Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Angelwing ID Please?, 1 by hcmcdole

hcmcdole wrote:
Jackie,

The biggest problem I have (and I hear from others) is getting some of the really picky begonias through winter. The serratipetala in the picture is the second one I've had and it is thriving in my 30 gallon aquarium but the tank is crowded. I have a feeling the other two (exotica and brevirimosa) would do just great in the same kind of environment too.

As for San Miguel and most of my begonias, I use liberal amounts of Perlite and prefer clay pots especially for rhizomatous. The first SM did so great (like I mentioned before) that I gave away at least two offsets about the size you would get from Logees and divided the remaining mother plant into two pots for insurance purposes, but it gradually went downhill through the winter months so much that it probably didn't have enough energy to make it by the time I was finally able to move it outdoors. I don't use sand too much because it is so heavy but I am using it a bit more for rooting new begonias.

A couple in our local begonia chapter just start new plants each year from cuttings instead of bringing the big plants back indoors. I may have to adopt this strategy in the future so I can give them adequate light, warmth, and humidity.

Here is 'Cachuma' back in June.