A Trip to Logee's Greenhouses

    If you live anywhere in the New England region and have an interest in growing tropical plants, then you know all about Logee's Greenhouses.  Established in the late 1800's, this tropical wonderland is located in the unassuming town of Danielson, CT.

    Upon entering the plain building you will be swept away in the magic that surrounds this place.  As you walk to the back of the small retail area you will get your first glimpse into the greenhouses.  When you descend the stairs into the "Long House" you will be hit with sweet smells, the sound of a trickling fountain, and your eyes will not be able to rest as you try to take it all in.

Your first glance into the greenhouse will bring a smile to your face.

    The isles are narrow and the plants will reach out to 'grab' you, but that is all part of the charm of wandering through the 100+ year old greenhouses.  Begonias to the right and mixed tropicals to the left.....where to start?

Pachystachys lutea look like lollipops!

Passiflora Coccinea is just plain stunning!

Thunbergia grandiflora is a fast growing vine that loves to flower!

 
    As you wind your way through the various greenhouses you'll find many delights including an ancient lemon tree nicknamed the "American Wonder Lemon" (Citrus limon 'Ponderosa') that bears 5LB lemons.  You'll also see flowers in colors you didn't think were posible in the natural world like the flowers of the "Jade Vine" (Strongyloden macrobotrys).

 The amazing "Jade Vine" with its seemingly unreal color grows in the "Fern House".

    You are guaranteed to be surprised by the many large specimens that thrive under glass cover in zone 5 Connecticut and will be inspired to try your hand at growing them on your windowsills or in your greenhouse.

A bench of lusty Passion Flowers for sale is surrounded by many mature specimens.

Scutellaria constaricana is a flaming red ever-bloomer sure to steal your heart!

    I always save the "Big House" for last.  It is indeed the biggest greenhouse open to the public and is markedly cooler than the others.  Huge trees and shrubs tower into the highest part of the glass.  It is truly like entering another world.

Clivia miniata loves the cool environment of the "Big House"

     
    When you finally are able to peel yourself out of the greenhouses (you will undoubtedly not want to leave) your arms will be heavy with all of your new 'babies'.  Truly a memorable experience awaits you in Northeast Connecticut!

Medinilla magnifica produces spectacular umbels of pink flowers.

 
    For more information on Logee's Greenhouses, visit their website: http://www.logees.com/ 

Introduction to the World of Begonias

An Easy and Beautiful Plant: Begonias

    If someone were to ask me what my favorite plant is, I would say: "Begonias!"  I enjoy telling people about these distinctive plants.  Their flowers and leaves come in seemingly limitless shapes, colors, and sizes.  Anyone can grow these beauties and a greenhouse is not required.  In this blog installment, I will go over some basic needs for these incredible plants.  This will hopefully demystify Begonias a little for the new person and instill in them the confidence that they too can grow Begonias!

 B. 'Othello' Rhizomatous group

    There are several groups of Begonias each with many species, cultivars, and distinct characteristics.  The two most commonly seen groups are Tuberous and Semperflorens ("wax" Begonias).  Tuberous Begonias seem to make their way into many gardens and hanging baskets during the summer months.  They are well know for their large frilly flowers that come in array of bright colors.  Semperflorens Begonias are often used in container gardens and as bedding plants.  They have waxy bronze or green leaves with pink, red, or white flowers that bloom non-stop.  Another group that is becoming quite popular is the Rex group.  Their gorgeous foliage comes in an array of colors and patterns.  I've even heard of interior decorators incorporating these plants into their designs.  Other groups include Rhizomatous (my favorite), Trailing/Scandent, Cane-like, Semi-tuberous, Thick-stemmed, and Shrub-like.  It is worth experimenting with Begonias from all of the groups.  In doing this you will find which ones will flourish in your environment and which ones you'll just be drawn to.

