Flowering Plants Angel Wing Begonia by Elyssa Goins 1 year ago by Elyssa Goins Elyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she's been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you. Published: February 7, 2023Last Updated on November 22, 2023 This article was fact checked. Helpful: 100% Share 0FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail 154 Table of Contents Toggle DescriptionAngel Wing Care Instructions The Angel wing begonia is a flowering species from a large family of plants (2000 or more and many more hybrids), named Begoniaceae. The Begonia coccinea has a fair few varieties that display glossy type leaves on cane stems and display colorful flowers. Description Native to South America, these perennial flowering plants (Begonia) grow in sub-tropical and tropical climates, although this species is a hybrid. Fortunately, they deal the climate differences and grow in cooler conditions within temperate regions very well. Begonias have become some grower’s specialty like Orchids, Bonsais, and African violets have. This is because there are many species within the genus and many have been hybridized. It’s no wonder many specialize in Begonias, they’re beautiful-looking flowering plants when grown correctly. Flowering: The Angel wing begonia blooms during summer. These flowers are a small waxy type that grows in groups from the stems, and kind of droop or hang. Flowers commonly bloom bright red to light pink in color. Foliage: This species is a cane-stemmed type of Begonia that has thick stems and fairly large nodes. The name Angel wings were given for the shape of their leaves which are kind of like Angel wings. Leaves are glossy and have a red outer edge on some varieties and a red underside. The red underside makes them attractive when planted at a level indoors where the top and lower parts of the plant can be seen. Level of care: Most growers and their homes can grow and maintain the Begonia coccinea. Some aspects of care must be followed strictly such as keeping them out of direct sunlight, conditions not too dry, and pruning regularly, otherwise, quite an easy-to-maintain plant to have around the home. Facts Origin:South America.Names:Angel wing begonia (common). Begonia coccinea (botanical/scientific)Max Growth (approx):4ft tall or more if not pruned.Poisonous for pets:Toxic for cats and dogs. Angel Wing Care Instructions Temperature:Average room temperatures of 55 – 75°F (13 – 24°C) are best suited for Begonias…and no less than 55°F.Light:This plant is not in favor of direct sun. This is because the leaves are sensitive to getting scorched. In their natural habitat, most Begonias grow under cover. Bright light is best and during the winter some morning or late afternoon sun is fine.Watering:From spring to fall you will need to water this plant often, especially while it’s in bloom. Keep the soil moist to the touch slightly, but do not overwater. During winter cut down watering and allow the top soil to become dry to the touch before watering again.Soil:African Violet ready-made potting soil works well. Otherwise use a rich soilless well-draining potting mix.Fertilizer:From spring to fall feed the plant while the soil is damp every 2 weeks. Use a high potassium diluted feed of 5-10-5. This seems to work well in keeping the leaves and flowers looking healthy.Repotting:While the plant is young I would repot it every year in a pot slightly bigger. Once it matures every 2 years. Clay pots work well because they tend to release moisture easier, preventing root problems from stagnant water. An added benefit of using a clay pot is it will keep the plant more sturdy once it matures in height and prevent it from toppling over.Humidity:This plant enjoys a good amount of humidity. You can mist around the plant area, but I advise you not to water the leaves in case it causes spots or patches on them.Propagation:You may take a few inches (4 – 6in) or more of stem cuttings with or without a leaf attached and without flowers. You want a node or more on the stem where a new flower will begin to grow. The stem cutting can be placed in water or in perlite (use a rooting hormone with perlite) until growth appears then it can be potted in soil. I prefer to stick with placing it in water to see the roots form. These can also be grown from seed which is much more difficult for the average grower.Pruning:To keep your Begonia well formed and within the size, you can manage indoors, prune back stems, and pinch out stem tips that are growing too tall. Pruning will encourage new growth making the plant look much rounder and healthier. Potential Problems Leaves wilted and dropped: This may be caused when overwatering has occurred if the leaves are soft. Wilting can also occur when a plant is underwatered, have too much bright light, has pest damage, has dry air, or the pot could be waterlogged. You will need to use a process of elimination and then correct any condition possibly at fault. Flowers fade quickly: Possibly not enough water, dry air, not enough light, or the room could be too warm. A process of elimination again, then correct the conditions that are not being followed as best as you can. Slow growth: Check you have been feeding the plant, providing enough light (bright indirect) and the temperature is correct. You may also want to see if the plant has become pot-bound. Leggy growth: If the stems are long and leafless you will need to prune back the stems. Make sure there are nodes left on the stems for growth to appear. Pests: Checking your plant for aphid and spider mites regularly is a good idea. Was this helpful? Submit Cancel Thanks for your feedback! Elyssa GoinsElyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail previous post Popular Types of Dracaena House Plants next post Indoor Plants Lighting Guide 0 0 votes Article Rating Subscribe Login Notify of new follow-up comments new replies to my comments Label Name* Email* Website Δ Label Name* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 0 Comments Inline Feedbacks View all comments
