Begonia Corallina. C13

The coral begonia has large, fleshy, bright green leaves with small white spots. The flowers are pink and appear in hanging clusters.

They are native to the tropical areas of Mexico. It is also known by the common names of Begonia tamaya, Begonia maculata and Begonia bamboo.

They are used as house, terrace and patio plants or in the garden as single specimens (weather permitting).

This plant needs a semi-shaded exposure, avoiding direct sun in the central hours of the day. If grown indoors, they need plenty of light but no direct sun. They do not tolerate cold temperatures (below 10°C).

The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter and drained (not excessively). It should be transplanted into a larger pot every 3 years, and the soil should also be changed.

It should be watered regularly during the growing season every 10 days, avoiding waterlogging. It is a plant prone to root rot if watering is overdone.

It does not need pruning, just remove old or dry leaves.

Fertilise in spring every 15 days with mineral fertiliser for indoor plants.

This Begonia is prone to fungal diseases due to excess water.

Propagated by seeds sown in spring or by stem cuttings in late spring.