Although we have it categorized as a house plant, it makes an excellent shade house plant outdoors in areas that don’t freeze. For lighting, it prefers bright shade. Strong light, especially during summer months can scorch the tender leaves. When you water, go slightly on the dry side. Beefsteak Begonias grow from a very succulent, water storing rhizome which will rot if it stays too wet. Let the potting mix dry out pretty well between waterings. You will likely notice that the leaves take on a grayish cast when the plant needs water. If the plant goes too long without water and wilts, it will usually come right back if you water it right away. Fertilize your Beefsteak Begonia regularly but carefully. The fertilizer salts can be harmful to the plant’s roots if they are applied to strongly. Standard houseplant fertilizer will do when applied at the rate and frequency indicated on the packaging.
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How is this plant propagated
I actually just cut a leaf and stem and stuck it in a little pot. It took around 3 or 4 months of no activity, and now it is growing at a crazy rate.
Hello, I have had a beefsteak Begonia for years and it was really big a doing well. I repotted it and after few months the leafs slowly started to dry from the center of the leaf and after few weeks the leaf would die and another leaf would start driving out. It has now almost completely died. I try to take some cutting from the rhizomes but this is not doing well. I managed to grow a new one from a leaf cutting though which was promising but this one is now also showing signs of the same dry leaf problem. I’m desperate to rescue this one as it’s a plant you can’t find in shops. I think I got mine from a cutting from my grandmother. I am not sure how I can send you a picture for you to better see the dry leaves. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I think I’d be taking a good look at the roots to ensure there’s no rot. Another possibility may be that it’s a fungal issue. Sorry I can’t be more helpful in diagnosing your issue, but what I DO know, is that I’ve had two begonias (one of them a huge beefsteak, that died right back on me last year to the point there were NO leaves at all. I very nearly discarded the beefsteak (as it was the first to die back) but continued to water it (a bit less frequently) and after several weeks it slowly started sending pushing up tiny leaves and now, about 8 mos later it’s larger than it was originally. When the 2nd one did the same thing (different kind, but I don’t know what it’s called) I followed the same protocol and it too came back. If you do end up losing your begonia don’t give up, there may still be a chance it will come back for you.