Plant Care Begonia cucullata

Begonia cucullata

4.3 out of 5 (23 experiences)

Begonia cucullata has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
Begonia cucullata has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily

About Begonia cucullata

There are over 2,000 species of Begonia, and horticulturalists have created even more varities by cultivating all sorts of shapes and colors! They're native to tropical regions around the world, but are now found in homes in cold climates as well. Their taxonomy is far more complex than other plants, with species belonging to different cultivar groups. They contain oxalic acid, so be sure to keep them out of reach in homes with pets or children! ⚠️

Taxonomy

Begonia cucullata var. cucullata
Begonia
Begoniaceae
Cucurbitales

Also known as

Begonia cucullata, wax begonia, clubed begonia and Begonia semperflorens cultorum

How to care for Begonia cucullata

💦 Water

How often to water your Begonia cucullata

Water needs for Begonia cucullata
0.5 cups
every 9

Begonia cucullata needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Begonia cucullata

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Begonia cucullata in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Begonia cucullata: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Begonia cucullata may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Begonia cucullata in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Begonia cucullata

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Begonia cucullata: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Begonia cucullata after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Begonia
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Begonia cucullata is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Begonia cucullata prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Begonia cucullata may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Begonia cucullata is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.


💨 Humidity

Begonia cucullata doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.


🪴 Soil

Begonia cucullata does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Begonia cucullata should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


❄️ Dormancy

Begonia cucullata does not have a typical pattern of dormancy. If you notice their growth slowing down substantially, double check that they are getting enough sunlight and water to thrive!


🌎 Native Region

Begonia cucullata is native to Tropics and Subtropics worldwide.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Begonia cucullata can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Begonia cucullata, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Begonia cucullata

Begonia cucullata

Begonia cucullata


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Begonia cucullata has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 13
Begonia cucullata has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 11
Begonia cucullata has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 9
Begonia cucullata has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 6
Begonia cucullata has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 4
Begonia cucullata has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 4
Begonia cucullata has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 2
@alexnoonan avatar
@@alexnoonan
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 1,797 XP
11/23/2021

Another begonia I love dearly. I got a cutting of a few leaves from a friend in July 2021 & this baby has been growing like a weed since (in lots of sunlight)! Now I have this lush bush about a foot high with new leaves sprouting every week. I love her!!!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@BrandyLVSplants avatar
@@BrandyLVSplants
leaf-1 93 Plants
xp 6,167 XP
07/17/2021

Great plant! I prefer the one with dark purple leaves, but this little green leafed girl, never gives up trying to steal the show!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@MbrookeM avatar
@@MbrookeM
leaf-1 28 Plants
xp 4,070 XP
globe Atlanta, GA
07/17/2021

It dries out pretty quickly

Fast grower Fast grower
Stacey avatar
@Stacey
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 44 XP
globe Fayetteville, NC
07/15/2021

Hard to keep looking good… if I ignore it, it does great!

Browns easily Browns easily
@BrandyLVSplants avatar
@@BrandyLVSplants
leaf-1 93 Plants
xp 6,167 XP
07/07/2021

Not much to say, loves the sun and blooms adorable little white flowers inside or outside.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@lulu_h avatar
@@lulu_h
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 181 XP
globe Oklahoma City, OK
05/24/2021

a begonia is ideal for someone who isn’t home a lot but loves pretty plants! it’s definitely a survivor of cold and hot. would recommend!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@Maria avatar
@@Maria
leaf-1 74 Plants
xp 5,697 XP
globe Highland, CA
04/03/2021

I completely forgot to add this plant to my collection here in Greg, maybe because it’s such a low maintenance plant and never complains. 😅 It has not stopped blooming, even though it lives on the patio and I live in a desert with 10% humidity on average.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily

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