Why did this happen 😭 #begoniamaculata
I came home and saw one of the medium sized leaves fell off my begonia and it was a completely healthy one (or so I thought). I was under the impression this plant was doing well because there are little leaf sprouts all around it but what could have caused this? #helpneeded #begonia
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I'm going to guess that the healthy leaf fell off because it rotted from the base. That soil looks awfully wet, so unless you very recently watered it's likely not drying out fast enough. This often happens with thick-walled glazed clay pots, there's not enough air circulation and the soil stays damp for far too long.
@stephonicle that's a good point, it is a ceramic pot. I did recently water it because the top felt dry but I can look for a different pot. What kind of pot would you recommend?
Wanted to add I have it mixed with orchid bark as well to help dry out
Wanted to add I have it mixed with orchid bark as well to help dry out
@ZestLychee52 plastic nursery pots are my go-to for all non-succulent plants, and I've recently started switching over to clear plastic pots so I can keep an eye on the roots. Even though plastic is non-porous, they're thin so the soil is able to dry out faster. If you're not crazy about how they look, you can always set the plastic pot inside a more decorative pot. Just make sure to dump out excess water so it doesn't collect in the bottom.
I'd recommend adding more perlite to your soil. A 1:1:1 ratio of potting soil, bark, and perlite would really improve drainage 😊
I'd recommend adding more perlite to your soil. A 1:1:1 ratio of potting soil, bark, and perlite would really improve drainage 😊
Canelike begonias drop leaves sometimes when they're too wet. You want soil that drains very readily