I've been hesitant to continue posting during this time because I don't want my voice as a white woman to overtake the voices of BIPOC. I want to continue with this blog because I am working through my own personal battle, BUT my voice is not the important one right now. At this time, this blog has been viewed by two people besides me, so I will continue posting, but the @plants_paints Insta feed is going to be utilized for black plant lovers for the next seven days, and I will do a shop spotlight in the future where I try to highlight some of the black-owned plant businesses available online. With all that being said, I firmly believe Black Lives Matter and welcome you to message me with questions if you do not understand my stance. This is not politics, this is humanity.
I understand that I will never understand. However, I stand with you.
We all have a first love, in life and in the plant world. Think pothos, a succulent, a snake plant. They’re the ones who conquer our hearts and force us to be a little obsessive and irrational with our care. The ones that make us realize how special a new leaf can be. They are the ones which also cause us to look further and expand our collections. Mine is easily the zebra cactus. But what about those luscious foliage plants that cause us to stop and stare? The ones we turn to on a gloomy day? If not because their beauty crosses all bounds and their growth forces show-stopping, shimmering leaves, then because you have learned every little bit of information about them and you just want MORE? I may sound a bit eccentric so far, (bear with me, you’ll get used to it), but I have one of these special love-of-your-life type plants. For me, it is the Angelwing Begonia.
Those leaves. That speedy growth, almost like it can’t handle all the energy pumping through its cane-like stem. This is truly a plant who knows when it's happy and loves to show off when it lives in ideal conditions. Just...WOW. I received mine in the summer of 2019 as a stem cutting with three leaves and a minimal root system. The leaves were small and pale, and the characteristic polka dots were minuscule and dim. I didn’t really know any better (it easily could have been my first propagation) so I plopped it in some water and let it go. After a few weeks with some new root growth, I decided to pot her up and let her grow.
But things...weren’t really impressive for a while. Looking back, I’m pretty sure I could have potted this begonia at the wrong time (end of summer) and it just wasn’t quite prepared for winter (even a mild one). There was new growth, but every new leaf caused an older leaf to fall off. I couldn’t get past three leaves without losing another. Comparatively, my roommate also got a cutting, though theirs was a big larger. That baby has grown huge, and happily, especially now as it rests under a big beautiful grow light. The leaves are huge and stunning, and have been since practically the beginning. I couldn’t help but compare mine to L’s and feel significant disappointment that I was doing something wrong. Even worse, I couldn’t figure out why.
I suffered and stressed through the winter with ALL of my plants. I am not habitually an over-waterer (I learned my lesson EARLY) but I *am* an over-gazer. I spent the winter staring at each of my plants and worrying who I would lose. Thankfully, the begonia persisted, the winter ended, and I only had to chuck a few babies that didn’t make it to spring. I started to see new growth, and to my delight and surprise, some of the growth was filling in, lower down on the plant’s stalk. The pot she was in was pretty small, so I gave her a bit of an upgrade and she has not stopped shooting out new leaves. This plant had maybe four leaves in February. She currently has fourteen lush and vibrant leaves, with two to three more opening up!
Now, the weird thing here is I’m not sure what changed. Maybe I potted it at the wrong time (but L planted theirs at the same time). Maybe the pot was too small (possible, L’s pot was significantly larger). Maybe the attic space I’m living in isn’t quite ideal for sustaining plant life (probable, but I’ve made it a lively little jungle anyways). In any case, a larger pot, spring, and a bright and sunny window have given my begonia a happy little home, and each new leaf she grows brings me a world of joy. Read on to see how I got here, and to learn more about cane begonia care, but first, let’s compare.
CANE VS REX
I figure it’s worth mentioning that begonias are a pretty popular garden plant and there are more varieties and hybrids than you could possibly imagine! Though there are a few other classifications, the two that are most popular in the houseplant world are the cane begonia and the rex/rhizomatous begonia. They come from the same genus but are wildly different plants, though both are well-loved for their foliage as well as their blooms.
The cane begonia has a hearty stem similar to bamboo, which is why it’s referred to as a cane. Rex begonias have rhizomes (underground stems that grow horizontally). Their stems are thinner and sometimes even a little furry looking! Both kinds of begonias can bloom in the right environment, but, personally, the leaves are enough for me! If you’re curious about all things begonia and want to know more, I highly recommend checking out the American Begonia Society for more comprehensive information (and all the leaf porn you could possibly want!)
I will make one more note, in that the angelwing begonia has a TON of varieties, is sometimes called the polka dot begonia, and it can be hard to know exactly which one you’ve got. In terms of care, it doesn’t seem to matter much, as long as you’re focusing that care on cane-specific begonias. Read on to see what I do for my cane begonia, and take note, because, as I'm posting this, she is BLOOMING.
PLANT NOOBS
tips for new friends
LATIN NAME: Begonia lucerna
COMMON NAME: Angelwing begonia, polka dot begonia
HUMIDITY: Normal humidity is fine. I give mine a quick misting on extra hot, dry days, but leave it alone otherwise. WATER: When the top two inches or so are dry. I like to bottom water mine to encourage the roots to grow further down in the pot. LIGHT: I see a lot that says not to give it direct sunlight. Mine currently lives in a sunny south facing window and is super happy. If I start to notice it getting sunburn as it becomes summer, I may move it to the side of that window so the light it receives is less direct. FERTILIZE: A slow release at the beginning of the season, or diluted liquid fertilizer throughout the season. Cane begonias like an even mix, try 3-3-3. PROPAGATE: You can take stem cuttings with three or four nodes, then place in water or a sandy soil mix. SOIL: I like a well draining soil for most of my plants, but the cane begonia can stand a heavier potting soil for stem support. I have mine in a standard potting mix with a little extra perlite added.
EXTRA TIPS/FRESH CUTS
There are several different polka dot/angelwing begonia varieties out there, especially due to the begonia being a popular plant for hybrids. The variety “Wightii” is similar to mine, but the leaves have sharper edges and more cartoonish looking polka dots. I am not currently certain of the exact variety of my angelwing.
The brighter the light, the larger the polka dots will be, and the more shimmery the leaf will appear.
I wipe the leaves of mine with a slightly moistened microfiber cloth every two weeks or so. This allows the plant to receive as much sunlight as possible. It makes everything more shiny anyways, so why not?
BOTANICAL JARGON
propagation/cuttings - This means to take a cutting from an already established plant and use methods to encourage root growth from the cutting, eventually becoming it's own self-sustaining plant.
Rhizome - a continuously growing horizontal underground stem which puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals
Foliage - The leaves of a plant.
3/3/3 - A common fertilizer blend. The numbers stand for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium and determine the ratio of each mineral for the blend. Nitrogen helps with plant growth above the ground. Phosphorus establishes healthy roots, and Potassium is good for the plant's "immune system" and helps protect it from pests and disease. BE WARNED. Not every fertilizer is good for every plant. Some plants don't want any fertilizer. It's worth looking into more before feeding.
Nodes - Nubs, rings, or scars on the plant that can instigate new growth. Wherever you see a new leaf growing, it is because there is a node there. When propagating young plants in water, the nodes underwater are where the roots will begin to form.
Bottom watering - Rather than pouring water into the top of your pot, the planter is placed in a shallow tray of water. This allows the roots to drink from the bottom, causing the roots to grow down towards the bottom of the pot. It helps the plant to take in as much or as little water as it wants, and deters pests like fungus gnats (who enjoy living in the top two inches of persistently soggy soil) because the top layer of soil doesn't get waterlogged this way.
Welp, that's what I've got for you today. Let me know what you think below, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow me on Instagram!
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