I have found my true love!!!

Hi everyone,

I have found my true love, Begonia's. At the end of this past summer, I was shopping at a local nursery when a magnificent and exotic plant in a hanging basket caught my eye. It wasn't for sale. I fell in love and had to have one. The owner was about to thin it out and he gave me a good size portion of it. The only thing he told me was it was an "eyelash" begonia. At that point I new nothing about begonia's. I thought of a begonia as the little flower you plant in your flower bed in the spring and pull up during the fall, only to repeat the process in the following spring. At that time, I didn't know what I was getting myself into!! I took my begonia home, got on the computer and started learning about the begonia world. That was the first time I even heard of a Rex or Rhizo Begonia. I looked Hi and Low for the name of my beautiful little plant. Then I found her, she is B. "Persian Brocade", an eyelash begonia with tons of long white whiskers on her stems and around her leaf edges. The more light she has the more compact and thicker the whiskers, in lower light, she grows longer and her whiskers are thinner. That is where it started for me. I have not slowed down since I got her. At first, I thought that all I had to do is put them in a pretty pot, water them, give light and just let them grow. Boy have I learned ALOT!! Starting off I think I lost many of my begonia's. I have just been learning as I go. At times, I have gotten so frustrated!! I still get sick when I loose one, constantly reminding myself to be patient. My first problem was re-potting my begonia's into my decorative pots as soon as I got them. I wasn't giving them time to acclimate to my home. Also, I had to change soil. Now I use1 part peat moss, 1 part pearlite and 1part vermiculite. I have to water more often, but I learned quick what water will do to a beautiful begonia!! One day of keeping their feet wet and that's all she wrote. The main problem I am having now is I think humidity. Some of my rexes, especially " fireworks" and "flamingo soul", one by one the leaves are turning a sick yellow color and falling off. Also, some of them brown and get crispy around the edges. If I could just get the perfect combination, I know it will be worth the wait. I can't wait till spring!!!! Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to everyone and introduce myself. I am sure I will be asking some of you tons of questions!!! Already I have gotten great info and advice. Please write me, I would love to chat and share experiences with all of you. I need all the advice you can give and maybe as I learn I too can give advice. Thanks!! Kristi

Hi Kristi, I never liked to plant anything in the decorative pots. Better to plant in the plastic nursery type pots and then set that pot in the nice container, cache pot, etc.
One tip I received from Greg Sytch a few yrs ago was to downsize all
my rhiz and rex begonias before winter. Simply removing them from a 6 inch pot and repotting in a 5inch, even removing some soil from the
roots if necessary. That greatly reduces any chance of overwatering
during the cold months. You can pot back into the larger pot when spring arrives. Experienced growers wouldn't have to do this but it would benefit the novice grower.
There are others on this forum who know more and would be able
to help you more than I.
Welcome to the Begonia forum

Jackie

Thanks Jackie, It is funny that you mentioned that about downsizing pots during winter. Just today I was thinking to myself, I have one begonia in a hanging basket, Lucille Closson, that was huge at the end of this past summer. I brought her in and she lost almost all of her leaves. Now I have a big hanging basket with just a few leaves. It looks funny. I told myself that maybe when I brougt it in I should have put the rhizome mass in a smaller pot. It just seems that It is going to have a long way to go in order for it to fill the hanging basket again. Thank you for your advice!

Kristi

Hi Kristi I think we'll both be learning together..I just lost 3 of my rex begonia,I must have over watered mine...My other 3 are doing fine,and treated them the same as the others that died..Don't know what's up with that...:o((

Loretta..

