Beautiful!!! You are an amazing grower, thanks for posting the pictures.

Silvia

As always Butch, your begonias are magnificently grown. I got one word for ya, wow!

I'm always attracted to black or dark leaved plants in general and begonias in particular, what's the dark beauty at the top of pic 3?? Love the black edges which is then painted into the dark green interior.

I'd also like to know the name of the dark, more delicate-looking one at top left of 9th pic. Leaf texture looks like maybe a rex.

Well done my friend,

Russ

just acquired Cane 'Angel Wing' & Rhizome 'Baby Dress". Rex 'Escargot' on its way in the mail.

Thanks for the kind comments whgille!

Russ, those two begonias are the same thing. This is Taconite from PHOE. Being exposed to higher light levels they are an olive green but the one I have in more shade is truly black - taconite black. Funny thing about this begonia is a woman who enabled me to go to my first convention in 2006 thought taconite was kind of a strange name, i.e. taco night as though it was Friday night so it meant tacos for dinner. I told her I thought it was named after the mineral taconite. I guess we will never know unless someone got Tim's thoughts on the name. It is a super easy grower and propagates easily from leaf or rhizome (the reason I have so many).

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/taconite-iron-ore-in-the-mesabi-range-high-res-stock-photography/79758042

Debra, Hope your new begonias come in well grown and you get a lot of enjoyment from them for years to come. I would recommend a terrarium for 'Baby Dress' and probably "Escargot' as well. Escargot grows very well outdoors but indoors I always lose them except for one I've kept in a terrarium for the last 3 winters. It is a very temperamental begonia for beginners (and even long time growers).

Are all those growing inground? Wow wow wow

my hardy grandis is is getting big. My pewterware from PD are gone, sniff. Boliviensis did not survive heavy spring rains.

Thanks Butch, you're probably right with the mineral taconite on the name. makes the most sense. I'd think it'd be two words Taco Nite if that was the hybridizer's choice, but who knows, as you said.

Didn't I read that PHOE closed some time ago? Maybe another nursery. I'm going to try and find a mail-order source that carries Taconite. I still like my Caribbean King but it sure demands potting up often. Bigger and bigger.

Russ

bossyvossy, none are in the ground - that is too much work and I'm lazy!

Russ, that is what I thought about the name - dark and maybe taconite was kind of the same shade of black.

Yes, PHOE is closed to the public now. I was going to go see it again but was told that it may be closed. Glad I got that advice to check it before I went.

I need to restart my Caribbean King and Queen - they've not done much for years. Just want to keep them alive for one more winter before trying to push them to become true kings and queens again.

I keep the Baby Dress in my mini Greenhouse as I will with the Escargot. Thank you hc mcdole..

Butch, I remember now it was you who said some time ago that PHOE was closed. I'm curious about your word 'restart' regarding your Caribbean King and Queen. Would that be taking rhizome tip cuttings of old, overgrown and rootbound plants and planting in fresh soil and new pots?

You've probably done this a million times, but maybe some newbies here might benefit. In the past I've propagated the 3 or 4 inch rhizome section behind the tip. Cut, trim the roots and pot, makes a nice full plant once several latent buds break and start growing in different directions.

Russ

Hey Russ, Yes restart in other words - repot and also start some new ones from leaf or rhizome cuttings. It has been a number of years since I started them anew and repotted.

I agree on your method too - trim roots, rinse old soil off the roots at times (if warranted), cut off old growth that will either rot or just sit there. Often this will encourage new grow within a week or two. I just need to start doing this in spring instead of late summer and fall but I figure any growth spurt beats no growth at all? I also think any water (well most any water) beats no water. I know a couple folks who only want rain water - sometimes that would be a Herculean effort.

Butch, I have the same trouble. By the time I get around to repotting/restarting some plants, fall or even winter is just around the corner.

I can see collecting rain water for a few plants, even dozens of plants. But when you have many hundreds, it just ain't possible. Of course most of my plants are outside and rains are frequent here, but when the dry spells come I have to grab the hose. Plants in the covered shadehouse get nothing but house water, and usually by the hose rather than watered individually.

Thankfully I'm not on a well any more like I was when I bought my place in 1993. That water was very heavy on iron and other minerals, anything it touched for very long turned orange.

Russ

I have but one and I've forgotten the name of this Rex, but I have managed to keep it alive for about 5 years.

tj

I'm not a rex guy and only know the names of a few, but Merry Christmas comes to mind for this beautiful rex. That said, Butch will know.

Russ

I agree Russ. Not possible with hundreds of plants. We have had a fairly dry summer this year so it took a lot of water for begonias and the landscape (hostas and hydrangeas are my other favorites).

tsugajunkie, That is a beautiful rex. Not sure what it is though. Similar to Merry Christmas but not sure it is it (Merry Christmas has smaller leaves than what this looks like). Are you on Planet Begonia on FB? If so, put it there and maybe someone will know what it is. The colors are very much like a lot of rexes such as Salsa but the leaf shape is not.

Thank you both. Yes, the leaves are large. About 8x12 inches or so and I have seen similar while searching like the Salsa or Maui Mist and others, but nothing quite right. I think I would remember the name if I read it. Not on PB or FB, so I'll keep poking.

Thanks again.

tj

Looking good Danielle!

Pretty Danielle..Love your 'Immense'.

Thanks HC and Debora! Hc you have helped me take better care of them so thank you.

Glad to help where I can Danielle. I knew if other people could grow these marvelous plants then I should be able to do it as well. There were a lot of days of frustration and I think we all learn if we keep at it (practice makes perfect?). If I can share anything I've learned then I will to help others avoid the same mistakes I've made over the years.

Here is a good little tidbit I picked up out of "The Begonian" many years ago. I think there is a lot of truth to it.

Ha so true! Good advice in life too. Try to learn from your mistakes and if something is not working try something new.