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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Begonia Rules!!!



After the period where the dinosaurs once ruled, the earth was filled with ferns and so it happened to my garden when the reign of the ferns fall short of its glory. It happened when I decided to reduce all the evergreens into coloured ones and the best candidate that fit the bill was begonia. I had sold all of my ruffle ferns except two pots hanging by the roof corners and most of my maiden hair ferns died due to the change of weather - they seemed to be a very sensitive plant. While these were going on with the ferns, the begonias decided to expand their territory.

And so the champions:
1) Black Velvet Begonia. (1st pic)
2) Cane Begonia (2nd & 3rd pic)

My Black Velvet Begonia had grown very huge and for some strange reason the stem started to rot by the base, and the poor plant just barely survive dangling by the rotted base. I had re-set the whole thing but they didn't rejuvenate back to the former glory, most of them shrink and died. And so I have 2 - 3 hanging pots of it compared to the earlier 5 - 6 ones.


Those extra empty pots where fitted with my flame violets - they are doing well so far.


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The Cane Begonia never seemed to stop growing, it had already reached to my roof.
I'm still contemplating whether to trim it down or leave it and see what happens.
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These are known as Trailing Watermelon Begonia.
They are not actually from a begonia family. One thing for sure, they are really drought resistant. I found that the soil was as hard as dried clay but this survivor seemed to thrive in that condition. (in comparison with coleus which all of it had dried up)
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And so I have decided officially to plant this one at this region, they seemed to do so well and look pretty with the watermelon coloured leaves. Also found that False Philodendron (Peperomia Scandens) does well too in this condition.
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Its also due to my lack of interest in watering these plants and the whole row of hanging plants suffered and died. And one of the casualty was the curled leaf begonia - now, its considered extinct from my garden.
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The same plant: Trailing Watermelon Begonia
They change colour when exposed with too much sunlight.
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This one known as Martin Mystery Begonia
One of the rescued plants which I had collected way back many months ago. The growth progress was very slow and it really took a lot of patience and care for it to arrive to this stage.
I really thought this one is not going to survive.
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This is another type of Cane Begonia. It got spots.
Also rescued and I really thought its not going to make it when I saw the whole plant dying in stages, somehow it had managed well and progressing.
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Finally these are the extinct ones. I really don't know why they never seemed to make it in my garden. This one (top) was given to me by my mum. She got few in her garden and she too don't understand how this one grows - as she mentioned, this one is very unpredictable.
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I got the other one (below) from a nursery and bargain it for few dollars. I tried to revive by cuttings and feeding but it just won't grow, finally the whole thing died in stages.Guess not all begonia behaves well. As for now - I'm very certain that there are some which are very hardy and there are some which are extremely sensitive.
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Also my Wax Begonia and slowly died and never recovered. I have collected their seeds and probably sow them towards September when the weather is most cold and wetter. They seemed to grow very well by the drain side. Probably will experiment on this when I really have the time.
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And so before you make your pick in getting your begonias, always choose a hardy one. You will not regret as you can propagate more by cuttings in your garden.
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12 comments:

Noelle Johnson said...

Begonias are so beautiful. They remind me of my father's garden in California, where he always had many different Begonias growing. I like how the Begonias decided to 'take over' your garden :-)

Stephanie said...

Oh you have a wonderful collection of begonias! That's the looking glass that I have too. The leaves will be silver if given more light (indirect). Less light, the leaves are more red. I love your first one, the black velvet.

But I have one begonia that's really difficult. A rex type. The red/blush on the leaves dissappeared and the leaaves went smaller and more silverish. I'll post later on this one. Otherwise, generally, begonia is really a great plant to have in a garden. Their leaves are beautiful!

Regarding that no ID little plant, I am sure your friend's hanging pot looks really great ;-)

Ami said...

You have lots of nice varieties of begonia. Especially love the watermelon one and the looking glass one. I am also a begonia fan, and got four of them of my own, all belongs to cane begonia category.

Autumn Belle said...

James, you have a great collection of begonias. Now I know who to look for advice about this plant. I too fell in love with begonias lately and I have one. Oh yeah, I hope this plant of mine with juicy, hairy and patterned leaves is a begonia!

p3chandan said...

Beautiful begonias n so many varieties! Im just beginning to collect them. At least now I know some of their names...

James David said...

Thanks Noelle for your lovely thought.

Stephanie - I recognise the looking glass from your blog information actually. And you are right - the rex type are the most difficult to cultivate - unless someone else had crack the code and found the secret of the success.

Aaron - Hope you do someday, they are enjoyable.

Ami - Really wish to check out your 4 species of cane begonias - do post the pictures if you have the time.

Belle - looking forward to see that juicy begonia of yours. No - Im no expert, just an experimental gardener.

Chandran - Thanks for dropping by. Glad you have started collecting begonias. Actually there are so many varieties of begonias. I just identify them by the family.

Wendy said...

I think those begonias with the spots are so cool. There's one that looks like someone took a silver Sharpie to it.

I love the watermelon begonia. That sounds like a good candidate for my oft-neglected window boxes!

James David said...

Wendy - do get these watermelon begonias, also if you can - Zebra trandescantia. Both can do so well in neglected window boxes.

Terra Mirabilis said...

Nice post, James. And I love begonias, too.

Chloe m said...

Thanks for the tip on black pepper for mice. It is always worth a try!

Begonias suffer under my care. I think your begonia look mighty healthy and happy!

Noel Morata said...

aloha james,

i love begonias too, they do very well here in hawaii and propogate easily...i just need more varieities....love your black velvet...its a nice one to plant next to a lime or light colored shade plant....nice post :)

Rina said...

'Trailing Watermelon Begonia' is Pellionia daveauana (Urticaceae)

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My Malaysian Tropical Garden mainly focused on unique and colorful plants ranging from rare to common plants all around the tropical belt across the world. Ideal for inspiration for challenging areas in the garden space - indoor gardening, balcony gardening and small green spaces especially for ariods, bromeliads, begonias, edibles, cascading & vertical garden plants, succulents & cacti, orchids, together with both shade and sun loving plants.

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