Unraveling a mystery
Hi community 👋
This morning I woke up to my begonia having these kinds of tips.
Do any of you know the cause is?
The tips are dry but soft 🧐
Haven't watered it in a week since soil still feels fresh 1inch from the surface.
It had some dry tips so I misted it 2 days to increase humidity and it became like this.
I am suspending the mist and moved it to a brighter spot until it recovers
My guess: it was happy....but when i misted it, it became angry although it liked the spot I placed it.
Here a pic of the soil i am using just in case that's the problem.
#begonia #greggang #help #greggers #greggerssupportinggreggers
This morning I woke up to my begonia having these kinds of tips.
Do any of you know the cause is?
The tips are dry but soft 🧐
Haven't watered it in a week since soil still feels fresh 1inch from the surface.
It had some dry tips so I misted it 2 days to increase humidity and it became like this.
I am suspending the mist and moved it to a brighter spot until it recovers
My guess: it was happy....but when i misted it, it became angry although it liked the spot I placed it.
Here a pic of the soil i am using just in case that's the problem.
#begonia #greggang #help #greggers #greggerssupportinggreggers
2ft to light, direct
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 months ago
11
Best Answer
If your plant’s info card is correct, 8 feet from the light is a bit far. My polka dot begonia lives 1 foot from a southern facing window (I’m in northern hemisphere) but she is high up enough that she’s just out of the path of direct sunshine and loves it there. I also can’t tell how big your maculata is from these pictures but it kind of looks small for a 6 inch pot? The soil might be staying wet for longer than the root system can drink it up. And if that’s true and the leaf tips are soft dry, not crispy dry, I would be concerned with the roots.
I would gently remove the soil from the pot and check the roots for rot. Any black, mushy bits or roots that fall off from a light touch? Remove any rot with a sharp sterile knife or scissors, giving the root ball a dunk in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (i use 1:2 ratio, 1 part peroxide to two parts water, but I know others that use 1:4 or even 1:5. I haven’t ever treated my begonias for rot so I would be cautious and use a more diluted solution first.) Afterwards repot in fresh clean soil and make sure, if you’re using the old pot, that it is scrubbed out and sterilized. Rot bacteria can stick around unless you clean it. I would recommend going down a pot size though.
Is Jinx sort of pale? Do you use fertilizer/plant food? If there’s no rot, I might try adding a (half strength) balanced fertilizer once a month while it is growing. However if there was rot I would wait to fertilize it for at least a month, or when you start to see new growth.
I think your instinct was right about the misting. They don’t need it! If after checking the roots, potentially repotting or downsizing and moving it to a brighter location you still having issues, feel free to reach out. 🪴
Edit: forgot to mention soil type. I don’t think carnivorous soil is the best for these if that is what you use. Begonias like a slight moisture retaining but well draining soil. Mine are in a regular potting soil amended with perlite, coco coir, or orchid bark, and a bit of horticultural charcoal. Cheers!
I would gently remove the soil from the pot and check the roots for rot. Any black, mushy bits or roots that fall off from a light touch? Remove any rot with a sharp sterile knife or scissors, giving the root ball a dunk in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (i use 1:2 ratio, 1 part peroxide to two parts water, but I know others that use 1:4 or even 1:5. I haven’t ever treated my begonias for rot so I would be cautious and use a more diluted solution first.) Afterwards repot in fresh clean soil and make sure, if you’re using the old pot, that it is scrubbed out and sterilized. Rot bacteria can stick around unless you clean it. I would recommend going down a pot size though.
Is Jinx sort of pale? Do you use fertilizer/plant food? If there’s no rot, I might try adding a (half strength) balanced fertilizer once a month while it is growing. However if there was rot I would wait to fertilize it for at least a month, or when you start to see new growth.
I think your instinct was right about the misting. They don’t need it! If after checking the roots, potentially repotting or downsizing and moving it to a brighter location you still having issues, feel free to reach out. 🪴
Edit: forgot to mention soil type. I don’t think carnivorous soil is the best for these if that is what you use. Begonias like a slight moisture retaining but well draining soil. Mine are in a regular potting soil amended with perlite, coco coir, or orchid bark, and a bit of horticultural charcoal. Cheers!
Although I agree misting is bad for plants it causes fungal and bacterial infections. The misting is not the cause.
They are really sensitive to overwatering and get brown tips when they are not allowed to dry completely between watering. I let mine go bone dry and then water that prevents the crispy tips. Begonias in general are not happy when overwatered. And the polka dots really let you know!
They like indirect light and stable conditions. Mine do best on interior walls under grow lights.
She doesn't have root rot she's not showing signs of that. She just needs to be watered less.
