My Cowardly Lion is sending out new solid dark leaves. Is this a reversion and is there anything I can do to regain my CL? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tussee
What is this!
It's probably just the light levels. If it was outdoors it would probably look a lot different. I've had dark leaves, light leaves, and in between dependent on light levels.
Thank you for the information. I will take my plant outside tomorrow and see if it makes a change for the better. I still have a couple of months of outside growing - it may even miss its friends. :)
Tussee
Here is one of mine in winter under lights. You can see that the new leaves are brown. I think brighter light will bring out all the details.
That last picture of yours perfectly portrays the color of my new leaves. I've been in the dumps ever since those dark leaves started to appear as CL has become my favorite begonia. I sure appreciate your taking the time to help me understand the problem and how to fix it.
Tussee
CL has lots of faces. I'm confident that a lot more light will get the colors and details you are wanting. I wish I could show you lots of examples of the same plant growing under different light conditions and what a difference it makes but that would mean a lot of posts.
For example: B. valida takes on a plain green look indoors but outdoors it gets some pinkish, almost variegated look to some of its leaves. B. 'Silvermist' gets huge leaves with lots of silver in deep shade and doesn't bloom but if exposed to a few hours of sun each day during the growing season the silver streaks become very diminished but it blooms with total abandon.
Another one to consider that is very similar to CL is 'Wild Pony'.
The above picture was Dec 24 under shop lights. This one is from 3 months earlier (Sep 24) before moving indoors.
I have not seen such a transformation before in a begonia, and I am delighted to know of the possibility. You've saved me from having to put up another post of "What is this" should such coloration occur. I'm not familiar with "Wild Pony" so I'll look it up. Thanks again.
Tussee
Wild Pony from last year.in a pot with Midnight Twist - lost both but luckily I started some WP from last year but MT is a goner.
