I'm on FB but can't view the tuber anyway. I didn't bring my begonia to FL, no room in the car. :(

I wonder if you have to be a member of the Planet Begonia group to see the photo?

Here is a print screen of it.

Wow! Thanks for the pic. My bols did so great for a couple years. Have tried some of the hybrids with no success. Gonna keep trying though. I want the plain species back also.

Kyle,

When you find out how to grow them successfully like Mike does/did, let the rest of us know.

Look at this basket I bought from Lowe's in 2007 of boliviensis and Bonfire from another nursery. Bonfire is on the left and was half the size so it is a much better grower IMO than its parent.

June 14 after 3 weeks of growing (I moved the Bonfire up to a bigger pot)

As bought in late May (boliviensis)

Bonfire same day when bought (5/25)

July 8 boliviensis

Bonfire in front and boliviensis behind it (July 6)
I will continue to buy them and not fret when they succumb to whatever later in the season.

I most certainly will. IF it ever happens. I can't remember now what soil I used. I do remember I had them in wire baskets with very little soil. Overwintered in a cold room with very little light.

I have had little to no luck in overwintering these. I threw a pot of one on the compost this spring thinking it was long dead. It sprouted and even bloomed there. I didn't even rescue it, let's see if it comes back this spring after a long cold winter.

This has to be a record in GA. We've been here 39 years and I don't remember ever having snow before winter officially comes in. We've had two white Christmases but it is usually gone in a day. To top this off we lost power on Saturday for 24+ hours. UGH!

backyard

Yoshino cherries on side yard

My truck.

Ugh! Pretty though. We haven't had a single flake so far.

Very pretty! But I'm glad not to be there : )

hc..Wow..I've never had that much snow in almost 13 years in my own yard in Indiana..we had a dusting a few days ago which has disappeared..in the 40's today..

Nichols, this is a big surprise. We moved to GA 39 years ago and have never seen snow this early. Yeah, we've had two white Xmases the entire time we've been here and they are usually melted away by the end of the day. Most of the snow is gone today in my neighbors' yards - HA! The power of the sun? Our house faces north so the neighbors across the street face south. They also are on a hill while our yard is flat in front.

A short while ago and this is how it looked 2.5 days later. Across the street and where is the snow?

Our house - notice the roof of each house and of course the big shadow in our yard from the roof. This was about an hour ago.

Begonias are still standing and a little wilt in some.

Jewel Orchid with Shaun's Dream in the middle of the pan (started with one leaf as an experiment)

The J.O. bloom

The pot with 3 rexes and Bashful Bandit still looking pretty good.

hc..I have a north facing house too and have been jealous plenty of times when the snow and ice have melted from my neighbor's driveway across the street while mine is still covered..I came to the begonia forum to comment and ask if you had any snow and boy did I find the answer to my question lol..the first pic of begonias (in your comment directly above) has a few in the center that look as if they've been dusted by snow!!..very pretty..we were in Lowe's a few days ago..saw a "strawberry begonia"..not really a begonia right?..didn't buy it..waiting for something more exciting..that tuber pic above is crazy..bigger than any of my elephant ear bulbs..I'm not going to fret either if my boliviensis doesn't return..life is too short to waste time being disappointed..shop and find another to enjoy right?..

When buying a house we rarely think of the orientation of the house or even snow. HA! Oh well the snow will be gone soon. Years ago we had a frozen pond in our yard while the neighbors on the other side of the street were bare lawns. That was my first lesson on shade, orientation, and slope. I ended up sliding part way under my truck trying to scrape the windows that morning. Bumped my shin pretty hard.

Yeah, I love those silver leaf begonias - U400, Silver Queen (need to make lots more of this one), Plum Paisley, and one I just call Silver Curl.

Love the strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) and perfectly hardy here. Great groundcover. I think it does better in my parents' yard where I gave them a 1'x1' section years ago. I swear it must've spread 12x12 in a few years.

Agree on finding other plants to fill your passions instead of fixating on something that doesn't do well for you or your region.

