Begonia Angel Wing Care Instructions

Taxonomic Name: Begonia coccinea, Begonia corallina, and associated hybrids

Begonia Family

Herbaceous Plant

Angel-wing begonias are true aristocrats of the foliage-plant world. They are widely used in hanging baskets, and as tabletop specimens and even shrub-sized floor plants. Their fancy leaf patterns and eye-catching color schemes seem to suggest that they are fragile selections destined to fade or rot after a brief season of glory. In fact, angel-wings can prove remarkably long-lasting. In addition, they often flower profusely, with clusters of salmon pink blossoms that add to their ornamental appeal.

How to Care for Your Plant:

LIGHT: Either direct sunlight (in a southern or western window) or bright indirect sunlight (an in eastern or bright northern window).

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 flowering 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.

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