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

hcmcdole wrote:
ISO is analogous to film speed. If you can manually set it to a higher value such as 400 or 800, then you can boost your shutter speed in dim light. It is not a cure all but can be helpful in some situations without resorting to a tripod or flash. Flash is a last resort if you can avoid it but sometimes you just have to break out the big guns.

I don't know why plants abort young leaves at times. Call it self preservation and let nature take its course? The important thing is keeping the plant alive in less than ideal conditions. I like to think of it as a leaf that wouldn't have made it anyway. The plant tried to put on too many and therefore some are destined to fail.

Natural light is great if the plant is happy - it is free and easy to use. Fluorescent lights aren't without their problems - set up, cost, changing bulbs (or fixtures) out, etc. but they do help keep the plants alive and growing for the most part in winter.

I never throw out a begonia that looks dead until I've given it a few weeks (or months). I never know if it might throw up some new growth from the roots - it has happened some times but a lot of times it is dead, dead, dead.

Here is another beefsteak but this one actually has it in the proper name - B. 'Omaha Beefsteak'. Red rexes seem to be the most susceptible to mildew. ARGH!! Oh well, rexes do make beautiful annuals at least.