How do you display potted begonias? I am getting a nice collection of mostly rex begonias going and I'd like to have a nice area to display them outside under some shade trees. I'm thinking about building a 2 or 3 tier treated lumber shelf. Does anyone here have some pictures to show of how yours are displayed? I have a nearby concrete table with benches to sit and enjoy them in this area.
Pam
Begonia display
Wherever you can find a place! If you have a bench or stand then great but most of mine are right on the ground due to the sheer number I have.
I have a few on the main floor of the house on a baker's rack, an entertainment center, a few stands, and a Chinese fish bowl with a glass lid; several in the basement that are in aquariums or jars that never go outdoors; new ones on the front porch floor; but the majority are under shade trees in the back yard.
Here is an example of one area of the yard a couple of years ago.
Wow! You do have a lot. I have about 20 or 30, but not as many as you. I rooted a few this past winter just in case some didn't make it. I'm just starting to get a vision of how I think I want to fix up this area. I'm thinking maybe 4 to 6 feet long shelves with 2 or 3 tiers. I don't know if I could fill that up or not. You sure could. I love your picture.
Here is one I had on a baker's rack a few years ago. It filled the entire bottom and this is in hot afternoon sun. I just had to keep it watered all the time. So it really depends on the size of your begonias as to how many you can put on a shelf. I have had several in 18 inch pots as well. I kind of abandoned that idea since these got too large to handle. I still have a few large pots but most are 8 inch or smaller for the most part.
Well, since we're building the shelf, maybe 8 feet long. That begonia really filled out that space. It looks great.
That begonia spanned 8 foot the following year in the same pot, then it got frost bit hard.
Here are some big begonias a few years ago.
Caribbean King in an 18 inchy pot
Your Caribbean King is bigger than the one posted in the plant files. You should post yours there too. It is real nice.
I think C. Queen was even larger.
I like C. Queen too. I'll have to take a couple of recent pictures of mine and post them soon. They are really starting to grow now with the warmer weather. I just ordered 3 more a week ago from Logee's. They are 'Miami Storm', 'Edinburgh', & 'Madam Queen'. I'm excited to get them in. They looked so pretty on their website. I don't know how big they will be, but they'll grow more after I get them.
B. brevirimosa 'Edinburgh' will be best in a terrarium more than likely. I'm on my 3rd go around with this one and it is doing quite nicely in an aquarium with a lid on it.
B. 'Madame Queen' is a hard one for me to keep through the winter. It will do very good up through Feb or Mar and then crash. I may try it again one day.
I put some of mine in a raised planter on my patio, with boxes above to start my canes:
That shows them off very well. I love the look of them when a bunch are all together. A true feast for the eyes!
Very impressive collections.
You could use cinder block like they do at PHOE.
That's a good idea, too. My husband suggested using the boards they sell at Lowe's for stairs. You know, the ones that are cut for attaching the steps to. Then he was going to make the 3 tiers I want for a display. At the moment, I'm waiting to see his final concept to this. He usually comes up with some clever and very sturdy designs. I give him my thoughts and he takes it from there. Why this will work and that won't.
I love the last 2 pictures posted above. Just gorgeous. I can't wait to get this going. Today it's raining here.
Yep, that would work too. My problem with putting them up high is when it gets stormy and knocks them down - some damage will probably occur and of course spilled soil. Keeping them on the ground though, the damage will be minimized (a lot of mine get blown over so I have to upright them the next day or so). Some weight in the pots or some kind of sides built on to the shelf will help to keep them from being blown off.
Here is another display at PHOE.
Very nice!
I was recently at a nursery and they had a shelf built around the tree that they used for begonia display that really looked nice. I have made staging using blocks and treated lumber in the past --haven't done that yet this year--but am just moving them out of the GH for the season and need to do something!!
And here is my 'Begonia Display'. This is Phase 1. Phase 2 will be to add a piece of treated plywood, maybe marine grade, to the back and extending up a couple of feet to act as a windblock. Then I'm thinking about some lattice added to the sides to cover that area under the shelves. But for now, my begonias are on display! Yeah!!
Here is another view. I used almost all clay pots for added weight. I need to repot one more, then they will all have clay pots.
Last shot.
Could you also sink some pots beside the walkway? Maybe put in a plastic pot as a sleeve, then put the clay pot inside? Your display is beautiful.
I have a bunch of different hostas I just planted last weekend along the walkway where the crabs are marching. My daughter gave me the beach crabs for Mother's Day. They were from Sam's and all one dark color. So I decided to add more color to them and create that area with an assortment of hostas. They have yet to pop up.
Sinking the pots is a good idea for other areas I have. I've got a bunch of plumerias I started from seed last year that are about a foot tall or more that I need to find a nice place for. Since they also need shelter during the winter, sinking them in pots does sound like a great idea. Thanks!
This weekend I decided to try and get my begonias up off the ground>
Now I have to try and get them potted up and better organized>
WooHooo.....You sure have a lot of 'Beautiful Begonias'! Very pretty.
Here is a picture of 'Madame Queen' she grew pretty fast.
I got a plug last fall from Terra Nova.
This is the giant coffee cup not the regular size.
All of your begonias give me 'Begonia Envy'
I enjoy the pictures!!
WOW!
Julie
May i enquire as to fertilizers use ..How often and what do you each do?
I would like to hear as i am new to Begonia growing and I know you all have lots of
experience i hope you will share.
Thank You in advance!
Julie
Julie,
I've seen the big cups around. That looks so nice. My 'Madame Queen' is still doing great, too. I don't have a strict regiment for fertilizing. I sprinkled some Osmocote Plus around each plant, then covered with pine bark mulch for water retention. I will probably give them some more Osmocote in a couple of months or so. Sooner if the plants show any negative signs.