This was May, 2016 at my parents.

Looks like a blizzard in there!

My favorite is with the little cherub in the middle

so many things to consider when you buy a house..the good news is my kit, family and dining room windows AND big backyard have a southern exposure..my neighbor has a very small patch of strawberry begonia (10in x 10in)..survives but not thriving like your parents..theirs is beautiful..

Our dining room faces the street but we rarely use it (empty nesters don't need a formal dining room 360 days out of the year). We tell guests to use the bedroom that faces the backyard since it is probably quieter than the one facing the street but we have sleep machines in each bedroom for anybody's use - I even have an app on my phone for sleep "noise" when I travel.

I love strawberry begonia but wished I could grow the more colorful saxifraga such as these at the garden centers in spring.

I admit we don't use our dining room!..was just making the point that the rooms in the back side of the house get the most light..we DO use the kit and family room..I haven't tried the colorful saxifraga..why won't it grow for you?..

Ah, I understand about light. I don't have many plants in the house (my wife has put her foot down) but I used to keep a couple in the living room and a baker's rack in the kitchen. We do have a handful of AVs on the garden tub in our bathroom.

I don't know why the colorful saxifraga don't do well for me (or is it GA?) but I have given up on buying them. Kind of like the tri-color strawberry begonia. I quit after 3 failed attempts. Ranunculus, Daphne, Fritillary, and dozens more plants I've tried and gave up. Gunnera, Rodgersia, Meconopsis, Primula, Cyclamen, etc, etc. Bought tons of it to be thrown out after a couple of months.

I grew a very large pot of Shamus years ago and cannot replicate it. This was on a Chinese Water Bowl with a glass table top (maybe 20 inches?)

The baker's rack has changed over the years on what grows there

This year it only has 3 little succulents - some of the sun has been blocked since we put a gazebo on our new deck. Awww?

We have another rack that is identical but outdoors (now rusty) - years ago it sported C&S and a huge begonia (sold as crassicaulis from GHW but I believe is actually Bayberry Lane)

Funny how location is key..plants grow effortlessly in one place and struggle in another..and each place seems similar..I have plants overwintering in the house but when the weather breaks out they go..I always wanted a foxtail fern..did it last long?..

I agree on location. We had a saucer magnolia next to our front door stoop at the last home that did terrible (hot western sun) so we moved it to the backyard where it became a beauty. We then moved a red crepe myrtle to where the magnolia was and it was stunning as well.

That isn't a foxtail fern though. I think it is the fern 'Ruffle's'. I have never had the foxtail fern.

I see now..I enlarged the pic (on the baker's rack) and it's "flat" not round..I like it..ferns are great..hard work but worth it to relocate your plants..would love to be out digging..

Oh yeah, got to have a few ferns too...

Crocodile fern

Staghorn (probably 15 to 20 years old now)

young bracken fern (gift from one of our club members)

Ostrich fern looks good in spring but goes downhill once it gets hot and dry
crested bears foot
kangaroo paw

Whatever you do, don't let the bear's paw ferns get started in any begonia pots - they will take over.

Hmmm...that kangaroo paw looks a lot like my possum tail.

I have Japanese Painted, Sensitive, Male, Tassle, Autumn, Ostrich, and Christmas - all hardy..and I buy asparagus and Boston ferns for the summer..hc and Kyle - do the "broad" leaf varieties in your pics need to overwinter inside in your zones?..

Kyle, that is the problem with common names - HA! Yeah, they are probably the same thing. Microsorum diversifolium but I had to search for it and now I will promptly forget its botanical name. Easier to remember common names most times.

Nichols, I forgot about sensitive fern - I love it and it was a volunteer at our last house. It is not sensitive to growing - more like a thug if you give it the right conditions. It is only sensitive to cold as it goes dormant when it freezes. I moved a few pieces from where it volunteered to our front yard (hot western orientation) along with 3 small plugs of English ivy. After about 3 to 5 years we were out there yanking it and the ivy out by the buckets. As long as it never dried out it grew and grew.

