Best begonia maculata Care Tips for Fast Growth 2023
At first, the plants were used indoors for their scent; today, they fill the windowsills and corners of our rooms as a window to nature. In the Middle Ages, violets were already used in pots to perfume the house, and since then, the thing has only increased: colonial fashions, technical advances, and dreams.
The desire of the urbanite to have an interior garden continues to sprout, intensely fertilized by Instagram. That’s why, instead of the everlasting Monstera, we want to introduce you to other housemates, like the cheerful begonia maculata, with its silvery-white polka dots, dramatic deep red leaf undersides, and its bright-blooming umbrellas year-round. In the light, her polka dots shimmer metallic silver, like the scales of a trout. Hence the nickname of begonia truck.
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- Water when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry...
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- Plants may come in White or Gray ceramic pot
- Begonia Maculata commonly referred to as the Polka...
- This exotic plant derives its name from its unique...
- The Begonia Maculata does well in a potting mix...
- Keep temperatures between 67 to 70°F with high...
- Includes (3) Begonia ‘Polka Dot’ in a 4”...
- Typically grown indoors as a houseplant, but can...
- Mature size indoors is 1.5-2.5’ tall and...
- Vigorous grower boasting olive-green, heart-shaped...
- Performs best in bright, indirect light.
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- Genus: Begonia
- 1 live plant
- Sunlight: Partial Shade
- Small healthy well rooted starter plant
- Please NOTE : SHIPPED WITHOUT POT
- Easy to grow, colorful house plant
- Prefers bright, indirect light
- Keep evenly moist, not wet or dry
- Trim as needed
- Immediate shipping, 4" pot- similar to the second...
- Easy to grow houseplant
- Water when slightly dry
- Mature Size: 16-18" tall x 14" wide
- Prefers bright, indirect light
- Immediate shipping
Know your begonia maculata
For a relationship with a person to prosper, you must be willing to know their origins and history because, with that information, you will be able to understand a little more about the individual’s tastes and needs. The same goes for plants, so you should know that our precious speckled friend hails from the tropical forests of Brazil. It gives you your first clue about what a spotted begonia needs: filtered light, constant temperature, and humidity.
Tropical forests are characterized by spaces in which abundant light enters through the tallest trees, where it is never cold, there is always humidity, and you can hardly perceive a breeze. Ideally, it would help if you reproduced these conditions so that your begoña maculata can grow and develop to be large and robust.
Spotted begonias produce gorgeous flowers between spring and autumn; they are groups of small white flowers with a yellow center. You don’t need to do anything fancy for your plant to flourish, stick to a more or less regular fertilization schedule and seek good light conditions. If you see that not a single one has grown, try to move it to a slightly brighter place, stimulating flowering.
Care for Begonia Maculata
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The key to providing the perfect substrate for begonia maculata can hold moisture without becoming waterlogged. Standard commercial mixes work very well, especially if they contain a bit of perlite and wood chips. You can supplement with a large handful of inorganic fertilizer and have the ideal substrate for a happy begonia.
You can fertilize the substrate every 2 or 4 weeks during its growing season, using a balanced universal fertilizer diluted by 50%. It is not necessary to pay in winter. This cycle will guarantee brightly colored leaves and plenty of flowers.
Lightning
Remember that your begonia comes from a place that receives light but never directly. Direct sun can discolor their pretty spots and burn the tips of the leaves. It prefers lighting filtered by curtains or other plants, do not leave it near the window.
The begonia maculata can survive in low light conditions, but do not overdo it because the lack of light will make it grow long with few leaves. Another sign that it lacks light is that the leaves will discolor a little, turn yellow and drop.
Irrigation
Finding the perfect balance between watering frequency and your begonia’s needs can be confusing, but there’s only one rule to stick to: let the top of the growing medium dry out between waterings. Spotted begonias need a specific moisture level, but are prone to fungus and root rot, so avoid overwatering.
My method is simple: I have a wand (I use a disposable wooden toothpick) and carefully prick the substrate into the pot. If it comes out with moist soil stuck to the tip but looks dry on top, it’s time to water.
If the toothpick comes out wet, I wait one or two more days. In a couple of weeks, you will get the watering rhythm and will not need to check it as often. Remember that you should lower the watering during the winter months.
Humidity
Many people complain that they buy their begonia maculata, keep it for a few months, and then die unexpectedly. This plant’s mysterious causes of death are almost always linked to the humidity factor.
It indeed comes from a humid environment, but this does not mean that you will spray it every so often with a sprinkler; this will deteriorate its leaves. The secret is to always put it in a group with other plants and use water trays in the radiator when necessary. In extreme cases or winter, you can put a small humidifier in the room.
Temperature
Unless you live in a scorching region, keeping your spotted begonia indoors is a safe bet. Due to the characteristics of their origin, they can live very well with temperatures between 18° to 30°C, perhaps a little warmer during the day. If exposed to temperatures below ten °C, it will die. Also, please keep it away from drafts because they are bad for you.
