So my 'collectoritis' kicked in when I moved to FL 3yrs ago. I saw a photo and just loved the look of cane begonias. Thus my obsession started.

This is a small part of my collection:



If you have ID's for any plants they are more than welcome.





I will add more photos later, it is really pouring down right now (YEAH Rain finally!)

I fell in love with the cane begonia a few years ago when someone put on a presentation on them at a local rare plant club meeting. I'm currently cleaning out a small portion of the only shaded bed I have and may try one or too soon.

Paul,

Did you see my follow-up post in the "Welcome" thread? I posted some links to cane begonias - here's the link: http://garden.org/thread/view_...

Carol

I got the pink one! Just made some cuttings today as the big storm this afternoon decided to prune this begonia. Pot fell off the shelf and I got about 10 good cuttings.

I lost the white one last summer. It did not like the heat and humidity this past summer.

Will post pics of the pink one tommorrow

Paul do you want to trade cuttings?

Oooo - lucky you! I can't wait to see photos of your pink one! Are the blooms multicolored like these? Where did you get it?

http://www.saintlucianplants.c...
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fByo....
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fByo.... (same as above - 12th photo - but shows it in blog context)

Carol

I've got quite a few types of begonias, too. This one came to me as a cutting last fall, along with a few others. They all took and grew right through winter this nice mild year.

This is B. Odorata Alba and yes, it does even have a fragrance


My other favorite is B. 'Looking Glass' and the leaves are really metallic silver with dark green veins and red reverses.

These are two starts of B. Don Miller with B. Sophie Cecile in the middle.

My wonderful kids send me plants as gifts. I got B. Good 'n Plenty and B. Bubbles for Christmas this year.

Elaine, those are gorgeous plants. I also have B.Sophie Cecile

mocropot said:Paul do you want to trade cuttings?

I am not a very good mailer of plants? If you cold guide me in the process I could try.

This wind is killing the tall pink cane begonia. Knocked it over again.

Paul, I am not an expert also, but I think we can make cuttings, wrap it up in a wet paper towel and use a Priority mail Flat Rate Box for $4.90. You can pick up boxes @ the Post office for free.
How does it sound to you? You can share any other ideas.

Helen……..

The key to sending plants inexpensively is to send them First Class rather than Priority Mail. It will only cost you $1.95 - $3.65 in postage. The key is to get the weight below 13 oz. If the plant is heavy (like amaryllis bulbs), you need it to arrive quickly (First Class mail can take an extra day), or you don't want to flatten your plant because it needs to arrive in show-quality specimen condition, then this is not the method for you. I have successfully used it for cuttings many times.

https://www.usps.com/ship/firs... - Scroll down to "Packages".

Carol

Guys, I got some perfect begonia cuttings in the mail last fall from a friend in SC. She just cut them and slipped them into a ziploc bag, then blew air into the bag to inflate it, and sealed it up. Kept the cuttings moist, and also protected them in the box. A little damp paper towel around the cut ends is good, too.

Also, it's important to mail by Priority Mail on Monday or Tuesday so that the cuttings don't sit around in the post office over the weekend. As we get into hotter weather, keep an eye on the temperatures, too. Don't mail when the weather's going to be hot, or too cold either. This time of year, and the fall are best times to mail plants and cuttings. Days not too hot, nights not too cold.

Well, except maybe tonight if you're up north . . . Cool for April, huh?

Thank you so much Elaine and Carol, Good information. I am open to trade cuttings.
Elaine, I was actually surprise when I got outside this AM, it was chilly for end of April

Sounds easy enough. Maybe next week we can try some trading. My schedule this week is shot with work to do any shipping.

we have the wild begonia growing around here. volunteer re-seeds if you let it go.

Pretty, I didn't know we had wild begonias in Florida.

blooming today, to bright up this rainy Sunday

B. Odorata Alba is the success story of my garden this year. Grew it from a cutting I got last fall, and it is now 3ft. high and 4ft wide in this big hanging basket. It has a lovely soft fragrance in the mornings, too.