When you say broad leaf, what exactly are you asking about?

Sensitive fern at our last house on the north side of the house. It can be a thug but I like that.

I'm up and playing online lol..my Ostrich ferns coming up in the spring..

what I was calling "broad" leaved were several of yours where the leaves aren't finely cut (like my Ostrich)..my Sensitive and Christmas ferns have the least delicate fronds of the ferns I grow..but they're more delicate than your Crocodile and Staghorn..my Sensitive is not spreading..was tiny when I bought it at the greenhouse of the Indianapolis Art Museum..has grown but nothing like yours..the attractive leaves of crested bears foot makes me think of acanthus mollis(?)..could be wrong never had one..funny it also reminds me of dandelions!..which I don't love lol..

Ah, got you. So broad leaf is the crocodile fern and staghorn. As far as I know they are tropical and I have not tried propagating either due to their size.

The bear paw and kangaroo ferns are probably tropical as well but I have not tested either. I certainly have enough bear paw ferns to test but I usually give away quite a few as they continue to pop up in other pots.

The kangaroo fern takes up a lot of space and I put it in a heavy cobalt blue glazed pot - why did I do that years ago? Here it is in 2013 in the big utility room.

I did start a new pan of it and a cool succulent Peperomia last winter. Both have filled the pan very well in less than a year's time.

I guess this is why I get so many bear paw ferns in pots

I think this is the first year I've ever seen spores on my crocodile fern but will they mature before falling off?

A cool fern I got a few years ago seems to develop shields like staghorn does.

I lost this little beauty - seems to be a cross between the birds nest and cobra fern

and this one

Whatever you do watch out for volunteer ferns taking over the begonias in your pots!

I googled a few of your ferns and you're right..tropical..so winter's a problem for me..your kangaroo fern is like a shrub!..begonias and ferns together are so charming..

They do complement each other, don't they? I also like to blend in coleus with begonias and ferns.

Nice combinations..at my last house I had some nice coleus..looked better than here..wish I knew why..probably not enough light here..we spent a few hours outside picking up limbs and branches..went in a couple of times to warm up..I enjoyed it..

HC, who knows the true botan-eecal name of our precious possumtails and kangaroo paws?
Last I heard it was Davallia pentaphylla per Dave's. Up till then I just KNEW it was Scyphularia pycnocarpa.
It's a keeper though. My big mama possum has been in same pot for well nigh 7 or 8 years and just keeps going. I've got a good sized baby from her that's also going wild.
Mama has been inside now under lights for at least 4 years. The only plant I hesitate to put outside because I just don't know how to protect her from strong breezes. Due to the maniacal output of rhizomes I have to keep her on a 'pedestal' type thingy. Very wind susceptible.
What I'd like to know is this:
What is this wispy little thing? It used to respore everywhere. These pics are of sporelings. Original mama long gone. And she got huge.
Stranger still? A Japanese Holly Fern respored in one of them. Sure wasn't expecting that.

And to my dumbfounded surprise it even managed to respore outside far away from any parents.

Kyle..I'm not able to help you with any names..I don't have such exotic ferns..I love holly ferns but I'm not sure if it's warm enough here..my neighbor planted one and it died..

Yea. The holly ferns are probably not hardy there in 6. Shucks. I was amazed that mine sailed through last year's winter here in 7. It was milder than usual last winter. Fingers crossed for survival in this one.

your fern looks perfect..here are some of my hardy ferns..wasn't summer yet..

Very nice! Is that Blue Angel bringing up the rear?

I like those "wispy" ferns Kyle. No idea on names as I am not going down that road with ferns. HAHA! I just get what I like and not worry about Bo-Tan-Ee-Cal names. Kind of gripes me on botanical names where some body of botanists move a plant from one family to another and months/years later the rest of us find out and get used to the new name and then they (the experts) move it back to the old family. GRRRR! Double GRRRR! Then the dad gum synonyms too?!

