new begonias at the garden center!

16 years ago

We got in a shipment yesterday, from Quality Greenhouse, PA, & I came home with 4" Wineuma, Bonfire, River Nile, Last Laugh, richmondensis-white, Fairy, Looking Glass, Benitochiba, & Sophie Irene (have these last 2 from last summer in a large container, overwintered successfully), & last year's begonia winner-Witlacochee! I purchased 3 hanging baskets of this last May & it has bloomed nonstop since then-I took 2 flats of cuttings from one basket about 2 weeks ago, so I have a new crop coming. I mistakenly thought this was richmondensis & have been praising it to anyone who would listen, this was the plant that really won me over to begonias.

I have an Iron Cross that looks good, but w/ the exception of 1 'Maui Mist', none of my Great American cities series looks promising, just big gnarly stems, w/ no leaves. Any hope for these or should I just compost them?

Comments (9)

hc mcdole
16 years ago
Put your GAC under some kind of humidity cover (plastic bag, glass tank, liter bottle) and give it a couple of weeks. If the rhizomes are plump then you just have to be patient.
thistle5
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, I'll do that-don't want to just give up on them...
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susancarol
16 years ago
I found Sophie Irene at a garden center today. Is there really one with this name or is it simply Sophie Cecile because they look so much alike?

Susan
thistle5
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm no expert, but the plant I purchased this year labelled 'Sophie Irene', looks identical to the 1 I got last year, that overwintered in a pot w/ 'Benitochiba'.

I loved the begonias that I had in a hanging basket last year (3 of them) so much, they bloomed from May until Jan.!, I kept asking my boss when we would get in begonias in a hanging basket. I didn't get the same variety, but I got some beautiful 'richmondensis', the only thing I don't like is that they're in white plastic, I need to find some coco liners to make them really shine! I think these are going to be as lovely as the ones I had last year...
susancarol
16 years ago
Thistle, Do you work at Betty's Azalea Ranch by any chance?

Susan
thistle5
Original Author
16 years ago
No, I'm at Holly, Woods, & Vines on Rt. 1 (Richmond Hwy.) It's crazy this time of the year, but I love it! So many new plants-this week, I got 'Sinbad', 'Fire Flush', & 'Palomar Prince' begonias, as well as way too many other tropicals & annuals for container planting. I love spring!

Believe it or not, those 3 baskets I got last spring (which I think are Witlacochee), one of them I pruned for cuttings, the other 2 are untrimmed, still look great! I haven't given them any special treatment or even fertilized them. I think begonias are definitely one of the most underrated plants...Linda
susancarol
16 years ago
Well, that's a new place and I'll have to check it out!
Offhand, do you know of any other places in Northern Virginia? I visit Merrifield Gardens and Betty's when I get a chance.

Susan
thistle5
Original Author
16 years ago
Susan,
I wish I could tell you about more local garden centers, but due to lack of time, I only shop HWV, & occasionally, the Ft. Belvoir Home & Garden center. I do also shop online- ebay & Lazy S, & try to hit the large local sales-River Farm (AHS) at the end of April & Green Springs, when I can get over there...
susancarol
16 years ago
Thanks, in the past I have done the online shopping but it was a thrill to walk into Betty's Azalea Ranch and see some cane begonias. I wonder why they're so hard to find in local shops.

Susan