 B. masoniana 'Iron Cross' Rhizomatous group

    Light requirements vary within the different groups.  As a general rule, most Begonias like early morning and late afternoon sun, dappled sunlight, or bright indirect light.  Avoid harsh mid-day sun as it can cause leaf burn and could over-heat the plant.  In the winter, I keep my begonias in an east facing window or set back a bit from a south facing window.  During the summer months, I set my collection out on a table beneath the shade of an old apple tree.  It is also possible to grow your plants under artificial grow lights.

    Most Begonias prefer a temperature range of 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most will survive a temperature drop to just above freezing, but plants will start to fail if the temps stay below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for a week or more.  Some Begonias will go semi-dormant or dormant if the temperature stays in the 50's or lower 60's, especially in combination with the shortened days of the fall/winter.  When in this state their growth drastically slows or comes to a halt.  In some cases the plant will have partial or total leaf loss.  If this happens to you, don't panic!  Your plant will revive in the spring!  When in dormancy, reduce your watering and stop fertilizing.

 B. 'Snow Capped' Cane-like group

    In general, Begonias only need to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch.  Begonias are sensitive to over-watering and will rot easily.  They prefer to be grown in clay pots because these pots are porous and allow the plants to dry out between waterings.  You can use one of the many water-soluble fertilizers that are available for houseplants.  Follow the instructions on the product carefully as over-fertilization  of a Begonia can kill it.  I personally prefer organic fertilizer to a chemical one and use liquid fish emulsion with a 2-4-1 formula.  I find this organic fertilizer to work the best for my plants with amazing results (the proof is in the pictures!).  I will warn you that it does stink, so for those of you with a sensitive nose it is best used when your plants are outside for the summer!  Fertilizer should be used sparingly during the shorter days of fall and winter.

    There are many mixed soils for houseplants on the market.  Look for one that is not going to get compacted or heavy when watered.  Look for a peat based soil that includes perlite and vermiculite.  Avoid soils that have a lot of twigs and/or wood chips in their mix.  A good potting mixture is light and airy.  I use Moo Mix for my Begonias, which includes compost in its make up.

A member of the Rex group

   
    The average Begonia requires 40-50% humidity.  This isn't hard in a greenhouse or outside in the summer, but winter conditions in the house will need some adjusting.  Great ways to increase humidity in your home are to place the plants on trays filled with pebbles that are kept moist, mist the air around to plants making sure not to saturate the leaves, and/or group your plants together.  There are some Begonias that require so much humidity that they must be grown in terrariums and would be sold for that purpose.  These plant do well in clear glass or plastic.  In the past I've used and old fish bowl with plastic wrap on the top with fantastic results.  Having a terrarium is actually quite fun and it's like having a mini-greenhouse for your windowsill! 

  

    The new person will have no trouble finding a source to purchase Begonias.  There are some great resources through the American Begonia Society http://www.begonias.org/ (also a great place to find more information) .  I've also found quite a variety in online nurseries and auctions.  With the rise in Begonia popularity, they are popping up everywhere from your local garden center to big box stores.

B. 'Ebony' Shrub-like group

    With all the variety Begonias have to offer, it will be easy to find as least one you'll like.  Once you've fallen in love with them, you may find yourself with a whole 'collection'.  My conclusion is that they should put a Surgeons General Warning on them ---- WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!!!  Crazed "Begoniacs" have been known to build shelves to fit them in their windows (I'm totally guilty of that), create a grow light room, or the worst----buy a greenhouse and expand the collection!

    

    All kidding aside, Begonias are a very rewarding plant to grow and are relatively easy to care for.  I hope you'll enjoy them too and appreciate how beautiful a plant Mother Nature can make!

 B. 'Looking Glass' Cane-like group

Begonias of Another Age

    In honor of  #linnaeusday I decided to write in my blog for the first time!  #linnaeusday is about sharing plant history, so I decided to dust off this article that I originally wrote for and was published in The Begonian, a bi-monthly publication of the American Begonia Society.  Enjoy!

