Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Begonia corallina or Begonia tamaya

The genus Begonia, family Begoniaceae, comprises 1,500 species and 10,000 cultivars of herbaceous plants native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, America and Africa. Some species are: Begonia corallina, Begonia boliviensis, Begonia semperflorens, Begonia rex, Begonia elatior, Begonia x tuberhybrida, Begonia nelumbiifolia, Begonia grandis, Begonia heracleifolia.

Common name: Begonia tamaya. This species is native to Tropical Mexico. The scientific synonym is Begonia maculata.

They are bushy begonias (like Begonia grandis) with strong stems that have large fleshy, bright green leaves and small white spots. The flowers are pink and appear in hanging clusters.

They are used in pots as indoor plants or in the garden (in tropical and subtropical climates).

Begonia corallina needs a semi-shade exposure avoiding direct sun in the central hours of the day. Indoors they will need a lot of light but without direct sun. They do not resist temperatures below 10 ºC (50 ºF).

The soil has to be light, rich in organic matter and drained (not excessively). It is convenient to transplant it to a larger pot every 3 years changing the substrate.

Water regularly in spring and summer every 10 days avoiding waterlogging and without a plate under the pot. It is a plant prone to root rot.

They do not need pruning, just remove the dry leaves.

Fertilize in spring every 15 days with mineral fertilizer in the irrigation water.

It is a plant prone to fungal diseases due to excess water.

They propagate by seeds sown in spring or by stem cuttings in late spring.

Images of the shrub Begonia corallina or Begonia tamaya