Time to start moving them back indoors, how about you?

I have been moving my begonias (and other tender plants) for the past 3 days close to the basement to get them ready for moving indoors. I think I may be half way now. How is everyone else doing?

Here is view 1 looking down from the deck.

view 2 from the deck.

view 3 from the deck

view 4

view 5

view 6

view 7

view 8

view 9

view 10

view 11

How gorgeous can it get????????? Those are the finest plants..............hope you have a very large basement!

Just out of curiosity do you have gro lights in the basement???? I would love to have a collection of begonias even half that nice but I have nowhere to put them for the winter (which is only 6 weeks for us)...................Jan and the first part of Feb.

LOL Butch. What will you do when they all grow up? LOL. I love your flagstone. I can see those begonias in the ground lining that walkway. Wouldn't that be so cool?

I am in denial. I want it to be spring. If it was spring, I would be in good shape.

I will not complain today after looking at all that you have to bring in. Holy Christmas! I can't even imagine. I do have to dig up some other plants today so maybe I'll complain just a bit. LOL Best of luck

My plants I am relieved to say are already in. Beautiful Begonia collection! How envious I am! I don't do so well with begonias. Only have three right now.
Diane

Awesome collection, Butch. So tell us, how and where do you winter so many begonias?

Tussee

Thanks for all the comments. I still had a hundred or so begonias to move yesterday. I still have a hundred or more cactus and succulents to bring in. Plus I have some large pots (ferns, ponytail palm, banana, Norfolk Island pine, etc.) that will probably be laid on their sides under the deck and covered with a tarp for winter.

Gessie,

I have between 60 and 70 shoplights. I may have to buy some more shelves this year since I've added more plants.

Kell,

It would be so nice to live in a zone that I could leave these out all year. The flagstone is filled in with loose gravel (we wanted concrete but the landscaper didn't do concrete) which is a haven for low growing weeds. I need to mix up some weed spray but I hate to waste water for even that.

Datdog,

I wonder why I do this (moving in and out each year) but then I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. One day I need to seriously reduce since I'm not getting any younger.

Diane,

You are smart for having only 3 begonias. I wish I had stopped at a hundred.

Tussee,

These all go in the basement. I have 4 rooms with 5 wooden shelves (8' long, 2' deep, 6' high) and 9 chrome shelves thus far (6' high, 18" deep, 4' wide) with 3 to 5 shelves each. I think I may need some more shelves this year.


Here is my one mum plant. Maybe I should grow more mums and less begonias?

thanks for this thread, hcmdole as we have all learned and seen so much beauty in begonias! Feel free to keep uploading photos of your project. We would love to see them once they get inside and how you manage all this.

i have moved 3 of 50. i'm doing great huh?

Good Grief Butch, as I scrolled down I was wondering if each picture was of a different group of plants or just another view, and....you answered my question, and knowing you, you probably know the name of each and every one. You will be toting in plants for a while. They are so pretty, big and green. I have moved all of my 6 inside already and I was surprised at how much they had grown since our weather cooled off.

Susan

Gessie, I have been working on this 2 to 4 hours a day for the past week and still have a few that need repotting or spraying (those thin leafed canes/shrubs are mildew covered) so I might have about 20 still outdoors.

Most are indoors now (still have ferns, cactus and succulents, plus some other big plants to go but begonias were the bulk). I brushed the dirt off pots, picked out litter, and cut out bad leaves. Then finding homes for each one was fairly easy - find a tray that it fit in and give them each a good drink.

I hope you got those other 47 moved in JordanKittyJo.

Susan, you need some more - 6 is not enough.

The cool weather (actually a couple frosts) burned a few leaves here and there but most came through with flying colors.

Here is a real frilly one that has a blush on it from the bright warm days and chilly nights. I got it last year in Miami without a name but I think it may be B. 'Hurricane'.

What a beautiful Collection! Just beautiful!!!
Why stop?? If I had a basement I would be doing the same thing!!!!t Sure its a lot of work, but its worth it!!!
You are very lucky to have the room.
Glad you posted the pictures. Thanks ! They look so wonderful! Made my day!!!!

hcmcdole- Those leaves are beautiful. Make me want to pet them like a kitten/puppy. Great photo thx!

What is the big one in image 4 - and how do you get it? Does it bloom big tall pink stalks? It looks just like one that grew along the side of my childhood home.

Hey Mitch,

The big one is 'Cachuma', at least that is the name given to me when I dug it up at one of our local begonia club member's house 3 years ago. I've never seen it bloom yet but I would love to see it. It does have some of the hairiest, thickest petioles I've ever seen.

Here is another picture of it back in October while it was still out in the wooded area.

Thank you - now to start looking!

Antonelli Brothers has them - have you heard of them?

Yes, I ordered from them last year. The prices are great, the plants are pretty nice, but it seems to take weeks to get the order out the door so be forewarned. I may try them again next year.

Thank you for the watning... are there other places that sell begonias that are a faster ship... I have waiting issues...

I've had good luck with Logee's, Kartuz, and Rob's Violets over the last couple of years. Very fast turn around - usually the same week if you order early in the week. Kartuz's website shows a lot of their plants being sold out though.

Kartuz was very slow in the past. Logee's used to have a longer wait period (3 to 4 weeks) but the last few orders have come in very quick. Rob's Violets is very quick but has limited selection.

You may have to ask before you place an order as to how long the wait may be.

Here are some of the others I have ordered from. Glasshouse Works has been very slow (8 to 12 weeks) the last 2 times I've ordered from them. Palm Hammock is very slow as well but I have not ordered from them the last 3 years since I've visited them twice the last two years (great place to visit but mail order leaves something to be desired). Lauray is very slow (6 to 8 weeks) and the plants are very small but they have a large selection to choose from.

Plants for Kids and Hortus Botanicus are very fast but PFK is mainly rexes and HB only has 2 to 3 begonis to choose from (goegoensis is one of them).

Some eBay sellers are very fast but it's best to bid on several from the same seller to minimize shipping costs. Some sellers are better than others.

Thank you - now to go shopping