Classification: Foliage house plant
House Plant Group: Bushy plant or lobed & star-leaved plant (depending on variety)
Character: Attractive colourful foliage, off-centre heart-shaped (and other shape like star, oval or spear) leaves
Safe for pets? No
Varieties:
- Begonia boweri (Eyelash begonia)
- Begonia cleopatra (Begonia maphil – Mapleleaf begonia)
- Begonia feastii (Begonia erythrophylla)
- Begonia foliosa
- Begonia imperialis (Carpet begonia)
- Begonia maculata
- Begonia masoniana (Iron cross begonia)
- Begonia metallica (Metallic leaf begonia)
- Begonia rex (Rex begonia)
- Begonia rex Her Majesty
- Begonia rex Merry Christmas
- Begonia rex silver queen
- Begonia rex yuletide
- Begonia solanthera
- Begonia tiger
Plant Care:
- Temperature: Average warmth
- Light: Bright spot away from direct sunlight
- Water: Keep planting medium moist. Allow surface to dry between waterings.
- Repotting: Repot yearly with either Serbajadi Organic Peat Moss or Serbajadi Multi-Purpose Compost
- Fertiliser:
- For leafy plants: Serbajadi Plant Food Organic Plus 23 Growing Fertilisers (750gm)
- For flowering plants: Serbajadi Plant Food Organic Plus 41 Flowering Fertilisers (750gm)
Plant issues:
- Brown blotches, turning grey & mouldy: Due to over moist soil and low light
- Leaves with brown tip: Not enough humidity
- Pale, rotting leaves: Due to over-watering
- Yellowing leaves: Watering issues. Too little light
- Loss of leaves: Not enough light / too much heat / watering issues
- Flower buds drop: Not enough humidity or under-watering
- Plant collapse: Root issues
Pests:
- Spider mites: Wipe off with a damp cloth/cotton bud and spray with Serbajadi Neem Spray Extra Strength. Attack water-stressed plants, so regularly watering (but not over-watering) will prevent attacks
- Aphids: Spray the plant with high pressure water followed by Serbajadi Neem Spray Extra Strength