Thanks for responding Loretta! I totally get what you are saying when it comes to treating all of them the same. For example, my Fireworks and Flamingo Soul both are struggling. One by one all of their leaves are slowly turning yellow and falling off. I do nothing any different than the others. I am begining to come to the conclusion that in general most of the growing conditions are the same for all. However, the growning conditions have to be fine tuned for each individual plant. I think that is what makes the difference between pleople who can grow begonia's and growers whose begonia's flourish. The ability to take many different plants and meet the needs of each individual plant. Anyway, I would love to chat, It would be nice to get feedback from someone who is learning too. My e-mail is ibegoniacrazy@aol. Oh, and do you have any thoughts on my two begonia's with the leaves turning yellow? Nice to hear from you! `-)

~ Kristi

Kristi, What are you using for a potting medium? Is it potting soil?
If so, that may be way to heavy for your begonias. I stick with a
potting mix, Fertilome, generally available here in Ar.
Yellowing leaves can be due to too much or too little water.
If you are using a potting soil, it needs to be amended with
something to lighten it up, like cactus potting soil/mix, maybe
some perlite. Begonias like a good thorough watering but then they need to dry out some. They can't take constant wet roots. That's my 2 cents worth.
Hoping others will chime in here with some good advice for Kristi.

Jackie

Thank you so much Jackie!! A couple of days ago I changed my soil to peat moss, pearlite, and vermiculite, one part each. That was suggested to me from the person I usually get all of begonia's from on ebay. I am sure you have heard of her, Arika. My dad had suggested trying them in cactus soil mix so I am glad you mentioned that because I wasn't sure if I should try it. I am hoping that this soil change will help me out! Thanks so much for the advice. ~ Kristi

Hi Kristi,I just came back from my daughters house I bought her the same begonias as mine hers is thriving,no yellow leaves or dead plants..I'm the one that replanted hers same way as I did mine,she has them on a wooden shelf that hardly gets any light..I think she's just neglecting them yet their growing for her and their huge..I think I just loved mine to death..
With your e-mail is that .com???

Loretta..

Loretta, Yes it is .com. I think I love mine to death too!! Maybe if I didn't try so hard they would start to shine!! ~ Kristi

Hi Kristi it keeps coming back to me don't know whats wrong with the e-mail...

Loretta...

You know, I haven't had begonias in ages, other than the tuberous, i.e. hanging basket types in the summer and I do hold dthem over in the winter and bring them back up in the spring. Also a pretty hanging Angel Wing.

But, years ago I used Oxygen Plus for all of my plants, house plants that is, and since then have found out that that expensive stuff is Hydrogen Peroxide. What it does is put oxygen in the soil when you water so that you cannot overwater. I use it in every watering. Another thing, I remember that Begonias do not like bright sun light. Just light from a north or east facing window is enough. Now, mind you I am talking about the houseplant kinds of begonias I used to have.

Even the tuberous begonias that I have on my deck in the summer likes the light, but not the hot sun light.

It has been a long time since I have had the houseplant type but I know they store up water in their stems and leaves so if you are unsure of your watering, use the peroxide. Just the 3% stuff you get in the grocery or drug stores. And, use it for all of your houseplants. I even use it in the plants on my deck in the summer.

Also, why are you using decorative pots for your begonias? They are pretty enough as it is. Decorative pots just detract from the plant.

Jeanette

Jeanette, Thanks for the advice!! I will have to try the peroxide. By decorative pots I mean, not the little plastic pots they come in. I have some really nice terra cotta pots to put them in. Some of them are textured, all are plain, or a muted color, earthtone colors. None of them have birds or a scenery painted on them. I agree, that would take away from the beauty of the begonia's. Those kind of pots are not my taste anyway, for any plant. My begonia's look really nice in the pots that I have. I just learned not to plant them up right away. I let them get acclimated to my home environment before I start moving them around. They seem to do better that way. Thanks again for the info. No one has told me that yet, I will have to try it.

~ Kristi

I don't wanna leave mine in those ugly looking plastic pots,that really takes the beauty away from my plants..I'm like Kristi a nice plain pot does make them look good,and gives the plants a nice look..One of the places I bought them from even suggested to get them out of the pots go one step bigger...So I have mine all replanted..!! ;o)))

Loretta...

This is a great thread. I have about a dozen begonia's and they are all planted in regular potting mix. Also a few are in large pots so are probably getting too much water. I will lighten my potting mix up and downsize some of the pots.
I just love these plants.