Pruning and reproduction
This exotic begonia is a slow grower, tending to spread wider than tall, but should be transplanted into a slightly larger pot each year in spring, at least 4cm larger in diameter than the previous one. Avoid going overboard with the bank size because it can affect its roots.
You can prune it if you see it too long, with many branches and not very leafy. It is recommended to do it at the end of autumn, as this will conserve energy in winter and prepare you to grow beautiful and lush in spring. But don’t throw those clippings in the trash because you can use them to reproduce your plant.
Select pieces of branches containing at least a couple of nodes or buds, cut off the tips and place them in a water container. Be patient, and don’t forget to replenish the water that evaporates. They will eventually develop roots, and you can plant them in their pot.
Begonias are beautiful plants with many varieties known for their attractive foliage. One of the most exciting begonias in terms of leaves is Begonia maculata – spotted Begonia.
Begonia Maculata, commonly called Spotted Begonia, is a tropical plant that grows wild in southeastern Brazil.
These easy-care plants are becoming very popular as houseplants. They thrive in low-light environments with somewhat humid air. Spotted begonias grow best in well-drained soil. All in all, Begonia maculata is a beautiful, low-maintenance houseplant.
- Begonia Maculata: The Basics
- How to care for Begonia Maculata
- Light Requirements for Begonia Maculata
- Watering Begonia Maculata
- Soil for Begonia Maculata
- Fertilizer for Begonia Maculata
- Containers for Begonia Maculata
- Spotted begonia propagation.
Begonia Maculata: The Basics
The Latin botanical name for the spotted Begonia is Begonia maculata. Begonia Maculata (Spotted Begonia) plants have long, thin leaves with silvery-white dots on top of each leaf.
The underside of the spotted Begonia is bright red, although the vibrancy of the red bottom varies. Begonia maculata leaves can grow up to 50-100 cm long but only grow to 20-50 cm wide.
Spotted begonias bloom once a year during the summer but can bloom up to 3 times a year if they are healthy and in the right environment. It produces tiny white or pink flowers less than 2 cm in diameter when it blooms. The spotted Begonia is one of the rarer begonias to grow, which is strange because it is so easy to care for and propagate.
How to care for Begonia Maculata
Begonia Maculata is generally relatively easy to care for as a houseplant.
Light Requirements for Begonia Maculata
Begonia Maculata requires partial shade when grown outdoors or in houses with plenty of natural light. It will dry out, and the colors of the plant will turn dull if it is exposed to direct sunlight for too long. Keep it near a window, but keep it out of natural, harsh sunlight.
Although Begonia Maculata does not thrive in direct sunlight, they need a minimum level of light to photosynthesize and produce the energy required to grow those beautiful leaves. Begonia Maculata grown indoors will likely benefit from additional lighting from a simple LED plant light or grouped with other houseplants under a panel LED increase light.
Watering Begonia Maculata
Spotted begonias enjoy a moist environment but develop powdery mildew if overwatered. Don’t water your Begonia every day. Instead, wait until the topsoil is pretty dry and add water until the soil is moist but not wet. Let the excess water drain from the ground (it is easier if the plant is watered in the sink).
Water Begonia Maculata plants from below by leaving the pots in a sink or saucer of clean water or carefully watering the top of the soil. Begonia Maculata does not generally tarnish. Fog can leave a film on leaves and potentially encourage leaf mold growth. If you want to spray your Begonia, be sure to spray only the soil and roots of the plant, not the leaves.
Soil for Begonia Maculata
Maculata begonias grow best in a high-quality, well-draining soil mix. Plant it in soil that has a mixture of sand, clay, and loam. Make sure the earth does not retain excess moisture.
Fertilizer for Begonia Maculata
Spotted begonias can be fertilized with a natural houseplant fertilizer. Most growers do this only during the growing season in the spring and summer months. It is best to add fertilizer between April and September. Follow the instructions for the specific fertilizer you choose.
Containers for Begonia Maculata
When placing spotted Begonia in a container or pot, make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom. As the Begonia grows, you may need to add support, such as stakes or sticks, for the Begonia to grow. You may need to tie begonia stems to stakes.
You should report your Begonia Maculata once a year or whenever it appears to have outgrown the pot, it is currently in. When registering your Begonia, please place it in a container that is at least a few inches wider than the previous container, so it has plenty of room to grow so the roots don’t reattach too quickly.
Spotted begonia propagation.
Spotted Begonia ( Begonia maculata ) is straightforward to reproduce. It is one of the easiest plants to propagate, so any home gardener can do it if they wish.
If you want to propagate your spotted Begonia, cut off a leaf that has been growing for some time. Cut the leaf where it meets the stem, but leave a small portion of the stem on the leaf you are removing.
Then place the leaf in a glass jar filled with filtered water but not filled to the top and the pot in indirect sunlight. When you put the leaf in filtered water, ensure that the stem is the only part in the water. Don’t let the natural leaf sit in the water. Change the water every 3-5 days with fresh filtered water.
After a few weeks, you should see several small hair-like roots growing from your leaf. Once you see that many of these roots have grown, move your propagated leaf into a small pot of fresh soil. You should see more leaves grow from your propagated leaf within a few weeks of placing it in the ground.
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