Polka Dot Begonia Care

Polka Dot Begonia plants love the sunshine but be careful not to expose them to direct sunlight as this can really damage the leaves and permanently scorch them. A great way to make sure your Polka Dot Begonia is getting the right amount of light is by picking up a light meter. They are super affordable and available on Amazon here. 

You want to be watering your Polka Dot Begonia once a week during the growing months. Make sure the soil is dry before you water as too much moisture can cause root rot. We always prefer to use a moisture meter to determine if our Polka Dot Begonia needs watering as root rot is something you really want to avoid. Another way you can help avoid root rot is to use terracotta pots. Plastic pots hold in every drop of moisture, where as terracotta or clay pots allow some of the water to evaporate through the sides. We love these ones from Amazon.

Polka Dot Begonia don’t like the air to be really dry. However, we tend to avoid misting as too much moisture directly on their leaves can be damaging. Instead, you can use a pebble tray, humidifier or place it in naturally humid rooms. Visit our houseplant humidity guide to find out more.

One great thing about Polka Dot Begonia plants is that they will happily thrive in the natural temperature in your home. Keep them away from drafty windows, especially in winter, as this can cause shock if it is exposed to a lot of cold air. Use a digital thermometer to check that your plant isn’t in a really cold or hot spot.

If in the right environment and given the right care, Polka Dot Begonia plants can grow up to 2m indoors. If you want your plant to continue growing, repot every year or so or when you notice the roots are coming out of the pot.

We recommend feeding your Polka Dot Begonia every month in the warmer growth months. A general houseplant fertiliser should work just fine but our plants really love this liquid fertiliser from Miracle Gro.

You want to keep your Polka Dot Begonia away from pets and small children as they are toxic. Although it won’t cause serious long-term damage, ingestion can cause stomach irritation.

If you want your Polka Dot Begonia to look a little bushier and less leggy, you can prune it using sharp shears back to encourage new growth. You can also prune it back in winter to help it restore energy.

It is pretty simple to propagate your Polka Dot Begonia as you can simply snip off a leaf using your shears (making sure there is a stem node attached). Place the cutting in water and after a few weeks, roots should begin to show meaning you can repot your cutting into fresh soil.