The white dotted leaves and bright flowers make the trout begonia a visually appealing houseplant.
In order to be able to admire the full splendor of the trout begonia (Begonia maculata), it is worthwhile to comply with all care measures. You can find out the most important things about the right location and everything that goes with care in this article.
Trout Begonia: flower, origin and properties
The unusual and shrubby trout begonia from the Begonia family (Begoniaceae) originally comes from the tropics and grows in the forests of Brazil.
The dark green, lanceolate leaves of the exotic flowering plant can also be metallic depending on the incidence of light shimmer and thus evoke an association with the scale pattern of the trout. The reddish underside of the leaves creates a nice contrast and makes the plant unmistakable. The characteristic, asymmetrical leaves of the trout begonia are set on stout stems and have a thick layer of wax to protect against too much water loss through evaporation. Also known as a polka dot begonia, this houseplant refers to the round dots on the leaf.
The flowers of the trout begonia are white to light pink and hang in clusters from the plant. They divide into male and female flowers because the trout begonia is monoecious. The male flowers are slightly smaller and have the stamens. The more conspicuous, female flowers have the carpels. The main flowering period extends from spring to summer. In the room culture, the trout begonias are usually between 20 and 40 cm wide and 30 to 80 cm high. The growth habit is upright to slightly overhanging.
The most beautiful varieties
There are only a few varieties of trout begonia:
- Begonia maculata ˈWightiiˈ: This variety is characterized by its intense red glowing undersides of the leaves. The white dots on the leaves stand out against the dark green. she willabout 40 to 50 cm high and grows slightly overhanging.
- Begonia x albopicta: The white-spotted begonia is actually a cross between Begonia maculata and Begonia olbia.
Tip: In the genus Begonia there are other species that look very similar to the trout begonia. These include, for example, the pink-red-flowered angel's wing begonia (Begonia coccinea) and the red-flowered coral begonia (Begonia corallina). The coral begonia, however, is probably a subspecies of the trout begonia - as far as this is concerned, the taxonomists are still divided. Dwarf trout begonias are also commonly found, sometimes sold under the cultivar name 'Dotty'. However, these are not real breeds, but artificial, mostly chemically compressed plants, which show the same development as the normal species with normal care.
Plants and location of Begonia maculata
The optimal location for the trout begonia is in a bright place without direct sunlight. The houseplant prefers a warm and humid climate with temperatures of around 20 to 22°C. In the winter months it can also be a little cooler at around 15 to 18°C. In addition, the trout begonia loves high humidity. A room with dry air should therefore be avoided. A place in the bathroom, for example, is a place where she feels particularly comfortable. However, the heat-loving plant should not be in a place with cold drafts.
In order to provide the trout begonia with the right nutrient medium, care must be taken to pot it in a loose, air-permeable and humus-rich substrate. A high-quality soil should be valued. For example, our Plantura organic universal soil, which is peat-free and covers the nutrient requirements of the trout begonia in the first year after planting, is very suitable. It is best to mix this with 30% expanded clay to ensure good permeability and avoid waterlogging.
Can the trout begonia be placed outdoors? As long as the plant is in a wind-protected place without direct sunlight and theIf temperatures do not drop below 15 °C even at night, there is nothing wrong with putting the trout begonia in the fresh air. So between May and October you can use the trout begonia to beautify your garden and enjoy the better growth it brings with the outdoor conditions.
Care for the trout begonia
The tropical houseplant is relatively undemanding and is therefore easy to care for. For the right amount of water when pouring, you have to develop some sensitivity.
Pruning, watering and fertilizing trout begonia properly
The trout begonia does not like extreme dryness and just as little waterlogging. The root ball can be largely dry between waterings - but it must not be completely dry! It is best to poke your finger a few centimeters deep into the substrate: If it already feels very dry, you can pour again. Begonia maculata Because of its origin, it loves humidity and can be sprayed with water like in the rainforest - preferably around the plant instead of directly on the leaves.
During the growing season, it's a good idea to use a liquid fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks to give the trout begonia extra nutrients. For example, our primarily organic Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer is particularly suitable for this. Due to its potassium-rich composition, it ensures strong leaves and compact growth.
The trout begonia can be shortened and cut back without any problems as required. The removed parts can also be easily used for propagation. The trout begonia is cut above the stem nodes. In these places there are dormant eyes from which the houseplant will sprout again. Regular pruning will make it bushier in growth.
Note: Since the trout begonia is rather fast-growing, it should be repotted once a year in fresh soil with a drainage layer. Ideally, this is done in the spring.
Common Care Issues
It is not always easy to identify the cause when the trout begonia is obviously not doing well. We now list common problems and explain how they occur.
- Trout Begonia loses leaves: An unfavorable location, draught, temperatures below 15 °C or temperatures that are too warm above 22 °C can lead to the trout begonia dropping its leaves. Important isthen a change of location or an adjustment of conditions. Waterlogging, dryness and low humidity in the room can also lead to leaf shedding. In the event of waterlogging, the watering should be reduced and most of the soil should be dried off in the meantime. Misting with water can help against drought and low humidity, and changing location if the trout begonia is near a heater.
- Trout begonia does not flower: With optimal site conditions, the South American begonia can flower for several months as a houseplant. If these have been followed, there shouldn't be any major problems, as the trout begonia usually blooms reliably. A radical pruning can possibly also be the reason for the lack of flowering.
- Trout begonia has dry leaf tips: There are also various possible causes for this phenomenon: Low humidity, lack or excess of nutrients and damage from pesticides can be reasons for dry, brown tips on the leaves of the trout begonia. As already mentioned, ensure the appropriate humidity by misting or using an air humidifier. In case of over-fertilization, the plant should definitely be transplanted into new substrate. It is best to carry out regular organic fertilization - this reduces the risk of over-fertilization. Nutrient deficiencies can be avoided by adhering to the fertilizer intervals already mentioned.
Wintering
In winter, the houseplant should be in a bright place at a temperature between 15 and 18 °C - preferably not in the immediate vicinity of the heater. The watering can be reduced a little at this time and occasional misting with water also benefits the trout begonia in winter.
Propagating trout begonia
Trout begonias can be propagated very well with head cuttings. Basically, the propagation of the houseplant works all year round, but ideally it is carried out in spring. For this purpose, about 10 cm long shoot tips without flowers are cut off below a leaf node. Then the cutting can be placed in a glass with water and placed in a warm, bright place with a temperature of around 20 °C. The cuttings are planted in a pot with the already recommended soil as soon ashave formed sufficient and stable roots.
Another promising way of propagation is via basal stem cuttings. Here, a side shoot of the trout begonia including the basal attachment point is used, because there are usually several sleeping eyes and roots can form well. The shoot is removed from the main shoot with its attachment point and then treated in the same way as the head cutting.
Is the trout begonia poisonous?
The sap of the trout begonia, which is found in all parts of the plant, is classified as toxic due to the oxalic acid and calcium oxalate it contains. Contact with the plant sap can cause reddening of the skin, irritation of the mucous membranes, diarrhea, vomiting and shortness of breath. Therefore, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly after any contact with the juice. This prevents the substance from accidentally getting into your eyes or mouth.
The trout begonia is also classified as poisonous for pets such as dogs, cats, small mammals and birds.
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