Val Sayers has been a member of the Begonia Society for nine years and is a Past President. She decided begonias were going to be for her retirement, as begonias can become addictive!
Val commented on our club’s bank balance, the begonia society is in a similar position. The club meets every second month, with the next meeting being the third Saturday in April.
Val was born in Canterbury and went to Ballarat. The Begonia Society began in the late 1990’s. The Begonia Show in Ballarat is not associated with the Society.
Tuberous begonias – the big ones – come from Ballarat and there are eight different cultivars. Tuberous begonias are shrub-like with thick stems and tall canes. Rhizomes creep along the ground and are grown for their beautiful leaves but can be temperamental, so grow in terrariums. There are eight different members of the begonia family and some are perfumed.
The corms – like gladioli – send out shoots, then come April/May the leaves die off.
Re-pot inside and put in a dark spot. In September, give a little water once a week, red pips come up, re-pot and continue to water weekly.
Bedding begonias make a wonderful display and will tolerate heat.
Feed them with Seamungus, or Seasol if in pots. In August/September, prune the canes. Grubs love begonias!
Val finished her talk passing around many colourful photos of her beautiful begonias.
