Begonia leaves are decorative and textured, with some variegated, spotted, or attractively veined. There are also numerous foliage shapes to choose from and the flowers add a rainbow of colors. Display wherever you can best admire the foliage patterns of these lovely trailing or upright plants.
HEIGHT Up to 36in (90cm)
SPREAD Up to 18in (45cm)
FLOWERS Numerous, depending on variety
FOLIAGE Variegated, patterned
LIGHT Filtered sun/light shade
TEMPERATURE 59–72°F (15–22°C)
CARE Fairly easy
PLACE OF ORIGIN Central and South America and Asia
To appreciate their intricate foliage, place these plants on a raised shelf. An east-facing room is perfect, but in the heat of summer, you’d be wise to move them further back into the room, away from any windows, to avoid foliage scorching. Moderate humidity is ideal, which makes a kitchen the perfect spot.
Grow begonias in commercial potting mix and sit your pot on a tray filled with expanded clay granules; this must be kept moist and will increase humidity around the plant. Do not mist the leaves, as this can cause mildew.
Keep the plant compact by pinching out any leaves that are spoiling the silhouette. Don’t be tempted to clean begonia leaves, as they are easily damaged. Give a high-potash feed in the summer to encourage flowers. Once flowers have faded, deadhead (remove) them to keep the plant tidy and encourage further blooms.
Propagate popular houseplant begonias such as the spectacular Begonia rex (see image) by taking leaf cuttings in May. Adventurous gardeners might want to try to grow plants from tubers in March or April.
PROBLEM SOLVING Brown leaf tips, a common problem with begonias, are caused by low humidity, scorch, or plants being placed too close to a heat source. Rotting leaves are caused by overwatering or too much shade. Damaged leaves should be removed, or the brown tips snipped off with scissors.
Begonias look spectacular when displayed as a group. Plant them in individual pots placed on a large, decorative tray filled with damp, expanded clay granules. Another option is to place African violets and Cape primroses on the same tray with them, as these flowering plants have the same needs.
Houseplants A–Z | BEGONIA
Few plant groups offer such variety as the begonia when it comes to colorful flowers and foliage, but these alternatives come close:
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