Begonia Maculata Houseplant Care Guide

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Begonia Maculata is a low maintenance houseplant known for its polka dot foliage. This was one of my very first houseplants and its also been one of my easiest.

Here are the main things you need to know to properly care for Begonia Maculata.

Water. Thoroughly water your Begonia Maculata when the top two inches of soil are dry. Check the soil moisture by placing your finger in the soil a knuckle deep or use a moisture meter.
Light. Place Begonia Maculata in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight. This would be near a south, east, or west facing window. You can also place this plant under plant grow lights.
Fertilizer. Feed your Begonia Maculata during the active growing season (typically March-October). Good fertilizer options include Dyna-Gro Grow or plant food like Liqui-Dirt.
Humidity. Begonia Maculata does not need high humidity. My plant lives in regular household humidity of about 20%.

Here’s what you need to know to make sure your Begonia Maculata thrives in its new home.

Light

Place your Begonia Maculata in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight. This would be near a south, east, or west facing window.

If placing your plant near a south facing window, make sure to place a sheer curtain between your plant and the sunlight. You never want your plant to get direct sunlight because direct sunlight burns the plants foliage.

North facing windows get the least amount of sunlight and also has the weakest sunlight. Begonia Maculata can survive in this area, but the plants growth may be slower than a plant sitting in a south facing window.

You can also place this plant under plant grow lights. I use T5 Barrina plant grow lights and recommend them. I have these lights set on timers so I never have to turn them on or off. These grow lights are connected to an app so I can control them through my phone.

Water

Water your Begonia Maculata when the top two inches of soil are dry.

Check the plants soil by placing your index finger a knuckle deep. If the water is dry, it’s time to give your plant a thorough watering.

To make things easier and more convenient for me, I feed my plants fertilizer and pest killer every time I water my plants. I mix fertilizer and pest killer in the plants drinking water so the plants get this every time.

Soil

Begonia Maculata thrive in well-draining soil.

This kind of soil helps the roots get the oxygen and air flow that it needs. Well-draining, chunky soil is a must especially for people who tend to be overwaterers.

If you’re a DIY-er, an easy well-draining soil recipe calls for 50% coco coir, 25% orchid bark, and 25% perlite.

You can also buy houseplant soil that is already mixed and ready for you. A popular brand is Fox Farm Ocean Forest organic potting soil and I often use this for many of my houseplants.

Temperature

Begonia Maculata live in temperatures between 55°F and 85°F. These plants like to stay on the warmer side.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing your houseplants is important because it keeps the plants thriving and happy in your home. Out in the elements in nature, your plant naturally gets the fertilizer and nutrients it needs, but this isn’t the case in your home.

There are many different types of fertilizer to choose from and you can go the all natural route or synthetic route. If using a synthetic fertilizer, you need to dilute the recipe in half because synthetic fertilizer is quite strong and can hurt your plant.

I personally use Dyna-Gro Grow and mix it into my plants drinking water. I fertilize every watering because it keeps things simple for me and I like to think that it helps keep my plants happy.

Humidity

Begonia Maculata thrive in regular household humidity. My house sits at about 20% humidity and that’s all my plant needs to grow.

If you want to increase the humidity around your plant, here are my best tips.

Place your plant on a pebble tray of water
Place a humidifier near your houseplants and run it daily
Group high humidity plants together which will create a microclimate of humidity
Use an IKEA cabinet as a DIY greenhouse cabinet

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate Begonia Maculata is by cutting the stem with at least one leaf.

With clean sheers, make a cutting and place the stem in water. These are crazy fast growers and you should see a ton of roots in a few weeks.

Place this cutting in a spot getting decent sunlight (about any window will do). In about three weeks you should notice roots growing. Once the roots are at least three inches long, you can transfer the cutting into your preferred substrate.

Here is a picture of my Begonia Maculata. I would cut where my fingers are and place this stem cutting in water.

Begonia Maculata Common Questions

Is Begonia Maculata rare?

Begonia Maculata is not a rare houseplant. You can find this plant in big box stores like Lowes or Walmart. This plant is also at most plant shops, Facebook marketplace, and local Facebook plant groups.

How much is a Begonia Maculata?

Begonia Maculata is around $20 for a 4 inch pot with a few leaves. I bought my Begonia Maculata with 8 leaves for under $20.

Is Begonia Maculata hard to care for?

Begonia Maculata is incredibly easy to care for and doesn’t need high humidity unlike other Begonias.

How do you care for Begonia Maculata?

To properly care for Begonia Maculata, here are the key things to know:

Place your plant in bright indirect sunlight (near a south facing window) or under plant grow lights
Regularly water your plant when the top two inches of soil are dry
Regularly fertilize your plant in the active growing season
Make sure your plant is in well-draining soil

Is Begonia Maculata a fast grower?

Begonia Maculata is a fast grower and I’ve found it to be happy in a variety of growing conditions.

I’ve had my Begonia Maculata in my plant cabinet under T5 Barrina plant lights, near a south facing window, and in the middle of my house with almost no light and the plant grows almost anywhere.

Can Begonia Maculata grow outside?

I’ve never seen anyone grow a Begonia Maculata outside. If you do, I recommend placing it in a spot that gets dappled sunlight and sits around 75 degrees F.

How big do Begonia Maculata get?

Begonia Maculata can reach 3 feet in the home depending on the growing conditions.

How do I make my Begonia Maculata bigger?

To increase growth on your Begonia Maculata, place your plant in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight.

You can place this plant under grow lights for a good 12+ hours daily. Feed your plant a high quality fertilizer on a regular basis to encourage growth.

Pictured here is what new growth on a Begonia Maculata looks like. All shriveled up and looks like it’s dying, but will soon turn into a normal leaf.

Does Begonia Maculata climb?

Begonia Maculata loves to climb which makes this a great plant to support with a trellis or moss pole.

How do you propagate Begonia Maculata?

Propagating Begonia Maculata is easy. Do the following:

Grab clean sheers and cut the stem of your plant
Place stem in plain water (no need to add fertilizer or anything special to the water)
In about three weeks you’ll see roots on the cutting
Once the roots are about three inches long, you can transfer the cutting to your choice of substrate

Is Begonia Maculata toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Prevent pests

Begonia Maculata are prone to pest pressures just like any other plant.

To prevent pests, here’s what to do:

Use a natural or synthetic pest killer to prevent pests
Check your plants once a week for pests
Make sure not to overwater your plants (overwatering can lead to fungus gnats)
Quarantine new plants for a week or two before putting them with the rest of your plants
Regularly clean your plants foliage with a mixture of water and a drop of dish soap

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Begonia Maculata has brown tips, this may be a sign that you’re not watering your plants enough.

Curly leaves: If your Begonia Maculata has curly leaves, this may mean that your plant needs a good drink. Make sure to regularly check your plants soil with your index finger or moisture meter.

Yellowing leaves: If your Begonia Maculata has yellowing leaves, this may be a sign that you’re watering your plant too much.

Key Points To Remember

Begonia Maculata is one of my favorite houseplants. It’s incredibly easy to grow despite looking so intimidating.

All you need to know is give your plant bright indirect sunlight (south, west, or west facing windows), regular household humidity, and regularly fertilization during the growing season (typically March-October).

Now it’s time to buy this plant if you haven’t already.