Begonia Amphioxus — In-Depth Care Hacks

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This one goes out to all rare plant lovers and tropical plant enthusiasts. We are talking about none other than the head-turning Begonia amphioxus.

Small but extremely eye-catching with its butterfly wing-like leaves, this plant will feel most at home in a terrarium or greenhouse with high humidity. It is not easy to take care of, so an in-depth care guide is in order.

Let’s dive right in.

Begonia Amphioxus Care

For ideal Begonia amphioxus care, use well-draining soil with additives, provide bright indirect light, water 2-3 times weekly, and maintain consistent temperatures above 50°F. Aim for moderate humidity levels around 50-60% during the day and slightly higher at night.

Soil

Begonia amphioxus needs a good draining but rich soil. A high-quality peat mix or ordinary houseplant mix will do, but I recommend adding limestone chips, oyster shells, or eggshells.

This will make sure the soil is not too acidic and will result in brighter red colors on the leaves.

I strongly recommend growing this plant in a terrarium, though, as I will explain further in the article. Catching the happy medium of this plant is nearly impossible in a pot. When planting into a terrarium, choose a spot in the middle layer for your Begonia amphioxus, as it likes a fair amount of light but hates having wet feet.

That being said, wherever planted, it is paramount that the roots don’t sit in water. Mildly acidic soil with a pH level between 6.1 and 7.5 is optimal.

Light

Begonia amphioxus loves bright indirect light and occasional partial sun. Sounds ambiguous?

That’s because it is. If you don’t live in a tropical climate, your best shot at success will be fluorescent lights in a terrarium or above a humidity dome, at least 8 – 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) away from the light source so it doesn’t get burnt.

A north-facing window will be good enough until it starts flowering, then it would need to be moved to a brighter place but if you grow it under artificial lights you don’t have to worry about this.

Direct sun will cause sun damage, too little light will cause your Begonia amphioxus to wilt and die.

Watering

Like most other Begonias, your amphioxus needs a little bit more water than a regular houseplant. Water it up to three times a week during the summer and once a week during the winter.

Let the soil get slightly dry between waterings, and try to avoid waterlogging and root rot. This will be easy with a fast-draining soil mixture.

Another thing to be mindful of is not letting water stagnate on the leaves of the plant, as this will soon lead to rotting of the leaf and various fungal infestations.

This is easily avoided by watering with a narrow spout, concentrating the water only on the soil. Another important thing to note is that water quality is vital for Begonia amphioxus. Hard, mineral-heavy water will not be good enough.

You should water it with aquarium water, or at the very least distilled water, while at the same time being mindful of the temperature.

Begonia amphioxus, as I already mentioned, doesn’t do well with sudden changes in air temperature, and the same goes for water.

Water it with tepid to slightly warm water to not shock the roots.

Temperature

Another important reason you should provide a closed growing environment for your Begonia amphioxus is that it needs relatively high and constant temperatures.

It loves warmth, optimally up to 85°F (30°C), never letting it get to below 50°F (15°C) and never allowing great temperature fluctuations. They are frost-sensitive and will drop all their leaves to let you know they are unhappy.

Humidity

Begonia amphioxus thrives in moderate humidity and benefits from occasional misting.

While higher humidity levels are ideal, it can adapt to levels around 50-60% during the day and slightly higher at night.

Terrariums and closed containers are great for maintaining high humidity, but regular misting and using a humidity tray can also support its well-being.

Make sure you mist in the morning so that the droplets have time to dry, and don’t sit on the surface of the leaves for too long.

Fertilizer

Begonia amphioxus is a hungry little plant. They will not be their best self if you are not fertilizing regularly.

This does not mean you should drench it once a month, but feeding it with a liquid fertilizer diluted to a quarter of its strength once a week or once every two weeks will be perfect.

Once a month will be enough during winter, but if you are keeping your Begonia in a terrarium with a heater, the season doesn’t matter.

Propagation

One of the rare things that are easy with this plant is propagation. You can do this by seed, leaf cuttings, or herbaceous cuttings.

Propagating by seed is just what you would suppose it to be; you let the flower heads dry and collect the seeds, then store them through the winter and plant them in the spring. If you don’t want to go through this long-winded procedure, stem cuttings are your next best bet.

You could get lucky because when Begonia amphioxus drops its leaves for whatever reason, these tend to root where they fell, especially if in a terrarium or a surface that is evenly and constantly moist.

I am going to outline a more intentional process below.

 

Propagation by stem cuttings

As with many other plants, the best season to do this is spring and early summer. Follow the steps below for a successful Begonia amphioxus propagation.

Choose a healthy stem that is at least a couple of inches long.

Remove the bottom leaves of the cutting.

