A statement - making houseplant , the Polka Dot Begonia makes a unique addition to any home . These beautiful plant can be grown out of doors , but they are most normally used as indoor plants thanks to their honey of warm temperatures .
What is a Polka Dot Begonia?
The Polka Dot Begonia or Begonia Maculata has unique parting with smooth-spoken polka dots and gorgeous autumnal red bottom . It was discovered just a few decades ago , but has swiftly become a fast favourite in homes thanks to its alone show .
Discovered in Brazil in 1982 , this plant grow predominantly in the Atlantic rainforest . It produce gorgeous white and pinkish flowers in the spring and summertime and , put up it ’s calculate after properly , can grow up to a beat high .
Fashion guru may know that it ’s rumour Christian Louboutin was inspired by the Polka Dot Begonia , creating his iconic cherry-red - soled stiletto after being inspired by the red leafage undersides .
You ’d be forgive thinking any flora which inspires style icons such as Christian Louboutin is going to be passably high maintenance . But while the Polka Dot Begonia may wait dramatic , it ’s a surprisingly easy plant to take care of .
Let ’s take a feeling at how best to care for the Polka Dot Begonia plant .
Polka Dot Begonia Requirements
depend after a polka dot begonia is passably straightforward , even for those considerably deficient in green fingers !
Watering
Like many houseplants , there ’s a balance to collide with between underwatering and overwatering .
Polka Dot Begonias like moist soil , imply they take frequent and consistent watering . However , they should n’t be left sitting in water , as this can take to root rot . take into account the excess weewee to drain each time you irrigate .
A good manner to prove whether your industrial plant need water is to put your finger into the soil . If the top column inch feels wry , give your plant a unspoilt water , allowing it to enfeeble through .
If the top inch of soil feels moist , your works has enough piddle and does n’t need any more .
Like most houseplants , you ’ll postulate to water more in the summertime month and less in the autumn . employ the dirt test to see , but you should n’t get hold you call for to irrigate more than once every couple of weeks in the wintertime .
Lighting
originate in the rainforest , Polka Dot Begonias prefer bright collateral lighter , although they can also know in low loose conditions ( as they would be by nature cover up by other tree diagram ) .
The plant will grow a lot quicker if it ’s locate in a shiny situation , but you should n’t allow for it in direct sunshine . Too much sun can scorch the leaves , especially during a period of hot weather .
The corner of a brilliant room tends to be the in force spot for a Polka Dot Begonia .
Humidity
While not an crucial , if you want your Polka Dot Begonia to thrive , it call for a more humid environs than what most homes can put up . In the rain forest , these plants will have at least 45 % humidness .
An easy way of life to increase the humidity levels in your plate is to set your Polka Dot Begonia on a shallow tray fill with pebbles . Keep the pebble well water . When the water evaporates from the pebbles , it will rise and increase the humidity surrounding the plant .
You could also mist the leave-taking every so often . While this will increase the humidness , you should take care not to do it too often , as the leaves dislike being very wet .
Soil and Feeding
Polka Dot Begonias like well - draining soil that book moisture . A light commercial potting filth , mixed with a twosome of handfuls of perlite will give your Polka Dot Begonia the best hazard of thrive . Perlite will help keep the soil aerate .
To enable your Polka Dot Begonia to develop , you ’ll require to fertilise it every so often . Adding a fluid fertiliser every 2 week during the growing time of year is a right rule of thumb . It does n’t need any eating in the wintertime months , when it ’s abeyant .
Flowering
If your plant is adequately care for , it may raise white flowers during the growing time of year . These wo n’t last long but should re-emerge the following time of year . The flowers appear in small clusters .
For your plant to flower , it ’s all important that it has enough collateral light source . You should also give it regularly during the growing time of year . An all - purpose fertilizer every couple of weeks during the growing season should be enough to advance your plant to flower .
Prune the heyday once they have finished bloom , and they should reappear the following spring .
Pruning
Pruning will ensure that your plant grows outwards instead of up , leading to a replete looking plant .
dispatch the tips of the cane can stimulate a bushier growth . New shank will grow from where you prune . apply your finger and thumb to off the little staunch that branch off .
Cut back tenacious stems in the fall to avail your plant economise push for the wintertime ahead .
Propagating
Propagating a Polka Dot Begonia is very well-to-do ; you may either put it in water or into soil .
Cut off a part of the stem turn and a few leave , then place the stem cuttings in a small jar of body of water . Do this during the growing season , and the cuttings should grow roots within a distich of hebdomad . Once the root have grown a pair of inches long , put them in a pot with potting commixture .
instead , dip the end of a cutting into a growth hormone , then institute it in potting land . urine exhaustively then put the territory into a sealed bag . Keep it well misted , give it enough light and keep it ardent .
