Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
purpleinopp

Unknown rhizomatous? Begonia

Was given some plants today, opinions please. I think this is some kind of rhizomatous Begonia. Probably not possible to tell more without some leaves, but was hoping the odd shape of the "crown" would be an indicator of basic type.

{{gwi:90866}}

{{gwi:90867}}

{{gwi:90868}}

Comments (24)

  • lavonn
    11 years ago

    Reminds me of 'Bashful Bandit'.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks! From what I googled and what little foliage there is, that's plausible.

    A little growth:

    {{gwi:90869}}

    {{gwi:90870}}

    {{gwi:90871}}

  • gregsytch
    11 years ago

    Definitely not 'Bashful Bandit'. That is my hybrid. It is difficult tot ell by the pic. A more mature plant would probably help. It appears to be an 'Erythrophylla' hybrid, based on what I can see. So, something with that hybrid in its background, perhaps. Greg

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks! I just wanted to know if it's rhizomatous or not.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    The development of these plants has been rapid and very exciting! Lots of sun, water about every 3-4 days.

    {{gwi:90872}}

    {{gwi:90873}}

  • birdsnblooms
    11 years ago

    Purple, you're new love, Begonias..:)

    When you said, lots of sun, how much sun do you mean?

    Bright or direct?

    Some of my canes look skimpy. Wonder if it's lack of light.

    Your new Begonia has put on quite a bit of growth. Are you fertilizing?

    Don't know if it's a rhizome. sp. Do rhyzomatous go dormant in winter?

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    The one pictured above is getting direct sun, until about 11:30, then some later in the afternoon. Several people here & Begonia forum have said they think this is a rhizomatous, so I'm good with that. I'll never remember a name but am pretty confident about having it do well by knowing its' type.

    I hadn't gotten around to investigating yet about what it should do for winter.

    I did mix up some fertilizer and gave a completely unscientific sip of it to all of the potted plants about a week ago. I just got this one but that was the first time since last summer for any of them.

    Yes, they are my new love, I never would have predicted this. Couldn't be more happy about deciding to buy that hanging basket one last year. This one (I added the Tradescantia):

    {{gwi:90874}}

    This one gets sun all morning and very late afternoon also. I don't feel qualified to advise you about exposure for yours but I know you know enough to move it back if you see signs of sunburn from trying more sun. If they are floppy AND skimpy, I for sure feel like you do, not enough sun.

    Hey, you can see the rhizomatous ones in the same pic. I wonder how wide those will get? That's the premium space for winter, as you well know!

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    These plants are growing well. I repotted one into a saucer from a large pot. Wish I hadn't thrown a stack of these away. I now realize I have a lot of plants that would be happy in shallow containers like this.

  • plantomaniac08
    11 years ago

    purpleinopp,
    Wow, your begonia is looking great!

    Planto

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    This plant is blooming, so thought I'd post an update. The mauve color is so pretty to me.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Closeup of left flower.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Closeup of flower on the right.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    The back of the flowers is not unattractive either. Love the pink spot where it comes together.

  • Amanda (asarumgreenpanda, z6MA)
    11 years ago

    So pretty. I like the contrast in texture between the blooms and the leaves. Great pictures, too.

    Amanda

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks, I think so too. I keep going in the other room to look at it. I'll give the camera the credit for the pic, love that thing!

  • chloeasha
    11 years ago

    This thing is so cool! I love the dark leaves with the pale flowers. Yours must be happy :)

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks, J.! That "pot" seems to be doing great things for this plant, needs water every few days instead of sometimes 2 weeks when it was in a regular, deep pot. From my brief experience yet, these things just don't make much roots. Sent you a leaf with a nice long petiole this morning in your package, but don't know how it'll travel. I think it just takes a piece of a leaf, a lot like AV's.

  • chloeasha
    11 years ago

    Super awesome! I'll have to figure out how to do it. I have always been shy about learning to propagate Begonias. I don't know why. It seems scary though. I imagine others do it though, so it can't be that bad, right? And really cool if it works! Perhaps ziplock greenhouse will be my friend again. I think a lot of efforts I had in the past for various plants were foiled by lack of humidity.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    When outside here, humidity's a given, which is where I've tried that thus far, stuck the petiole in the soil with the mama, until the base of the leaf is at the soil surface. I know you're doing well with AV's, do you do them similarly? Dusty old memories of AV leaves are what gave me the inspiration for the Begonia leaves. Never tried AV's outside, but had great fun and success with them (if not ignored in lieu of outdoor gardening all summer.) Tenting will prob help a lot inside, will take your advice. Going to use a glass cheeseball cover I found at thrift store on the AV leaves, like a cloche but not as tall and fragile.

    This post was edited by purpleinopp on Tue, Feb 12, 13 at 11:08

  • chloeasha
    11 years ago

    I am preferring the tent method, so I've stopped trying in the pots. They seem to sit still for me otherwise. I think it may be lack of humidity inside. That's OK. I'm looking forward to this! PO says it should come tomorrow!

  • Amanda (asarumgreenpanda, z6MA)
    11 years ago

    Just wanted to add, in case you feel like doing propagation experiments, that I've rooted rhizomatous begonia leaves in a glass of water. I've seen pictures of them with babies growing off the leaf in water, but have never left mine that long.

    Amanda

    This post was edited by asarumgreenpanda on Wed, Feb 13, 13 at 21:34

  • chloeasha
    11 years ago

    Awesome! So I poked it into the soil and a couple of leaf pieces as well. I had a dream last night that I was walking on a trail in some kind of national forest and came across a bin of begonia tubers, stems, and leaves that were free for the taking-- a kind of local exchange for growers. I had a handful of things when someone walked by and yelled at me, telling me to take one or two and leave the rest. LOL. I guess I'm thinking about begonias even in my sleep.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    That's cool, Amanda. I love to hear stories about plants that are so determined to make it!

    J., Glad I'm not the only one who dreams about plants! ...and giant garden centers where everything's perfectly labeled and everything I've always dreamed of finding is there. There's a parking spot right up front for my panel truck, and my pocket is packed with cash. When I get back to my beautiful glass conservatory, where plants are only and always thirsty when I feel like watering them, there's a magical new addition, just the right size for the new family members.

    The flowers on this plant keep getting taller, and kind of spreading out. Here's the taller one a few minutes ago.

  • chloeasha
    11 years ago

    Lovely! and rofl yes-- that is the perfect dream! much better than the one I just had where the guy yelled at me for loading up on leaves and tubers lol.

Sponsored
Pristine Acres
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars46 Reviews
Leading Northern Virginia Deck/Patio Specialist- 10X Best of Houzz!