Begonia hieroglyphics are the most spunky-looking plants with the weirdest black markings on their gigantic green leaves. It also produces tiny flowers in the spring.
We have compiled in this guide the best tips and tricks on how you can grow this plant to its full potential at home, so what are you waiting for? Jump down below to learn them all!
What Is Begonia Hieroglyphics?
Begonia Hieroglyphics is a hybrid begonia of the rhizomatous type. It has large, glorious dark green leaves with black patterning. This pattern makes it look like it has hieroglyphs carved upon it. The leaves also have “eyelashes” around their edges, which are classic traits of certain Begonias.
Begonia Hieroglyphics Care
Aside from the beautiful Begonia hieroglyphics species described above, some other unique looking types of varieties of Begonia include Begonia jovian with its large leaves, Begonia steves leaves pearly with shocking pink variegation, and Begonia hatacoa ‘silver’ with its silver, tapering foliage.
You can also go for Begonia nebula zeta, which is another similar-looking rhizomatous Begonia. Then there is begonia harmony’s passing storm, which has the beautiful pink corrugated leaves.
Even though these plants look different from each other, they share basically the same care requirements, so whatever Begonia variety you have in your collection, this guide is for you!
This houseplant grows best under moderate or partial light, moderately warm temperatures, and at least 70 percent humidity levels. Pot in soil that drains pretty fast and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer every second week.
Want to know more? We have you covered below.
– Water Requirements
The watering needs of this plant are a bit tricky. They do love being watered but also need to be left to dry in between. Watering too often without allowing the soil to dry will lead to nasty root rot.
One trick we employ to gauge when it’s time to water is the finger knuckle method. Insert your finger up to the knuckle in the soil to see if it is dry or moist. If this is something you would prefer not to do, try sticking in a pencil instead.
It is best if you use clean, distilled water. If tap water is the only choice you have, at least filter it out first before using it. You can also leave the water in an open container one full day before using it. This evaporates all the chlorine in it, making it relatively safer for your plant.
– Light Requirements
Being a rhizomatous type of Begonia, this plant can tolerate medium bright light directly. When grown outdoors, you should keep it under partial shade. The best way we can come up with is to put it beside a larger tree. This way, it gets dappled sunlight which is just right for it.
Indoors, it is best to have a window to keep this plant near. An eastern or a western side-facing window works perfectly fine, but a southern-facing window will need to be covered with a curtain during midday to block out the harsh afternoon sunlight.
– Soil Requirements
Any good soil mixture from the market is good enough for this plant. You can also buy special begonia mix too.
We like adding perlite and vermiculite as an extra source of drainage to ours. Trust us, it makes watering so much easier.
– Temperature Requirements
Begonias will grow under a wide range of temperature conditions. You can put them anywhere between 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. They will continue to thrive under it.
Just be careful not to expose these plants to frost. They will develop frost shock and start dying by exfoliating all their leaves. It is simply safer to move them indoors at the onset of winters, or you can cover them with a plastic wrap to keep the cold out.
– Humidity Requirements
It is no secret that hieroglyphics Begonias, like Begonia brads halloween, need very high humidity levels to survive. You must provide yours with at least 70 to 90 percent humidity all year round.
– How to Improve Humidity
Whether it’s hieroglyphics or Begonia squarrosa, all Begonias need very high levels of air humidity. Here are a few tips to improve it at home by yourself.
- Buy a humidifier. There is no better and more reliable method than this.
- Use a makeshift humidity tray by putting some pebbles and water in a tray. Put the pot of your begonias over the pebbles. The water should not touch the pot.
- Mist your plant very lightly twice or thrice a week. The best time to mist is early to mid-morning.
– Fertilizing Requirements
Hieroglyphics begonias love being fertilized. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer should be applied to their soil every two weeks during spring and summer. You can lay off on feeding during wintertime.
Using a liquid fertilizer is the best. Don’t forget to dilute it with clean water beforehand. This is very important if you want to avoid fertilizer burn to the roots.
Nitrogen is very important for the growth of this plant’s foliage. Its leaves will begin to turn yellow and dull without this element.
