Reiger Begonia HELP!

Hello all,
I am posting this in a few different spots in hopes I get a fast answer as I know this is time sensitive (I think)!

I got a Reiger Begonia Today at Lowe's on the clearance rack. The sign said $3.47, the tag said $7 and the computer said $28! LOL

I got it for $2.00 which would be an awesome and happy tail, but the "employee" that picked it up out of the cart to get the tag off of it broke more than half of 1 on the three plants off that where in it!!

They are all Reiger Begonias and where all different colors! Beautiful! The piece that he broke off had a huge bed of flowers on it and more growing on the stock!

My daughter had eyeballed it the other day when we where in there looking and I told her that maybe they would mark it down and but in the clearance rows. She got all excited and said, "YEAAHH then it would be a good deal and we can get it, it is my favorite and I would be really happy to have it!"

I was amazed they did but there it was, and the part that he broke off was the part that she eyeballed and the reason she had picked it! I told the guy it was the only one, and he said well I guess it is a $2 plant now!

I just looked at him! LOL I know he did not mean to break it off, but still!

Anyway, Can I root the part that got broke off?
Should I use "Take Root" cuttings starter?
Should I just stick it in water?
Or should I just stick it back in the dirt?

I just am not sure about cuttings!! LOL I brought back some cuttings from my Grandmothers Geraniums and stuck them in water and they all died!

I have some plant tape and a steak (sp, or wrong kind of steak anyway! LOL), so I can wrap and steak the two broke steam pieces back together and maybe it will grow back!

I did the same thing to a Snapdragon and Salvia and it worked! LOL

Thanks for your help!

Hi ya Txflower: You should be able to propagate the stems and they should grow roots easily. I would use the Take Root and put it in a good, well draining potting soil. Here's a link to some info in Plant Files on a Reiger Begonia.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55110/


Good luck with your plant. That was a GREAT deal ..... only $2.00, wonder if I could get a clerk at our Lowes to drop a plant or two and then mark it down for me? :)

Happy Growing!

Lin

TXflower,

Just for future reference-geranium root best in good potting soil in the cool months. In central TX that would be Nov to early March. Or in good potting soil, then place the pot in a tray with 1" of water (not the foliage) right in front of the AC vent in summer. Keep em cool for rooting.

Well thank you so much! I will do that!

Man was I mad when he broke it! LOL But I guess it was a gife now I will have four (three parts broke off plus the main plant) if it works! LOL

Thanks for the info about the Geranium! It was sad when all of it died! I would have had three or four different plants! LOL One would have been a vine one! LOL But now I know! Straight to dirt! LOL