I've had this begonia tuber for probably 6-7 years, and it is getting huge - what I'd like to know is, is there any way to divide these? Or will it just keep getting bigger and bigger, until it is pumpkin sized?
Anybody? Any info greatly appreciated.
I was hoping someone with a little more begonia experience would have come along by now and answered this one for you, but in the mean time........I vaguely remember watching a gardening show about this. I do believe you can cut the tuber into pie shaped wedges as long as each piece has an eye or two. I would worry about the cut edges. Probably dust with with a fungicide and let callus over.
Is that a baby starting on top? You must be doing something right to grow them that big. Most of what I've read, people start more form taking off shoots when they sprout or from stem cuttings.
Maybe you should try the bulb forum?
echoes
"http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Gardening:Begonias"
Of course you won't have to worry about it until spring when you want it to grow again.
Don't know why, but it won't just make a link. When I look at it, it's there, but in preview it gets lost so you would just have to type it in. Close to the bottom it mentions that florists cut them into pieces.
This message was edited Nov 13, 2005 9:06 AM
thanks for the suggestion of the bulb forum.
Echoes, thanks for the url. I think I'll have to wait until spring to do anything, as you said.
This message was edited Nov 13, 2005 5:23 PM
2zeus, Here is a link about tuberous begonias. Go down a ways to Propagation where you'll see that they shouldn't be cut.
Joan
http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h119begonias.html
thanks Joan6aON, actually, I had a stem broken this year by my little dog's tail, he whacked it off about 3" above the tuber, and I rooted it and it grew a very small tuber about the size of a very large grape, so it was very interesting to read that, and find out that it has a good chance to grow.
I was very hesitant to cut the tubers because I'd hate to lose them, the blooms are massive!
2zeus - No pictures? Would love to see the flowers.
Joan
Hi Joan,
didn't get my digital camera until that tuber was pretty much done for the year, so no pics - next year! That one, the blooms are easily 6" across, creamy with a pink wash to the edge of the petals - gorgeous!
Cheryl
You must have an amazing begonia touch to have one last that long. I have been told by nurseries that 4 - 5 years is tops because the bulb just gets exhausted and then you start to get that powdery mildew in a big way. So what is your secret?
First of all, you get what you pay for, so don't buy begonias from hardware stores, or WallyWorld.
I have had excellent luck with Begonia tubers from the two places below,( not such good luck with other plants from either!)
www.veseys.com
www.lindenbergseeds.ca
Both places, the tubers may seem pricey for individuals, but with begonias, my experience is, those are the ones that last.
I was told many years ago by an elderly friend of mine, to ignore everything I've been told about begonias, and plant them halfway out of the dirt - you need to stake the big ones, when you do this, but it is much better for the tuber.
In late winter, I sort of arbitrarily decide that's enough, whack off the stems within a half inch or so of the tuber, shake off most of the dirt, and bring them indoors and let them dry, dirt side up, and then flipped over, to dry that side, for about a week at room temperature,
Then they go into a paper lunch bag - one to a bag, and into a cool closet.
I don't dust them with anything, and I don't try to get all the dirt off, just most of the stuff that crumbles off easily when they are dry.
In the spring, I check them every month or so, and when they start to sprout, I bring them out, pot them up in the smallest pot for the tuber, and then water sparingly, (always with just a pinch of MG in the water) just to keep moist, until they can safely go outside, and then they get plunked into a planter to perform - I never put them into the ground - too many problems with pests, I find.
And I fertilise them every time I water them, again with a pinch of MG in the water.
any more questions, please ask!
This message was edited Nov 20, 2005 12:29 PM
I too have purchased the majority of my bulbs from veseys and botanus and they have performed very well. I think perhaps the problem in our zone is that we have to store them for so long in comparison to the time they are actively growing that the tubers aren't able to replenish there nutrient stores or something. Anyway about year 4 or 5 i seem to start having trouble but i have never divided them either so maybe i could try that.
