When large enough, seedlings may be picked up by a toothpick and potted into 2” pots 
of peat. Continue to water by setting pots in a pan of tepid water. 
If Tub. Begonias are potted at once when received they must be watered very little 
until they start to grow. The better practice is to start them by laying the tubers on top 
of slightly moist sphagnum. They may be covered just slightly, with the concave side 
containing the “eyes” only partly hidden. Keep them only slightly moist at a temperature 
of 60° to 65°, shaded. 
When the top is an inch or more in height it may be removed with a bit of the 
compost into its pot or basket. The practice of merely storing the tubers and potting them 
when they start to grow is good. The heated, dry air of a living room is a poor place to 
store the tubers, to start them or to grow plants. 
The soil for Tub. Begonias may be 34 humus and 14 sand or very sandy loam. For 
the humus use % peat or leaf mould and 4 well rotted, old dairy manure. All should 
be well mixed and fine in texture. Soil should be acid, pH 6.5. If not sufficiently acid, 
add more peat. The addition of small pieces of charcoal or a tablespoonful of soot is 
useful. The “Houdyshel method” for potting and growing, as described under Caladiums, 
is good. 
Varied diet for all plants is best. Alternate Spoonit, liquid manure and soot water, 
handful to 24% gal. water, is a good regime. Begonias are good feeders. Feed little and 
often. Spray plants well, daily. They need only half shade, a cool moist situation. Avoid 
full sun or full shade. It is best to shift to outdoors when warm. The tubers usually live 
over winter in So. Calif., but it is better to dig, dry and store here, and necessary in 
colder climates. Tuberous Begonias do not do well in the tropics, they are semi-tropical. 
The best Tuberous Begonias are grown by two famous Capitola, Calif., wholesale 
nurseries. Flowers of their origination were illustrated in color on five full pages of Life 
Magazine on Sept. 18, 1950. Note the gorgeous illustrations of Red Triumph, Sunset, 
and Picotee. The tubers we sell are the product of these nurseries. Imported bulbs pro- 
duce very poor flowers, smaller and only semi double. We sell the best size 14”-1%” 
diam. for 5” pots. The size of the flowers does not depend on size of tubers but this size 
makes smaller plants than the 2” tubers. Our named varieties, Red Triumph, etc., are 
large tubers and if not to be shifted to outdoors will need 7” pots. It is easy to shift to 
larger pots if they grow too large. The Lloydi type should be planted 3 to an 8” wire 
basket. 
Prices Reduced 
We have grown imported Belgian and Holland Tuberous Begonias to test their qual- 
ity and to compare with the California grown. I have never seen an imported tuber 
produce a good flower. The California grown varieties have been improved to a degree 
very little short of perfection. But since retail dealers can buy imported tubers for much 
less, many are sold. This year California growers have a bigger and better crop than 
ever before and we are able to reduce our prices 20% to nearly 30% on most varieties. 
This should encourage you to plant the California tubers. 
Please note. Many customers order 12 different kinds of bulbs, separately labelled, 
at the doz. rate. This is not as we price them. If separately labelled you must pay the 
single rate. Six of one kind only may be bought at the dozen rate, or 6 assorted of one 
type. 
> Giant Double Camellia Flowered. Offered in 11 colors, White, Pink, Rose, Crimson 
Rose, American Beauty, Yellow, Apricot, Salmon, Orange, Scarlet, Red. Price 25c ea. 
Six, one kind only or assorted, $1.25. The 11 var., in one bag for $2.30. 
Giant Double Carnation Flowered. This type is similar but has fringed petals. The 
flowers are like huge carnations. 9 colors, white, pink, rose, Crimson rose, yellow, 
apricot, salmon, orange, scarlet. 25c ea. 6 of one kind or assorted for $1.25. All 9 colors 
in one bag, $1.90. 
Giant Double Picotee. Also similar to Camellia Flowered but petals are edged white. 
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