Trailing Begonias

marmitepotato

Anyone else had a massive fail with these this year? For the last nine years I have bought these from a mail order company and the begonias have always, always put on a massive beautiful display in my hanging baskets. Even last year in all the rain, the baskets looked beautiful. This year they haven't even managed to trail down the sides of the baskets. Some of the plants are still the same size as when I planted them, despite my feeding them, watering them, and generally tending them. I have never ever had such a fail. Where did I go wrong?:(

marmitepotato

They all went in the green bin this morning. I won't be buying them again.

madjackslam

Then again, you've had nine good years and one bad one. Maybe it was the variety or the supplier? Change that rather than give up altogether? I think begonias have become more popular with the demise of busy lizzies, so maybe some of the stock hasn't been quite up to scratch?

It's no comfort, but a neighbour has had an incredible display of begonias in her hanging baskets this year. Her secret was to have accidentally left the tubers in the baskets over the winter, and they've come back bigger than ever.

Eenymeeny

I've just discovered the first bud on a begonia left in a pot since last year. Maybe they are just confused with the unusual weather conditions we've experienced this year?

ed110220

I haven't grown them this year but I've seen many tuberous begonias doing well this year both trailing and ordinary. I think it's more likely to be a one-off/local factor such as a poor batch, problem with pests or disease, compost issue etc.

wallbash

marmitepotato wrote: »

Anyone else had a massive fail with these this year? For the last nine years I have bought these from a mail order company and the begonias have always, always put on a massive beautiful display in my hanging baskets. Even last year in all the rain, the baskets looked beautiful. This year they haven't even managed to trail down the sides of the baskets. Some of the plants are still the same size as when I planted them, despite my feeding them, watering them, and generally tending them. I have never ever had such a fail. Where did I go wrong?

By buying them every year. , Save the corms. Bigger and better flowers every year.

wiltslass

We have grown trailing begonias in the baskets for many years now. We used to always buy them as seedlings from a well known grower and they were magnificent every year. The last two years they have not been as good. This year we were not able to get to the growers so purchased some corms at a reduced price from the local garden and they have been extremely good. I shall definitely be saving the corms for next year.