Begonia malipoensis 'Starter'

Begonia malipoensis occurs naturally in the province of Yunnan in central China. The province of Malipo, after which the species is named, is a district in a mountainous area with a temperate climate. The plant grows here on shady slopes. Begonia malipoensis has leaves of about 10 cm. They are slightly asymmetrical and resemble maple leaves with their five-finger shape. The white drawings on the upright parts of the leaves stand out more because of the lower-lying dark green veins. The flowers are light pink and bear yellow stamens or stigma.

Because Begonia malipoensis grows at a high altitude, the species survives under fairly cold conditions. Room temperature is more than sufficient for the plant. A temperature below 5⁰C or above 25⁰C must be avoided as much as possible. This begonia prefers a place in the shade. The humidity is best at around 60% and increase somewhat during the night. Keep the soil well moisten by watering regularly. Moss around the plant helps retain water. A mixture of peat and perlite is recommended as bottom. This has the advantage that it remains moist and at the same time drains off excess water easily. We offer this in our "Plant accessories" section. Plant food can be added sparingly once every two weeks. Begonia malipoensis can be pruned when the plant grows too large.