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Requirements: They thrive indoors in bright to medium
indirect light and a warm room, so don’t keep them
too near a window while night temperatures are still
low – begonias don’t handle cold well. Keep the soil
slightly moist but don’t allow it to become soggy. Half a
cup of water once or twice a week in summer should be
enough.
Long-term care: Fertilise with a liquid fertiliser for
flowers once a month. Because begonias grown indoors
are especially susceptible to root rot, be careful not to
overwater them. To check, push your finger into the
potting mix, and delay watering by a day if it is still
moist. Also, water below the leaves to prevent fungal
diseases. These begonias can be planted outdoors in
summer, in a position that receives morning sun and
afternoon shade. Plant them in fertile well-composted
soil that drains well.T
he appeal of the many available
varieties of Begonia Rex-cultorum
lies in their large, colourful and dramatic
leaves with very interesting leaf patterns
or very prominent and hairy leaf veins
and stems. Sometimes both are present
on the same plant. Depending on your
choice, you can expect hues of royal
purple, silver, different greens, red and
dusky pink. The flowers, which are very
dainty, appear on thin stems in winter.Pruning old leavesNew growthWatering