Angel Wing Begonia: how to grow, care for, and propagate grandma’s favorite windowsill classic

Angel Wing Begonia, also known as coral begonia (Begonia Corallina group), is a classic houseplant with a long history in Finland. For over a hundred years, it has spread from home to home by means of cuttings.

Despite its traditional background, Angel Wing Begonia also fits smoothly into modern interiors thanks to its beautifully colored leaves and lush growth habit. The leaves are white-speckled on top and copper-brown underneath. With proper care, it will also bloom.

Angel Wing Begonia: growing and care

Temperature

Angel Wing Begonia is easy to grow because it thrives in normal room temperature year-round, even in winter. In colder months, it can benefit from a cooler spot of about 16°C (about 61°F), but this isn’t essential.

Light conditions

A bright east-facing window is ideal for Angel Wing Begonia, as it gets gentle morning sun. Avoid harsh, direct light, which can fade the leaves.

If your east-facing window is very dark in winter, you can move the plant to a brighter window to help it overwinter.

Watering and fertilizing Angel Wing Begonia

This plant appreciates regular watering. However, the soil should not remain constantly soaked; let the surface dry slightly between waterings. From March to September, during the growing season, add a liquid fertilizer to the watering.

In winter, water so that the soil dries out a bit more than during the growing season. If the leaves begin to droop, water the plant immediately. This indicates your intervals between waterings are too long.

Angel Wing Begonia likes having its leaves misted with water, especially in winter when the air is dry. If your plant has started blooming, avoid misting the flowers so spots don’t appear on the petals.

Repotting Angel Wing Begonia

Avoid planting Angel Wing Begonia in a pot that’s too large. Choose a relatively shallow pot and let the roots fill it before repotting. Replace the soil every couple of years and simply add a small amount of fresh soil on top in between.

To keep the roots from sitting in water, place potting gravel or pieces of clay pot at the bottom. Use good-quality potting mix intended for houseplants.

Always water the root ball before repotting. Gently remove some of the old soil from among the roots. Replant the plant into the new soil at the same depth as before.

Propagating Angel Wing Begonia

With proper care, Angel Wing Begonia grows quickly, but sometimes the lower part of the plant may become bare. You can revive your plant by taking top cuttings.

Cut a tip cutting when the growing season begins. Remove the lowest leaves and place the cutting in moist potting mix. To help it root, slip a thin plastic bag over the cutting, making a few air holes. Keep the plant in a warm spot so heat supports root development.

When the cutting begins to grow new leaves, you know it has rooted. After that, you can begin mild fertilization when watering.