I think my first attempt to grow a begonia has failed miserably :) It looks very ugly, but I don't want to give up on it if there's hope. It never has done well.... perhaps bad location. It's been very hot here (in the 100s), but I've kept the plant in a shaded area on a small balcony. The balcony receives afternoon sun. It didn't do any better when I tried keeping it in the sun. What do you think? Thanks for your help :)
Ellianor,
It is not ugly, it is stressed. So am I in the afternoon sun.
If you give it some shade, time and TLC it will develope into a nice plant in time.
Mine only get morning sun or bright shade and they do great. Afternoon is too hot.
Thanks! I suppose "stressed" is a nicer way to describe it than "ugly" :) I wish I had a place for it with morning sun, but I live in an apartment and only have a small very hot balcony that receives afternoon sun :( But I'll keep it in the shade and hope it starts feeling better soon :) Could it be kept inside? And, your pictures are beautiful!!
I agree with the 'stressed' opinion.
For starters, it looks like it could use a bigger pot.
I'd bet, too, that this is one of those cases in which a 'pebble tray' would come in very useful, since your balcony is 'hot'.
Just purchase a plant saucer a couple of sizes bigger than your pot, fill it about 1/2 full of pebbles or gravel, then fill it with water up to the top of the pebbles....then place your plant's pot and saucer on top of that.
Repotting into a larger pot would be the first step I'd take.
Good luck! I'm sure you can bring it back into vigor!!
At this time of the year, just bring it inside and put it in a sunny window.
I know I have several, "stressed" plants.....not even including myself.....LOL
Hap
My begonia thanks you for all your help :) Maybe I'll have a pretty "after" picture to post someday! All the leaves that have brown edges... should I cut them off or just leave them??
Ellianor,
I am partial to leaving the leaves on. It needs to absorb light and produce food, the plant will shed them when it is ready. Potting up is a good idea. It is having a hard time getting enough water to keep itself growing in the summer heat.
And that Happy stressed gardener in S. FL is right, a bright window until the weather cools a little would help. B. semperflorins can handle some warm weather, but nothing will prosper when the temps are over 90.
This is not a begonia....
You all are so helpful! Thank you! What is a semperflorin? I tried to search for that word online, but I can't find it.
Dale,
It will also not smell like a begonia....ROTFL..
Ellianor....I believe that is semperflorens.
Bad typing---- should have been semperflorens
another photo that is not a begonia
whoa...y'all beat me to the punch...
begonia semperflorens (aka Wax begonias) is one of the many types of begonias. If you go to the begonia 'sticky' link you'll find lots of info on the types out there.
here's the link http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/626497/
and here's a specific link to types http://www.begonias.ca/bhel_identification.htm
Ellianor...dale mentioned semperforens because it appears that your begonia pictured is a semperflorens.....so if you were to search DG or Google, for example, for Begonia semperflorens, you would find lots of photos and information on your plant.
Good luck to you! Looking forward to those upcoming lovely after photos!
You guys are wonderful... thank you! I've been reading and learned a lot and hope I can send an "after" picture. I think I would feel like a real gardener then! :)