NO CARNIVOROUS plant mix it stays wet and boggy and she will absolutely hate it. She needs lots of aeration to be happy. 🩷
They are really sensitive to overwatering and get brown tips when they are not allowed to dry completely between watering. I let mine go bone dry and then water that prevents the crispy tips. Begonias in general are not happy when overwatered. And the polka dots really let you know!
They like indirect light and stable conditions. Mine do best on interior walls under grow lights.
She doesn't have root rot she's not showing signs of that. She just needs to be watered less.
NO CARNIVOROUS plant mix it stays wet and boggy and she will absolutely hate it. She needs lots of aeration to be happy. 🩷
Beautiful ppl in this app, thank you so much for all your guidance 🙇♀️🙆♀️!
I checked roots and nope, its not root rot.
I moved it closer to a window to get lots of indirect light and it has improved a lot 💚
It even started to sprout more leaves 🌱
Two leaves were left damaged, but I am trying to give it a break before removing those two damaged leaves.
Also, sorry for the confusion. Its not in a Carnivorous mix, it has orchid mix, gotta change that rn...
I checked roots and nope, its not root rot.
I moved it closer to a window to get lots of indirect light and it has improved a lot 💚
It even started to sprout more leaves 🌱
Two leaves were left damaged, but I am trying to give it a break before removing those two damaged leaves.
Also, sorry for the confusion. Its not in a Carnivorous mix, it has orchid mix, gotta change that rn...
@debbiedo wow that first one is a beast! 😱🤩 (I mean, that second is pretty huge too, lol) Do you take it out of the hanger to water or bring the water to it?
@SuperbRaspfern Now I’m curious, what signs would you look for that would imply it could be root rot? [And do different plants show them in different ways?] I bow down to your fountain of knowledge. I’ve learned so much in the short time I’ve been on Greg, I’m just loving it.
@DreamMachine Awe, stop your too sweet. 😊🩷
The signs of root rot are yellowing leaves to start and then they will get brown spots in the yellow. Plants will look wilty and sad. The yellow and brown leaves can get crispy if left on they will eventually dry out.
That is your red flag and will mean root rot. Because as the roots are damaged from the bacteria that causes it. The plant loses the ability to absorb water and nutrients. Even though the pot has tons of water the plant is unable to access it.
I always like to say that plants are not the cause of root rot. The plant is the innocent bystander. Because it is caused by the soil. Soil that is too heavy or doesn't drain or is watered too often. When that happens there is no oxygen within the soil. The bacteria starts to grow in an environment without oxygen. After it starts growing is multiplies really fast and then the bacteria gets hungry. Then it starts feeding in your innocent plants roots causing root rot. 😢
The results will always look the same. If people start cutting off the yellow and brown leaves or evidence it gets out of control and will start working its way up the main stems. You will see dark browning at the base that starts creeping up. At that time it's chop and prop. Because then a simple treatment is not enough.
By the way feel free at any time and anyone else who reads anything I write and wants to save it. To copy paste and share with others. It can be on any post I write. I don't mind and just want to get the info out there.
It makes me happy to see others using the words I write and passing it on to help others. That's all the reward I need. 🩷 Because I literally just want other to have thriving plants and to get there we work as a team.
The signs of root rot are yellowing leaves to start and then they will get brown spots in the yellow. Plants will look wilty and sad. The yellow and brown leaves can get crispy if left on they will eventually dry out.
That is your red flag and will mean root rot. Because as the roots are damaged from the bacteria that causes it. The plant loses the ability to absorb water and nutrients. Even though the pot has tons of water the plant is unable to access it.
I always like to say that plants are not the cause of root rot. The plant is the innocent bystander. Because it is caused by the soil. Soil that is too heavy or doesn't drain or is watered too often. When that happens there is no oxygen within the soil. The bacteria starts to grow in an environment without oxygen. After it starts growing is multiplies really fast and then the bacteria gets hungry. Then it starts feeding in your innocent plants roots causing root rot. 😢
The results will always look the same. If people start cutting off the yellow and brown leaves or evidence it gets out of control and will start working its way up the main stems. You will see dark browning at the base that starts creeping up. At that time it's chop and prop. Because then a simple treatment is not enough.
By the way feel free at any time and anyone else who reads anything I write and wants to save it. To copy paste and share with others. It can be on any post I write. I don't mind and just want to get the info out there.
It makes me happy to see others using the words I write and passing it on to help others. That's all the reward I need. 🩷 Because I literally just want other to have thriving plants and to get there we work as a team.
@SuperbRaspfern Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Yay, that is awesome! I already take screenshots of yours so great to know 💕 I just adore plant people 🪴✨
@DreamMachine Thats great! 💕