Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Garden #115, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Begonias, (sigh) yes, but I had to learn the technique the hard way. All my lovely lush Gryphons have pretty much petered out because they were planted in the ground without the key ingredient. Pots. (I did take cuttings so I have new plants on the way)

Since pretty much all the shady areas that are nice for begonias are under my massive live oaks, well you know there are just going to be oak tree roots competing. So I am using a massive cheat and sinking large nursery pots with a mix of soil, compost and potting mix into the ground to plant the begonias in. They do well, and are easy care as to watering with the micro-sprinkler system at work plus the roots are insulated from temp fluctuations, too. Also easy to transplant if any need moving. So . . .that's my secret for things that demand lots of moisture and nutrients but want to grow in the shade.

Of course things like bromeliads, ferns and even the spiral gingers seem to do fine without the sunken pot treatment.

Rita, this is another of the starts you sent in October - any IDea?