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4.6 out of 5 (162 experiences)


About Polka Dot Begonia
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 maculata
Begonia
Begoniaceae
Cucurbitales
Also known as
Spotted Begonia, Trout Begonia, Begonia corallina and Begonia flamingo, queen

How to care for Polka Dot Begonia
How often to water your Polka Dot Begonia

every 9
Polka Dot Begonia 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.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Polka Dot Begonia in your home

a window
Polka Dot Begonia 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 Polka Dot Begonia in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Polka Dot Begonia

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 Polka Dot Begonia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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My plants leaves are falling off. I moved it out of the sun because it was crisping. I’m not sure how to fix it. #Begonia
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Got my anglelwing polka dot begonia recently. Wondering if there is a way to know what color of the flowers it will have? Before blooming😊 thank you #Begonia
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#FreshLeafFriday Look who’s got a new leaf coming soon! 😍
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My begonia is dying 🥺 It started losing leaves left and right, I couldn't figure out why, until I saw whatever this is. I coated it in neem oil a few times, and that seemed to fix it, the white stuff was gone, and it started growing new leaves again, but now it's back and almost worse than before. What is it, and how can I fix it? Haalp 😫 #begonia #happyplants
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Gifted a polkadotted begonia and I need help! I just received this plant from my husband’s best friend’s parents, they are moving to Arizona and didn’t want to take it with them. I am very new to the hobby, but even I can tell that these plants are very leggy and their leaves do not look happy. I would really appreciate any and all recommendations on how to get these plants to bush out more and to make them happy. My first thought is to trim them back down to maybe a foot long but then I wonder if cutting that far back will kill it. Obviously I’m going to be looking at Google and seeing what I could find but I thought I would post here first to see if any of you have any recommendations.  #NewPlantMom #HappyPlants
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This new plant came with some winged friends. I think they are maybe fungus gnats? Any solutions?
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I would like to transplant and thin my 2 spotted Begonias. Where is a good place to get directive on this process? It is a plant passed down in the family since 1955. I inherited it when a family member passed away. It was beautiful then but to heavy now. #Begonia
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Haven’t posted in awhile, too much work stress, but my plants even when neglected remind me how beautiful they are 🥰
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Is Stella dead? Rescue begonia is crispy :( #Begonia Stella has some very small roots and mostly crispy leaves. On stem actually came off completely as I was taking a look at her. I ended up pulling it out of the pot and into water to try and see if I can get any root growth.
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Propagating from thick stem? Hey y’all, I have this big, beautiful begonia that I received as a cutting from a neighbor. It’s been thriving and growing really tall, but I want to get more fullness from it and propagate some of the leaves into new starts. My question is, the start that I received has this big, thick stem (bottom of the photo, with one big, healthy leaf stalk coming off it). All the videos I’ve watched don’t have this giant, thick piece, and I’m not sure what to with this. Any advice? I don’t wanna ruin it because it’s so big and pretty 😬 #Begonia
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia 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.
Polka Dot Begonia Toxicity to Cats →
💨 Humidity
Polka Dot Begonia prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
🪴 Soil
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia 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
Polka Dot Begonia is native to Tropics and Subtropics worldwide.
🌸 Flowers
Yes, you may see your Polka Dot Begonia bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
Polka Dot Begonia grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.
🌦️ Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Polka Dot Begonia can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
🌱 Propagation
Polka Dot Begonia can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
🍂 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 Polka Dot Begonia, 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 Polka Dot Begonia
Polka Dot Begonia
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

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












She’s so pretty with the pink on the leaves, cute flowers that show up pretty often, & have a beautiful pink color. The care is easy; I’m looking for another begonia to join it. I did have a trellis to give her some support. Shes one of my very favorite plants.









This is just such a beautiful, fun plant! I have mine sitting in an east-facing windowsill and it’s thriving with the early morning light, and so far it hasn’t been fussy about watering either. It’s grown a new leaf just about every week or two, some are big and some are small. Such a lovely plant to watch grow with their beautiful spiraling buds and iridescent white dots!


