Begonias-Sonnie

Hi Sonnie...
I hope I can help you, growing species from seeds is a tad more difficult
than growing the semperflorens from seeds, now I am just surmising that you
were growing semps from seeds. When you gathered your seeds from partita,
did you examine them for plump, rolling seeds after you cleaned all the
chaff out? I take a toothpick, dampening one end pick out all the chaff from
the seed pods. When you have clean seeds, take the seeds and have another
piece of paper that you can roll the seeds on to. By careful rolling from
one paper to the other you will find some seeds that don't roll and will
adhere to the slightly tilted paper. I take these seeds and put them in a
separate container marked 'iffy seeds', meaning some 'might' grow. The good
rolling seeds can be stored in another container. I keep all my seeds in
airtight containers on the refrigerator door. Or, you can plant right away.
Also, are you sure these are pollinated seeds? The caudiform begonias, also
called semi-tuberous, of which there are quite a few, are best planted
during December and January, the same time you usually plant your tuberous
varieties. The rhizomatous, canes, and shrubs give optimum germination
during September and/or last of February, March and first part of April. I
use a mix of 2 parts vermiculite, 2 parts perlite and 1 part seed planting
mix i.e. JiffyMix. I will spread a thin layer of milled sphagnum moss on top
which has been dampened by pouring boiling water through it while it is in a
strainer. Since you know how to sprinkle your seeds over the top of this
mix, I am sure you can carry on from here. If you have any questions...just
holler Cyn
Cynthia M. Bishop (bishop@cot.net)
Golden Hills Nursery
P.O. Box 247
Macdoel, CA. 96058
Begonias, Ferns, Supplies by mailorder
(530) 398-4203 Fax(530) 398-4203 Zone 5/6
The love of gardening, a seed once planted, never dies.
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