I've had a few holly ferns pop up in my pots too. They can be aggressive but nothing like the sensitive fern.

Nice looking Japanese painted ferns, Nichols! Mine are not that good but at my parents house in middle TN, they are very nice. I guess they like a little more cold or cooler evenings.

Holly fern spores from a volunteer in one of my pots - March, 2015

begonias surround a young holly fern - 2009

late May 2016 (parents' home)

Kyle..you're probably right..I'm not sure what that hosta is lol..either a Blue Angel, an Elegans or Krossa Regal..I know I bought all 3 of those..

hc..ferns are good plants for me..and I love them!..I never turn down a nice fern that's a decent price..

Looks like Krossa Regal I would rule out Blue Angel and Elegans

hc..that hosta does have the vase shape of a Krossa Regal..and I did plant some..my early years here were very busy and I lost track lol..aren't these pots cute?..needed $15 more in purchases for free shipping on Amazon..I read the reviews (mostly favorable) and decided they would work for my new begonias haha..

I instantly thought K.R. due to a lighter blue color and the way it stands up. I hope you find a tag on it or a picture of it in the past that was named. That's the problem with plants - too many to keep up with at times?

Let me know what you think of your pots. I don't know how we keep our prime membership going (don't remember paying for it in years but it is nice for free shipping). We love Amazon.

My hitchhiker today:

You won't see it in this picture unless you had the original photo and could zoom in 100%

He/she moved to a loftier spot after getting this shot.

My Krossa Regal

Elegans (this one does look more blue than my other ones though)
Blue Angel
Wished I had some low angle shots of them.

I see some differences in the 3 hostas..the size and shape of the leaves..I agree with you - looks like mine is a KR..the lizard is so cute!..you confused it..your basement looks like you're outside in the tropics and he moved in haha..look at this..

$9.99 the same pots for less!..talked to Amazon..they cancelled the order..but couldn't order the cheaper ones..they told me to reorder and pay shipping..then call and they will refund the shipping..this world is too complicated for me..

Nichols,

That looks like a good deal if you get the free shipping. Let us know how they are if you do order them. We've had a few shipments from Amazon go missing but that is another story. Usually we tell them that and they refund or ship again.

The worst case I had was ordering two lenses through them (the vendor was Adorama) - about $2,000 worth. I tracked it from their store to Atlanta and then saw it being returned to the store. What the heck? I got in contact with Adorama (email I think) and asked when the lenses would be shipped back here and the answer I got stunned me. I was told no matter why the package was returned (according to UPS it was a smeared or missing label but they had the tracking number?) that the items would go back on the shelf and I would have to order again. I told them to just cancel the order and I ordered the two lenses from their competitor, B&H and paid extra for shipping to get them in two days. The issue was now I had two purchases on my credit card and Adorama wasn't doing anything to remove one of them. I gave up getting satisfaction from them so I went to Amazon with the problem. They told me to contact the vendor and I told them I already did and was getting the run around. Since they were the point of purchase I thought they should resolve this. After I threatened to get the credit card company involved, then things started to move along but it would take another 3 days to get the charges removed. WHEW!

I started ordering garden pots a few years ago. I had around 500 begonias I started from leaf that needed potted up about 4 years ago so I started with my first order of 300 3" pots and added an extra 200 later on. I had two women in our club who were going to help me do all this work EXCEPT one or the other always had something come up on an agreed upon date. I finally gave up on that and lost 300 of the 500 plants due to lack of interest. I did pot up the rest and have given away most over the 3 year period. I started back with propagation in smaller quantities after that. Last year I ordered 50 4" pots, 30 5" bowls, 30 6" bowls, 30 6" standard pots, and I think it was 60 3" square pots. The bowls are great for rhizomatous. The 6" bowls were the most expensive of the lot - about 75 cents per while most of the other sizes were down around a quarter per pot except the 3 inch pots maybe a dime?