– Pruning
Pruning is very important to keep your plant in proper shape and size. It also improves the health of the plant by redirecting nutrients from old leaves to newer ones.
Prune any stem branch that is branching in an awkward direction. Be on the hunt for yellowed, dead or old leaves that need to be removed. Having too many leaves impedes the air circulation of the entire plant.
Propagation
All begonias can be propagated through stem cuttings. Since hieroglyphics Begonias are rhizomatous in nature, they can also be propagated via rhizomes. Find out how to perform each type of propagation in easy steps here.
– Stem Cutting
Here are the steps needed to propagate using stem cuttings:
- Take a healthy stem for the cutting so that it has higher chance of success. Infested and diseased stems will not grow new plants.
- Clean and wash your gardening tool before use, then cut one to two inches off of it. Allow this cutting to dry for two or three days on a piece of paper.
- Once your cutting looks like it is dry enough, apply rooting hormone to the end that was cut.
- Now mix the potting soil for begonia in a pot about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Push your cutting gently into it.
- The pot should now be placed in a moderately brilliant corner that is warm and humid. You might need to use artificial means of surging your home humidity levels.
- In a few weeks, you will have a new plant at hand.
– Rhizomes
This section will show you how to propagate using rhizomes:
- Remove the plant from its pot and soil. Wash off the soil still stuck to the roots so that you can see the rhizomes clearly.
- Cut a rhizome into small sections measuring one to two inches in length.
- Gently insert these cut rhizomes in potting soil bought specifically for Begonias. You can also make your own potting soil using equal parts peat and vermiculite.
- Keep the soil moistened continuously and place the pot someplace well-lit and warm.
- In a few weeks, your newly propagated baby plant will grow up.
Problems
The good news is that this plant isn’t really prone to a lot of problems if you take good care of it. It might, however, succumb to bacterial or fungal infections if overwatered. You need to learn how to solve both these problems here.
– Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a commonly occurring fungal infection. While it is not particularly harmful to the plant, it will destroy the overall appearance of the leaves. Mildew first appears on the leaves in the form of countless white spots.
These spots then merge together to form one big white mass, making the plant look like it has flour sprinkled all over it.
Common treatment options are commercial fungicides and home remedies. The latter includes using household antifungals like baking soda and neem oil.
– Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is a dangerous disease. It occurs most commonly in begonias that are being overwatered. Too much humidity and warmth, coupled with poor lighting and air circulation, are also important compounding factors.
It appears first in the form of yellow or brown spots on the leaves. This is followed by leaf wilting and curling. The growth of the plant is severely stunted, and in severe cases, it might start to die as well.
Natural remedies like neem oil, vinegar, and baking soda are pretty effective at getting rid of leaf spots. You can also try using commercial bactericides like liquid copper for a more rapid response.
FAQ
How many hours of sunlight does Begonia Hieroglyphics need?
Begonia Hieroglyphics requires 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight daily.
Can I bring my potted Begonia Hieroglyphics inside for the winter?
Yes, you can bring your potted Begonia Hieroglyphics inside for the winter. Keep it near a bright window and away from drafts.
What to do with indoor Begonia Hieroglyphics after flowering?
After flowering, prune any dead flowers and yellow leaves. Reduce watering and fertilizer until new growth appears.
Conclusion
Why don’t we go through the most important aspect of hieroglyphics Begonia care one more time?
- Hieroglyphics begonia is a hybrid plant that is named for the black patterns on its dark green leaves. This plant is basically known for its large showy leaves and small flowers.
- It prefers moderate sunlight and warm temperatures. Like all Begonias, it too has very high humidity needs. It is best to use a humidifier to maintain humidity levels up to 70 to 90 percent.
- Mix perlite with soil to make it well-draining. Otherwise, you can face problems that arise from overwatering. These include infections like powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spot.
- You can easily propagate this plant at home by yourself. One way is to use stem cuttings and the other is by using rhizomes.
You only need to make sure this plant is well fed with fertilizer and has high humidity levels. Otherwise, it thrives with only the minimum amount of care from your side.
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