To make your tray, place a layer of pebbles in a shallow tray. Water your begonia plants whenever the top part of the soil is dry, and the lower part is still moist. Brown and dry leaf tips appear when your plant wants more water. The roots did not get any time to dry out and breathe and are basically drowning. You could also combine sand, clay, perlite, and loamy soil to create a begonia potting mix. Hi! Wait until all the water drains before placing your plant back in a bright location. Can you help me? The Polkadot Begonia maculata is a houseplant that is pretty easy to care for. Without any doubt, the Begonia maculata is one of the prettiest Begonia plants I have ever seen. The ideal temperature range for polka dot begonias is between 65°F and 86°F (16°C – 30°C). The spotted begonia—also called ‘Wightii’—must be one of the most dramatic indoor plants you can grow. Occasionally there are Begonia maculatas for sale on Amazon, and I see plant shops sell them on Etsy as well. I put it near my window with only east facing morning sun, but two of the more mature/dark green leaves have dried/shriveled up :( I’m assuming that was too much sun, so I’ve moved it now. The five basic care requirements are: Let’s look in more detail at how to care for a begonia maculata Wightii. Hi, I just bought a begonia maculata from a lady this last week and it was already looking kind of sad, but she assured me that some leaves would fall off and new ones were growing in (I do see some new growths starting). Hi Elisha, hope your begonia maculata is doing well. And do you want to know something great? I currently water it every time I see that the top inch of soil is dried out. As an outdoor plant, begonia maculata grows in USDA zones 10 and 11. Deep watering is better for your begonia maculata than shallow watering. But watch out for soggy roots, no plant wants those. Sorry to say, but Begonias are toxic to pets, according to the ASPCA. Apart from draining well, a light, loamy soil that is aerated also helps with another care aspect. Transferring to a larger container encourages growth where the plant can reach 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. However, begonias are susceptible to powdery mildew, and damp leaves may encourage this disease. They can get sick. Caring for begonia maculata plants is challenging in winter. The leaves are in the shape of an angel’s or bat’s wings. Hi, I have a polka dot begonia and it is leggy, but I’m more concerned that the stems are turning black. Treat your plant to a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer every two weeks. Here are instructions on how to propagate begonia maculata: Even though begonia polka dot Wightii plants like to be slightly rootbound, repotting once a year is advisable. If you live in warm climates and you grow silver spotted-leaf begonias outdoors, choose a bright but shaded area of your garden. You can avoid most of these harmful plant diseases by only watering begonias when the soil is partly dry. Thanks!! Good luck, hope your plant pulls through. Water regularly, because the Begonia maculata does not like to stay dry too long. Turning the leaves over reveals stunning crimson-red undersides. Here are instructions on how to propagate begonia maculata: Cut a stem so that there are at least two nodes on it. This will give you bigger leaves and encourage blooms. Gently remove the plant from the pot, taking care not to snap the stems. TIP: Read up on when its time water your plant and all you need to know about how to water houseplants. Don’t see your Begonia problem listed? I love talking about plants and showing you that taking care of indoor plants can be easy and very rewarding. Pruning begonia maculata Wightii plants is an essential part of their care if you want a spectacular bushy potted houseplant. Don’t drown your plant with good intentions and too much water. Place the cuttings in a jar of water.