Hardy Begonia, Begonia grandis and Begonia grandis 'alba'
You have received fresh
bulbils from my Hardy Begonia plants. Hardy Begonias produce both seeds in the flower heads and bulbils found along the leaf axils. Seed is fine and dust like. I included some dried flower heads in the same pack with the pink Hardy Begonia bulbils so you could try both seed and bulbils. Did not send flower heads for the white flowered 'alba' Begonia grandis.
Bulbils:
Recommended:
As soon as possible, sow the bulbils in pots, on the surface of the moist soil, then stick the pots in a plastic bag in the fridge for 4-8 weeks. This will mimic what would naturally occur in the garden. After you take them out they should germinate at room temperature in one to two weeks. Make sure to keep the soil moist at all times.
Do the same for seeds by crushing dried flower heads and sprinkling over moist soil.
@Lalambchop1 re Winter Sowing
Yes, I think Winter Sowing would still work for Zone 7 and up, as bulbils when they naturally drop will sprout a little bit (note pointy end on some bulbils) and begin to pull themselves into the soil (protection)and grow some roots as winter cold sets in, much, to me, like acorns, and then send up top growth in the warmer end of spring. Zone 6 may already be too cold for them to settle in...I don't know...
Seeds should be fine for Winter Sowing as they don't really do anything until mid to late spring. The first year seedlings may be only small plants til following year... I like the bulbils because they are easier to pluck out as the bulbils stay attached! And the plants get bigger than the seed sown.
@Vma4922 looks like you and nature have already winter sown your bulbils! Around
mid May thru June look closely underneathe your plant for tiny little sprouts. You'll know them by their first tiny leaf just like the big ones with that shape and red veining. Some plants produce more bulbils than others and it fluctuates by years, too.
