Can I keep begonias inside?

I was given some begonias as a gift when I left my job, and I don't really know what to do with them. I live in an apartment, and cannot put them outside, because my balcony is in full sun all day (I know that much, at least!).





Can I keep them inside? Are they a lot of maintenance? They're barely a week old, and I already feel I'm killing them, help!

Can I keep begonias inside?
Begonias need lots of light, but as you already know, it has to be indirect light. They can be kept inside but they are an annual, so they will blossom, then die down. You can keep them from year to year, but whether you want to get into that in an apartment is questionable. Begonias are funny plants. If they are happy in their location, they are almost indestructable. If they aren't happy, nothing you can do will make them grow well. They'll become infested with bugs (how they do this indoors when there are no bugs around is a mystery to me, but they do) they develop weird plant diseases, and just generally act as though they are totally psychotic. I know, plants can't do this, but begonias do.


So -- if you have them in an indoor location where they get lots of indirect light and they seem to be doing well, leave them there. Pick off the dead blossoms to encourage them to keep blooming. Lift the leaves to water them (they don't like water on their leaves, either. They really are persnickety plants!) and enjoy. They are such beautiful flowers they are worth all the fuss.
Reply:very wonderful advice I am trying to house my mom's this winter. I was happy to find this advise before i started the experience. It was just an experiment as i knew you could house geraniums. Report It

Reply:not for long....