He only needs watering when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Don’t be tempted to overwater him.
You’ll get the most vivid colouring on his leaves if you put him somewhere with lots of light, but not harsh direct sun.
He’s happiest if the atmosphere is moist. A bright bathroom would be a great home for him.
Botanical name
Begonia masoniana
Nickname
Iron cross begonia
Air purifying
Yes
Plant height
20-30cm
Pet/Baby safe
Toxic if ingested
Nursery pot size
12cm
The name Iron cross begonia comes from the rust-coloured patterning on this little plant’s leaves. It’s most typically found in forests in China, where it will grow up to about 50cm tall.
Begonias have become popular across the world, both as indoor and outdoor plants (the dramatically flowering ones are a British garden staple). Iron cross may flower, with tiny white blooms, but the real attraction here is the vividly patterned leaves.
Grown inside, it likes a lot of light and an atmosphere that’s not overly dry. Lower humidity can lead to crispy edges on its leaves. It will live fairly contentedly in a semi-shade, but if you can give it lots of indirect light you’ll see that foliage at its most spectacularly colourful. You can help it grow by giving it a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month in spring and summer.
Did you know?
There are over 1800 known species of begonia.
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