I have an angel wing begonia that a dear friend gave to me... but I know less than nothing about them. It has grown very long and rather gangly,,, and not at all attractive... Can someone please tell me what I should do with this plant.. I have a suspicion that it could be lovely, but I don't have a clue as to how to go about making that happen.
Thanks bunches,
Carolyn
Here's some help..
Cut the begonia back in the places marked in the pic with an X.
Then root the pieces with leaves in a glass of water and pot them up after they form a nice batch of roots.
The plant that is left in the pot should put out new growth in a few weeks.
Hope this helps some. If you need any clearification just let us know.
MsC
Thank you so much.... It looks as if this particular plant could grow up to be rather large.... It has such pretty leaves, and the flowers aren't bad neither...
I will do as you suggested... again..
Thanks Bunches,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
It's a great looking cutting you have there.I can't 'ID' it from the pic, but if it blooms before you cut it back and you can get a pic I'll give it a try.
Cane type begonias can get very large...I have 2 that get close to 5-ft -6ft tall each year and I cut them down to store them for winter.They are gorgeous when in bloom.
Here's a link for the American Begonia Society ,it has some very helpful information for beginners, pretty pics too!
http://www.begonias.org/greenhouse/index.asp
Enjoy the link,
MsC/Lottie
Hey, Garden--don't know if you're already doing this, but I've found that my begonias (semps, rexes & canes) all grow MUCH better & flourish when watered w/rainwater.
=) MKJ
Here is a close up of the flowers...
Here is another showing more of the lovely leaves....
and I try to water all of my houseplants with rain water whenever possible.... I collect it in 4 gallon buckets that have lids and keep them just for that purpose..
It took me AGES to learn about the water! Kept buying begonias, killing begonias.......now they get the rainwater. =)
MKJ
I only use tap water if the rain water isn't available... but we have well water, so it isn't nearly so bad as city water with all those chemicals etc...
I did as Ms. C suggested and now have them potted up in a hanging planter.... and here is what I now have. Much nicer and now that I know how easy it is to do this, I am quite sure it will look even better by this time next spring.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Blessings,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
It looks so much better and if you keep cutting it back little by little then that basket will be full in no time.
Good job!
Thanks for letting us see the results.
MsC
MsCritterkeeper knows her Begonias!!!!!!
Great job!!
Judy
Haha Judy.... I don't know much -but I know my begonias & my critters..lol
Carolyn did a great job pruning it and she can be very proud.
Mine are just beginning to come back and a few are blooming,too.
MsC
I am really looking forward to seeing it progress.. and actually am considering an urn for it rather than a hanging pot... but for now the hanger will do..
Thanks for all your advice...
Blessings,
Carolyn
I have an angel wing begonia as well that is not doing too well, I have had it for approx.4 years and it wont bloom! I have it in the best light I have at the moment while I am finally getting the southern window I have been begging for for the 5 years we have lived here! Then I hope to see some FLOWERS!!!! It is about 4 to 5 feet tall.
heres the front as best i could get it since it is so sprawling.
I am keeping mine in a sunroom on the west side of the house... It did bloom for me before I cut it and rooted the cuttings.... lots of lovely pink flowers.... It is doing quite well, but no new flowers since I took the cuttings...
I am going to look for a nice urn type vessel for it... and then plant it in that... but for now, it seems content in the hanging pot..
I love the size yours got to be scooby.... that is kewl.. and thank you so much for sharing..
Blessings,
Carolyn
Scooby,
Wait for MsC to come by and give advice but meanwhile I'm sure she is going to want to know about your fertilizer usage.
Judy
I haven't used any fertilizer yet.... I just planted it in a half and half mixture of compost and cheap potting mix from walmart...
Maybe some MG might be in order, eh?
Carolyn
Carolyn,
That's a beautiful cane type begonia and it needs a tad more sun , perhaps outside for a bit of morning sun? I can't tell for sure but the leaves look a lot like my goregeous Irene Nuss.
She's a beauty even when not in bloom and she gets about 5 ft tall .
Begonias in general don't like a lot of water or fertilizer and you can burn them very easily with fertilizer so use it 1/4 strength. I just use water from the garden hose but water differs everywhere and rain water is of course the best.
Yours really doesn't look too bad for being in the house.I don't have much luck with them inside but I don't have the great windows you do. Here's a few sugetions that might help you see blooms and get a little bushier plant.
I suggest you cut it back and root the top sections in water.
I'd place it outside in the shade for a few weeks and then move it to a spot where it gets morning sun only. You can fertilize it after cutting it back to boost a lil growth. I think you will see a marked improvement in it if you can get it outside a bit. If you don't have a spot outdoors for it then move her to a sunnier window and /or add a grow light above it.
As far as potting soil I do basically the same. My cane types seem to like a potting soil that tends to be a bit sandy with some compost added in. My Angel Wings & Rhizomatous tend to do better in almost straight peat moss with a little perlite added. I only water them when they are close to bone dry.
I do have a lot more humidity than you do so I have to be careful of them rotting with the combo of heat & humidity here.
Hope that helps you out some.
Good luck,
MsC
Funny you should mention moving it to a place for early morning sun... I just yesterday moved it to our front deck.. which gets early am sun .... I had an extra hook and no plant... lol.. so I filled it in with the begonia... It is getting some nice new growth on it since cutting it back and it looks pretty healthy... I kind of thought just from the heft of the canes and the size of the leaves that is might get to be a large plant one day... and if my poor brugs do not perform this summer, they will be cut into pieces, given away and I will just keep the begonia... and maybe one brug...
I usually let it dry out nearly completely before watering and then give it a good deep watering.... and I mist the leaves often too... I mist most of my plants in the am...
Carolyn
Gee, I never think to collect rainwater!
I usually just take gallon jugs and fill with tap water and let it sit for a few days before watering. It doesn't seem to bother the plants.
Gosh, everyone seems to have lovely canes. Canes are my fave begonias. Its a shame that they're never sold around here in the plant shops.
Susan
