Contrary to what the name suggests, the ice begonia (bot. Begonia semperflorens) is absolutely not hardy. The name is more likely due to the leaves breaking easily. In addition, the ice begonia is also known as the crooked leaf or god's eye.
Are ice begonias hardy and frost resistant?
Are ice begonias hardy? No, ice begonias are perennial plants that do not tolerate frost. To overwinter them, they should be kept in a frost-free room such as a greenhouse or conservatory at around 16°C to 20°C to avoid damage from cold.
Can ice begonias be overwintered?
In stores, you can usually find ice begonias as annual garden plants. This is because they are quite inexpensive. Therefore, ice begonias are usually disposed of and bought new in the spring if necessary. This is not necessary, because you can also overwinter your ice begonias. They are perennial but absolutely do not tolerate frost. They freeze to death at around 0 °C.
How and where do I overwinter my ice begonias?
You should definitely overwinter your ice begonias frost-free, preferably in moderate heat of around 16 °C to 20 °C. For example, a greenhouse or an unheated or moderately heated winter garden is suitable. If your ice begonia gets enough light, it may even continue to bloom throughout the winter.
In winter, your ice begonia doesn't need any fertilizer and usually a little less water than in the summer months. Before watering, check whether the soil is actually a little dry, as the ice begonia does not tolerate moisture well.
As long as it is in full bloom, you should not change anything in terms of care. Despite its abundance of flowers, the plant does not need a particularly large number of nutrients. Under no circumstances should you cut back ice begonias in autumn; cleaning them out is usually not necessary.
Care in late winter and spring
If the winter and with it the flowering of your ice begonia is slowly coming to an end, you can cut the plant back a little and perhaps repot it straight away. Slowly getting used to the fresh air, the ice begonia can move back to the balcony after the ice saints.
The most important things in brief:
- perennial, but not hardy
- cannot tolerate frost at all
- likes to overwinter at approx. 16 °C to 20 °C
- can also bloom in winter
Tip
If you want your ice begonias to survive the winter, you have to move them to a frost-free winter quarters in good time in the fall.
