Hi, I've got a beef steak begonia that I've had for about 4 years now. It is just huge and parts of it have begun trying to climb out of the pot and into other pots next to it. Is it safe to cut it up a bit and put it in 3 or 4 smaller pots (and give some of them away to friends)? Also, it hasn't flowered since I first got it, and even then it was just a tiny little sprig of about 5 pathetic looking teeny flowers. Any advice?
Oh, if it is OK and anybody wants any of the cuttings once they've started to root, please let me know and perhaps we could trade. Depending upon how they root, I'll probably be posting them up for trade in the spring, but I'd be happy to keep a list of interested parties and let you know when I'll be ready to trade.
This message was edited Friday, Dec 13th 1:42 PM
Beef Steak Begonia
I don't think you would have any trouble repotting this.. I believe with rhizomatous begonias, you don't want to bury too much of the stem.. Just take a look at the parent plant and how much it is out of the ground.
I would love to trade cuttings. Pretty cold here now though. I have two very nice unnamed angelwings cuttings to trade if you would like. I have some other houseplants to trade as well if the angelwings don't suit you.
Hi KathyJo,
I would love to have a nice angelwing! I had one previously, but I went on vacation and it died while I was gone. :-(
It is cold here too right now. Perhaps we could do a trade in the spring (March/April), when things warm up?
It's a deal! We'll trade begonias in the Spring! I will make a mental note to start some rooting after the Holidays.
nigellagal, I would love to have a rooted start of your beefsteak begonia in the spring too if you have any left. I have 2 different types of begonias and some other kinds of plants and houseplants I can offer in trade. Let me know if you have any left and what type of plants may interest you. Thanks, CB
CB, I've got about 16 of them rooting in glass jars right now (the plant was huge). So far, 2 are claimed, so I will definitely put you on the list for one. I checked your list, and I don't have any ferns, so one of those would be great, if that's OK.
nigellagal, I would be glad to share some of my ferns with you and thank you for considering sharing with me. Let me know in the spring when you are ready to trade. Thanks again, CB
CB, you are most welcome! I'm really looking forward to the spring now. :-)
Hi KathyJo and CB,
The begonias are rooting faster than I expected. You might have some good sized plants being sent your way by the time spring rolls around. :-) I'll probably be pulling them out of their glass jars (where they are just rooting in water) and potting them in some small plastic containers this weekend.
Genevieve
Ohhhh goooody Genevieve, thank you for letting us know how the cuttings are doing. I can't wait for spring time to come and I get to see the Beef Steak Begonia. Let me know if I have any plants on my list that may interest you and I will love to share them with you. I also have several type houseplants that may interest you, if you like houseplants alot. Just contact me. Thank you so much for sharing with me and for going to the trouble of rooting the cuttings. You are very kind. :)
Monica
Oh , can't wait to get my beefsteak begonia and can't wait for Spring and trading season!
CB and KathyJo, you have mail. :-)
Hello! Because of the weather here in Wisconsin, I'm going to hold off for a week on mailing out the begonias. And I'd like to ask if you would also hold off on mailing your cuttings to me as well. Here's the forecast for where I'm at, and it doesn't look good for plants that like to be warm:
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/53713?lswe=53713&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared
If you go down the weather page, you'll see the 10-day forcast won't be back up into the 60's until next weekend, and I don't want to risk having your begonias freeze before they get to you.
The begonias will be going out in the mail tomorrow. I hope each of you will enjoy your little plant. And believe me, if you give it full sun and keep it watered, it will not be a small plant for long.
Full sun, are you serious!! I thought almost all Begonias were shade lovers!!
This one loves full sun. It gets just huge!