Begonia Bonfire

Spotted this plant at the garden centre today, priced at £6.99.
I decided to buy it as it looks a good strong plant and i have been impressed by some of the Bonfire plants at some of the shows i have been to. When i got to the checkout the lad at the checkout counter asked me if i would like to add my post code to a coupon and get £5 off - this i did and had the plant for £1.99, Real bargain - Brilliant!

nice one

Wow,

I'll come shopping with you any day if you can pick up bargains like that!

It's very rare i do find a bargain like this to be honest, i couldn't believe my luck, especialy with a plant i had my eye open for anyway.

I've just brought mine indoors as the nights are getting very cool...I'm worried that it will not survive inside...I'd hate to think this will be an annual but I've never had any luck overwintering begonias. I found mine at WalMart for $6.97... and it had almost no blossom! I brought it home and hung it in a tree where it got both sun and shade and it turned into a bonfire..but late in August I've seen it start to put out seed pods...they are full of dust fine red seed...I'm trying to catch as much as I can so I can at least grow it again next spring...Am I fighting a losing battle trying to keep it over the winter?

I've not grown "Bonfire" before, although i have a plant now, i assume it's a tuberous Begonia. I shall treat mine the same as my Double Tuberous Begonias - Treating them with Povado vine weevil control, bringing them all inside my heated greenhouse, reducing watering and letting the foilage drop off as it's ready. As the foilage goes down i shall take them out of the pots to let the compost dry out, eventualy brushing it off the tuber. Keeping the temperature above freezing, and starting off again next year, hopefully. This is what i do in the UK anyway. I have heard other growers saying the seed is like dust, but i've not grown from seed, i always take cuttings.

Thanks Mark!... very helpful. I don't have a greenhouse...but I'll keep it near a bright window...and slowly stop watering...could I use the seed immediately or should I wait until Feb or March to start them?

I've not grown seed, but i would think it best to wait until Feb or March.

I've just thought, i did grow some seed this year, but of a different variety of Begonia. I grew that in the propagator at the start of the season, Didn't have much success really, but i have got a couple of plants from the seed. They were Begonia Luxurian (the palm Begonia) Hadn't seen it before.

That sounds interesting, do you have a pic posted?

No, i shall have to take a picture.

Lori - I have posted a picture now, if you wanted to see the Luxurian (Palm Begonia).