Begonias - waste of time?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Jun 23, 2014.

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  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    P.S. Somewhat related, I saw these "grow bag watering devices" on Hozelock's stand at Chelsea. Seemingly heavily over engineered, but might have other uses. Can water from a can, or hosepipe. The four big "teeth" cut into the underside of the growbag, and contain some sort of capillary fabric.

    [​IMG]
     
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      Kristen, Jun 28, 2014
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    • HarryS

      HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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      @JWK , your begonias are coming on a treat :thumbsup: My santa cruz are not doing as well and I always struggled with million kisses . I'll try MK's again next year and go over the basics again . I must be doing something wrong !
       
      HarryS, Jun 29, 2014
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Harry, I wonder if it's because I bought the slightly larger plugs of MK? I think that made a difference giving them a head start. I lost one of my Santa Cruz plug plants to mould a couple of weeks after receiving them and the others sulked for a while to begin with so I had to ease off the watering. But the MK romped away.
       
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        JWK, Jun 29, 2014
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        I'll try and get pics of mine later, as they are nowhere near yours @JWK
         
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          Fat Controller, Jun 29, 2014
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I've tried tomatoes and cucumbers in them but they didn't thrive, I put it down to the compost being too soggy all the time. For bedding plant displays they are super. I've bought two sets so I can rotate the displays on my front steps, at that price they are just as cheap as standard pots anyway.
           
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            JWK, Jun 29, 2014
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            I didn't get round to pics today, sorry - will try tomorrow. Somewhat ironically, my apricot shades appear to be waking up now
             
            Fat Controller, Jun 29, 2014
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          • HarryS

            HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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            Just found out why one of my Santa Cruz was struggling , I touched it and it fell over ! Slugs or stem rot. I have now got my remaining 3 santa cruz in individual pots in the GH. I'll leave them there , keep them on the dry side until they flower.
             
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              HarryS, Jun 30, 2014
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            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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              My boliviensis are going backwards - so much so, they are getting hauled out tomorrow and the planters are going to become home to some maskotka tomatoes
               
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                Finally took a pic of my Boliviensis - just before I hauled them out and ditched them. Really disappointed.

                2014-07-06 12.21.52.jpg

                2014-07-06 12.21.55.jpg

                A few had died already, and the rest seemed destined to fail, so I decided that the growing space would be better employed by tomatoes (not least as I seem to be starting an EU Tomato Reserve :biggrin:)
                 
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                • mowgley

                  mowgley Total Gardener

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                  mowgley, Jul 6, 2014
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                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                  I grew them from seed, had them under grow lights for long enough, and then in the greenhouse for a while before being hardened off. Even the begonia plugs I bought aren't great, but then, I never seem to have much luck with begonias. Don't think I will bother with them again.
                   
                  Fat Controller, Jul 6, 2014
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                • Jenny namaste

                  Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                  May was too cool and too wet and June wasn't a lot better. Things that needed warmer days and definitely NOT 10C max at night just didn't like it and couldn't cope,
                  Jenny
                   
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                    Jenny namaste, Jul 6, 2014
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    I've only ever attempted Begonias once and never again, so disheartening!

                    It's been dry here since the beginning of April (unusually) but a lot of my plants have stalled this year FC. Cosmos in particular is pathetic, only growing to a foot high. Something to try on the trailing front next year are basket sweet peas, I've grown them for the first time this year. Okay, the ones in my baskets on the house wall have fried but the others in troughs have put on a lovely display and a great mix of colours. I'll take a pic tomorrow for you. :)
                     
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                      Sheal, Jul 6, 2014
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                    • Jenny namaste

                      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                        Jenny namaste, Jul 6, 2014
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        Thanks Jenny. I hadn't really looked at that thread as I'm not really a basket and pot person, no patience for them! :doh:If I remember I'll put my Sweet Peas on there too. :)
                         
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