Question From: Medford, Oregon, United States
Q: Purchased beautiful tuberous begonia at nursery, brought it home hung basket up and within a day flowers started turning black. Started at tips and then whole flower. I waited to see if they would not die before taking them off, but whole flower turned black and died. Someone said it was due to it going into shock from moving it from perfect conditions at nursery then home to my patio. It was hot the day I put it in the car and it remained there while I did errands and I wonder if it got too hot or I don't know what to think. Most of flowers look good now, but I see some turning black, nothing like before. I must have lost at least 2/3 of the flowers. This was a huge basket that was quite striking. I only got it this past June 6. Can you help me?
A: I think you may have cooked the poor plants. The interior of a car can heat up to over 100 degrees. Children and animals die when closed up in cars on a hot day. Begonias do not do well in very hot climes. Continue to remove all the dead or dying growth and see if the plant does not revive. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