One of my trays.

with lid on

another tray

Orchids are blooming lately

one of two mini-orchids is blooming well too

my Amazon mess is fixed I think..the first representative gave me bad advice..she cancelled one item creating shipping charges (when I asked about shipping she said just call for a refund once you receive it)..yesterday the rep said "cancel the entire original order and start over"..so now I've ordered 2 sets of pots and my phone case (first order was 1 set for $15.99 and the phone case)..so for $4 more I get 20 pots instead of 10..I like the idea of having a pair of each color..already excited about spring ..anxious to get to work..love the idea of filling those colorful little pots with colorful plants..that is a scary story about the lenses..I've called the bank a couple of times about mistakes in charges (had a duplicate charge) and they were very helpful..and it definitely gets the attention of the merchant when you say "I talked to my bank"...now I just need to keep an eye out for the package since people are stealing packages left and right..the orchids are BEAUTIFUL..I've never had one..I'm more of a scaredy cat than you to try exotic plants..so when did you start the trays of begonia cuttings?..they're outgrowing the tray..

Ann

It helps to get the right agent to fix problems. Some can be so bad that you end up canceling everything (I did that with Comcast 20+ years ago and just went back with them this year since AT&T was getting as bad as Comcast was). Instead of fixing my problem the support guy said he couldn't do anything else for me so I lined up DSL and Dish Network. After I got those going I canceled my business with the cable company and the woman on the other end asked if there was anything she could do to change my mind. I told her if I had talked to her first, maybe this would've been resolved but it was too late. Every time I thought about going back to cable, I got a sour taste in my mouth from that one support guy and his snotty attitude. Oh well...

I'm sure you will put those pots to good use this winter/spring. I ended up buying some pots this year at Big Lots and Family Dollar! These were large pots though.

Buying products with a credit card gives the buyer a lot more "muscle" if things don't go well. When we moved in here we bought quartz countertops from Lowe's. The salesman said 21 days GUARANTEED but that excluded weekends and holidays. So we placed the order and paid for it with our credit card. As our closing date got closer and no word from Lowe's or the installer, I finally called Lowe's to see what the delay was. Seemed like I talked to the same guy in kitchen remodeling. He told me that once the order is placed it is out of their hands - they took no responsibility. So I call the installer next and they can't do anything since they haven't gotten the countertops in yet. Call Lowe's again and they give me the phone number of the manufacturer in Houston, TX. Call them and the gal on the other end is surprised that a customer is able to call them direct and wanted to know how I got their phone number. I told her all about my issue and said that Lowe's said there was a 21 day guarantee. She said that there was no way they backed that up and they were slammed with new orders. I told her that is great for them but not for me so therefore I would cancel the order. She said I couldn't do that and I said that I would let our credit card company handle it then. Well our order was on the train within a couple of days. Now the installer was saying they could not install it by closing date and I said fine, I will cancel then. Same old song and dance and when I said credit card company, they had it installed the day before closing. If we had paid cash or check, I think we would've been weeks after closing before getting the countertops. Oh, and Lowe's gave us 10% of the purchase price back in a check. We used it to buy our two garage door openers from them and have them installed (another story).

The moth orchids are super easy and very dependable. I've bought a few from Sam's, Walmart, and our local chain nursery. The minis were bought at Target store. You should try them.

Yes, there are some bold thieves out there especially this time of year. I couldn't believe that Best Buy did not specify signature required when I got my latest camera from them. It was dropped off on our front porch and we didn't hear a thing - doorbell, knock, or the dogs going ballistic. I get a ding on my phone 30 minutes later and decided to check it - it was a message from UPS that the package had been delivered. I thought this was a joke because we were sitting in the living room then. Sure enough, when I opened the door was a package right in front of the door. Thank goodness no one had the nerve to steal it while we were inside but it could've been very easy. I just wonder who would pay for the theft if it did happen.

The earliest cuttings were started back in September 24 but I continue adding new stuff for the old stuff that just didn't make it.

