You know, I have been "lurking" this site for awhile, and learning quite a bit from all the postings. I was very hesitant to join, however, because I feel that certain people are very arrogant and rude. But I signed up today just so I could post this message. People post questions here to get help from people. If you are not willing to help, and you just post to put a snide remark, why post at all? Obviously I am mostly talking about you Norma. You seem to go by 2 member names, because there is a Norma2003 or something like that - and both of you comment very similiarly. You make people feel like they are wasting your time by asking questions. Then don't respond. Why are you even a member of this forum? You work at the Huntington and should know everything, no? Are you on here just to make yourself feel superior to people who aren't as plant savvy as yourself? I saw a comment you posted a while back when someone was asking about whether their plant was a "silver dollar jade" - I think that was the title of the post. I don't know which "member name" you used -dufflebag or Norma2003, but you said something extremely rude about plant names - trying to attack the person when they were just asking for help. I couldn't believe it. And since then I've seen many more snide comments like that. I don't know if others notice this, but it gives this forum a bad vibe. Why be so negative? It's plants for God's sake. Lighten up and be more friendly. And if you choose to leave a negative comment instead of a helpful one, maybe you shouldn't be leaving one at all. Just my opinion. Merry Christmas.

Looks like the only Lysionotus VB has right now is L. pauciflorus. L.montanus is a subspecies of L.pauciflorus - and I coudn't find the photo of it anywhere. I saw L.pauciflorus sp.pauciflorus on shows - this is the one Rob sells right now. The best place in US to grow it outside- is around Bay area in SF. You probably can grow it in MA in the light shade after the danger of morning frost is passed. It is a pretty tough plant and should do OK. The yellow Lysionotus 'Pudding' is a commercial hybrid, I think it came from Japan. It is easy to grow. It every so often appears on ebay. There is another variety of L.pauciflorus - L.'Selby"- very small leaved one - rarely blooms, but when it does - it is just another paucifloris. MA gesneriad enthusiasts belong to New England chapter - and like everybody else are sitting put and not meeting. They probably have some kind of online - zoom - whatever - meetings - find them anyway. They have a website with email contacts - doesn't look like they updated anything for a while - but emails should be still valid. Two of the best growers of gesneriads in the whole wide world - Bob and Dee Stewarts - live in Stow, MA. They have an unbelievable collection in a greenhouse. They are also members of New England chapter. While you cannot meet them - I would recommend to try to get in virtual touch - so you can get recommendations from the people who successfully grow the same plants in the same climate. Growing gessies outside in a shade in summer is possible - the only thing - they are tasty for the wildlife and for the bugs. So - if they are not chomped by deer, not dug out by squirrels and chipmunks - and they do well - before you can bring them home - you need to think how to get rid of all the pests. May be - rhizomes only and chuck the tops. Spray the s... out of them... with some serious stuff... Have Fun! Irina

Tuberous begonias grow easily from stem or leaf cuttings. Young growth works best and cuttings should be taken early in the year. The plant grown from the cutting needs time to grow itÂs own tuber before it goes dormant the next fall, so the earlier the better. Tuberous begonias donÂt root well in water, except for the smaller stemmed types like the caudex forming types and B. sutherlandii. Most tuberous stem cuttings will start directly in potting mix (I prefer sand). They may look wilted initially but most will eventually root and recover. ItÂs best to keep them in shade until they have rooted. Leaf cuttings should be started as you would rhizomatous begonias.

Hi Kelli, I'd love to say GREAT but I've had less than stellar results. I have been able to get some small plants going, but the transition from in to outside, even during the warm months has been disappointing. If they can't proliferate with my planting medium and excellent treatment (at least I think it is excellent) I tend to lose interest. I would not bail on them on my account, though. Best of luck!