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Begonias Watering Frequency

ColmOColmO Posts: 101
in Problem solving
hi everyone!

i've got a Begonia that i'm looking after for a friend, and it seems to be doing pretty well. it's constantly growing new leaves. the soil is pretty dry, so should i water it a lot more (currently once a week), or continue as i have been? and should i still be feeding it?

and a friend told me that some plants that don't like to be misted like their leaves to be wiped lightly with a damp cloth to remove dust. is that true about this Begonia? i'd be worried because their leaves aren't really thick like some Begonias. am i right that it's a Begonia maculata?

here are some pictures. thanks for reading. :)

Posts

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Yes. Beautiful houseplant. Also called angels wing begonia. Water thoroughly then allow compost to dry out then water again (if you touch the leaves they should be turgid/firm, do not allow them to wilt).
    I would not wipe the leaves, they are too thin and delicate. I have never misted mine and they thrive.
    Have attached photos of two of mine, upside down, sorry. One growing in window facing South and one facing North. Both thriving. Easy houseplants. I replace mine with cuttings about every second year.
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    Kate 7 said:
    Yes. Beautiful houseplant. Also called angels wing begonia. Water thoroughly then allow compost to dry out then water again (if you touch the leaves they should be turgid/firm, do not allow them to wilt).
    I would not wipe the leaves, they are too thin and delicate. I have never misted mine and they thrive.
    Have attached photos of two of mine, upside down, sorry. One growing in window facing South and one facing North. Both thriving. Easy houseplants. I replace mine with cuttings about every second year.
    thanks Kate 7. they're beautiful. there's a lot more red in the leaves of mine. is that because it's older?

    do you do anything particular to get them to flower? this one hasn't since i've had it, which is a few years.

    the soil is still pretty dry, and i've given it quite a lot of water. should i keep on, until i can feel moistness in the soil? i so don't want to overwater it.

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    They are possibly different cultivars, slightly genetically different? But yours should flower, mine do in autumn as days get shorter.
    Watering is key. If you put the whole pot and plant in a bucket of water then you will see bubbles. This is the air bring driven out of the compost by the water. When the bubbles stop it means the soil is saturated. That's what you want. I am not suggesting you do this everytime but I do it occasionally to be certain that the soil is saturated. It could be that you are pouring water over the compost but it is not being adsorbed. Only you will learn how much and when to water your plants in your conditions.
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    thanks Kate 7. obviously it still needs quite a lot of water. should the soil feel moist at the top?
    thanks, i'll give that a try. i'm just amazed it's doing so well considering i seem to have been underwatering it. there seems to be a new leaf or two every week, even now.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    It's amazing how adaptable plants can be. You must be doing most things right.
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    thank you Arthur1. sorry for the very slow response, i've had so much going on over the last few months!
    yes, i think so too. but i haven't stopped feeding it, as it keeps producing leaves. or is it producing leaves because i'm feeding it, i wonder? would it stop, if i stopped feeding it? i don't suppose it wants to grow all through the winter.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I would stop feeding. Allow growth to slow/stop. It will start again as days lengthen in March. Good luck.
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    thanks very much. i'll do that.
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