Hey Rachel! I know this is an older one, but should I cover or store my bergenia over winter her in Colorado with the snow and freezing winter weather? I recently purchased two "miss Piggy" at my local Lowe's and do ot want to lose them completely. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Hello Trish and thank you for your question. The video is old but I do try to reply to all questions, even on the old videos. Goodness, aren't the acoustics a bit embarrassing on this one! So glad I bought my mic 😝 The very reliable RHS information is that Bergenia cordifolia (which is the species for the cultivar 'Miss Piggy') is hardy to -20°C. That is -4°F. According to US sources, Bergenia cordifolia is hardy from zone 3, which quite a bit colder that -4°F (sources : Gardenia.net, thespruce.com and more). I see that Colorado has hardiness zones ranging from 3-7 so the bergenia should be okay. Personally, if I ever buy a plant that is borderline hardy for me, I plant it out in spring, giving it the summer to acclimatise. If I buy the plant in summer or autumn I overwinter it indoors and plant it out the following spring, just to be safe. I hope this helps.
Thank You! I have a low growing Large leaf Bergenia. It's in partial sun and is doing well. I now plan to divide it in the Fall to replant in 2 other places and give to 3 friends. ❤
When we bought our current house , I discovered it had Bergenia, we call it PigSqueak here, because when you rub the leaf with your thumb and forefinger it sounds like a pig squeaking ! I absolutely love this plant so much I am naming my new house Pigsqueak !!!
A neighbour just gifted me a few, and I knew nothing about them, this video is really helpful! Thank you! I happen to have a patch of rocky soil which I thi k will be a good spot for a few plants
This is a new plant to me. I just realized that what I had labeled “another kind of primrose” on my video Akureyri Botanical Garden is actually a Bergenia. Thanks!
New subscriber. First, thanks so much for including the U.S. hardiness zone info. Drives me nuts when garden videos leave this out (not so much when you're not in the U.S.). Also, thanks for referring to the plant by its botanical name and not (exclusively) by its common name "elephant ears" since there's another plant in the U.S. we commonly call elephant ears: Colocasia, here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colocasia. Thanks for the video. Hey, have you considered getting a lav (lavolier) microphone? That might cut down on some of the wind interference in your audio but a windy day is always a bad day for recording. I keep encouraging all the gardening channels in my youtube feed to get a lav mic and a camera gimbal to steady the camera. Otherwise, love the content itself. You have a beautiful yard. Keep posting!
Good morning, Jake, and Thano you for tout support. I agree completely about common names and prefer always to use the botanical ones. Everyone does not agree. Glad you appreciated my looking up th UU hardiness zone for begonia 😊 I am aware of the wind issue outdoors and have ordered some stick-on filters from Ebay. We'll see how that goes when they arrive and then I will reassess. Happy growing!
I like the idea of the mini series, thanks for doing this video! Looking forward to see other perennials. Your bergenia looks very healthy and pretty blooms. Can you do one for Rhododendrons and camellias please? Thanks for sharing.
Yeah I agree, just do lots of 3 or four minute vids about certain plants or general gardening tips 🙂 You'll have you're work cut out to do it! But you can😊👍
Thank you for this helpful video. Could you tell me whether I should cut the stem with the flowers on down to leaf level when the flowers have finished?
Wendy. Thanks for asking that. I was about to try finding out for myself. Now I have. I've only cut the dead tops off though. So now I can cut the stems off at the bottom.
Good morning. I always find the same - whenever I learn of a new plant, I then see/hear about it everywhere. Bergenia is great Yes, propagation is by division.
The leaf stalks lie flat and spread almost endlessly, it seems. To define its spread, can I prune back the length of leaf stalks to encourage a more compact clump?
Personally I would wait until autumn as you will need to do a lot of watering if you move your bergenia in summer. But if you are prepared for that, go ahead!
Bergenia is very drought tolerant so shouldn't need extra watering. I never water perennials in my garden once they are established. I choose plants that will not need this kind of pampering. I hope this answers your question.
I bot bergenia and I planted it in the big pot in total shade on the deck. One leaf turn red but also has brown spots .Is it a fungus ? Should I cut the leaf ?
Here is the playlist, Mark. Only 13 episodes have been published to date. Thanks for your interest... th-cam.com/play/PLy-0py425Nu1_-mv94DLyLd47OW_k0SGm.html
If a site receives less than two hours of direct sun per day, it's considered to be in heavy shade and it is very challenging to grow anything there. My best suggestion is dead nettle, Lamium maculatum. The cream splotches on its leaves really brighten up dark corners and it spreads. It does need some moisture though and, like anything, you'll need to water well until it's established. Hope this helps.
