Hello everybody !!! I have admired begonias for quite sometime and my friend has some gorgeous plants but he also has a sizable backyard and varying degrees of shade. I would love to grow mini and or compact begonias if possible alongside my african violets. I'm planning on adding a 3 tier shelf with lights to my room to increase my collection. Any suggestions as far as vendors and varieties will be welcome.
Thank you;
Rolando
Looking to start with begonias
I would ask your friend for some cuttings from his, some are so easy to start.. Good Luck
All of his are big plants like gorgeous big leaves some amazing angel wing begonias as well as cane begonias but too big to grow them indoors. What I want is small to miniatures that won't get bigger than standard size African Violets. I will however look and see what he has that's smallish.
Kartuz might have some miniature rhizos that would work. There are also some small rexes, but they can be difficult.
Rob's Violets specializes in small begonias but beware - some of the ones they do sell can get very large such as Shamus.
Here was the height of my Shamus when I let it do its thing.
You can keep begonias small by constraining them in small pots (like bonsai).
Here is an example of different pot sizes with B. 'Black Coffee'. The smallest one is in a 2 oz rinse cup and it lived for 3 to 4 years in this little cup. I think I finally lost it when it stayed too wet one summer.
hcmcdole, yours are gorgeous !!!!
Thank you everybody for you comments and input. I went to Rob's Violets and since I've had such good experience with his AVs I went ahead and ordered some gorgeous plants that should be shipping next Monday. This will be my Christmas present to myself. Here is the list;
Arapahoe
Baby Dress
Beau Rouge
Black Fang
bunchii
Cleopatra (b)
Emerald Jewel
Five and Dime
hydrocotylifolia
Hurricane
masoniana Iron Cross
Queen Olympus
Mini Merry
Winkys Chocolate Chip
jasminesmom-
Blue Mountain Lake?
Roly-
Iron cross is difficult for me. Butch may have some tips. Of course, Florida growing is probably much easier than upstate NY.