Begonia Maculata Plant | Polka Dot Begonia | Begonia Wightii | Live Plant | Houseplant | RARE | PlantTheStudio

Begonia Wightii | Begonia Maculata Variegata | Polka Dot Begonia | Live Plant | Houseplant | RARE |

**Please note, due to season change, autumn/winter batches will be smaller than the summer batches. They should still resemble the stock plant that we have listed. However, they may be smaller/less full than the ones you see in the review section**

Begonia Maculata commonly referred to as the Polka dot Begonia, is undoubtedly one of the most strikingly gorgeous species of indoor plants. This exotic plant derives its name from its unique silver spotted leaves and red undersides.

-TEMPERATURE-
The Begonia Maculata is a tropical plant, and, therefore, cannot thrive in cold conditions. Its ideal temperature is between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius or (67 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). This might be a tall order for anyone in temperate climates, such as Europe, but rest assured temperature-related damage does not happen until temperatures drop to less than 15 degrees Celsius (or 60 degrees Fahrenheit).

-LIGHT-
The Polka dot Begonia prefers a bit more shade than most indoor plants. Placing it in a bright, well-lit room away from direct sunlight is advisable to keep those silvery-white olive leaves vibrant. If the leaves start to appear scorched, you should move it to a less sunny part of the room. If you like to take your plant outside during summer, make sure to place it in the shade away from direct sunlight.

-WATERING-
Striking the right balance when it comes to watering the Begonia Maculata is quite a challenge. For starters, the soil should be a bit damp, but not overly wet. This is because it is highly susceptible to root rot. Before watering, you should first test the soil for dampness by dipping a finger into the soil- the top portion should be dry to about an inch deep. If you are unsure of whether to water it or not, it is actually better to err on the side of caution until the leaves start to show signs of wilting, an indication that there is little water left in the pot. When watering it, pour water directly onto the soil, ensuring the leaves remain dry.

-SOIL-
Begonia Maculata does very well in a mixture of sand, clay and loamy soil inside a pot with good drainage. This plant is highly susceptible to root rot. As such, it is always best to add a layer of pebbles or broken pieces of terracotta pots to the bottom for better drainage. You should repot the plant in a bigger pot about twice its previous size once the current pot becomes root-bound.

-FERTILIZER-
It is advisable to fertilize the Begonia Maculata after every two weeks to encourage growth of healthy leaves and more prominent blooms. For best results, use half the required dosage of water-soluble fertilizer according to package instructions. In this case, if the package says you should use one cup of water to dilute the solution, use two cups instead.

-HUMIDITY-
The Begonia Maculata is a tropical plant, and, therefore, cannot thrive in cold conditions. Its ideal temperature is between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius or (67 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). This might be a tall order for anyone in temperate climates, such as Europe, but rest assured temperature-related damage does not happen until temperatures drop to less than 15 degrees Celsius (or 60 degrees Fahrenheit).

-PROPAGATION-
The Begonia Maculata is relatively easy to propagate through cuttings. Propagation is best done during the heart of winter when blooming is minimal. All you have to do is cut off a stem with no flowers just below the bud. Remove the lower leaves and dip it in a jar of water. Let it remain inside the jar until roots start to form. After that, plant it in a mix of sandy, loamy and clay soil. Water it such that the soil is lightly moist but not overly soaked.

*** Please note that each plant may vary slightly because there is no two alike in nature. This item will ship with plant, roots, some soil, and no pot if not purchased as a bundle or separately.

**Shipping**
Due to the fragile nature, plants might develop stress during transit. Please do expect that plants may have small amounts of damage during shipping, but if it has above normal damage, please send a photo of the damage the day it arrives.

–  By purchasing this plant, you agree to the terms and conditions of this sale. Please see theFAQs.

– We STRONGLY encourage you to purchase a heat pack since New York is expected to be below 50 degrees until spring. Plant damages due to weather without heat pack will not be replaced or refunded.