@@GardeningatDouentza Thank you so much, it's a very damp area, and I think, (I'm fairly sure), I know the plant you mean. I'll give it a go. 😊 I've got wild garlic growing there, and a couple of hellebores are surviving so thanks again👍😊
Hi Rachel, is it ok to cut out damaged leaves in May? I have a few in my garden which have been left to their own devices for a few years and are now looking tatty. Thanks
Hi I’ve just found your channel I love gardening not great at the best placement of my plants . My Bergenia Overture has really over grown how would I split this plant and replace some to another ares . Do I need rooting powder when I split . That you x
Hi there and welcome to the channel. Rooting powder is not generally used on outdoor plants. It is more for indoor or propagation. Bergenia are tough. They shouldn't need that.
I had my Bergenia in full sun and the leaves just shriveled up and turned brown I am from eastern Kentucky U.S.A so I am not sure if our hot humid summers are to much for it? I moved them to a more shady spot in the garden and they seem to be growing strongly now. I just don’t know if they will have enough sun to bloom? 🤞🏼
I am very sorry to hear that. Well, what can I say! Established plants will do better than newly planted ones so perhaps your bergenia hadn't yet acclimatised? All newly planted perennials will need watering in their first year. Or perhaps you had a particularly hot summer? While the books may outline hardiness zones there really is no substitute for observing how a plant does for one's neighbours before purchasing.
My sympathy. Here in South Carolina I have a real challenge growing alpines as well. Most places in my yard they’re unhappy. I think there’s something to morning sun vs. afternoon sun. All the best!
Yes I totally agree with the morning sun vs afternoon but gardening is always trial and error and we learn so much every day! Thanks for the input!! Hope everyone has a amazing day 😀
Great idea of domestication. but you have not shared about the whole method of its domestication...... If you will share whole steps of its domestication I think that will be very helpful.
I live in MISSOURI, USA I planted mine last year in an area that gets sun until about 12:30in the afternoon. It didn't bloom & really hasn't grown hardly at all. What would you recommend that I do with it? Thanks for your help
Brilliant idea for a mini series. I just planted a bergenia at the base of a tree where no grass grows. It seems quite happy and has sprouted new leaves. Will it spread like yours? I can't afford to buy more to fill the space.
I also have begonia under deciduous trees. They do well there because the soil is well drained and the light sufficient. Over time bergenia clumps up rather than spreads. When a clump is big enough you can divide it and spread it around. The planting I am sitting by in the video was originally planted as several plants as I wanted a whole area of them there. Hope this helps and enjoy your bergenia!
Hey Rachel! I know this is an older one, but should I cover or store my bergenia over winter her in Colorado with the snow and freezing winter weather? I recently purchased two "miss Piggy" at my local Lowe's and do ot want to lose them completely. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Hello Trish and thank you for your question. The video is old but I do try to reply to all questions, even on the old videos. Goodness, aren't the acoustics a bit embarrassing on this one! So glad I bought my mic 😝
The very reliable RHS information is that Bergenia cordifolia (which is the species for the cultivar 'Miss Piggy') is hardy to -20°C. That is -4°F.
According to US sources, Bergenia cordifolia is hardy from zone 3, which quite a bit colder that -4°F (sources : Gardenia.net, thespruce.com and more). I see that Colorado has hardiness zones ranging from 3-7 so the bergenia should be okay.
Personally, if I ever buy a plant that is borderline hardy for me, I plant it out in spring, giving it the summer to acclimatise. If I buy the plant in summer or autumn I overwinter it indoors and plant it out the following spring, just to be safe. I hope this helps.
What a great idea for a mini series!
I am glad you like it. Always trying to think of something a little different.
Great idea for a series. I’ll be following along. Bergenia is also drought tolerant.
Ah good. Thanos for watching.
What a lovely plant, thanks for this series, look forward to seeing them all.
Thank you for watching
Those are really pretty plants! Love the pink flowers as a bonus. 😄🌺
You and me both 😊
Bergenias are lovely, I have a fewvthat have been moved several times to accommodate my constant designs and they keep doing great.
They are such hard working plants and that's why I love them too 😊
Thank You! I have a low growing Large leaf Bergenia. It's in partial sun and is doing well. I now plan to divide it in the Fall to replant in 2 other places and give to 3 friends. ❤
Sounds like a great plan for a great plant. Happy growing.
Thank you for providing the US hardiness zones. When you said they had evergreen leaves, that was my first thought!
You are very welcome
Love Bergenia plant
Thanks for all the videos
My pleasure!
Many thanks for the video. Look forward to watching more x
Plenty more to come! Thanks for watching
When we bought our current house , I discovered it had Bergenia, we call it PigSqueak here, because when you rub the leaf with your thumb and forefinger it sounds like a pig squeaking ! I absolutely love this plant so much I am naming my new house Pigsqueak !!!
