I have a real love of begonias and grow several different types. I bought Begonia sizmoreae three years ago from Hampton Court Garden Festival (which I did not get to this year and I'm still regretting this, maybe next year.....) Anyhoo, this fuzzy begonia jumped into my hand as plants often do and home with me it came. All good.
Every year the begonia summers outside and winters indoors. As is often the way they do sometimes get a little too dry over the winter, but I don't want them to rot away. This year, as winter was coming to its end and I was starting to water more frequently and look for new growth, I saw nothing but lifeless looking stems. No worry, I thought, pop it outside and let nature look after it, it will be fine. I gave it a feed and hoped for the best.
Nothing happened. A few weeds starting growing in the pot, but otherwise it looked steadfastly lifeless.
Weeks passed. Nothing.
Months passed. Nothing.
Until on the 5th July .....
just as I was thinking I should just empty the pot and have done with it, there was this glimmer of life. I was amazed, I thought my patience was just stupidity in hoping there might still be life. But no, an actual leaf was waving hello.
Another month passes and look, that is real, healthy and a 'I'm going to live' leaf of a leaf. I am beyond happy. I am being careful with watering, trying to hit the balance of not letting it bake to death in the sun but also not drown with over-watering. I did allow it to get too dry over the winter so this year I shall be more careful. Promise. This is not a redemption story for the begonia, but me, the not that great house-plant parent.
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