 

Heirloom Begonias

    There are certain Begonias that evoke memories of an age gone by.  Their presence connects us with another time when tropical plants were a novelty.  The Victorian era was filled with a sort of plant madness.  Nurserymen sent scouts around the world to gather exotics.  The newfound plants were quickly introduced to the marketplace where they fulfilled the public's insatiable hunger for tropicals.  Hundreds of specialty nurseries popped up all over the U.S. selling the latest and greatest in houseplants.  What a time it must have been when you think of how few of those original nurseries are still left.  Begonias were among the most popular plants and among the most hybridized.

    Victorian homes typically did not have much light and were on the cool side.  Only the wealthy could afford a greenhouse. When the Wardian case was invented people could have a mini-greenhouse in their home.  Many a Begonia found its way into these fancy terrariums.  Those that did not get encased in glass spent their time on windowsills and in gardens. 

    Cane-like Begonias had a proud stature in the Victorian parlor and garden.  They were prized for their cascading often spotted "angel wing" foliage and large umbels of flowers.  One of the first and still one of the best was B. maculata, discovered in the early 1800's.  Other popular cane-like Begonias included B. lucerna (1894), B. coccinea (1843), and B. corallina.

 A group of Cane-like Begonias

    Shrub-like Begonias were used in bedding as well as in the parlor with the first species of this group being found in 1688!  I found much mention of the shrub-like group in my small collection of antique books on plants. B. 'Thurstonii' (1887) with its "elephant ear" leaves and pretty pink flowers was admired greatly.  B. echinosepala (1871) was loved for its heavenly scented white flowers and elongated leaves.  B. scharffiana (1888), B. fuchsioides (1847), B. nitida (1789), and B. 'Kewensis' (1894) were also among the many grown in this group.

 B. echinosepala (1871)

    Rhizomatous were dependable and were loved for their exotic foliage and sprays of pink and white flowers.  B. 'Erythrophylla' ("beefsteak" or "pond lily" begonia) was introduced in 1845.  More than likely your grandmother grew this indestructible, smoothed leaved, pink flowered plant.  Other favorites of the time were B. 'Ricinifolia' (1847), B. hydrocotylifolia (1842), and B. heracleifolia (1830).

 An example of a rhizomitous Begonia

    B. rex was discovered in 1856 and became widely available in 1858.  Endless amounts of hybrids ensued.  They were loved, much like today, for their seemingly limitless color combinations.  B. 'Comtesse Louise Erdody' (1883), B. 'Fireflush', and B.'Silver Queen' (1875) are just a fraction of all the different varieties grown at the time.

 An example of a rex Begonia

    B. semperflorens (1821) and its many hybrids were delighted in for their floriferousness.  Begonias in the Semp group were used as summer bedding plants and in the winter kept the windowsill bright.

    Tuberous and semi-tuberous Begonias were grown in summer and then stored away with the Gladiolus and Dahlias.  I found mention of B. dregei (1836) in two old books from my collection.  It was apparently admired for its abundance of white flowers.  Also mentioned were B. 'Weltonensis' (1864), B. froebelii (1874), and B boliviensis (1859).  The early 1900's saw a surge in many cultivars of the tuberhybrida class, which were adored for their large colorful flowers, as they still are today.

    In a book, dated 1900, called Plant Culture by George W. Oliver, I found and excerpt that suggests Victorians would force cane and shrub-like Begonias into dormancy after time as a bedding plant.  He describes: "Old plants will hibernate in boxes under the bench of a moderately warm house."  Interesting piece of advice.  I myself have had success with Begonias placed in my basement to force them into dormancy.  In the same book he describes B 'Gloire de Sceaux' as "a trifle miffy" and sings the praises of B. 'Gloire de Lorraine'.  What I also found interesting was the mention and high recommendation of B. grandis, then also called B. evansiana.  It is described as being great for borders and applauded for being cold hardy.  And hardy it is, surviving as far north as zone 6!

    The general hardiness and boundless beauty of these plants sparked the fancy of our predecessors.  Now, generations later Begonias are still a shining beacon in our homes, gardens, and greenhouses.

Begonias are always a pleasure to have around the house!