Patricia

Loretta~ My e-mail is fixed now, I hope. Well, you know what, I f all of our begonia's die, atleast we both will be left with pretty pots!!!! ~ Kristi

Patricia~ Thanks for reading my thread. I am a novice, so I didn't have any great info to give, just my personal experiences so far and what is and isn't working for me. Im glad that you found some helpful tips. I would love to hear from you and what things are working and not working for you. ~ Kristi

I agree. The pots you describe sound terrific. I think you knew what I meant about the gaudy pots detracting from the plants. The begonias are so decorative on their own they don't need anything else.

Glad none of you took offense. Tnanks, Jeanette

Patricia, if you used potting mix, your begonias will probably be fine. Downsizing is a good idea for growers in colder zones who
have a tendency to overwater in winter. If you used a heavy
potting soil, you might want to switch to a good quality potting mix.
It's much harder to overwater in a potting mix since they don't hold water.
I never downsize canes, just the rhiz and rexes for the winter. Some people
like Miracle Grow potting mix and I guess it's ok but I prefer Fertilome
One advantage of a potting mix is that I don't have 30 lb plants.
When I pick up one that is dry, it only weighs a few ounces.

Jackie

Loretta,
Hi ! Miss you. You have Dmail.
Allison

Jeanette~ Absolutly no offense taken. I knew exactly what type of pots you thought I was talking about. I think the word "decorative" may have been the wrong word to use in my description. Begonia's are beautiful! They could be planted in a brown paper bag and still be georgous!! Thanks again for your tips on overwatering. ~ Kristi

This really is a fun thread we can all learn together,and maybe see just what we're doing wrong..The pots that was described as gaudy,my friend made me two she's so proud of them I gotta keep them as she visits me a few times a week...They even have paper butterflys on them with rhinestone eyes..Now don't anyone get jealous I just might have her make some to send to y'all..It's good for a laugh while I'm crying over my dead begonias..
Hi Allison gonna read my d-mail and will get back to you..Kristi my e-mail keeps coming back,so I better check to see what I'm doing wrong...Hugs... :o)))

Loretta...

Loretta~ Maybe you should send me one of those pots your friend made so I will have something to laugh about when all my begonia's are dead!! I sent you a d-mail.
~ Kristi

Loretta, too, too funny about the pots. I'm getting off this thread before you decide to send me a few.

I just knew you girls would want one of those famous pots,she might just do her flower arrangments in them too..Her plants will never die either their all plastic or silk that way their worry free..Now she always tells me I should be as smart as her because her's never die,no care needed at all.I think I'll just stay dumb...I wish I had a camera to show you girls what your missing out on..BTW all the flowers she has comes from garage sales in the free boxes,I don't think I have to tell you anymore...!!!

Loretta...

Loretta, that is just so funny. And boy is she right. Jeanette

WE gotta start a club here whoever has the most begonias die,wins a really nice flower pot..Plastic plants included...lol...

Loretta...

Loretta, you are so crazy, you are making me laugh so hard. Some of these more advanced growers might take offense to our lighthearted jokes about the murder of beautiful begonia's. I assure you guys that I really would much rather have all of the plants that I have put an end to while trying to figure out the art of begonia growing. However, you get to a point where I think you have to have a sense of humor about it!!! Thanks Loretta for the humor. Oh, while we are speaking about pots, I have seen in many places that bonsai pots work well with begonia's. Some of them come with matching humidity trays. I am going to try a few and see if it works. I think most growers recommend bonsai pots to newbies like me, because it is harder to overwater the plants. Begonia's do well in terra cotta planters as well, it is just much easier to overwater. If you are interested in the bonsai pots I found a site that has some nice, simple ones for a real reasonable price. The place is called Joe Bonsai. He is on ebay as well if you use the search word, Bonsai pots. ~ Kristi

Hey Kristi it beats crying over my dead plants,don't it??Right now I think I'm gonna just buy the cheapies and see what happens..I think on mine that I put in water are rooting,I used distilled water,peroxide,aspirin and Superthrive..I'm trying to ignore looking at them,but catch myself looking at them a 100 times a day..That one site you d-mailed me about is awesome and makes me want most of them..I never bought anything from ebay and ain't gonna start because I will want too MUCH stuff..As far as the pots go my nursery has a good selection and I bought alot of them already... :o)))

Loretta...

