How to grow and care for Wax Begonia Indoors

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Wax Begonia Care, Begonia semperflorens Care

Botanical name: Begonia semperflorens
Family: Begoniaceae

Wax Begonia Description

Wax Begonia is a small leafy bush which blooms almost the year round. It is easy to grow and easily adapts to indoor growing conditions.

These Wax Begonia hybrids have a wide range of flower types in red, white, orange and pink. Newer Wax Begonia hybrids are regularly developed which are more compact and have bigger blooms.

Wax Begonia Size

The Wax Begonia grows to about 6-12 in. high and is the easiest to grow of the flowering Begonias. Wax Begonia hybrids have round waxy leaves about 2 in. across, ranging from greenish-yellow to deepest red.

Wax Begonia Origin

In their natural habitat Begonias grow as understory plants in moist, shady to partially shady conditions in the tropical and subtropical regions in South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia.

Wax Begonia for Sale

Buy beautiful and healthy Begonia Plants from Etsy.

Wax Begonia Care, Begonia semperflorens Care

Photo Credit: Urbano.in

Wax Begonia Care Indoors

Wax Begonia Light Requirements

Wax Begonia grows best in bright light with a few hours of morning or evening sun.

Occasionally turn the pot to ensure that your Wax Begonia is getting light on all sides for uniform growth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

Wax Begonia Water Requirements

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

Reduce watering for your Wax Begonia during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.

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

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

Temperature for Wax Begonia

The best temperature for growing Wax Begonia indoors is cool to average warmth with a minimum of 14⁰C.

Protect your Wax Begonia from cold draughts to prevent sudden drop in temperature. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Humidity for Wax Begonia

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

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

Do not mist your Wax Begonia as wetting the leaves may lead to fungal diseases.

Wax Begonia Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Wax Begonia with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing period.

To promote flowering for your Wax Begonia, apply a phosphorous-rich fertilizer weekly when buds begin to form.

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

How to Repot Wax Begonia

Repot Wax Begonia at the beginning of the growing period only if the plant has become root-bound or is too large for the pot as the plant blooms more when root-bound.

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

Ensure the pot has drainage a hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.

Do not repot a flowering Wax Begonia as the shock of repotting will cut short the flowering period.

How to Prune Wax Begonia

Pruning Wax Begonia is easy. Remove the dead flowers, yellow and dead leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy.

Cut back the bare Wax Begonia stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

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

Wax Begonia Propagation

Wax Begonia can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings or from seeds. Wax Begonia seeds can be germinated but they take months to grow.

How to propagate Wax Begonia from stem cuttings

Take a 3-4 in. stem cutting from a healthy Wax Begonia plant from low down the plant as cuttings from low down the plant root more easily.

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

Cover the set up with a clear plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect to hasten rooting.

Place the set up in a warm shaded place and maintain the soil moist until the Wax Begonia cutting has rooted.

Once rooting has taken place, gradually remove the clear plastic to acclimatize your new Wax Begonia plant.

Photo Credit: Hort Zone

Wax Begonia Problems Indoors

Wax Begonia flower bud drop

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

One possible cause of flower bud drop in your Wax Begonia is dry air.

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

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

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

Wax Begonia yellow leaves

Yellow leaves in Wax Begonia are due to two reasons.

One cause of yellow leaves in your Wax Begonia is too little light. Move your Wax Begonia to a brighter spot as it grows best in bright light with some morning or evening sunlight.

The second cause of yellow leaves in your Wax Begonia is too little or too much water which may result in soggy soil.

Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Wax Begonia but never soggy and never allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.

Wax Begonia leaf drop

There are three possible causes of leaf drop in Wax Begonia.

One possible cause of leaf drop in your Wax Begonia is too little light. Move your Wax Begonia to a brighter spot as it grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight.

The second possible cause of leaf drop in your Wax Begonia is too much heat. The best temperature for your Wax Begonia is average room, that is, a temperature that is comfortable for you is good for your plant.

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

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

Wax Begonia brown leaf tips

Brown leaf tips in Wax Begonia are due to dry air which result in too low air humidity.

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

Wax Begonia pale, rotting leaves

Pale, rotting leaves in Wax Begonia are due to too wet soil (soggy soil). Maintain the soil for your Wax Begonia moist but not soggy.

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

Wax Begonia white powdery spots

White powdery spots in Wax Begonia is an indication of Powdery Mildew.

Isolate the affected plant, cut off diseased leaves and treat appropriately. Avoid damp conditions and low temperatures and improve air circulation.

Wax Begonia brown blotches which turn grey and moldy

Brown blotches which turn grey and moldy in Wax Begonia is an indication of Botrytis Disease.

Isolate the affected Wax Begonia, cut off diseased parts and treat appropriately. Avoid low light and over damp conditions and improve air circulation.

Wax Begonia collapse or dying

There are three possible reasons for plant collapse or death in Wax Begonia.

One possible reason for plant collapse in your Wax Begonia is Stem Rot Disease due to soggy soil.

The second possible reason for plant collapse for your Wax Begonia is Nematodes (Root Knot Eelworm) which are characterized by swollen bumps on roots.

The third possible reason for plant collapse for your Wax Begonia is Vine Weevil which is characterized by tunnels in the rhizomes.