoon) it won’t hurt.
Which Begonias Need Shade?
Begonias that want shade are practically all. But there are some that need to be in an area with lots of light, but no direct light. Let’s talk about them:
Elatior begonia (Begonia x hiemalis)
Image – Wikimedia/阿橋HQ
The begonia elatior is a hybrid from Brazil. It has large green leaves, as well as beautiful flowers, consisting of a double crown of petals. These can be pink, orange or red.
hairless begonia
Image – Wikimedia/Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
The hairless begonia It is a climbing species that can reach 4 meters in length. (or high, if you have the ability to climb). It is native from Mexico to Peru and has green leaves. The flowers are collected in inflorescences and are small, white.
begonia maculata
Image – Wikimedia/GCornelis
The begonia maculata It is a species native to Mexico that has green leaves with round white dots. It produces small white flowers. It can reach a height of about 60 centimeters.
Begonia ulmifolia
Image – Wikimedia/Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
The Begonia ulmifolia It is a plant native to the tropical forests of Central America. Reaches a height of about 40 centimeters, and its leaves are reminiscent of those of elms (Ulmus). Its flowers are white.
begonia ondulata
Image – Wikimedia/Bachelot Pierre JP
The begonia ondulata It is a plant native to South America, more precisely Brazil, where it is an endemic species. It reaches a height of up to 1 meter and produces white flowers.
Where to put indoor begonias?
Begonias do very well indoors because unlike other plants, they don’t need as much light to grow properly. For it, It is very interesting to use them to decorate the interior of the house, provided that they are placed in a room with a lot of light from outside..
Apart from that, it is important to keep in mind that drafts and low humidity cause them a lot of damage, as they dehydrate them and dry out their leaves. Therefore, it is crucial to place them as far as possible from fans, air conditioning, etc., as well as to spray water on their leaves in case the ambient humidity is low.
As you can see, there are many types of begonias, and while some can be in the sun for a few hours, the vast majority prefer shade.