i just looked at the leaves. they are pinkish/reddish around the border of the entire leaf with the inner part of the leaf a pale yellowish green. so about 60% pinkish/reddish and 40% yellowish green.

i have been remiss about watering for many weeks, could this be a reaction to lack of water? gosh, these plants look terrible as far as the color, normally they are a dark vigorous green with all the white spots. the canes are not droopy so they do not look like they need water so i don't water. maybe i let them get too dry?

tom

I think it's Begonia Lucerna, but I could be wrong.

I'd have to say the only thing I can think of that could be causing your problems is the old soil. Soil begins to break down when it's about a year old as it begins to harbor bacteria. Not only can this bacteria make the plant ill, but the soil breaking down actually packs the soil making it difficult, if not impossible for the roots to breathe.

I'd say repot with new soil that is porous. You may have to mix your own. Some use 1 part peat, 1 part (unmulched) bark and 1 part perlite. Some use 50/50% peat and perlite. Some people also use peat, vermiculite, perlite and maybe some bark. Vermiculite breaks down *much faster* than even premixed bags of soil. Perlite is fine to work with, but take caution and be sure to dampen it well before you work with it so you don't breath the dust - it is cancerous.

Currently, I am using a soiless mix. I use 1 part crushed granite: 1 part (unmulched) pine bark: 1 part Turface MVP. This mix offers plenty of air and has great water retention to provide the roots consistant moisture. It's very cost effective, however, using a soiless mix means you *have* to fertilize.

I have read other people use an even 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer with each watering at half strength each watering. Make sure you leech once every three or four waterings (water with plain water) to prevent the build up of salts (this is for any soil).

Whatever you decide that works best for you, good luck and please keep us updated!

Here is a link that might be useful: Soiless mix info

i thought i explained this well but i failed! the "old soil" is old in the sense the potting soil was bought a few years ago and it was the last of the potting soil from the bag. it was not old in the sense that i had plants growing in it for years. there was no fertilizer in the potting soil. it is quite dry and not tightly packed.

as i mentioned i seldom fertilizer any house plants as they all grow, out grow, their containers and their space all too fast. i seldom if ever fertilized the begonia as i had it from say 1982 to present. i seldom re potted the "mother" plant so the original plants were in the same potting soil for several years with no problem. when i cut back the original plants and took cuttings they grew fine in whatever i put them in - that old mix or new mix.

i do not think the potting soil i used is at fault because it is a few years old as it was never used by another plant. i do suspect lack of watering or need for fertilizer.

any more ideas?

thank you,

tom

Hi Tom,

If you have fish the Begonias like a drink of the fish water when you clean the tank/bowl. I have had the best results with that. Otherwise, a Miracle Grow (or any other) fertilizer for general use is fine too. Since you rarely fertilize, I'd say to start off slowly - half strength the first two or three times - then step it up to full strength. If you're using the fish water, using it at full strength is fine.

No, I don't think it would be your soil that has been on the shelf longer. Sometimes the soil that's on the shelf a long time tends to get mold or something like that, but you'd most likely see it before you use it for your plants.

I hope this helps your begonia before it's too late.

i use neptune's harvest fish emulsion for the garden so i'll try this.

tom