BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Anything that does not fit elsewhere can be discussed here.

Moderators: DJKeefy, 4u Network

User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

Technically MD started this one when she went and bought some Begonia tubers. I can't immediately lay eyes on where she started that one so I've opted to start this thread cause today I did go to the nursery and did buy 1 tuber - Marmorata. Upright with red/white flowers.

The tuber was huge (9cm) with 4 eyes already starting on it so tomorrow am going to get it potted up and in the window.

This is a URL of what the flowers will look like: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=ma ... &FORM=IGRE

Am sure Horus is probably already growing begonias :) as his garden seems pretty extensive and am equally sure we can convince Grandad to start a Begonia tuber too. He grows ferns and hostas so am sure his outside growing conditions are perfect for begonias. He managed to get an amaryllis planted and begonias are EASIER (fill a pot with soil, take a spoon and scoop out an indentation and place the tuber in the indentation and water (but NOT into the tuber itself - just the soil around the outside).

The flowers are magnificent and the growing season and flowers happen all summer long.

Ruby Slippers and Kiya are also more than welcome to join in too! :) :)


Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

Yaay! :jig: Wonderful start to the day, thank you LLL.

Yours is 9 cms! :a40: I haven't seen any that sort of size for sale here in the UK not in garden centres, possible I could get one from a specialist grower, I'll see. I would be interested to compare one or two with my other little chaps which are between 4cms and 6 cms. They are sitting on trays waiting to be planted when I come back from the Dr. this morning.

Mine aren't named varieties just colours and most are showing shoots I have red, yellow and pink. They are all normal double flowers as I have resisted the frilly ones so far. :oops:

I have a few from last year - I think - though it's very difficult to tell if it's a dry lump of compost or a tuber. I'll pot them up and see if I'm lucky.

My boss who was head of the Landscape Dept where I worked when young could, if offered any kind of dry daffodil bulb identify it, which still blows my mind but proves there are subtle differences even in the most boring of plants - lets face it a dry daffodil? What could be more boing than that.

Answers on a postcard delivered to Kim Kardashian, ;)
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

The Nursery had about 8 boxed varieties of begonia tubers where you could select your own tuber. They had lots already pre-packaged where you were getting anywhere from 4 to 6 tubers for $10 but they were all definitely smaller and hard to see IF they were even sprouting yet. They were also mixed colours. They all felt hardish but I wanted to make sure I could see that they were sprouting.

This bulb was only $3.49 and came in a box buried in saw dust. There were only six or seven IN the box so I'm thinking there could have been even larger tubers that had been picked off.

I went to the nursery kinda spontaneously being already out and about and I didn't know what I had for plant pots to grow them in. I knew I had 1 good sized decent pot but really wasn't sure I'd have sufficient for 5 or 6 tubers. NOW I know I can probably easily do 2 more so will head back to the Nursery Wednesday which is also 10 or 20% off day for Seniors and get a couple more.

The front of the house really suits hostas and the ferns have done really well so I'm rather hoping the begonias will fit right in. I also have 2 higher iron plant stands out front that would be superb for pendula (the hanging) begnoias. I NEED the colour out front. It looks nice now but cement + green + varegation in the hosta leaves isn't really jazzy.

Am sure Grandad hasn't had time to comment as he is out cruising the Plant Nurseries finding his own begnoia tubers to start so he can get the jump on us!
User avatar
Grandad
Egyptian Pharaoh
Egyptian Pharaoh
Posts: 6924
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: South East UK
Has thanked: 797 times
Been thanked: 2254 times
Gender:
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Grandad »

Am sure Grandad hasn't had time to comment as he is out cruising the Plant Nurseries finding his own begnoia tubers to start so he can get the jump on us!
I don't know what to say on this one. The way the Amaryllis went I would probably have blooms for Christmas.
:gg:
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

Haven't planted by tubers yet, but when it started "snowing" I thought I'd better bring some compost in to warm up first.

It's now bright sunshine and though warm sitting here by the window, I have to move because................ Scouts Honour, I'm being dazzeled :a65: . 8)
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

This is my begonia tuber. From memory I've planted it on top of the soil although I scooped out an indentation and placed it on that.

8921

It has 4 small pink eyes already started so should be on its way to growing.

@Grandad - these are somewhat like amaryllis in that they DO grow and the flowers bloom for the entire summer. They essentially like the same growing conditions as ferns & hostas. Some sun but not fully hot sun so speckled shady light is best.

Amaryllis are 'prepared' bulbs or maybe called 'forced' as they will grow while begonias are just tubers. They're definitely worth the flowers.

I have another 2 pots so will probably get two more tubers. If they grow they grow and I'll get lots of floral display and discussion but if they don't grow or if I get a poor showing it'll just be another experiment gone bad! ;)
User avatar
Grandad
Egyptian Pharaoh
Egyptian Pharaoh
Posts: 6924
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: South East UK
Has thanked: 797 times
Been thanked: 2254 times
Gender:
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Grandad »

LLL, should the tuber really be sticking out of the soil? I don't know about these things but I would have thought it should be covered.....
:gg:
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

I shall start mine like that as well LLL. It's because they are so prone to rot if water gets into the top depression, especially when the shoots are new and very tender.

