On Sun, 3 Jun 2012 08:49:01 +0000, ELLENM
wrote:


I live in central Scotland and new to this forum.My dad passed away last
week and I need some help with his begonias in his greenhouse.There are
about 100 in small 9cm pots.How often should I water them? Do I need to
move them to larger pots? How often should I feed them? He did say to me
a couple of weeks past that the beginias were slow this year.Any help
will be
hugely appreciated.


Sorry about your dad.

There are many types of begonias, some are for indoors, then there are
outdoor ground types and other trailing types for hanging baskets. If
your dad was growing 100 or so, they may have been intended for
planting out either in the ground or in baskets or tubs. Or did he
grow plants to show or sell?

If the pots are 9cm, then I'd guess that they are tuberous varieties -
these are grown from a tuber (like a bulb) which is just at the
surface of the compost - if you poke around carefully you should be
able to feel the tuber around where the main stem(s) come out of the
compost. You can also get fibrous rooted types - these have ordinary
roots like most plants but they usually get grown in 7cm, or smaller,
pots.

All types need the compost to be kept moist but not over-wet. A little
every day, either in the early morning or late evening - when the sun
is not hitting the plants - will be better than a heavy soaking once a
week. If you can't manage this (you don't say whether you lived with
your dad or not) then aim for at least every few days and check that
the surface of the compost doesn't dry out completely and develop a
crust - this makes it difficult for the water to penetrate the
compost.

If the plants have big leaves, remember that you need to get the
compost wet. Watering from overhead isn't recommended as the leaves
won't like it and most of the water won't reach the compost. If you
can, it's better to use a can or hose without a spray head and just
run it along the edges of the pots so the water gets onto the compost
under the leaves.

But I'm guessing as to the type of plants you've got. Gardenbanter
will allow you to post a photograph and link to it in a message you
post. If you're able to get a photo, preferably one that's a close-up
of a plant showing the compost surface and what's above the compost,
that we can look at, we'll be able to give you some more definite
advice.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from Swansea Bay. Dave's at that
end; I'm at this end. Bill's in the middle.