Okay, I've fallen in love with begonias and have bought every kind I can find in our local nursery from wax begonias in the garden, to angel wing in the hanging basket to tuberous on the porch and riegers in the house. I was wondering what type of begonia (if any) I could keep in my office at work. Temp is usually somewhere around 72 and there's flourescent bulbs right over my desk and indirect sunlight from behind me (though I don't know which direction that is)
Karen
Begonias in the office
you could probably have a Cane Begonia (I notice you didn't list those) that can grow to 6' or taller indoors.
Canes are quite unusual for begonias, from what I've seen.
I have never been a begonia fan, until I saw these beautiful canes.
The picture here is a young plant, and will grow much taller. The leaves are about the size of your hand, and the clusters of flowers are very fragrant.
I suggest every now & then to cut down the leggy plant, and root it, then poke the new plant in the same pot which will create quite a bushy effect. If you have it in a well lit area, it shouldn't get leggy because it's reaching for the light. Place it high up to begin with. :-)
Both the dragon wing and angel wing are cane begonias. I LOVE them and are fantastic plants, but I don't think they will do for my office. I should have mentioned that whatever I have will have to sit on a shelf in my cubicle.
Karen
Maybe consider a terrarium begonia. Or several smaller leaved rhizomatous type mixed in a terrarium?
Rob's Violets sell several that are good candidates. B. prismatocarpa is one. Also Kartuz nursery sells some nice varieties.
Last summer I got a begonia named Sinbad and an angelwing called Dragon wing. I brought both indoors for the winter and placed it in my bedroom with windows facing South and East. Both doubled in size and even bloomed for me.
Tallulah 41, I didn't realize that you can root the cuttings... (I've been throwing them away...) But thanks so much for the advice, I will try that on other indoor begonias.
Rosalie
You're welcome, Rosalie
- Susan -
Hi, I have to post a reply because i brought in a beg. for my desk today, so i can think of my garden during the workday. it is a b. dregei var glasglow. It's S. African and likes it a little drier than the 90% humidity we're experiencing here in Fort Lauderdale. It's a semi-tuberous-- kind of an odd little fellow, hopefully it'll like the controlled temp and flourescent lights and just become loaded with beautiful white flowers
Karutz, Taylor Greenhouses, and Lauray Nursery (www.lauray.com) all have great selections and i've ordered from them before and the plants were well packed and healthy.
The picture of B. Dregei is from Karutz's website. Knock on formica, my baby look like this someday!
Pardon, that should read Kartuz nursery-- not Karutz
Very pretty plant ! I have not experience with it however.
Rosalie
Truongr:
it's my first time with the plant too. It won first in show at the Houston ABS convention, it was grown what looked to me as a bonsai. It was covered with white flowers. I don't have a lot of experience growing begonias in pots, living in S. FL i have them in the ground year round. This will be a learning experience!
I am so envious of you guys who are able to get to the ABS show and buy such GORGEOUS plants. I have a professional conference in DC next year at the time of the ABS show in FL. Maybe I'l just have to make a detour south the attend one day of the convention...
Here's a question to you all. Do you guys treat your begonias with insecticidal soap when you bring them indoors n the fall? I did mine this past fall out of habit but I am not sure whether it is necessary.
Rosalie