Is my Begonia Maculata worth saving? Please help
Hello, I got this polka dot begonia in November last year and placed it in front of a south-facing window and misted it regularly. I kept it in its nursery pot in a larger decorative pot. When I first got it, I gave it a thorough watering but the soil did not seem to ever dry out and remained very damp for a long period of time. Then leaves began getting crispy and brown from the edges and dropping rapidly. Even the new ones that have just unfurled and look healthy and green would drop without warning. Now there is only 2 leaves left on the plant, one of which is mostly dried up and the other one 50% brown. The plant stems still appear green and there are some tiny shoots, one of which has just opened but contained a weird shrivelled red baby leaf (?) inside. Is it still possible to save my plant and what should I do? Please help!
Comments (10)
hc mcdole
3 years agoIt is possible to save it. I find canes in winter need less water until they start putting out new growth. Give it good light, warmth, and cut down on watering - let it dry out some or a lot. Watch out for mildew as well as the big polka dot canes are prone for this dreaded fungus. If mildew does occur, spray with a good fungicide - I use Orchard Spray these last few years (Sulfur and Pyrethrin) which is very effective at stopping mildew.
I keep most of mine under lights 12 hours a day, water sparingly every 2 to 3 days. When it is warm I move them outside for summer and fall (up to Halloween).
A few from yesterday morning in the basementOne of my Cracked or White Ice plants
Comte de Lesseps
Snow Capped
Sylvan Triumph
I can't remember the name of this (may be a new hybrid with a number only from Harmony Foliage) it might be Dotsy
a few other canes and large leaf begonias in a section of the basement.
Avalanche
You can do it but you have to cut back on watering on these types of plants until they are ready for more.
Grace thanked hc mcdoleRelated Discussions
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3 years agohc mcdole
3 years agoI agree with Dave on this being a fussy cane begonia. Root rot comes from too much watering as well.
I keep mine in the basement and have learned to keep them on the drier side in winter. Mildew is the one issue that can make these types quickly turn ugly.
I don't mist my canes but I do water by hose so if some of the leaves get wet, not a huge deal.
I have several I've grown from seeds collected off the mother plant that seem identical or slightly different. I wished I had known about watering back when I started getting canes.
Here was the mother plant back in Sep, 2009 in the same 18" pot of Encanto Bronze (the bigger cane), Mrs. Hashimoto (the plain green one with white blooms, and Morocco.
close up of it, Mrs. Hashimoto and Morocco.
Here it was in bloom that year.
The seed grown ones last Sep in a slightly smaller pot (maybe 15") and blooming. The plant to the left is Begonia platanifolia (another good sized begonia)
This same pot the winter before had mildew so bad that I lost some stems and almost all the leaves before I did anything to remedy the situation.
Now if I had a big GH like at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we could grow them to 12 to 14 feet tall.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years agoGrace
3 years agoGrace
3 years agoHi all, here's a quick update on the begonia- it has suddenly shot out a ton of new growth (at least twelve new leaves!) and is looking much better than it did weeks ago! Just wanted to thank everyone on this thread for all of your suggestions which really helped :) Hope it keeps growing big and strong!
hc mcdole
3 years agoGood growing! Keep up the good work.
My canes are out of control but I hate to cut them now.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A