HOW TO GROW TUBEROUS 
Tuberous Begonias grow from seed 
and from tubers. They may be pur- 
chased in either of these forms or 
they may be secured as plants pro- 
duced from seeds, tubers, or cut- 
tings. They are easy to grow, and 
with reasonable care will thrive in 
most climates. 
FROM TUBERS 
The size of the tuber does not in- 
dicate the size or quality of the 
flower; however, the large tuber 
starts easier and will form larger 
plants. The natural dormant period 
of the tuber is the winter season, 
and in the spring the tuber will 
form sprouts. 
SPROUTING 
It is very important that a sprout 
appear before the tuber is planted. 
You may move your tubers to a 
warm, dark place to get earlier 
sprouting. Placing tubers on dam 
soil or peat moss is not advisable as 
they will sprout without this damp- 
ness and with less danger of loss. 
Start 
Tubers in 
shallow pot. 
PLANTING 
The sprouted tubers 
should be placed in shal- 
low containers (nursery 
flats are ideal) of a mix- 
ture of leaf mold and sand, or of 
finely divided reed peat. They 
should be completely covered, leav- 
ing only the tips of the sprouts 
showing, as the roots develop from 
the top and sides of tubers. After 
planting in the flats, the tubers 
should be well watered and should 
not be watered again until they 
show dryness. It is important to 
keep the tuber in the flat until the 
roots are well developed. The plant 
may attain four or five inches of 
growth before they are moved. A 
good root system will insure a finer 
plant. 
POTTING 
For the soil mixture used in the 
pot, we use seven parts of rotted leaf 
mold mixed with one part of barn- 
yard manure and three parts of 
sandy loam. ‘These proportions may 
vary depending on the difference in 
soils. In planting the tuber or the 
seedling in a pot, a piece of crock- 
ery is placed over the opening to 
allow proper drainage. The pot is 
filled one-third with the potting 
mixture, then two tablespoons of 
Full Bloom are sprinkled over this. 
The fertilizer is then covered with 
potting mixture and the plant is 
placed so the roots are about one 
inch above the fertilizer. In choos- 
ing the pot, it is well to allow room 
for the growth of the plant. A large 
tuber requires an eight- or nine- 
inch pot. 
After potting, the plant is lightly 
watered and is not watered again 
until the soil shows dryness. Too 
much watering may cause the soil 
to sour and cause the loss of the 
tuber. 
As the plant develops, the water- 
ing will become more frequent. A 
repeated simple rule is to “water 
She 
When the plant has 
reached 4 to 5 inches of 
growth, its root system is 
strong enough to allow 
transplanting or potting. 
Pots may be placed or 
moved about in shaded 
locations or planted right 
into the ground. See pot- 
ting instructions above. 
ELLA y/ 
only when the soil shows dryness.” 
For a longer blooming season with 
better flowers, the feeding of fish 
emulsion should be used several 
times, at two-week intervals. 
The flowers will continue to 
bloom from June through October. 
As the plant starts to die in No- 
vember, the water should gradu- 
ally be taken away. When the plants 
are quite yellow and falling apart, 
the tuber should be dug, washed 
and put in the sun to dry. The stem 
should be removed, but not until it 
has dried sufficiently to pull out 
easily, as the tuber may be injured. 
When the tuber is thoroughly dry, 
it may be stored in a cool, dry place 
for the winter. In years of early 
rainfall, there is danger of losing 
your tubers by rotting. In this case, 
dig and place the plants in trays 
until they are sufficiently cured and 
a slight pull will remove the stem 
from the tuber. 
FROM SEEDS 
You may sow your seed from De- 
cember until March, but the best 
results are obtained from those 
planted in February. This should 
be, done in well-drained flats con- 
taining an inch and a half of well- 
decayed leaf mold. The seeds are 
watered with a light spray, covered 
with glass, and darkened with paper 
until germination. In a tempera- 
ture of 60 to 70 degrees germina- 
tion will take eight to ten days. As 
soon as the seed shows small white 
specks, the paper should be re- 
moved. Two or three days later 
small plants will show. The glass 
Pots may be placed in or 
moved about in shaded 
locations or planted right 
into the ground. See de- 
tailed potting instructions 
above. 
