Re: Tuberous Begonia
- To: s*@eskimo.com
- Subject: Re: Tuberous Begonia
- From: "* D* <m*@teleport.com>
- Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1998 12:16:38 -0800
- Resent-Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1998 12:16:45 -0800
- Resent-From: seeds-list@eskimo.com
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At 08:47 PM 11/7/98 -0500, Penny wrote:
>I have a tuberous begonia that I just loved this year.....a beautiful peach
>color. I have it inside now (it's freezing or just above outside) and I
>want to know the best way to propogate it for next year. I have heard that
>you can do something with the roots, but I am afraid to do anything until I
>hear more....any ideas?
>
>regards
>penny
>(usually lurking)
Penny, The easiest way to deal with tuberous Begonias for the winter is to
withhold water and allow them to go dormant and then store the tuber in peat
or perlite in a cool dark place. When you see the pink "eyes" on the tuber
in the early spring, you can pot it up fresh and put it under lights to
grow. By time it is warm enough to put it outside, you will have a nice
sized plant. The tubers get bigger year by year and can be divided with a
good sharp knife making sure you get at least one pink eye on each piece of
tuber.
Stem cuttings can be rooted and will become new plants but rarely
will form a new tuber, so when they are gone, they're gone. I haven't tried
it, but have been told you can keep tuberous Begonias growing and blooming
all winter under lights. What it will do the following season back
outdoors, I don't know. The continuous growing may exhaust the tuber eventually.
For more information, try the Begonia discussion list at www.onelist.com
Marilyn Dube'
NATURAL DESIGN PLANTS
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, Oregon, Zone 8b
