Skip to main content

5 begonias you should add to your collection to make it more colorful

If you’ve ever strolled around a plant nursery, chances are you’ve come across a striking begonia either in the indoor houseplant section or in the outdoor garden center. The begonia is a wide-ranging genus with around 2000 species that feature bold, asymmetrical leaves that come in swirls, wings, and more—and yes, they can be indoor or outdoor plants. Some have dots, others have silvery flecks, many have flowers, and most have a slightly wrinkled foliage texture. If you’ve ever wondered about how to care for a begonia and which one to bring home, we’ve rounded up general maintenance tips along with a rundown of five common species that you can add to your plant collection right now.

Begonia leaf
Image used with permission by copyright holder

General begonia care

Maintaining begonias

Before we dive into our favorite begonias, let’s take a look at general care tips. First and foremost, keep your begonia in a moderately well-draining potting mix as opposed to a heavy garden soil or fast-draining cactus soil. Throughout the growing season, fertilize your soil once a month—diluted, all-purpose liquid food should work in a pinch for your begonia. In terms of temperature, if it’s warm enough for you, it’s warm enough for your plant.

Recommended Videos

Watering might be the trickiest thing about begonias, but you’ll learn what your plant likes with time. Before thoroughly watering your begonia, make sure that at least an inch of the top part of the soil is dry. Don’t overwater: Excess dampness can cause the begonia to develop root rot and attract fungus gnats. To avoid other pests, remove dead leaves and blooms and occasionally check the undersides of your leaves. While you want to be prudent with watering, remember that begonias prefer humid environments, so keep a humidifier at the ready or leave a pebble tray to keep their leaves from getting crispy.

Identifying begonias by roots

The three main types of begonias are tuberous, rhizomatous, and fibrous—which, as you may have already guessed, describe their root systems. Tuberous kinds have a fleshy storage organ, rhizomatous ones have thick creeping rhizomes, and fibrous ones have feathery root systems similar to many houseplants.

Types of begonia

Begonia rex
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Begonia rex

One of the most ubiquitous types of begonias, the begonia rex can tolerate a fair amount of low light, although it does best in bright indirect light. This variety of begonias typically comes with stunning leaves that feature swirls of green, burgundy, and silver. They tolerate dry air better than many begonia species but will appreciate humidity. To share your begonia rex, simply divide the roots when you repot your plant every one to two years.

Begonia exotica

Originally from New Guinea, this shrubby species features wing-shaped, dark green leaves with thick bands of metallic red. When it grows, prune it to keep it from getting leggy and stake it to keep it upright, as it’ll shoot up anywhere between two to three feet tall. With this begonia, pay special attention to humidity to keep its leaves lush and healthy. The exotica does well in warm temperatures and will appreciate having its soil slightly dried out in between waterings.

Begonia camouflage

The begonia camouflage flaunts swirls of mottled green and warm red leaves, yielding flower spikes in the summer. If you keep your plant outdoors, make sure that it comfortably resides in a shady spot so that its leaves don’t burn. Because it has rhizomes, the best way to share it is by way of root division during the growing season.

Polka dot begonia
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Begonia polka dot

The polka dot begonia features white polka-dotted green leaves with red undersides. It can grow up to two feet tall and yield red and silver flowers during the growing season. As with most begonias, the polka dot enjoys moderate humidity. While it does like moist soil as opposed to dry, you never want your potting mix to feel soggy. To propagate this begonia, simply take stem cuttings, removing lower leaves and placing exposed nodes in water to root. The great news is that pruning this variety back will help it grow even bushier, so you don’t have to worry about over-pruning.

Begonia foliosa

This shrubby South American begonia features tiny leaves that almost resemble fronds, which is why it’s commonly referred to as the “fern begonia.” In addition to small leaves, it also features thin branches and white blooms in the growing season, which make it perfect as a show-stopping hanging basket plant. In a way, you’ll want to treat this begonia like a fern, as it appreciates humidity and prefers cooler temperatures to thrive.

Begonias may be finicky, but mastering their care to nourish their beautiful leaves and blooms is definitely worth your effort. For most varieties, you’re on the right track if you give your plant a shady spot with indirect light and a source of adequate humidity. Whether you grab a begonia rex with silvery leaves or a foliosa with dainty flowers, you’re in for a stunning plant.

Stacey Nguyen
Stacey's work has appeared on sites such as POPSUGAR, HelloGiggles, Buzzfeed, The Balance, TripSavvy, and more. When she's…
Manjula pothos care: Everything you need to know
Add a manjula pothos to your houseplant collection
Manjula pothos in a basket

Pothos are well-known plants and loved for their stunning foliage and hardy, low-maintenance reputation. They need little care to thrive and are perfect for beginners and experts alike. There are so many fantastic pothos varieties available, from the elegant marble queen to the classic golden pothos. Manjula pothos are one such variety, and they’re becoming increasingly popular. They’re easy to find online and in many nurseries, and they're just as easy to add to your houseplant collection. Want to try growing your own? Here’s what you need to know about manjula pothos care.
What makes manjula pothos unique?

Manjula pothos is a variegated pothos with green, white, and sometimes silver leaves. Unlike some pothos varieties with cleaner patterns, the variegation on manjula pothos plants is often mixed together, making the patches irregular and more unique. The variegated patches often include flecks or spots of other colors, and there can even be multiple shades of the same color to create a gradient effect.

Read more
How to care for the monkey tail cactus for endless blooms
Tricks for taking care of the unique monkey tail cactus
A monkey tail cactus with pink flowers

If you live in a hot, dry climate then you might be looking for drought-tolerant desert plants to fill out your garden. There are so many fantastic cacti, shrubs, flowers, and trees to choose from, but not all of them are suited to container gardens. If you want a beautiful and unique cactus that you can grow in a container or outdoors, you should consider getting a monkey tail cactus. Never heard of it, or not sure how to grow one? We have you covered in this simple guide to monkey tail cactus care.
What is a monkey tail cactus?

The monkey tail cactus, or Cleistocactus colademononis, is a cactus native to the Andes mountains in Bolivia and Argentina. They’re adapted to high altitudes, rocky soil, and lots of sun. These cacti are actually epiphytic (like some types of orchids), meaning they don’t always grow in soil. Instead, their roots cling and burrow into the stone sides of cliffs.

Read more
How big do Bromeliads get?
Caring for you bromeliad so it grows as big and old as possible
Group of mature bromeliads

Bromeliads are gorgeous houseplant that are known for their vibrant flowers and glossy leaves. When getting a bromeliad for the first time, many people find themselves asking a few questions. How big do bromeliads get? What’s the average bromeliad size? How long do bromeliads live? These flowering houseplants are slow-growing, and most of the time when you buy them from the nursery they’re already blooming. That means they’re fully mature and as big as they’re going to get. However, if you want to try propagating your own bromeliad, then you'll need to know what to expect.
How large will your bromeliad grow?

Throughout their life, houseplant bromeliads can grow anywhere from 1 inch to 3 feet tall. Some won’t reach the biggest height by maturity, but some will. It’s a toss-up when you’re growing pups for how big they will eventually get, but you should plan for a 2 to 3-foot-tall plant to be on the safe side.

Read more