Roots form slightly dense in soil than water , but both methods work very well . For best results , keep the leaf cuttings in brilliant , indirect light and warm temperatures .
Winter Protection
When the temperature send away in the fall , the works will go dormant . It wo n’t farm very much , but it will pop growing again once the temperatures warm up up .
In full term of caution , there ’s not much you need to do other than . You ’ll need to irrigate it less often and it wo n’t ask plant food . You should aim to keep it in a room of 15 ° C or warmer .
Common Problems
Despite their intricate appearance , Polka Dot Begonias are surprisingly easy to take upkeep of . However there ’s still a few payoff you might encounter .
Yellow Leaves
If the leaves of your Polka Dot Begonia are twist yellow , it may be that you are watering it too often . Give the soil some time to dry out a little , and do n’t irrigate again until the top inch of soil is ironical .
Brown and Dry Tips
If the tip of the leaves have become brown , dry or brittle , your works may be thirsty ! checker the soil to see if it ’s ironical , and if it is , give it a good crapulence of water system . Spraying the leaves with a mister or placing the plant on a tray of wet pebble can improve the humidness .
Brown Patches on the Leaves
If you ’ve placed your Polka Dot Begonia in a very gay spot , you may incur dark-brown patch start appearing on the leaves . This is due to sun scorch . Remember that these plants like shining but indirect sunlight . Move it to the corner of a shining room rather , where it does n’t get direct sunlight .
Mealybugs
If you ’re make white flossy spots on the undersides of the folio , the works has mealybugs . These provender on the cosh of houseplant and can conduct to a number of problems . Wipe the leave of absence with cotton wool and constitutive insect powder .
Mildew
A white centre appear on the leaves is powdery mildew . This is often due to the leaves being too wet for too long a full stop of time . or else of misting the plant , place it in a pebble tray to increase the humidness .
take out affect leafage and attempt to irrigate from the bottom of the flora to prevent the other leaves from getting wet .
Improve line circulation around the plant by moving it away from other works or physical object .
Repotting a Polka Dot Begonia
You ’ll need to repot your Polka Dot Begonia at some stage , as the roots grow too declamatory for the throne . Repotting will also increase the nutrient in the territory and air aeration , improving the health of your industrial plant .
You should repot your flora when it ’s in full take root bound . This is when the roots hold onto all of the soil , and there is no loose ground will . You ’ll also know it involve repotting if the root are poking out of the drainage jam of the current tidy sum .
Even if your Polka Dot Begonia has n’t grown out of its current pot , annual repotting in the spring is recommend to give it fresh grease .
To repot your Polka Dot Begonia you will need :
fuse the planting sensitive together and dampen them with body of water .
Fill the bottom of your new pot with the potting mix , tall enough so that the begonia stay at the same tallness as it did in its premature commode .
move out the Polka Dot Begonia from its current pot , and transplant into the fresh batch take care not to damage the roots . take the sides and empty spaces with leftover potting mix .
It ’s important you do n’t increase the sizing of the pot too drastically . A container that ’s too bombastic can lead to root buncombe , as the territory stay wet for foresightful .
Polka Dot Begonia FAQ
Are polka dot begonias toxic to pets?
Like many of our beloved houseplant , Polka Dot Begonias are in facttoxic to computerized tomography and dogs . The most toxic parts of the plant are under the soil .
While a cat or hound could eat a modest amount of the plant and get aside with it , too much of the plant life could cause vomiting .
Can polka dot begonias go outside?
Polka Dot Begonias do well both inside and out . They require undimmed , indirect luminance , dissolute enfeeble soil , warm temperature and high-pitched humidity . As these conditions are promiscuous to create when potted and indoors , they are most normally used as houseplants .
If you are arise your Polka Dot Begonia outside , you should bring it indoors if the temperature drops too low-spirited .
How long do polka dot begonias live?
Compared to many houseplants , Polka Dot Begonias do n’t live for a particularly long meter . With the right care and conditions , you should obtain your plant hold out for around three years .
If you are growing your Polka Dot Begonia alfresco , it will last just a yr .
How do I make my Begonia bushy?
Polka Dot Begonias can front a little ‘ leggy ’ if they are not decent prune , with gaps at the base . crop your plant can facilitate it grow duncical and shaggy-coated .
Pruning should be done in the spring with clean shears . Pinch back or trim down off the stem tips , repeating this operation every month to encourage more growing . Where you hit one tip , two should grow back in its place .
How big do Polka Dot Begonias get?
With good care and the right conditions , your Polka Dot Begonia could get hold of up to one m in height .
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