Begonia help please (also African violets)

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Beyond the Sidewalks : One Thread

Mr. S. got a beautiful begonia for a present. It's got huge red leaves (I think it's an outdoor plant b/c it's from a nursery, not a florist). I also think it's a tuberous type (I have seen some in hanging baskets before). Anyone raise these things? Got any good info for a beginning begonia fancier to know?

Also, I have a couple of African violets (can you tell I'm not into house plants much??) and need to divide them (or something). Any advice here? The only thing I know about these things is that they do better in a north window in my house. I DO know that these are houseplants. (I'm a genius).

Thanks!

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2003

Answers

Sheepish...I've grown a couple of the begonias that you describe and I've managed to keep them going for a couple of years or so, but after that...ferget it!! I've had really good luck with African violets. I keep several on a table with a lamp (60 watt bulb) setting in dishes filled with small pebbles. I add water to these "pebble" dishes occasionally to give off humidity for the plants. I still water the plants, also. Off and on, one of the plants will "give birth"! By that I mean that you'll notice a baby plant starting to grow in the pot near the base of the parent plant. These babies are very easy to transplant to their own pot. I've read that you can cultivate African violets by somehow planting a leaf, but I've never had good luck doing it!! Maybe Martha Stewart would know :-O!!

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2003

Thanks, Marcia. Okay, I'll give Martha a call. She was going to come over this weekend anyway to muck out the ewe barn and re- landscape the front yard...you know, to help out while Mr. S. is still couch-bound....

Seriously, I did notice babies on the African violet. Are cigars in order?

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2003


Hey...she promised to come over and muck out MY goat pen this weekend!!! Then she was going to give my horse a bath :-)!

Anyways...those babies should tranplant very easily. BTW, I never use African violet potting soil. I mix some clay cat litter with regular potting soil and it seems to work well. The cigars are up to you :-)!!

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2003


Pre- or post-poop litter?

Nah, no cigars. Not a good idea, I guess. I last smoked one in 1982. I still have an old b&w photo of me that Mr. S. took. I'm at the St. Michelle Winery, in a pristine white sundress, my hair in french braids, and I'm tokin' on a stogie. UGHHHH...

I've gotten so boring in my old age!

I'll try the violet transplants and let you know how it goes. Thank you for the tips.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2003


Moderation questions? read the FAQ