Bronze leaf begonias

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JO2006, Jan 20, 2006.

  1. JO2006

    JO2006 Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi new to the site would anyone know anything about them because i took some seed off some the last year when they grew the leafs came back green is there something you do or add while they are growing i would be so happy to grow this type as i think they look so nice
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Not quite sure what type of begonias you are referring to, are they the fibrous rooted bedding plants?
    There's nothing you can do to create the bronze leaves, its in the genes of the seed.
    If it is this type its best to buy new seed, which is selected to produce that particular charictaristic.
     
  3. JO2006

    JO2006 Apprentice Gardener

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    sorry i was referring to the bedding plants is was a bit strange that i took seeds off bronze leaf begonia plants but they grew back green again
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    The trouble is that you are dealing with hybrids, and they dont grow true from seed.
    That means that the plants you took the seed from are cross bred, the green leaved form will probably always be stronger.
    Therefore your plants will probably mostly be green leaved, you could be lucky and get a few bronze ones.
    Its always best in these cases to buy fresh seed each year, its expensive, but thats why, because they have to do the cross pollenation afresh each year.
     
  5. JO2006

    JO2006 Apprentice Gardener

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    i think thats what im going to have to do thank you for your help not meny people know much about them, i dont know if you know anything about wisterias as i have had i since 2002 and never had any flowers.
     
  6. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Wisterias are notorious for taking a while to flower, if its a grafted plant it should flower very soon, if its growing well.
    Usually the price tells you if its a grafted plant, they can be expensive, also there should be a bulbous area, on the stem, just above ground level.
    If its growing long summer shoots, cut them back hard, to two or three buds in late july, and just a light tidy up in winter.
    That way it should start to flower soon, once it starts it will get better every year.
     
  7. JO2006

    JO2006 Apprentice Gardener

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    i will keep my fingers crossed for this year to flower thankyou for your help.
     
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