It sounds like you have found a plant for life.
Great video Aunty Rachel I have a new perennial for my new garden!
You're welcome, Chris. Happy growing!
A neighbour just gifted me a few, and I knew nothing about them, this video is really helpful! Thank you! I happen to have a patch of rocky soil which I thi k will be a good spot for a few plants
A really easy no-nonsense plant. I bet they do brilliantly for you!
I just discovered this plant and am excited to see how it does. I am in Australia and have a South facing balcony that is primarily part shade.
Happy growing
I stumbled across this looking for information on the aroid family Elephant Ear which adds to the gardening confusion.
Yeah, common names are annoying that way.
Excellent thanks
You are welcome
So useful!
Good. Happy growing!
This is a new plant to me. I just realized that what I had labeled “another kind of primrose” on my video Akureyri Botanical Garden is actually a Bergenia. Thanks!
😂
New subscriber. First, thanks so much for including the U.S. hardiness zone info. Drives me nuts when garden videos leave this out (not so much when you're not in the U.S.). Also, thanks for referring to the plant by its botanical name and not (exclusively) by its common name "elephant ears" since there's another plant in the U.S. we commonly call elephant ears: Colocasia, here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colocasia.
Thanks for the video. Hey, have you considered getting a lav (lavolier) microphone? That might cut down on some of the wind interference in your audio but a windy day is always a bad day for recording. I keep encouraging all the gardening channels in my youtube feed to get a lav mic and a camera gimbal to steady the camera. Otherwise, love the content itself. You have a beautiful yard. Keep posting!
Good morning, Jake, and Thano you for tout support. I agree completely about common names and prefer always to use the botanical ones. Everyone does not agree. Glad you appreciated my looking up th UU hardiness zone for begonia 😊
I am aware of the wind issue outdoors and have ordered some stick-on filters from Ebay. We'll see how that goes when they arrive and then I will reassess. Happy growing!
I'm in zone 3 and the Begenia do very well here! All the nurseries sell them.
That's great news. It is one tough little plant! Love it!
I like the idea of the mini series, thanks for doing this video! Looking forward to see other perennials. Your bergenia looks very healthy and pretty blooms. Can you do one for Rhododendrons and camellias please? Thanks for sharing.
Well, I might just do that. Thanks for the suggestion, Mary.
Yeah
I agree, just do lots of 3 or four minute vids about certain plants or general gardening tips 🙂
You'll have you're work cut out to do it!
But you can😊👍
Great video, when do you cut the stalks and do they grow back again?
This is an evergreen plant. It shouldn't be cut to the ground. Any unsightly leaves can be removed at any time of year
Thank you for this helpful video. Could you tell me whether I should cut the stem with the flowers on down to leaf level when the flowers have finished?
Yes you can! It makes the plant much tidier looking.
Wendy. Thanks for asking that. I was about to try finding out for myself. Now I have. I've only cut the dead tops off though. So now I can cut the stems off at the bottom.
Good idea, thanks
Thanks for watching
When the flowers have gone over is it ok to cut the flower stalk down to the base?
Absolutely !
Thanks for the video as I just heard about this plant in a gardening magazine. Very helpful. How does it propagate? Division of clumps?
Good morning. I always find the same - whenever I learn of a new plant, I then see/hear about it everywhere. Bergenia is great Yes, propagation is by division.
The leaf stalks lie flat and spread almost endlessly, it seems. To define its spread, can I prune back the length of leaf stalks to encourage a more compact clump?
You can try but mostly it depends on what is in the nature of the plant.
When the Bergenis is done flowering do you cut off the flower stem?
Yes, cut the stem at the base when the flower goes brown.
I want to move mine, can I do this in the summer?
Jackie x
Personally I would wait until autumn as you will need to do a lot of watering if you move your bergenia in summer. But if you are prepared for that, go ahead!
Do you find that deer tend to avoid them? I’d like an alternative to hostas’ big leaves.
I don't have deer so I don't know. Sorry.
Do they need extra watering ? or can manage themselves with rain.
Bergenia is very drought tolerant so shouldn't need extra watering.
I never water perennials in my garden once they are established. I choose plants that will not need this kind of pampering. I hope this answers your question.
@@GardeningatDouentza Thank you for your reply Rachel. They look like hostas with flowers :)
@@serkanonf You're welcome. The leaves are more leathery than hostas and just plain green but still nice 😊
I bot bergenia and I planted it in the big pot in total shade on the deck. One leaf turn red but also has brown spots .Is it a fungus ? Should I cut the leaf ?