This tray has the lid on so I got some nasty reflections off it.

lost a comment..the text and pics wouldn't post..here's a shorter rewritten version haha..your cuttings grew pretty fast!..almost every business transaction is a hassle..agree that credit cards are the way to go..hate thieves and enjoy it when they get caught..my begonia has one stem left..saw an old post about rooting tuberous..you put a link on the post..it was not encouraging about rooting tuberous..won't bother..my tuber is sticking up a bit out of the soil..is that ok?..posting this separately from the pics..

I hate it when I lose all the things I type in and all the pictures I added in but what can you do? Not much.

Those cuttings do grow pretty quick but not like a commercial grower can. They can have a four inch potted plant in six weeks from a leaf cutting (not always filling the pot though but at least moved up).

I can't believe how much more power I have if I do business with credit cards. As soon as I mentioned it, then I got the vendors to work with me ASAP.

I had one service call though that didn't go my way. I had our upstairs AC quit and I noticed that the furnace in the attic was kind of weird - there was a switch (regular light switch) that was there but not for the bare bulb light (there was another switch for it). So I could toggle the other switch and the blower would kick on. I mentioned this to the service guy and in ten minutes he was done and presented me with a bill of almost $300! I knew the visit was going to be $74 but heavens, the ten minutes he spent working was not worth over $200. The only part he had on the bill was a switch. I said that must be a special switch (thinking one of the multi-switches you see in a lot of mechanical devices) and he said it was. Hmmm? I asked to see the switch and he fumbled in his tool kit and said he must've left it in the attic. I said okay and paid the bill with credit card. I later went in the attic and found out that the SOB replaced the flaky light switch (special my foot). This switch can be bought at HD for less than $3. I argued my case but the CC company said because I signed they were going to err on the vendor's side. GRRRR! I yelped at this company and on FB but I saw a lot of folks who thought they were great (guess they were not too keen on some things electrical/mechanical) Oh well, we had that unit replaced last year (furnace and AC) which was a lot more than the visit a couple of years earlier.

I just gloss over anything about tuberous begonia as I don't do them (I try but I cannot grow the things here). Good luck on your tuberous!

this is interesting..was using my new phone when I had posting issues..decided to try my old phone..guess what?..no posting problem..this is my "beautiful begonia"lol..I'm skeptical about it's future..may be one of the buy and enjoy for as long as it lasts plants..sorry that you were ripped off..with the anonymity of the internet his relatives probably wrote the good reviews..lots of contractors are criminals in my opinion..nice grouping in the pic above..I'm going to put this begonia in an out of sight location..can't look at it anymore..

I hate posting from a phone but I'm doing it right now as a test for GW and my new phone

Poinsettias at Krogers. Bought one this morning

at least your new phone does the job..mine didn't earlier..testing now..nope..mine is a samsung..

"this is my "beautiful begonia"lol..I'm skeptical about it's future..may be one of the buy and enjoy for as long as it lasts plants."

Ann, what begonia is that and what kind of soul is it potted in? I have plants that simply would not grow until I potted them in Al's 511 and fed with DynaGroFoliagePro. YMMV.

FWIW, every post I've made on GW is from my Samsung Galaxy J7. Probably their cheapest phone. Never had a problem so far.

Very good info about doing business with CC. I try to only use cash locally to get gas and groceries, etc. Heard horror stories about remote scanners. But thanks to your experiences, hc, will only use CC for bigger things. Thanks.

mine is a Note 8

only problem I've seen so far is lockup so I have to do a hard reset. grrrr

posted using my old phone lol..

Kyle..this is the same begonia a few months ago..a boliviensis..maybe Bonfire?..did a post about it..the soil is the soil that it came in..with some Miracle Gro Organic Choice (looks like a fine mulch) to fill the new pot..I liked it so much I wanted to overwinter it..but it might not come back..I have the same phone!..I might be doing something wrong..working on it..

hc..pretty orchids and poinsettias..ah a fancier Samsung..I need to save money for all my new plants lol..

FYI..my little colorful pots arrived today..sturdy and so cute..can't wait to fill with pretty plants..will be fun to play with the colors..