Loretta~ Oh my, do you mean to tell me that you have never bought any begonia's from Arika on e-bay? Girl, I will have you going on e-bay with me before it is over!!! She has really, really nice plants. Most start at $5. I never pay over $6.50-$7 because she usually posts around 30 begonias a week and if bid gets to high for one that I want, I just wait until the next week. Chances are she will have the same begonia up for bid more than one time. You really don't know what you are missing!! She only has one up for bid right now but there are 2 other gals that usually auction begonias. Both of them have several up for bid ending I think tonight. I have bought from both of them and they have great plants as well but if you want REXES, Aurika is your girl!!! You must give her a try, you will not be disappointed! She packages well too, I have never had a damaged or dead begonia, when it came to me, The damaged happened after I got it!!! lol ~ Kristi

I wonder if Aurika sells direct instead of going thru ebay..I heard a few horror stories about a few of the sellers..So I'm gonna pass on that one..I got my replacement plants from Plants For Kids today all came in looking great..I'm gonna leave them in the pots they were shipped in and try to see how they do..The other 3 are doing good same planting condition and from PFK..So wish me luck with these..

Loretta..

Loretta~ I am going to be ordering from PFK soon. That deal is really great!! they have one Escargo, I just have to have. Glad your plants came in looking great. Leaving mine in the pots they came in has really been better for me. I usually leave them at least a month before switching them to my pots. The first batch that I ever bought, about 5 begonia's, I planted up as soon as I got them. In one week they were all dead!! Goodluck with your new babies!! I will keep my eyes, fingers and toes crossed for you, like you said. ~ Kristi

wish I had a dollar for each begonia I've killed, LOL, I'd be a begonillionaire- or something like that!
It killed me when I ordered b. gerhtii and paid like $14 plus shipping and then choked it to death! Grrr.

Loretta, I've plumped up my collection from Aurika. been a while since I ordered from her, but you CAN trust her. PJ's violets has great rexies according to Butch. I've only ordered african violets from them.

Logees is good too, small, and I do tend to lose some of theirs because they are small, and Butch has as well. But they have good varieties.

some things I've learned is that often growers use a heavier soil which works for their environment, not for mine. They grow in controlled conditions and I need a lighter soil. I add lots of extra sand, perlite and orchid bark to the mix to ensure good drainage. Begonias like to get almost dry before you water again. so the lighter soil mix helps me not over water to death (which I tend to do)

Also I use Eleanors VF11 on all my plants. seems to be doing good so far, and the company will send you a free sample. until I get to the sticky, you can find a link to Eleanors site in the AV sticky.

I'm just plain worn out from all the beautiful begonias. I'll be putting more photos up as will butch and Joolz too. I think I'm the only one who drug along a laptop.

some of the show plants will make your jaw hit the floor. no exaggeration either!! they are phenomenal

Begoniacrazii, thanx for sending the info re the sand, perlite
and orchid bark mix to lighten up potting soil. I think those mediums
would be better than the cactus soil mix.
Can't wait to see more pictures from the ABS convention.

Jackie

you're so welcome Jackie, I learned from my 'guru' at the SFO arboretum. She's a gem of lady and very willing to share her knowledge. Before that I overwatered many to their grave. Once I saw how much better they did with more pourous soil and less water, I was having much happier begonias. (not to mention waiting until I could see the soil dry a bit and lift the pot to see if it was heavy with water but 'looked' dry.)

I primarily use clay pots for the humidity factor, but still do have some in plastic. I find that I over water the plastic more than the clay since the clay tends to wick off some of the extra moisture.

BUT, I live in Cali and we have hot dry summers and cold wet winters. and even though most of my collection are in a green house, this is the mix that works for my conditions. Be sure to find what works for you since what I do may not work for your environment.

I'll try to post more photos but the next few days are busy ones. I know Butch is taking alot and so is Joolz. So between us all we should have a good gallery for everyone to drool over!
talk to you soon gang.

