Begonia cleopatrae is part of the Begoniaceae family and its native range is Palawan Island in the Philippines, growing primarily in the wet tropical biome. It has a creeping rhizomatous growth habit resulting in a bushy plant. Leaves are small and oval, chocolate brown with a wide light green area along the midvein along with some splashes of green along the leaf margin, the back of the leaf is red. The flowers are light pink and are likely to bloom winter-spring.
The genus name honours Michael Begon (1638-1710), a patron of Botany. The specific epithet comes from a mountain called Cleopatra’s Needle where it is native to.
Pot: ø 5.5cm.
Height: Approximately 10cm from base of pot.
Light: Bright indirect light, meaning the plant sees the sun for 0-4 hours per day - this could be through trees or a translucent curtain, it’s important for the plant to see the sky in order to thrive.
Water: This plant is surprisingly resilient to wilting and can afford to dry out in between waterings.
Potting mix: A rich well draining mix composed of coco coir, perlite or vermiculite, a little bit of orchid bark and worm castings. Our Potting mix is ideal.
Fertilising: Feed your plant every few waterings during the growing season or when you observe active growth. You can dilute fertiliser to half the recommended amount but never add more.
Temperature: 15-21˚C.
Humidity: Begonia cleopatrae would prefer higher humidity and this plant would grow better in a terrarium, however, a lot of sources suggest it grows adequately in regular home conditions. You can increase humidity by placing the plant on a watered pebble tray or using a humidifier.
Begonia cleopatrae is toxic, keep out of reach of pets and children.