Hi Guys,
Around May or June of this year I bought a small B. Silver Dollar from Logee's. Like all plants from Logee's, it was impressivly small, but grew quite nicely. I have been collecting Begonia's for a few years now and know that unlike most places, ALL my begonia's go dormant, and right now they are beginning to show the tell tail signs that this is happening. However, my small B. Silver Dollar where it was so small has lost ALL of it's leaves. It had about 5 before this happened. All that's left is a big brown NUB sticking out of the soil that the leaves used to grow out of. This has never happened to me before. Usually my Begonia's keep at least one leaf during dormancy. Should I face facts that it's likely dead, or treat it like it's just dormant? Would putting it in a mini-Tabletop Greenhouse help? Thanks for the advice from you experts in advance!
C~
Rex Begonia-Dead or Dormant?
Hey Chrissy,
Wish I could help! My begonias have also acted differently this year by losing more leaves than usual, and I also have one that lost all of it's leaves. I'm just going to wait it out, treat as usual (less water during the winter) and see what happens in the spring. I've found that my begonias have always been temperamental and I just try to ride it out. Sorry I couldn't give advice, but at least you know you're not alone!
Cindy
i brought my rex inside over a month ago...put in in the north window and it is slimming down(enough to let the flowers show..lol)but it does not look dead or dormant...oh i hope this doesnt happen....ill watch this thread and wait for the begonia experts to post...cindy
Oh No Brommom,
I've actually found it to be a good thing if you stand the sight of them during the dormant monthes. They can get pretty ratty looking.
Last year I bought one on eBay at the end of the summer and thought I bought a DUD because after I bought it it began looking pretty rough. Tory on the House Plant Forum told me to deal with it but not to throw it out and that it sounded like it was going into dormancy (she's sssoooo good with Begonia's). This spring it produced the most humongus leaves I've ever seen on a Rex. A few of them were nearly as big as my head! And I've got a pretty large cranium for a small person (my nickname is Tweety after Tweety Bird 'cause I've got a large head in comparison to my body and I'm blond)!
So seeing your from Missouri and all, don't dispair if your Begonia's start looking RATTY. Cut back on watering and you'll be rewarded 10 fold come spring. Just like people they'll become more active and flourish in warmer seasons.
Personally I just want to know if one that has lost it's leaves totally is considered dead or not!!!!
C~
P.S. Thanks Cindy M. Perhaps someone will take pitty on us and give us some good Begonia dormancy advise!
Hi Chrissy!
Remember now, I have never kept a Rex begonia alive long (perhaps I should try again now that I have Rex bunnies?).
Anyway, I HAVE found that if that nub you describe hasn't shriveled, it's very possibly just dormant. Give it a nudge, and if it's still well rooted, it's likely alive.
:)perL
try this begonia site to help learn more about the plant ...http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~apkweb/folnotes/begonias.htm good luck.
i started collecting rex begonias last fall and i have 5 different kinds-they have never dropped their leaves-willthey?
i just luv my escargo-and all the others! Dont want to lose any of them!
dori
notmartha, I love my escargo,I just rooted one too!!I think they are one of the best begonias!!!