Botanical name: Begonia coccinea
Family: Begoniaceae
Angel Wing Begonia is an evergreen shrubby plant which bears large, glossy, red-margined leaves. The leaves are 'angel wing' shaped and hence the common name.
This evergreen flowering Begonia has the advantage of keeping its beautiful "Angel Wing" leaves through out the year.
Angel Wing Begonia is one of the popular cane-stemmed Begonias. It is easy to grow and propagate. Angel Wing Begonia can reach the height of 6 ft or more if left unpruned.
The waxy flowers in Angel Wing Begonia are large clusters which hang from the stems. The flowers come in red, white, orange and pink. Angel Wing Begonia is native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Angel Wing Begonia grows best in bright, indirect light. Inadequate light results in a leggy plant and prevents flowering. Too intense light causes the leaves to curl and turn brown.
Keep your Angel Wing Begonia away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
For optimum growth of your Angel Wing Begonia, keep the soil moist during the growing period but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Reduce watering for your Angel Wing Begonia during the cold months as growth is minimal. Avoid soggy soil as it can lead to Root-rot Disease. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average warmth with a minimum 150C is ideal for your Angel Wing Begonia. Protect your plant from cold draughts. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Average room humidity is adequate for your Angel Wing Begonia. Where the room temperatures are too high making the air too dry, raise humidity for your Angel Wing Begonia by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Occasionally clean the leaves of your Angel Wing Begonia by damp-wiping with a soft cloth. Do not mist Angel Wing Begonia as wetting the leaves may lead to fungal infestations. Read more on how to clean houseplants
Feed your Angel Wing Begonia with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer weekly during the growing period.
To promote blooming in your Angel Wing Begonia, apply a potassium-rich fertilizer weekly when buds begin to develop.
Withhold feeding your Angel Wing Begonia during the cold season as growth is minimal. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Repot your Angel Wing Begonia at the beginning of the growing period only if the plant has become root-bound or is too large for the pot. Angel Wing Begonia prefers to be slightly root-bound.
Use a rich free-draining soil and a pot 1 size larger for your Angel Wing Begonia. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot.
Do not repot a flowering Angel Wing Begonia as the shock of repotting will cut short the flowering.
Pruning your Angel Wing Begonia is easy. Remove the dead flowers, yellow and dead leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy. Do not pinch the growing buds.
Cut back the bare stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth. The foliage emanating from pruning can be used to propagate new plants. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Angel Wing Begonia can be propagated from stem-tip cuttings at the beginning of the growing period.
Take a 3-4 in. stem-tip cutting from a healthy Angel Wing Begonia plant. Insert the cutting in moist free-draining soil.
Place the set up in a warm shaded place. Maintain the soil moist until the new Angel Wing Begonia plant is well established.
The leaves of your Angel Wing Begonia may turn yellow due to two reasons.
One cause of yellow leaves in your Angel Wing Begonia is too little light. Move your Angel Wing Begonia to a brighter spot. Angel Wing Begonia prefers bright indirect light away from direct sunlight.
The second cause of yellow leaves in your Angel Wing Begonia is too little or too much water. Maintain the soil moist at all times but not soggy. Never allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.
There are three causes for loss of leaves in your Angel Wing Begonia.
The first cause of leaf drop in your Angel Wing Begonia is too little. Move your Angel Wing Begonia plant to a brighter spot. Angel Wing Begonia prefers shade to bright light away from direct sunlight.
The second cause of leaf drop in your Angel Wing Begonia is too much heat. The best temperature for Angel Wing Begonia is average room that is a temperature that is comfortable for you is good for your plant.The third cause of leaf drop in your Angel Wing Begonia is too much water in the soil (soggyness of the soil). Ensure the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole.
There are two causes of flower bud drop in your Angel Wing Begonia. One cause is dry air. Raise humidity for your plant by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray but do not mist the leaves.
The second cause of flower bud drop in your Angel Wing Begonia is underwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Angel Wing Begonia and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.
If the air humidity is too low, your Angel Wing Begonia will respond with brown leaf tips. Raise humidity for your Angel Wing Begonia by seting the pot on a wet pebble tray but do not mist the leaves to prevent disease infestation.
The reason for pale, rotting leaves in your Angel Wing Begonia is soggy soil. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy. Ensure the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent soggy soil.
White powdery spots is an indication of Powdery Mildew in your Angel Wing Begonia.
Isolate the affected plant, cut off diseased leaves and treat appropriately. Avoid damp conditions and low temperatures and improve air circulation.
Brown blotches which turn grey and moldy is an indication of Botrytis Disease in your Angel Wing Begonia.
Isolate the affected Angel Wing Begonia, cut off diseased parts and treat appropriately. Avoid low light and over damp conditions and improve air circulation.
There are three reasons for plant collapse in your Angel Wing Begonia. One reason is Stem Rot Disease due to soggy soil.
The second reason for plant collapse in your Angel Wing Begonia is Nematodes (Root Knot Eelworm) which are characterized by swollen bumps on roots.
The third reason for plant collapse in your Angel Wing Begonia is Vine Weevil which is characterized by tunnels in the rhizomes.
Common pests in Angel Wing Begonia are Aphids and Red Spider Mites.
All parts of Angel Wing Begonia and especially the roots are considered mildly toxic to pets.
If ingested Angel Wing Begonia may cause burning in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains.
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