Begonia coccinea (Angel Wing Begonia) Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions
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Begonia coccinea (Angel Wing Begonia) grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil with weekly feeding in the growing season.
Begonia coccinea also called Scarlet Begonia is one of the popular Begonia plants varieties. Angel Wing Begonia is an evergreen, shrubby, flowering plant which bears large, glossy, red-margined leaves. The leaves are 'angel wing' shaped and hence the common name.
Scarlet Begonia like Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculata) has the advantage of keeping its beautiful 'Angel Wing' leaves through out the year. It is one of the popular cane-stemmed Begonias and is easy to grow and propagate.
Botanical name: Begonia coccinea
Family: Begoniaceae
Common names: Angel Wing Begonia, Scarlet Begonia
Origin
Begonia coccinea is native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, distributed in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.
Size
Scarlet Begonia can reach the height of 6 feet or more if left unpruned. On account of its size and ability to adapt to indoor growing conditions, is one of the best indoors trees for the home.
Flowers
Begonia coccinea bears large clusters of waxy flowers which hang beautifully from the stems. The flowers come in red, white, orange and pink. Angel Wing Begonia like Begonia semperflorens (Wax Begonia) is among the best flowering plants for indoor growing.
Toxicity
All parts of Begonia coccinea and especially the roots are considered toxic to pets as indicated by ASPCA. If ingested they may cause burning in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Keep the plant away from the reach of children and pets to avoid any mishaps.
Where to Buy
Would you like to add this beauty to your collection? You may obtain these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Begonia coccinea Care Indoors
Begonia coccinea (Angel Wing Begonia) flourishes in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight (dappled light), average warmth of 18-260C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil with weekly feeding during the growing season.
Angel Wing Begonia requires regular pruning to keep it neat, reduce pest infestations and rejuvenate growth. Repotting is needed when it becomes extremely pot-bound as it grows best when slightly root-bound. Keep reading for a detailed account on the best growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
Begonia coccinea (Angel Wing Begonia) grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight (filtered light) to avoid scorching the leaves.
Inadequate light will result in a leggy plant and reduced flowering while too intense light causes the leaves to curl and turn brown.
You may grow Scarlet Begonia under grow lights where the natural lighting is not sufficient. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Watering
For optimum growth of Begonia coccinea, keep the soil moist during the growing period but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Decrease watering during the cold months as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Make sure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it may result in root-rot and death of the plant.
Temperature and Humidity
The best temperature for growing Begonia coccinea indoors is an average warmth of 18-260C. Keep it away from cold drafts to avoid sudden drops in temperature which can cause stunted growth and leaf drop.
Average room humidity of 50-55% is adequate for Begonia coccinea. Where the room temperatures are too high, causing the air to be too dry, increase humidity by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Learn more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Do not mist the plant as wetting the leaves may lead to fungal infestations. Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestations.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Begonia coccinea should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most all purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.
Fertilizer
Feed Begonia coccinea with a balanced, liquid fertilizer weekly during the growing period for lush growth.
To promote blooming, apply a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer weekly when the buds begin to form.
Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time, therefore, the plant does not need it. Feeding it at this time may result in fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Repotting
Repot Begonia coccinea at the beginning of the growing period only if the plant has become extremely pot-bound or is too large for the pot as it prefers to be slightly root-bound.
Use a pot 1 size larger than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant.
Do not repot a flowering Scarlet Begonia as the shock of repotting will cut short the flowering. Take a look at these Self Watering Planters with Drainage Hole on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Begonia coccinea is easy. Remove the dead flowers, yellow and dead leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy. Do not pinch the growing buds.
Cutback the bare stems with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
The foliage emanating from pruning can be used to propagate new Scarlet Begonia plants.
Propagation
Begonia coccinea can be propagated from stem-tip cuttings at the beginning of the growing period. The stem cuttings root easily, therefore, there is no need for a rooting hormone.
How to propagate Begonia coccinea from stem-tip cuttings
Take a 3-4 inches stem-tip cutting from a healthy Begonia coccinea plant. Ensure each cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes as this where new growth will come from. Strip off the lower leaves.
Insert the Scarlet Begonia cuttings in moist, free-draining potting mix and place the set up in a warm, brightly lit place away from direct sunlight.
Keep the soil moist until new growth emerges. Allow the new Begonia coccinea to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.
Begonia coccinea Problems with Solutions
Begonia coccinea (Angel Wing Begonia) growing problems include yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, rotting, plant dying, flowerbud drop, pests and diseases among others. Continue reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Pests
The common pests in Begonia coccinea are aphids and spider mites. Isolate the affected the plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Plant dying
There are three possible reasons for plant collapse or death in Begonia coccinea. One possible reason is stem-rot disease due to soggy soil which is a result of poor soil drainage.
Isolated the affected plant to minimize spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the stem-rot disease.
Always make sure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
The second possible reason for plant collapse in Begonia coccinea is nematodes (root knot eelworm) which are characterized by swollen bumps on roots.
The third possible reason for plant collapse in Angel Wing Begonia is vine weevil which is characterized by tunnels in the rhizomes.
White powdery spots
White powdery spots in Begonia coccinea is an indication of infestation by powdery mildew which is promoted by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.
Isolate the affected plant, cut off diseased leaves and treat appropriately. Avoid damp conditions and low temperatures and improve air circulation. Read more on how to treat powdery mildew in houseplants.
Brown blotches which turn grey and moldy
Brown blotches which turn grey and moldy in Begonia coccinea is an indication of botrytis disease which is enhanced by overdamp conditions coupled with poor air circulation.
Isolate the affected plant, cut off the diseased parts and treat appropriately. Avoid low light and overdamp conditions and improve ventilation. Read more on how to treat botrytis disease in houseplants.
Yellow leaves
Yellow leaves in Begonia coccinea are due to two possible reasons. One possible cause of yellow leaves is too little light. Move the plant to a brighter spot as it prefers bright, indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate
The second possible cause of yellow leaves in Scarlet Begonia is too little or too much water. Maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season but never soggy and slightly moist in the cold period but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water indoor plants correctly.
Brown leaf tips
If the air humidity is too low, Begonia coccinea will respond with brown leaf tips. Increase the humidity by setting the pot on wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier but do not mist the leaves as it can result in disease infestations.
Leaf drop
There are three possible causes of leaf drop (loss of leaves) in Begonia coccinea. The first possible cause of leaf drop is too little light.
Position the plant in a brighter place where it will receive bright, indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is not enough.
The second possible cause of leaf drop in Scarlet Begonia is too much heat (high temperatures) from hot drafts or too hot direct sunlight.
Maintain an average room temperature of 18-260C, that is, a temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant. Therefore, keep the plant away from cold and hot drafts to maintain the optimum temperature for it to thrive.
The third possible cause of leaf drop in the Angel Wing Begonia is too much water in the soil (soggy soil). Ascertain that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy (too wet).
Flowerbud drop
There are two possible causes of flowerbud drop in Begonia coccinea. One possible cause is dry air, in other words, too low air humidity.
To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a bathroom and other moist areas in the home is the light is adequate. Do not mist the leaves to avoid fungal disease infestations.
The second possible cause of flowerbud drop in Scarlet Begonia is underwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
Pale, rotting leaves
The reason for pale, rotting leaves in Begonia coccinea is soggy (overwet) soil which is due to poor soil drainage. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy.
Ensure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Also reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.
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