Begonia advice please :)

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by kr236rk, Jul 21, 2016.

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  1. kr236rk

    kr236rk Gardener

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    Hi,

    I had a begonia potted plant last year, it was planted out then became distressed in the autumn. I dug it out and brought it indoors. It lasted for a month then faded away, nothing left at all. I emptied the pot out on earth and left it at that. Eight months later the begonia is growing again, where I emptied the pot :-o

    In this hot spell, how often should I feed / water it please - I don't want to over-water it, I know begonias don't like soggy conditions.

    Many thanks,

    Ric
     
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    • martin-f

      martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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      As far as I know that's what Begonias do die of then come back :dunno:, mine was left out all winter no sign of them until early spring, i water all the time but i have lots of plants round them.
      IMG_1738.JPG
       
    • kr236rk

      kr236rk Gardener

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      Thanks. Water and feed information please.
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        There are different kinds of begonia mainly, and putting simply, either the fibrous rooted ones or the tuberous ones.
        Both can over winter but do it in different ways.
         
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        • daitheplant

          daitheplant Total Gardener

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          The fibrous rooted ones tend to be treated as annuals though.
           
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          • kr236rk

            kr236rk Gardener

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            Many thanks,

            A year on and the begonia has resurfaced! :-o Three leaves about the size of a 50p piece. At what stage should I start feeding it please - and with what especially?

            It 'dies' each November and comes up again in June, it was planted out in May 2015, it was a potted hospital plant. I was told to bring it indoors at the end of summer, which I did, then it wilted away to nothing. It is now growing where I emptied out the pot on a spare patch of earth. I no longer dig it out and bring it indoors in November, it seems to be quite happy where it is.

            Bests,

            Ric
             
            Last edited: Aug 10, 2017
          • kr236rk

            kr236rk Gardener

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            Two years and still going well - it is amazing to me how this plant resurfaces year after year :)

            Begonia 10.aug.2017.jpg
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              Its the tuberous type, I'm guessing it doesn't get much frost where it is located.
              Might be worth giving it some TLC.
               
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              • kr236rk

                kr236rk Gardener

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                Thanks,

                What sort of TLC please?

                When it wilted away to nothing in 2015 I went right through the potted earth looking for the reason, I couldn't even see a root. The whole plant just vanished both above and below ground level. I can't understand how it regenerated itself from nothing, I just emptied the potted earth out onto a vacant patch of soil. Seven months later, up springs the begonia again! :-o

                Very little frost here, the begonia is also in the lee of a fence and greenhouse, so sheltered.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  There must have been a tuber, possibly quite small, if you grow it on and keep it frost free but dormant over the winter for a couple of years it will increase in size, giving you a bigger plant each year.
                   
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                  • kr236rk

                    kr236rk Gardener

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                    Thanks, the only thing I found in the potted earth when I sifted through it was a large healthy earth worm :) Should I feed the begonia please? Not right now of course because the earth is quite moist here.
                     
                  • martin-f

                    martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                    I have 3/4 that have come back for the last 3/4 years now, I mentioned it in the GC they said it was down to milder winters a few plants are doing it.
                     
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                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      If you take the single female flowers off the double male ones will get bigger.
                       
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                      • kr236rk

                        kr236rk Gardener

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                        No thanks Pete, I am just so pleased to see the same plant come back again. I really thought that plant had withered away to nothing indoors, died. My eyes popped out when I recognised its leaves coming up seven months after I emptied the pot out behind the greenhouse, it just seemed like a miracle. :-o
                         
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