I have never had much success with overwintering begonias, so have always bought new ones each year. I have not tried keeping them dry, so plan to do that this year and see what happens. Can be any worse that previous years!! Do I have to let the foliage die down like other bulbs, or can I cut it (foliage) offer when they go over?
I liift them, stack them on newspaper on top of gravel in the greenhouse to die back then after a few weeks remove all the foliage, wrap the corms in newspaper and pack them into a cardboard box which I keep dry in the greenhouse or garage. In the spring I nestle them in fresh damp compost and bring them into warmth. Best results are when each one is potted up separately but if I have too many I use seed trays. Once sprouting I top up the compost to cover the corms and move into the cold frame. The corms get bigger every year. You can cut large corms but I have lost a few that way so prefer to leave them alone. Good luck.
Thanks for the detail on what you do Esspee, will try that and see what happens. I can't fail any more than in the past!! The ones I have this year are beautiful and have large flowers, so I would be delighted to keep them.
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I have never had much success with overwintering begonias, so have always bought new ones each year. I have not tried keeping them dry, so plan to do that this year and see what happens. Can be any worse that previous years!! Do I have to let the foliage die down like other bulbs, or can I cut it (foliage) offer when they go over?
I liift them, stack them on newspaper on top of gravel in the greenhouse to die back then after a few weeks remove all the foliage, wrap the corms in newspaper and pack them into a cardboard box which I keep dry in the greenhouse or garage. In the spring I nestle them in fresh damp compost and bring them into warmth. Best results are when each one is potted up separately but if I have too many I use seed trays. Once sprouting I top up the compost to cover the corms and move into the cold frame. The corms get bigger every year. You can cut large corms but I have lost a few that way so prefer to leave them alone. Good luck.
The foliage should snap off as they dry don't cut.
Thanks for the detail on what you do Esspee, will try that and see what happens. I can't fail any more than in the past!! The ones I have this year are beautiful and have large flowers, so I would be delighted to keep them.