Overwintering guide
How to overwinter begonia 'silver jewel'
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — begonia 'silver jewel' uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills begonia 'silver jewel' in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'silver jewel' rots from the base.
More begonia 'silver jewel' care
- Overwintering rex begonia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full begonia 'silver jewel' care guide
- Begonia 'Silver Jewel' temperature range
- How often to water begonia 'silver jewel'
- How to prune begonia 'silver jewel'
- Common begonia 'silver jewel' problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering begonia 'silver jewel' — FAQ
Does begonia 'silver jewel' need to come indoors for winter?
Begonia 'Silver Jewel' is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Begonia 'Silver Jewel' is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move begonia 'silver jewel' for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water begonia 'silver jewel' in winter?
Cut watering right back — begonia 'silver jewel' uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills begonia 'silver jewel' over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and begonia 'silver jewel' rots from the base.