# Rosecroft Begonia Cardens, Point Loma, California # 
When crowded, pot or plant out. 
Various instruments are recommended for pricking 
out, we have found nothing better than a small finger 
nail file or a gold nib. 
If seed is started early in the year it is helpful to take 
the chill off water used. 
HANDLING TUBERS 
These are available in the dry state from mid-Decem¬ 
ber till the end of February. They sprout early in South¬ 
ern California. 
Begonia tubers are more like a round saucer shaped 
potato than a bulb. The top is the depressed side. To 
start them, put to half their depth in leaf mold, sand or 
moss, we prefer the first, give them a good wetting and 
keep in shaded location in moderate temperature till they 
sprout; before they do, keep on dry side. 
When well growing, pot in the Begonia compost with 
crown barely covered, water thoroughly by setting pot 
in water till moisture shows on surface and then not 
again till well established. Start with as small a pot as 
size of tuber allows, shifting on as required. A large 
tuber will finally ask for an eight-inch size. Keep in 
strong light but not direct sunlight. When in full growth 
water freely. Most tuberous Begonias unfortunately re¬ 
quire staking, do this before it seems necessary. Pinch 
off the first blooms and keep off seedpods for best de¬ 
velopment. 
When plants show by yellowing foliage and ceasing 
to bloom that they are ready to mature, water only 
enough to avoid actual dryness. Store pots away on their 
side under a bench or shrubbery or if removed from soil 
put tubers in leaf mold in flats. They should never be 
actually dry, nor wet, nor in danger of frost. 
A good fertilizer is Floranid, one teaspoonful to a 
gallon of water applied every two weeks. Ordinary wash¬ 
ing Ammonia a teaspoonful to a gallon of water is also 
useful. No fertilizer more often than once in four water¬ 
ings and never on a dry plant, nor on one not in growing 
state. 
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