When I pot them on it the stems look tough enough, I might put a dusting of compost over the shoulders, but if in doubt I'll leave it like the photo. :up
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

@Grandad - yes the tuber(s) basically just sit on top of the soil. The tuber is essentially 'U' shaped and you can't get any water into the compression of the U coz, as MD says, then the tuber could rot so you only water the soil around the outside of the tuber.

I took a spoon and scooped out approximately the size of the tuber and then pressed it down into the soil. I sprinkled a bit more soil up to the shoulder of the tuber and pressed it in a bit but there is no soil IN the 'U' of the tuber and I won't get water into it either.

All very easy peasy and the resulting flowers are beautiful.

Am sure Horus grows begonias and probably has photos of all the gorgeous flowers they produce that he can post to show you.
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

I have some watering aids which are basically a plastic bulb about the size of a small orange with a tube coming out of it. You fill the bulb with water through the tube turn it upside down (with your finger over the end ;) )and insert it into the pot.

If the soil is damp before you use it, it very, very slowly releases the water to the compost at the bottom of the pot - small pots of geraniums for example can take about a week to empty.

I'll try to get some pictures, they will be my Secret Weapon for Begonias this year. :a20:

Edit: Just found these on Amazon.


I bought one of these some years ago for my daughter and it cost £5 being made of glass it looks quite decorative and works well. Then I found the plastic ones in Poundland and got 2 for £1 ! They are very simple open at the end of the tube, not like some which are pointed and perforated which don't work so well.
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

@MD - I have about 6 or so of those too. I love them and use them fairly regularly in my plants. Particularly those plants that are in the spare bedrooms that I rarely go into.

Haven't read from Horus, Kiya or Ruby Slippers on this thread yet (they're probably all out getting a whole bunch of tubers to plant!) ;) Actually I think I've seen begonias flowering in some of H's photos of his outside garden (I think).

I don't know why I didn't think about begonias myself. I grew them years ago and loved them and they're perfect for the splashes of colour I need out front. I 'might' be able to get one growing out back but in the summer the sun does beat down so only if I can get a table & pot under the overhang.
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

I've acquired 13 tubers from the garden centre and 12 small ones very cheaply from Poundland.

Potting has been put on hold as my compost - opened last autumn and hopefully resealed - turns out to be a home for snails, slugs, worms and a lively centipede. So I am awaiting fresh compost.

I forgot, I saved the tubers from last year, I'll see if they have signs of life. :up
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

I had good intentions (to go to the Garden Center) but instead the lure of sunshine and the downtown Park took me AND I did see an otter swimming about the boats.
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

Well lured! Lucky you. :up
Smile! It confuses people
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

A total of 36 tubers from a variety of sources, Garden Centre, Tesco. Poundland and some saved from last year.

Their are in colour coded pots, other than that treated exactly the same. It will be on windowsills at least at first. Be interesting to see how they progress. 8)
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

That is quite a few but they're going to be beautiful once they start to bloom. I'm probably going to get a couple more but need to get a move on so I can get them growing!

I actually have to re-organize lots of my pots out front. I have too many little ones and it is starting to look cluttered. And I have to add some colour = begonias! ;)
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

Little pink "noses" are poking out of the compost next report will be the first leaf, I hope. :up

PS I did cover the corms with about half an inch of compost, yes the tops get wet - c'est la vie :lol:
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

I have 4 pink noses pushing out of the tuber so it is doing well. I need to get a move on to get a couple more as in going through my stuff I've found 3 other pots with soil - just need to dump it out, mixed it up and then re-pot.

Tomorrow am hoping to get to the nursery to get some more. I'm going for uprights though. I don't really do baskets as I'm really bad at watering them (too much or too little and then they dry out and/or I just plain forget 'til I see everything wilted) and can't lift baskets up or down anymore (I can but shouldn't as often I then pay with aching shoulders)
Mad Dilys
Royal V.I.P
Royal V.I.P
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:15 am
Location: Luxor
Has thanked: 3044 times
Been thanked: 676 times
United Kingdom

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by Mad Dilys »

Little leaves are opening................. :lol:
Smile! It confuses people
User avatar
LovelyLadyLux
Egypt4u God
Egypt4u God
Posts: 11596
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:12 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 417 times
Been thanked: 2714 times
Canada

Re: BEGONIA TUBER CHALLENGE

Post by LovelyLadyLux »

Yesterday I checked out a small nursery and they don't have a tuber left for sale :( I have a thought that they've all planted them now to sell over the next couple of months as potted plants. Still have one more to check out south end. Keeping my fingers crossed I'll find a few more.

The one I do have is close to putting out small leaves. Growing well.
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post