Overwintering guide
How to overwinter reunion island begonia
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — reunion island begonia 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 reunion island begonia in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and reunion island begonia rots from the base.
More reunion island begonia care
Overwintering reunion island begonia — FAQ
Does reunion island begonia need to come indoors for winter?
Reunion Island Begonia is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Reunion Island Begonia 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 reunion island begonia for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water reunion island begonia in winter?
Cut watering right back — reunion island begonia uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills reunion island begonia over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and reunion island begonia rots from the base.