It happens as the leaves age. Cut off the leaf!
where do I find the full series of 30 perennials , Mindfully Mark
Here is the playlist, Mark. Only 13 episodes have been published to date. Thanks for your interest...
th-cam.com/play/PLy-0py425Nu1_-mv94DLyLd47OW_k0SGm.html
Could you recommend anything for very deep shade?
If a site receives less than two hours of direct sun per day, it's considered to be in heavy shade and it is very challenging to grow anything there. My best suggestion is dead nettle, Lamium maculatum. The cream splotches on its leaves really brighten up dark corners and it spreads. It does need some moisture though and, like anything, you'll need to water well until it's established. Hope this helps.
@@GardeningatDouentza Thank you so much, it's a very damp area, and I think, (I'm fairly sure), I know the plant you mean.
I'll give it a go. 😊
I've got wild garlic growing there, and a couple of hellebores are surviving so thanks again👍😊
“Flowers.”
Hi Rachel, is it ok to cut out damaged leaves in May? I have a few in my garden which have been left to their own devices for a few years and are now looking tatty. Thanks
Yes, perfectly okay. This is a robust plant. I continue to remove damaged leaves as the season progresses. Happy growing!
How much water do they like? Same as hosta? Or sedum?
Well, I would never water Bergenia in the garden. It tolerates dry conditions quite well so it's watering needs may be similar to sedum.
@@GardeningatDouentza thank you
What do I do when the flowers are dried out and finished for spring?
Cut the flower spike at the base, where it joins with the rhizome!
Hi I’ve just found your channel I love gardening not great at the best placement of my plants . My Bergenia Overture has really over grown how would I split this plant and replace some to another ares . Do I need rooting powder when I split . That you x
Hi there and welcome to the channel. Rooting powder is not generally used on outdoor plants. It is more for indoor or propagation. Bergenia are tough. They shouldn't need that.
Gardening at Douentza thank you for getting back to me . Do I just plant the tubers straight into the garden ??
I just bought 3 from the nursery- that's all they had! Could I split them now, or do I need to wait a few years until they clump?
Bergenia is best divided in spring. Maybe wait until then.
Does it scentless flower..??
There is no scent
@@GardeningatDouentza thanks a lot Mam..and have a great time ahead 🙏🌿🙏
I had my Bergenia in full sun and the leaves just shriveled up and turned brown I am from eastern Kentucky U.S.A so I am not sure if our hot humid summers are to much for it? I moved them to a more shady spot in the garden and they seem to be growing strongly now. I just don’t know if they will have enough sun to bloom? 🤞🏼
I am very sorry to hear that. Well, what can I say! Established plants will do better than newly planted ones so perhaps your bergenia hadn't yet acclimatised? All newly planted perennials will need watering in their first year. Or perhaps you had a particularly hot summer? While the books may outline hardiness zones there really is no substitute for observing how a plant does for one's neighbours before purchasing.
My sympathy. Here in South Carolina I have a real challenge growing alpines as well. Most places in my yard they’re unhappy. I think there’s something to morning sun vs. afternoon sun. All the best!
Yes I totally agree with the morning sun vs afternoon but gardening is always trial and error and we learn so much every day! Thanks for the input!! Hope everyone has a amazing day 😀
You also! That’s what keeps gardening interesting.🌼
Great idea of domestication. but you have not shared about the whole method of its domestication...... If you will share whole steps of its domestication I think that will be very helpful.
What do you think is left out of this video?
I live in MISSOURI, USA I planted mine last year in an area that gets sun until about 12:30in the afternoon. It didn't bloom & really hasn't grown hardly at all. What would you recommend that I do with it? Thanks for your help
Well, if the plant is having all its needs met and still doesn't bloom, try moving it somewhere else.
how's your bergenia doing now? I am in Missouri too with a site that gets the same amount of sun, was wanting to plant some.
I moved it, but it’s still hasn’t responded. I think perhaps I will try a different variety. Good luck
Brilliant idea for a mini series. I just planted a bergenia at the base of a tree where no grass grows. It seems quite happy and has sprouted new leaves. Will it spread like yours? I can't afford to buy more to fill the space.
I also have begonia under deciduous trees. They do well there because the soil is well drained and the light sufficient. Over time bergenia clumps up rather than spreads. When a clump is big enough you can divide it and spread it around. The planting I am sitting by in the video was originally planted as several plants as I wanted a whole area of them there. Hope this helps and enjoy your bergenia!
Does it make babies? I have some and they don't seem to ? Maybe I don't notice...
Bergenia doesn't seem to seed about here either but clumps do grow and expand over time.
Does it smell..?
No scent!
Rachel; You might want to invest in a Lavalier Microphone for you iPhone or camera set up... :)
Oh dear. The wind really is a challenge outdoors. I may have some solutions 😉
Thanos for watching
B