Wahhh! Help me, help me!

One of the leaves begoniacrazii sent me is in trouble. The stem rotted. Wahhhhh! The very bottom of the leaf is starting to. If I cut that part off, can it be saved? She sent two of this kind but I still don't want to lose it. Please someone, help!!!

Melissa

What I would do is cut off all the rotten parts, then cut away a bit of the leaf, cutting straight down each side of the main vein or rib of the leaf, then cut straight out away from that so you're actually putting part of the main vein of the leaf down in the mix. Does that make sense?

Here's a pitiful attempt at a drawing done in Paint. Cut where the red lines are. (No laughing, Lali. I know you have that fancy program you can draw and stuff in, but I don't! LOL)

I've done a leaf this way and have babies coming up from it.

Well, my red lines didn't come all the way down to the bottom of the leaf itself, but hopefully you get the point I'm trying to make. You're cutting off all the stem and part of the leaf itself and creating a stem out of the main vein of the leaf. I hope that helps you.

This message was edited Jun 5, 2006 6:35 PM

Sounds like a good suggestion, depending on whether the rot has reached the lower part of the center vein also. Rob's FAQ has suggestions about rooting a "wedge" of the upper portion of the leaf blade, look under the section about maximizing the number of babies from a single leaf, http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_9.htm#maximizing%20plantlets

Wanted to add.... sometimes this just happens, and I'm never quite sure why.... but if your other leaves are looking fine, it is not anything that you're doing wrong!

Good luck!

Melissa You have good help here ! Don't worry sometimes this just happens no reason. Good luck !

Melissa not to worry, I'm sure I have more if it doesn't make it! =)
in the mean time you have good advise above and heres a link from the sticky too

http://www.rachelsreflections.com/violets3.htm

Amy, looks super to me!! =)

Oh yeah Amy great photo and description. I have done that as well w/ good success, but as Allison says sometimes they rot and there is nothing you can do and no identifiable reason.

Melissa,

A few weeks ago, I had a leaf of Swing Along that did the same thing - the stem rotted. My Mom (who's been growing AVs for years) suggested that I try the exact same thing RainGazer explained in her post (Thanks, RainGazer!). So basically what you do is create a new stem from the vein of the leaf.

So far, my Swing Along leaf is still alive, and is still green and firm. It actually gives a little resistance when gently pulled, so it looks like it is developing roots.

Don't be afraid to give it a try, and good luck!

Stephanie

I just got a new daughter in law and she works at a nursery. I asked her to check out my begonias and she is going to save me a few the nursery just received. I am new to begonias, but I understand they really like to dry out before watering again.

Here is my question. How ofter do all of you who have begonias water? And what about light and fertilizer?

Please remember, if I have asked this question before and you have answered, I am old and I am sure partly brain wrinkled.

Nanna mine any I've had , any cutting given me have all gone in same soil as AV's, Fed the same, and watered when dry about the same as Av's and they are all Happy. I have not baby them at all they grow easy. Lali gave some really nice named Begonias that rooted and grew really fast for me. I have a few I have rooted and made new plants to send to Loretta. She paid me for shipping AV's but a friend of her's died she go lot of AV's so I am sending hera few nice Av's and some super duper Bengonia plants I rooted from my other plants i grew from cutting lali sent me. I had a couple Begonias I had been growing a couple year an have rooted several plant of them also.
A couple cuttings no roots now I rooted they grew big in 4inch pots and now growing crazy in our gardens !
This begonia Lali gave me a small cutting I rooted on my kitchen window. It grew fast. It is tall and wide bushy hard to caputure in picture. Lali says it grows about 2 ft. tall and is the of the number one special Begonias. I forget it's name . My pictures does not capure the beauties !

might be hard to see but on left is two different Bgonias I've been growing awhile. One on the left I've had a few years now and have one inside in 12 inch pot, 6 inch and 3 inch baby, sent Bob and others a plant I love it !
When I bought it it had like 2-3 small leaves in a solo cup.
Oh Yes Bromaliads are all starting to flower for the first time this year !

Ok hear you can see this one better ! My hubby is always blowing leaves out of our good size fun morning sun/shade garden where everyone is happy growing together ! I think the plants like the leaves !

Thanks everyone! I wondered if I did something wrong but my other leaves are still healthy. It's good to have reassurance. Begoniacrazii, you sent me 2 of that variety(Aly's July Fourth) but htanks for the offer of more!

Oh I wish I had Aly's 4 th. of July trailer plant ! Your so lucky hope your other leaf gives you many babies !

Ali, the one in the photo above is Persian Brocade. I don't know the other one with the star shaped leaves (looks like a b. heraclifolia hybrid, and I'm sure Butch or Julie in the begonia forum could ID it for you) the one I sent you is 'Irene Nuss' and when she blooms, you'll know why I call her the Queen! She can get pretty tall and is very robust. Easy to root. Nanna, I'll send you a cutting if you like her. Go to the plant files and look her up, you'll drool for sure!

Lali
She is owing really great about one foot tall now and very wide and bushy !
Not sure if I put a picture the one cutting with white polka dots out there doing well. And those plants begin with P the are growing all over bushy, scampering non-stop flowers!


This message was edited Jun 6, 2006 1:13 PM

Another view ...both types you gave me cuttings all doing super !

This one is growing all over the place and blooms a lot.

I know it's hard to tell but Irene Nuss' is tall bushy a good size plant already !

oh nice! it's plectranthus! that one is purpuratus I believe. It gets huge! Keep nipping it and put the cuttings in water or AV mix (deeper cups though) and you'll have tons of babies to give away. They are in the mint familly so they root very quickly. Not aggressive underground runners though like spearmint and such. In fact they are very close cousins to coleus. So they can be treated very similarly.

the polka dot begonia is My Special Angel. one of my favorites!

What is the plant that is in the photo at (my time 10:19) at the lower right corner?

Is i my 1:19 PM ? Not Sure ? Have to ask Robert so many people sent me things in trades/

I think so, the one just above the last one with the wolf.

Robert said he no longer knows what it is ? They either came from Bob or a lady who traded me for Night blooming Cerus ??
I can look up in her Dmail if it came from her and not Bob lol
Nanna you can see the Pretty " Irene Ness " Begonia here Plant file link
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/58117
Melissa sorry we took over your thread. I think Nanna was tired when she posted here hope she comes back to see all her answers !

Allison, that's no problem. I enjoy reading all the posts and I learn something too! Wow, you don't have Aly's July Fourth? I thought you had every AV known to man! (Just teasing)

No I don't but I've grown a few and gave them away.Out of 30 thousand different named African violets I can honestly say I have grown 1-2 thousand different varieites BUT gave them away. I don't have many I keep one of each one of my Russians , Girl leaf , few E. Champions I enjoy .
Most all babies/plants I grow and give away. I am trying to give 99 percent of them away I can't take care of them. Oh yes I love my Annabelle and want to get Isabelle ! But in the long run can't take them with you so I'd love them to go to good homes !

You are so nice, Allison!

No, I saw your answers. Sorry I didn't respond. Thanks