Begonia Beefsteak Care Instructions

Taxonomic Name: Begonia x erythrophylla

Begonia Family

Herbaceous Plant

The beefsteak begonia may not be the showiest of all begonias--it lacks the wild shapes and color patterns of the rex and angelwing types--but it is perhaps the overall favorite, for one important reason. It survives where other begonias wane much more quickly.

Beefsteak begonias can be grown in most office and home environments, even where lighting and humidity levels are not ideal.

How to Care for Your Plant:

LIGHT: Bright indirect sunlight (in an eastern or bright northern window) is preferred; good artificial light will also suffice, at least for several months at a time. If only artificial lighting is available, you can increase the plant's vigor by using bright fluorescent fixtures that are kept on at least twelve hours a day.)

WATERING: Make sure the soil surface dries between waterings; but water thoroughly very soon thereafter. At least a little water should come out of the pot's bottom drainage holes, but the plant should not stand in saucer water for more than thirty minutes.

FEEDING: Feed during active growth with an all purpose houseplant fertilizer. Use the fertilizer at half the concentration and frequency cited in the product directions. Little or no feeding is required during dormancy, when the plant is not flowering or putting forth new leaves.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Beefsteak begonia leaves may develop powdery mildew (fuzzy white patches) if air circulation is poor. Control the mildew fungus with a sulfur-based garden fungicide.