Thanks for the info on the soil,and please do us some pictures to see..I think I'll be crying tho..Why are these plants so fussy I can't even look at mine without them dieing..I need help big time..My friend Lauri Wilson sent me 5 cuttings and they all died too,they were'nt rooted tho I put 3 in soil and 2 in water with no luck...HELP..!! :o((

Loretta...

Lali~ It is nice to know that I am not the only one who has lost begonia's, that even the more expierenced grower at some point lost a few. I am realizing that this is like an experiement. A learn as you go along process. I want sooo bad to one day grow beautiful begonia's, like the ones you have grown and shared with us in picture. I will have to try the soil mixture that you use. Are you adding the sand, perlite and bark to a standard potting mix? Right now I have been mixing my own soil. One parts of each, perlite, vermiculite and peat moss. It seems to be doing much better than the soil I was using at first.
I don't know everyone yet but I hope you all are doing well and having a blast in Miami!!! Your pics are great but I am hesitant to look at anymore of them because I am envious! Looks like begonia nirvana for sure!!! You know the feelings of having soo many beautiful ones to choose from, then having to narrow it down. That would be torture for me, a good kind of torture though. Your not complaining, right. Actually, one photo you posted helped me out. The pic of the propagation benches. It is nice to have a visual reference because I was going about it all wrong according to your photos. I was told to lay the leaf flat on top of the growing medium. In you pics they had the leaves standing in a more upright position with the stem only inserted into the dirt. So, thanks for the time and effort on your part to post all of your pics. We all enjoy them
Have a safe trip home. Hope to chat soon!!! ~ Kristi

Kristi, wait...stop the presses, you're not doing anything wrong. There's as many ways to grow begonias as there are gardeners. Everyone has to experiment until they find what works for their environment.
I have temps in that run about 105-110º with zero humidity in the summer, cold wet winters. So for me that soil works well to keep me from drowning them.

It took me several tries to root rhizo and rexie leaves. I tried the wedge in soil method, the lay the leaf on the top with hair pin method, petiole in cup of water method. Almost all failed. Then I tried a wedge in 100% perlite and had a huge success. I have several rhizo (b. poponoei, b. ricinifolia and some other that I cant remember off hand) rooting like mad in perlite and then transferring over to 3 oz solo cups (with a 60/40 mix of perlite to planting mix)
and yes, i use a premium planting mix (soil-less) with all kinds of compost, bat guano, worm castings etc.

Canes are always easier to root for me, I just cut the cane, and stick it in a pot. I also use a cloning machine with pretty good results (have a leaf of Fiji Islands rooting in there now and it's going to town) Or I also root in perlite with pretty much 99% take.

OK, lets talk about nirvana now. This is sheer and utter bliss! Being surrounded by some of the most incredible begonias AND begonia people is just incredible! All of the 'who's who' are here. And everyone of them are gems! Beautiful people!

So, until I can post again, I'll leave you all with a few to drool over. (just to show you how much trouble I got in, here are some of the begonias I fell in love with while here. And yes, my husband says I can still come home despite my begonia sickness! LOL)

Half my photos are digi and half 35mm so until I develop the 35mm, I can only post the few that I took with the dig. camera.

And here's the entry display. That's our Jooolz hiding on the left behind the palm.

Oh wow those are all yours?If your hubby won't let you come home with all of those just send them all to Kristi and me..We'll TRY to take good care of those for you..! :o)))

Loretta...


When you get back home I have a million and one questions to ask you,so be prepared..!!

ok, strapping my seat belt on Loretta, but dont forget we are blessed to have Joolz and Butch on this forum too, (and other begoniacs who know lots!) and they are very helpful and knowledgeable!

Well, I broke the news to hubby and he (being the darling that he is) said 'As long as you are having a good time' , so I went back and bought more! LOL

Those are gorgeous!!! That first picture? The top box? The one on the bottom kinda to the left? I have one that wants to hang. Why? It is really healthy, but wants to hang.

Thanks, they are beautiful.

Jeanette