Dip the base of the cutting in the rooting hormone to ensure rooting.

Carefully plant this cutting three inches deep, ideally in moist sphagnum moss or a rich, airy soil with lots of perlite.

Keep this new plant in a warm, humid place with partial sunlight exposure.

This can be a propagation container or in a terrarium/under a humidity dome.

Water these cuttings regularly and never let the soil dry out.

After three to four weeks, you should notice root development.

Remember that if you propagate by water, the roots could not take well to the soil once potted.

A way to ease this transition is by adding soil to the water of your cutting, a spoonful a day until it replaces the water completely.

This gives your Begonia roots some time to get used to a darker environment poorer in oxygen and maybe spare you the sadness of having a newly potted begonia drop all of its leaves in its signature dramatic fashion.

Potting

If grown in a pot, Begonia amphioxus can be repotted once a year. I wouldn’t rush and would check the bottom before doing this.

As mentioned before, they don’t like change, any change, including pot changes and spoil changes. If you can avoid touching it, do. This is in its best interest.

Growth

Begonia amphioxus has a normal growth rhythm if cultivated in its ideal conditions and will push out new leaves regularly.

You can prune away any dry or rotting leaves when needed. They also might flower up to three times every season.

What’s the deal with terrariums?

Okay, I’ve been tooting the terrarium horn for this whole article, and you might think this plant is not for you.

A terrarium seems like a big financial investment and commitment; is it really not possible to still have a Begonia amphioxus without it?

Well, it is. If you can give it the conditions it needs, this plant is feasible without a terrarium. A greenhouse could also do the trick, and maybe you might want to experiment with some DIY humidity domes. If you live in a warmer climate, it is an option.

As long as you can make an enclosed container that will be airtight, it is appropriate for a Begonia amphioxus.

If you can afford a terrarium or maybe already have one, this should not be an issue.

You will not have to watch the soil and keep it moist constantly, you will not have to mist all the time and you won’t need to worry about temperature swings.

An airtight terrarium will become its own ecosystem where the water will evaporate, condense, and fall down on the soil again and cycle like this constantly.

You can go without watering for weeks!

If you are still getting to know your humidity dome or terrarium, keep an eye on the soil.

When you can see it is dry, add some water. This can happen more often if your Begonia amphioxus is planted in a small container, as it will drink the water up sooner.

Common issues with Begonia amphioxus

The issues you may encounter with these plants vary according to where you grow them. If it is grown in a pot in the open air, you might encounter Thrips.

Thrips have a sweet tooth for Begonias and are the most common pests we find on them.

If you are keeping the humidity up, your Begonia is always susceptible to powdery mildew and anthracnose (a disease caused by fungi).

Begonias clearly let us know they are in trouble by leaf curling. I will explain all of these and how to deal with them below.

Thrips

If you look at small, black, elongated, pointy bugs, these are most likely Thrips. They feed on the juice of your plant and can take down a begonia easily.

They grow and multiply quickly and even have wings to spread on other plants easily. First, you should isolate the plant from others so they don’t spread. Then, remove all of the visible bugs with a strong water stream.

Shower it thoroughly if you need it. Then, you can wash it one more time with insecticidal soap. Lather all the leaves and stems well to kill any remaining bugs, larvae, and eggs.

After that, you should spray your plant with neem oil, making sure you cover every inch of the plant, to deter any future visitors. During this process, try and not to wet the roots or the soil of the plant.

You can enclose this part of it in a plastic bag. This will prevent overwatering or damage to the roots.

This process might need to be repeated a couple of times since thrips are very resilient and often come back in even greater numbers, so be patient and keep at it.

Powdery mildew

If you notice leaves curling and distinctive white patches on your Begonia amphioxus leaves, then this is most likely Powdery mildew. Mildew likes warm and humid environments, so this is not a surprise. 

Powdery mildew is fortunately seldom fatal for a plant, but since you are probably cultivating your begonia for the looks, this is a huge aesthetic issue.

You can try washing the leaves with a mixture of one tbsp baking soda, one gallon of water, and half a tsp liquid non-detergent soap, but this is usually used as a preventative measure.

Your best bet is a store-bought organic fungicide, just follow the directions on the bottle and you are good.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a common fungal issue with Begonias. It will manifest as curling leaves with yellowing and brown spotting.

If you notice these symptoms, the first thing you should try is removing all infected and dead plant material and being very careful not to get the leaves wet the next time you water.

Use a store-bought fungicide according to its instructions, and be very careful not to spread it to other plants.

With all plants’ fungal, bacterial, and viral infections, it is paramount that you wash and disinfect your hands and tools before handling another plant.

Begonia amphioxus Frequently Asked Questions