Re: Begonia -Reply

Hi Bobbi

I grow some begonias but last year, because of house renovations, I did not get the tubers into peat moss to overwinter.  They look very dried out and I suspect are dead.  Do you think I might be able to revive them by soaking them in water for awhile?

BTW, I tried the pendula ones in hanging wire baskets lined with moss last year but was not pleased with them.  I grow the others in a raised bed which surrounds part of my deck and they do very well.  Also, some shorter ones in window boxes attached to upper deck.  Sun exposure is west in raised area but have only part sun because of huge maples on neighbours' properties and north in window boxes.  These too have done well.  Feel bad that I didn't treat them properly over the winter.  No space this spring to buy and start more under lights.:-(

Penny in Halifax, N.S. , 5/6a

>>> diehlr@INDIANA.EDU 03/31 9:49 pm >>>
Sheila,

First, let me say that I absolutely adore these houseplant begonias. I
have a number of them, some passalongs, all very different. One is a maple
leaf begonia, almost black in color, that is blooming now with an absolute
shower of pale pink flowers! Wish I could send you a picture. It is so
gorgeous. This has a maple-leaf shape, but no special color combination on
the leaves. I have several of the pink/green/silver angel wing types, all
purchased from Logee's Greenhouse in Massachusetts. Have just discovered
that a local nursery has fabulous begonias for sale--cheap and beautiful
tho alas, unnamed. The owner adores these plants too and practically gives
away her excess.

These are great plants. Rarely are they bothered by insects or disease and
they are about as trouble-free as a plant can be. Since writing before, I
have found someone who grows them even more successfully than I do, and
she gives hers a full summer on the back porch, which is mostly sunny with
a SW exposure. I have been giving mine no sun at all (they summer on my
north-facing front porch), but I may rethink that after seeing hers! Would
like to hear from others who grow begonias.  Sun or shade during the
summer?

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6

On Fri, 31 Mar 2000, Mike Cook & Sheila Smith wrote:

> Hi, Bobbi.  I've even grown those (rex) begonias in an office with no
> windows and only incandescent light!  Really great houseplants.  Do you
> know where the variegated (green-white-pink) form can be purchased?
> From your letter, it sounds like you grow them outdoors in the summer.
> What type of habitat do they like and how do they do outside?
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