Begonia Speculata - Part 2

CHARACTERISTICS:

I must say that unlike most cascading hanging types similar like Martin Mystery begonias this particular one is very much grows upright - in way to mention that it grows on forest floor and covers most of the vegetation in that manner. 

The foliage coloration is indeed unique where it does not fall into any shades of silver, green or multi-tones rather it is very much in appearance like a rugged leather parchment material in the appearance of dark coloration of dark grey - green tones and the foliage surface appears like a corrugated effect.

It does have some resembles to a Star Begonia 'Immense' and most like a hybrid from this parentage. The leaves can grow big and huge given the good growing conditions.

Based on the dark coloration - this begonia has the ability to grow well in dark shaded areas, even the back of its leaves has the dark burgundy coloration denotes the ability to thrive under dark and shaded conditions.

GENERAL BEGONIA PLANT CARE:

Plant Care is very similar like most Rhizome Begonia Care & Cultivation Needs. This depends in different garden or indoor conditions - its all depending on getting the right balanced conditions.

Depending on the Begonia adaptation and its ability to handle hardy conditions - if the plant is stress it may drop all it's leaves before regeneration - hence more care is required to ensure the right balance of watering and humidity verse root and stem rot. 

Medium:

Fast Draining - 1/3 Compost at the bottom layered with coconut chips and sand in between the rhizome root-ball.

Watering
Water only when the Medium is Dry

Feeding
Foliar Fertilizer - Once a Week with 1/2 Dilution Strength. 

(Depending on what works best in your garden conditions - some gardeners use chicken/goat manure, coffee based fertilizer, organic fertilizer - test out and see on a trial basis to see what works best in your garden conditions)

Light

Place in Bright, Indirect Light - Shaded from direct hot sun areas - Ideal for Balcony Plants.

Do take note that this one truly hate too much water - the leaves may also change colors, especially turning pale green and the red and burgundy coloration faded. Do take note that if this happens - most likely the plant lifespan is numbered and the eventually leaf by leaf - they start dropping and the rhizome dried up or rotting and it is too late to safe the plant or rectify the problem.

Hence - do watch out on the overwatering part - the medium too play a big part on this, especially if it purchased with cocopeat planted with it - its more likely a dooms-day time clocking by the days for it to kaput.  It is much better to take the risk to replant it to a new medium and allow the plant to grow through shock and recover and safe the plant - keeping it long term for years to go by then seeing it fall apart when the cocopeat dried up together with the root-ball.

Begonia Common Names and Images

Do click on the Link Above ☝

Here is the link where I had put together a list of all the begonias that I had come across. 

A database of all the different types & their characteristics. 

Please click on the link on the title above for the post.