Plant Profile
Polka Dot Begonia
a.k.a. Spotted Begonia // Begonia Maculata
With its striking, patterned leaves, the Polka Dot Begonia is one of the most photogenic houseplants around and a firm Instagram favourite. Native to Brazil, the attention grabbing Polka Dot Begonia is not only a guaranteed talking point, it’s also surprisingly relatively straightforward to care for. Treat this houseplant right and it will reward you by growing up to two meters in height and producing beautiful clusters flowers.
Top Tips
✔ It is normal for the Polka Dot Begonia to become leggy in appearance, when this happens prune the plant back in order to maintain a bushy, full appearance and use the cuttings from pruning to propagate.
✔ Aerate the soil before you water so the roots don’t suffocate - you can do this by using a chopstick to loosen the soil around the base, and water with distilled water where possible.
✔ Gently clean the leaves regularly to avoid a build up of dust and improve the plant’s growing conditions
Plant Care
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The Polka Dot Begonia thrives in bright, indirect light. Make sure to keep the plant out of direct light as this can scorch their leaves.
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Water the Polka Dot Begonia regularly during the summer. This plant loves moist soil, however the soil should not be soggy as the plant is susceptible to root rot, so always allow the top soil to dry out between waterings. The plant does not need to be watered as often during the winter months.
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The Polka Dot Begonia needs a high humidity environment that reflects its natural habitat, making it the perfect plant for a steamy bathroom with natural light. If positioning in a humid environment isn’t possible, misting the plant regularly is recommended. Mist around the plant rather than directly onto the leaves.
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During the growing season it is recommended to feed the Polka Dot Begonia once or twice a month.
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The Polka Dot Begonia prefers warmer temperatures, however normal room temperature should be fine as long as sudden temperature changes are avoided and the plant is kept away from drafts and radiators.
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This plant is toxic, make sure to keep away from children and pets.
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Polka Dot Begonias are easy to propagate through the cutting method. Simply cut below the leaf, and place the cutting into clean water. Allow the cutting a few weeks to develop its own roots. Once roots have grown to around 2 inches, plant the cutting in fresh soil and treat as you would a normal plant.
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The Polka Dot Begonia prefers to be slightly root bound and so requires smaller pots than other houseplants. When repotting the plant, choose a pot that is one size bigger than its current pot and make sure it has good drainage so as to avoid root rot.
Quick Plant check up
Yellow leaves
This is most likely due to the plant being overwatered. Allow the roots time to dry out and make sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Brown, crispy foliage
This will be the result of a long drought period and means the plant is in need of a good drink. Increase humidity too, by misting daily and/or putting on a pebble tray.
Not flowering
The plant is not receiving enough light