Begonia luxurians
 

I believe some people leave this out over winter and find that it does
survive, even after last winter but has anyone here had experience of
this, personally? A customer has asked our advice on how to
over-winter hers and we've advised a frost-free greenhouse.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Begonia luxurians
 

On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:14:04 +0100, Sacha wrote:

I believe some people leave this out over winter and find that it does
survive, even after last winter but has anyone here had experience of
this, personally?

Yes. But you can do your own leg work. Spammer.

A customer has asked our advice on how to
over-winter hers and we've advised a frost-free greenhouse.

And? What do you want? A Blue Peter badge?

Begonia luxurians
 

James spat:

Yes. But you can do your own leg work. Spammer.
A customer has asked ....
And? What do you want? A Blue Peter badge?

Yawn, morons out and about again I see.

Anyway Sacha, Begonia luxurians can be just about overwintered outside
in very mild areas provided there is some evergreen overhead cover to
lessen the risk of radiation damage on clear nights in winter. Even
then, weather like we had last year weakens it so much that it takes
most of the ensuing summer to resume poor growth. Luxurians can
certainly tolerate a *few* very short spells down to -2C without
damage to the foliage or canes, but it will not cope with night-long,
sub-zero temperatures well and one or two instances of -4C will see it
cut to the ground. Although there are plenty of subterranean buds
from which it can regenerate, they are reluctant to sprout after a lot
of cold damage.

Mine came through 3 winters extremely well, usually flowering around
Christmas/New Year and developing 40cms wide leaves each summer. This
last winter inflicted significant damage and it's barely worth
keeping. It is one of those tender perennials that probably needs
replacing every few years and if your customer wants to be certain of
keeping her plant, she should definitely overwinter it in a frost free
or slightly heated greenhouse.

Begonia luxurians
 

On 2009-09-21 19:06:04 +0100, DaveP said:

James spat:

Yes. But you can do your own leg work. Spammer.
A customer has asked ....
And? What do you want? A Blue Peter badge?

Yawn, morons out and about again I see.

Anyway Sacha, Begonia luxurians can be just about overwintered outside
in very mild areas provided there is some evergreen overhead cover to
lessen the risk of radiation damage on clear nights in winter. Even
then, weather like we had last year weakens it so much that it takes
most of the ensuing summer to resume poor growth. Luxurians can
certainly tolerate a *few* very short spells down to -2C without
damage to the foliage or canes, but it will not cope with night-long,
sub-zero temperatures well and one or two instances of -4C will see it
cut to the ground. Although there are plenty of subterranean buds
from which it can regenerate, they are reluctant to sprout after a lot
of cold damage.

I think we should try one out in the bed behind the tea room - plenty
of cover there - and see what happens. I'll ask the boss about that.
;-)

Mine came through 3 winters extremely well, usually flowering around
Christmas/New Year and developing 40cms wide leaves each summer. This
last winter inflicted significant damage and it's barely worth
keeping. It is one of those tender perennials that probably needs
replacing every few years and if your customer wants to be certain of
keeping her plant, she should definitely overwinter it in a frost free
or slightly heated greenhouse.

I think that's what she'll do as that's what we've advised her to do.
We did tell her that some brave souls risk their plants outside but she
does love hers and I think she probably won't want to do that. She
only got them this year and likes them so much she was prepared to
treat them as annuals if need be! Thanks for all this personal
experience info, David. It's always so interesting to read what others
do with their plants and what happens in their gardens, too.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon