Angel Wing Begonia is a popular houseplant. It has stunningly attractive angel-wing shaped foliage which is much loved by many indoor gardeners. Angel wing begonias are easy to grow and will flower indoors. There are hundreds of varieties of Angel wing begonias. Our favorites are the polka-dot leaf Begonia maculata, the fragrant flowers of Begonia solananthera, and the round leaf Begonia acida. Here are tips on how to care for your Angel wing begonia.
Angel Wing Begonia Infographic
Tips on How to Take Care of Your Angel Wing Begonia
1. Your Angel Wing Begonia is Happiest in Bright Indirect Light. Avoid Direct Sun.
Angel Wing Begonia is happiest in a bright indirect light location. It will happily grow in an east-facing window with indirect morning sunlight. Use sheer curtains to filter the light. Avoid direct sunlight.
2. Moderate Water is Best for Your Angel Wing Begonia
Your Angel Wing Begonia has moderate water requirements. Water your Angel Wing Begonia when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it is time to water your Angel Wing Begonia is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Angel Wing Begonia.
3. Get the Soil Right for Your Angel Wing Begonia
Your Angel Wing Begonia needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix.
4. Fertilize Your Angel Wing Begonia
Fertilize your Angel Wing Begonia every two weeks at half strength during the growing season.
5. Don’t forget to Repot Your Angel Wing Begonia
Your Angel Wing Begonia does not need to be repotted frequently. It actually thrives in a smaller pot. Too big of a pot will result in overwatering. Repot only when it looks like it is outgrowing its current pot. Best to repot your Angel Wing Begonia is in the Spring. Transfer it to a pot that is 2 inches larger in diameter than its current pot.
6. Drainage is Essential for Your Angel Wing Begonia
Good drainage is important, you don’t want your Angel Wing Begonia to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After watering your Angel Wing Begonia and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Angel Wing Begonia’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot!
7. Get the Temperature Right for Your Angel Wing Begonia
Your Angel Wing Begonia needs to have a daytime temperature of 70F to 80 Fahrenheit (21-26C). The nighttime temperature should be at 60-70 Fahrenheit (15-21 C). Angel wing begonias are highly sensitive to the cold, keep them away from a cold draft. It does not do well in temperatures below 55 F (13 C).
8. Humidity is Vital for Your Angel Wing Begonia
Your Angel Wing Begonia is a houseplant that likes humid conditions. You should increase indoor humidity. Mist your Angel Wing Begonia several times a week. Add humidity to indoor air with an air humidifier.
Another way to increase humidity is to keep your Angel Wing Begonia in a saucer filled with water. But make sure the pot is elevated with pot feet or pebbles so your Angel Wing Begonia is not sitting directly on the water.
3 Common Angel Wing Begonia Problems
The common problems for Angel Wing Begonia are mealy bugs, leaf drop, and gray mold.
Fluffy White Growth In Between the Leaves and Stems of Your Angel Wing Begonia
Problem: There are fluffy white growths in between the leaves and stems of your Angel Wing Begonia.
Cause: Mealybugs are causing the fluffy white growth on your Angel Wing Begonia. It is a common houseplant disease.
Solution: To get rid of mealybugs on your Angel Wing Begonia, wash your plant with water. You can also use soapy water. Spraying rubbing alcohol on affected areas can also get rid of mealybugs. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are also effective in getting rid of mealybugs.
Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap
Your Angel Wing Begonia Leaves are Falling Off
Problem: The leaves of your Angel Wing Begonia are falling off, that is a sign that something is wrong. It’s normal if one or two old leaves fall off your Angel Wing Begonia but if a lot of leaves fall off all at once that is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Cause: It’s possible your Angel Wing Begonia leaves are falling because it’s been overwatered. Leaves dropping can also be caused by underwatering. Moving your Angel Wing Begonia to a new location where it is not happy can also cause the leaves of your Angel Wing Begonia to fall. Your Angel Wing Begonia can also drop leaves if it’s too cold.
