Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Begonias Anonymous - Attention Addicts and Enablers, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
stormy--

Do you plan to put the AW begonia in a sunny spot for the Winter? Like--just let it grow?
IF it gets good light--and you plan to use it as a houseplant--I suppose you could cut it down now....
I just think it re-grows better outside in Summer...
I normally just let it go semi-dormant...Mostly, I forget to water it....as it's place is in my extra bedroom on the floor.

Then in the Spring--I take the tip-cuttings (where the growth is) and root those. Either water or soil;---both will work.
I usually do the water--so I know which pieces have the better roots.
Discard the bare stems between the cut-off tops and the soil in the pot. The orig. plant will re-grow from the stubs--and the tip cuttings will grow into a lush, new plant.

This is my Mama plant that I cut back last Summer.....Hasn't bloomed, but it sure grew! The tip-cuttings will bloom better.....and sooner.

G.

edited to say that I think I re-potted it completely as well this past summer..That means fresh soil and only the viable roots getting re-potted. It always does magnificently on the years I do this.


This message was edited Oct 12, 2009 3:02 PM