How to grow and care for Begonia lucerna Indoors

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Begonia Lucerna Description

Begonia Lucerna is an evergreen flowering Begonia which may be less spectacular in bloom than other Begonias but has the advantage of keeping its beautiful 'Angel Wing' leaves through out the year.

Begonia lucerna is highly valued for its ability to grow in low light environment while providing extravagant colours.

The leaves in Begonia Lucerna are narrow "Angel Wings", olive green with small silver spots on the top and often red-veined. The flowers are large clusters which hang from the stems.

The Begonia Lucerna is one of the popular cane-stemmed Begonias and is easy to grow and propagate.

Begonia Lucerna Size

Begonia lucerna can reach the height of 10 ft or more if left unpruned.

Begonia Lucerna Origin

Begonia Lucerna whose full name is Begonia Corallina de Lucerna is a hybridized form of the Angel Wing Begonia. It was hybridized by Wettstein of Lucerne, Switzerland in 1892.

Begonia Lucerna for Sale

Buy beautiful and healthy Begonia lucerna from Etsy.

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Begonia lucerna Care Indoors

Begonia lucerna Light Requirements

The best light for growing your Begonia lucerna indoors is bright shade to bright, indirect light. Keep your Begonia lucerna away from direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.

Occasionally turn the pot to ensure your plant receives light on all sides for a uniform growth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

How to Water Begonia lucerna

For optimum growth of your Begonia lucerna, keep the soil moist during the growing period but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

Reduce watering for your Begonia Lucerna during the cold months as growth is minimal.

Avoid soggy soil for your Begonia lucerna as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.

Ensure that the pot for your Begonia lucena has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Temperature for Begonia lucerna

The best temperature for growing your Begonia lucerna indoors is an average warmth with a minimum of 13⁰C.

Protect your Begonia lucerna from cold draughts to avoid sudden drop in temperature. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Humidity for Begonia lucerna

Begonia lucerna prefers a humid environment for its optimum growth. To raise humidity for your Begonia Lucerna, set the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Do not mist Begonia lucerna as wetting the leaves may lead to fungal infestations.

Occasionally clean the leaves of your Begonia Lucerna by damp-wiping with a soft cloth. Read more on how to clean houseplants.

Begonia lucerna Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Begonia lucerna with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer weekly during the growing period.

To promote blooming in your Begonia Lucerna, apply a phosphorous-rich fertilizer weekly when the buds begin to form.

Withhold feeding for your Begonia Lucerna during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

How to Repot Begonia lucerna

Repot Begonia lucerna at the beginning of the growing period only if the plant has become root-bound or is too large for the pot. Begonia Lucerna prefers to be slightly root-bound.

Use a rich free-draining soil and a pot 1 size larger for your Begonia Lucerna.

Ensure the pot for your Begonia lucerna has a drainage hole to avoid soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease.

Do not repot a flowering plant as the shock of repotting will cut short the flowering.

How to Prune Begonia lucerna

Pruning Begonia lucerna 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 of your Begonia lucerna at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

The foliage emanating from pruning can be used to propagate new Begonia lucerna plants. Read more on how to prune houseplants.

Begonia lucerna Propagation

Begonia lucerna propagation can be done from stem-tip cuttings at the beginning of the growing period.

How to propagate Begonia Lucerna from stem-tip cuttings

Take a 3-4 in. stem-tip cutting from a healthy Begonia lucerna plant.

Strip off the lower leaves and insert the Begonia lucerna cutting in moist free-draining soil.

Place the set up in a warm, shaded place and maintain the soil moist until the new Begonia Lucerna plant is well established after which routine care can begin.

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Begonia lucerna Problems Indoors

Begonia lucerna yellow leaves

Yellow leaves in Begonia lucerna are caused by two possible reasons.

One possible cause of yellow leaves in your Begonia Lucerna is too little light (inadequate light).

Move your Begonia Lucerna to a brighter spot. Begonia lucerna grows best in bright shade to bright, indirect light but away from direct sunlight.

The second possible cause of yellow leaves in your Begonia Lucerna is too little or too much water in the soil (soggy soil).

Maintain the soil for your Begonia lucerna moist at all times but not soggy and never allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Begonia lucerna dropping (losing) leaves

There are three possible causes of loss of leaves in Begonia lucerna.

The first possible cause of leaf drop in your Begonia Lucerna is too little light.

Move your Begonia Lucerna to a brighter spot. Begonia lucerna grows best in bright shade to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight.

The second possible cause of leaf drop in your Begonia Lucerna is too much heat.

The best temperature for your Begonia lucerna is average room temperature, that is, a temperature that is comfortable for you is good for your plant.

The third possible cause of leaf drop in your Begonia Lucerna is too much water in the soil (soggy soil).

Ensure the soil for your Begonia lucerna is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Begonia lucerna flower bud drop

There are two possible causes of flower bud drop in Begonia lucerna.

One possible cause of flower bud drop in your Begonia lucerna is dry air, that is, low humidity.

To raise humidity for your Begonia lucerna, set the pot on a wet pebble tray but do not mist the leaves to avoid fungal diseases. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

The second possible cause of flower bud drop in your Begonia lucerna is underwatering.

Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Begonia Lucerna and never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.

Begonia lucerna brown leaf tips

Brown leaf tips in Begonia lucerna are due too dry air which results in too low humidity.

To raise humidity for your Begonia lucerna, set the pot on a wet pebble tray but do not mist the leaves to prevent fungal diseases. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Begonia lucerna pale, rotting leaves

Pale, rotting leaves in Begonia lucerna are due to overwatering or too wet soil (soggy soil).

Maintain the soil for your Begonia lucerna moist but not soggy. Ensure the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Begonia lucerna white powdery leaf spots

White powdery leaf spots in Begonia lucerna is an indication of powdery mildew which is promoted by over damp conditions.

Isolate the affected Begonia lucerna, cut off the diseased leaves and treat it appropriately for the disease.

Avoid damp conditions and low temperatures and improve air circulation for your Begonia lucerna. Also, do not wet the foliage as it promotes powdery mildew infestation.

Begonia lucerna brown blotches which turn grey and moldy

Brown blotches which turn grey and moldy in Begonia lucerna is an indication of botrytis disease.

Isolate the affected Begonia lucerna, cut off diseased parts and treat it appropriately for the disease.

Avoid low light and over damp conditions and improve air circulation for your Begonia lucerna. Ensure your plant receives bright, indirect light and do not mist it.

Begonia lucerna collapse or dying

There are three possible causes of plant collapse for Begonia lucerna.

One possible cause of plant collapse for your Begonia lucerna is stem-rot disease due to soggy soil.

The second possible cause of plant collapse in your Begonia lucerna is nematodes (root knot eelworm) which are characterized by swollen bumps on roots.

The third possible cause of plant collapse in your Begonia lucerna is vine weevil which is characterized by tunnels in the rhizomes.