50% success rate with Begonia corms

andygb

I planted the begonia corms about three weeks ago now, and only half of them are showing signs of any growth (about one cm above the surface). They were purchased from a decent garden centre nearby, and they are for my hanging baskets which I shall be planting up very shortly.
I am wondering if I should have a closer look at the ones which seem dormant, or am I being a little hasty?

bloss0m

I think they do take a while to come. They do like some warmth

http://www.bradsbegoniaworld.com/tuber.htm

madjackslam

Throw them on the compost heap. I'm only half-joking. I got fed up of waiting for mine to sprout last year and chucked the rest on the compost. A few weeks later there they were, happily sprouting. Perhaps that little bit of warmth got them going!

andygb

Cheers folks, I am going to have a look at them in a minute, and make sure that they are not too deep (I should really just plant them on the surface), and that there are some signs of life. They are still in pots in the little greenhouses so it should be warm enough, particularly as they are South facing.

bloss0m

I almost gave up on mine last year due to poor/late Spring. Past couple of weeks it hasn't been all that warm. I keep mine now in potting shed where its warmer. Oh and they also like good drainage

sobie

They need heat from underneath. Either pop them on a radiator (thats switched on) or pop in an aring cupboard, the heat will soon get them shooting.

wallbash

Three weeks is not that long, also as you mentioned the corms should just sit on the soil.And they will vary, some of mine are large and outgrowing the 3 inch pots, others just have a a small white shoot appearing.

just be patience.

andygb

I had a look earlier on, and scraped away the compost from the "slow" corms.
Good news is, that they all have signs of life, so I ruffled up the compost to leave them almost exposed, and I shall now paint the trellis and cellar door - anything to keep me from stressing about the begonias.