The mystical begonia: what’s the secret? In this article I’ll take you through how to care for begonias indoors. Silvery leaves in pretty colors and delicate flowers, the begonia has caught my eye for many years and was one of the first potted plants I purchased. But, nothing could prepare me for the initial difficulties of this plant. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Indoor Begonia Types
Begonias come in many different types. You can read about each horticultural classification in detail here. The most common indoor begonia varieties are cane-like and rex. Begonias kept as indoor houseplants are often chosen for their unique leaf shapes, patterns and coloring, rather than their flowers. This is one reason why I love begonias: their striking foliage can be enjoyed all year long!
Watering Requirements
Since begonias have thick, water-retaining stems, they are especially prone to root-rot if they are overwatered. For this reason, you should wait until the soil dries out completely before watering. I always like the saying “your plant will tell you when it needs water.” Begonias will droop when they are thirsty, and that’s usually my sign to water them. Begonias are also good candidates for bottom-watering, to avoid getting their leaves wet.
Humidity
Here’s a tricky thing about begonias: they love humidity, and if they don’t get enough, their leaves will get brown and crispy. BUT, their leaves do not like to be wet. Wet leaves can cause powdery mildew and other diseases. Here are a few tips to maintain a humid environment for your begonias:
- Use a plant cabinet
- Invest in a humidifier: I recommend this one.
- Place your begonias next to each other, or next to other plants
- Try a terrarium for your small begonias
Light Requirements
Begonias are known to tolerate some shade, but in my opinion, to see the foliage at its best and achieve blooms indoors, they need high light. I’ve had great success using grow lights to supplement natural sunlight for my begonias (and for my other indoor plants, too).
Soil Mix
I use my all-purpose tropical mix for begonias, see my post about it here! I find that begonias don’t require any “special” soil and are happy with an all-purpose mix that has the right balance of drainage and nutrients.
Side Note: I have tried begonias in Leca and it was not successful for me. Their thin, shallow root systems are tough to acclimate to hydroponics and prone to root rot.
Fertilizer
I use Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro Plant Food for all of my plants, begonias included. I can’t recommend it enough! This plant food is water-soluble and super easy to use each time you water.
Additional Tips & Facts
- Use water propagation to prop your begonias super fast!
- Flowering begonias will continue to flower for you all year long if kept indoors.
- All species of begonias are toxic to pets.
- There are more than 4,000 cultivars of rex begonias.
Happy Planting!
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