Imagine a figure adorned with glorious, intricate wings which stem from their back, the softly lobed tops stretching downward into delicate points… Now envision the shape of these appendages grafted onto a “cane,” or the woody stem of a plant. While this exercise in creativity might be absolutely silly, it is nevertheless a prelude to the natural phenomenon that is the angel wing begonia.
A More Developed Introduction
Angel wing begonias, known more formally as Begonia coccinea, are hybrid members of the expansive Begoniaceae family. These natives of sub-tropical and tropical South America were formally rendered from a cross breeding (a popular activity for begonia enthusiasts) of two particular begonia cultivars and can attribute their unique (yet undeniably attractive) appearance from their forebears. Unfortunately, little detailed information is available as per the history of the angel wing begonia, but a plethora of resources are available regarding the care and support of the species both within and without the urban jungle.
Before I delve too deeply into the care preferences of Begonia coccinea, I will impart some known details concerning the species’ growth pattern. Seeing as begonias are a widely-popular family of flowering plant, the angel wing assortment logically follows the prevailing trend. Cascading red, pink, or white flowers spill from the plant’s stems during late spring and summer, and characteristically-shaped leaves slope gently from their woody stalks. In proper conditions, this species can grow to heights of one and one half meters, with their stems producing a myriad leaves and colorful, hanging bunches of flowers.
Angel Wing Care
Although they may appear delicate and particular in care preferences, Begonia coccinea are actually some of the least fearsome members of the indoor gardens one can encounter. Many of the common care “tactics” for indoor plants are applicable to angel wings, and this relative comprehensiveness of care permits them to be common resits within the jungles of green thumbs all across the globe.
The first of the major care requirements of angel wings is sourced in their preference for well-draining soil. Because begonias are prone to root decay, Begonia coccinea must be potted in mediums consisting of coir or peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and minimal amounts of potting soil/organic material. Potting medium is not the only concern regarding the housing of angel wings, though; specimens should be kept in ceramic, slay, or wooden vessels with drainage holes in their bottoms. The pot of choice should be one (at maximum two) sizes larger than the root ball, as the weight of a plant’s is enough to tip overly snug containers and as specimens generally prefer to be in more root-bound conditions.
Watering necessities follow the general trend for species planted in soilless mediums; specimens should be watered when the top one-to-three centimeters of potting medium is dry to the touch. As can be deduced from the species’ preference for well-draining mediums, over-watering poses an issue and results in yellowing leaves. Although these tropical flowerers do enjoy moderately humid air conditions, they are not to misted! Misting can result in leaf mildew and other undesirable leaf conditions.
Fertilizer can be used to encourage plant health and bloom, but solutions should be used in fifty-percent diluted form and should be applied such that they do not build up too heavily in a plant’s soil. According to Gardenologist, 20-20-20 fertilizer is the best suited for the needs of angel wings.
The sunlight needs of Begonia coccinea are very much similar to those of other tropical species prior discussed on this blog, which proves to be a result of the filtered light many plants receive in the tropical areas of their native lands. Bright filtered light provides the most adequate amount of drive for angel wings’ photosynthetic processes, but a specimen would most certainly not object to brief instances of direct sunlight. Such exposures to greater intensities of light should be monitored, however, as too much sun can cause browning and curling to appear on the ends of a specimens’ leaves.
Again, the tropical inclinations of the angel wing drive its care needs, this time pertaining to the particular range of temperatures in which the species thrives. As typical of tropical assortments, Begonia coccinea is intolerant of freezing, and beyond this, temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius. The optimal range for this species growth is known to be 13 to 24 degrees Celsius.
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