Solution: You need to do a little bit of digging around. Did you overwater or are you underwatering your Angel Wing Begonia? What are the daytime and nighttime temperature of the room, is it suitable for your Angel Wing Begonia? You can resolve the leaves dropping problem, once you pinpoint what is causing the leaves to fall from your Angel Wing Begonia.
There are brown spots on the Leaves or Flowers of Your Angel Wing Begonia
Problem: There are brown spots on the leaves or flowers of your Angel Wing Begonia.
Cause: The brown spots are a telltale sign of a gray mold fungus infection caused by Botrytis cineria. Gray mold is a common houseplant disease.
Solution: Remove infected parts immediately to prevent the fungus infection from spreading to other parts of the plant. You can use baking soda spray to prevent future outbreaks.
Angel Wing Begonia Houseplant Facts
| Name | Angel Wing Begonia |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light. Avoid Direct Sun. |
| Daytime Temperature | 70 to 80 F (21-26C) |
| Night Time Temperature | 60 to 70 F (15-21C) |
| Water | Moderate Water |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Potting | Well-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize every 2 weeks at half strength |
| Toxic to Pets and Humans | Toxic |
Angel Wing Begonia: Frequently Asked Questions
What are Other Names of Angel Wing Begonia?
Angel Wing Begonia is also called Cane Begonia and Dragon Wing Begonia.
Angel Wing Begonia: Varieties
Popular Angel Wing Begonia varieties are Begonia x coralline, Begonia rex and Begonia maculata
Is Your Angel Wing Begonia Toxic to Pets?
Your Angel Wing Begonia is toxic to humans and pets. Keep it out of reach from pets and children.
How Can You Tell When It’s Time to Water Your Angel Wing Begonia?
Water your Angel Wing Begonia when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it’s time to water is by sticking your finger into the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If the soil feels dry, then it’s time to water your Angel Wing Begonia.
Can You Use Cold Water When Watering Your Angel Wing Begonia?
Angel Wing Begonia can be watered with tap water but be mindful of the water temperature that you are using to water your Angel Wing Begonia. Don’t use straight cold water from the tap to water your Angel Wing Begonia.
Angel Wing Begonia prefers cool water that is not hot and not cold. When you turn on the cold water from the faucet add a little bit of warm water. You can also get to this ideal temperature by filling a watering can or pitcher with water and leaving it out overnight until the water is at room temperature.
What Fertilizer Should You Use for Your Angel Wing Begonia?
Use liquid, organic fertilizer with a higher ratio of phosphorus (the second number) on your Angel Wing Begonia. The higher phosphorus level will promote flowering.
How Big Does Your Angel Wing Begonia Get?
Your Angel Wing Begonia can grow 1 to 6 feet tall as houseplants. The size will depend on the variety.
How Do You Propagate Your Angel Wing Begonia?
Angel Wing Begonia Plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate your Angel Wing Begonia plant by stem tip cutting. Below are steps on how to propagate Angel Wing Begonia Plant by stem tip cutting:
1. Take a Stem Tip Cutting of Angel Wing Begonia Plant
Pick a stem with a node. Cut below the node.
2. Place Angel Wing Begonia Stem Cutting in Jar of Water
Place the Angel Wing Begonia stem cutting into a jar of water and wait for it to grow roots. To help it focus its energy on growing roots, make sure your stem has a maximum of 2 leaves. Cut off extra leaves as needed.
Another way to stimulate root growth is to dip your stem cutting in root hormone and plant it in moist sand. I personally prefer the jar method so you can easily see the roots come out. Know that not all stem cuttings of Angel Wing Begonia will grow roots, so to be safe, cut a few stem cuttings so you will at least get one with roots.
3. Plant Angel Wing Begonia Stem Cutting in a New Pot
Once the roots grow, plant these stem cuttings into a new pot. Water the new plant immediately after planting. Then water every 2-3 days until the roots are established.
4. Place New Angel Wing Begonia Plant in a Spot with Bright Indirect Sun
Place your new Angel Wing Begonia plant in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct sunlight.
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