Forgot how much I loved begonias until I started researching what to get for my container garden on my raised deck. Looking at books on internet, I learned there are tuberous and non-tuberous begonias. What's the diff? Indoor begonias I had 15 years ago had rhizomes--not sure if that's the correct term--accordion pleat-like parts that grew out and I could snip off a section and give to a friend or just keep it going and the plant got huge and eventually covered the entire window. I really love the leafy parts of begonias the best (patterns, curling edges, undersides diff color, etc) and flowers are a bonus. Also, do you always buy a plant or can you start from seed? Maybe it's not worth the effort but I love the idea of a tiny little seed, my little baby, and it grows and grows. Thanks for advice/info. Indyfilmz
New outside gardener here, info please
Hi IndyFilmz,
Lots of different types of begonias. You can start at the ABS site for more descriptions or the ABASTRO site.
http://www.begonias.org/greenhouse/imageListing.asp?orderBY=CLASS
http://absastro.tripod.com/
Go to the species or cultivar pictorial key/listing to get an idea of what is available.
Tuberous types have the big rose like (carnation) blooms but a lot of people find them too fussy in the Southeast. You might do better in Asheville than Atlanta due to cooler temps.
Rhizomatous and canes do well in the Southeast - canes being more tolerant of abuse at least for me. If you want colorful leaves, then rexes are the way to go but again they can be a tad fussy.
You can try to grow from seed but it's a challenge. For named varieties you'd be further ahead by getting a start from friends, traders if you can. Then you can also buy on-line or locally to get jump-started.
One word of caution though, once you get started you will become addicted. Not that I'm addicted, I just like them a lot and can't live without them.
Butch
Hey Butch--thanks for your very helpful reply. By the way, Addiction is my middle name, only now I pick ones that don't destruct. I hope I can find the begonia I had 15-20 years ago. I don't know where I got it and when I sold all my worldly possessions, the plants went, too. But I'd recognize it in a second--definitely rhizomatous--ooh love those Latin words. Indyfilmz