Begonia maculata has olive-green wing-shaped leaves scattered with silver spots, and deep red undersides. It grows on upright cane-like stems and gets taller than most people expect.
Light
Begonia maculata grows best in bright, indirect light. That keeps the spots distinct and the red underside strong.
Too much light
Direct sun bleaches the leaves and burns brown patches into them.
Too little light
The spots fade, the stems stretch, and the plant leans badly.
Watering
Water when the top 3cm (1 inch) of soil is dry, and water the soil rather than the plant.
On average:
- Spring & summer: once or twice a week
- Autumn & winter: once every 1-2 weeks
Keep the leaves dry
Begonia leaves and stems are prone to fungal problems if they stay wet. Water at soil level, avoid splashing the foliage, and keep some air moving around the plant.
This is the main thing that separates a healthy Begonia maculata from a struggling one.
Signs of overwatering
- Stems go soft and translucent at the base
- Leaves yellow and drop
- Grey fuzzy patches on leaves or stems
Signs of underwatering
- Leaves droop and go papery
- Leaf edges turn crisp and brown
Humidity and temperature
Humidity above 50% keeps the leaf edges clean, but the air must also move. Humid and still is exactly the condition fungal problems need.
Keep it between 18°C and 26°C (65-79°F).
Soil and repotting
Soil
A free-draining mix with perlite and bark. Begonia roots are fine and shallow and dislike sitting in dense wet compost.
Repotting
Every year in spring, into a wide shallow pot rather than a deep one.
Feeding
Half-strength balanced fertiliser every 3 to 4 weeks through spring and summer. Nothing in winter.
Pruning and grooming
Prune hard and often. Begonia maculata grows tall and bare-stemmed if left alone, and cutting stems back just above a node forces branching lower down.
Cuttings root readily in water. Prune in spring for the fullest plant.
Common problems
Grey fuzzy patches on leaves or stems
Botrytis, a fungal problem caused by wet foliage and still air. Remove affected parts, improve airflow, and stop watering from above.
White powdery coating
Powdery mildew. Same cause, same fix.
Leaves dropping suddenly
Usually a sharp change in temperature or a cold draught.
Tall, bare, leaning stems
Natural growth habit plus insufficient light. Prune hard and move it brighter.