Begonias are popular for their beauty and easy-to-grow nature. Say hello to another picturesque peep, the Begonia ricinifolia plant. The bushy plant gets about a foot or two in size. Large green star-shaped leaves with hints of red on the lower sides grow on long stems.
These stems are covered with beautiful thread-like reddish hairs which grow throughout the stem surfaces. Although the hairy stems look prickly but are very soft to touch. Also, these are what make the plant look adorable, especially in front of a well-lit window.
Another feature adding to the beauty of this plant is the pinkish flowers, making it a total eye candy in blooming season. Want to know more? Keep reading to enjoy a summarized guide about the Begonia ricinifolia immense Plant.
Begonia Ricinifolia Classification
Family: Begoniaceae.
Genus: Begonia.
Features of Begonia Ricinifolia Plant
Size:
The plant gets about one to two feet in size.
Leaves:
The leaves are large and bright green with the typical shape of a star. The mature ones can get about 5 to 10 inches in size.
Flowers:
The plant produces beautiful clusters of pinkish bell-shaped flowers which grow on long stems. These plants surprisingly bloom in the middle of the winter until the spring.
Toxicity:
The majority of the Begonias are known to be safe for humans. Howbeit, experts believe that higher levels of insoluble oxalate crystals are known to be toxic to ingestion. So, make sure kids and pets do not ingest the plant. Also, contact emergency medical aid in case of emergency.
Begonia Ricinifolia Care
All the members of the genus are no-fuss plants. Typical Begonia Care is good enough to keep them healthy.
Quick Guide:
Water: Moderate (Water after the upper 2 inches gets dry)
Sunlight: Bright indirect sun or dappled shade
Humidity: Preference for higher levels
Fertilizer: Mild concentration in the growing season
Let us learn the details about “How do you care for the Begonia ricinifolia?”
Water Requirements
The common Begonia watering strategy works well enough here. Water the soil and wait for the upper 3 inches to get dry before watering again. Newbies need to keep an eye on begonia to check if the soil needs water or not.
The drying pattern of the soil depends upon environmental factors like humidity, temperature sunlight. You need to observe it and create a watering schedule for the plant. This will help you to take better care of the plant.
An estimated schedule for spring and summer is to water once to thrice a week. On the other hand, once in every three to four weeks is enough for the dormant plant in fall and winter.
Begonias are prone to root-rot. So, strictly avoid over-watering. Also, don’t water the soil unless the upper 3 inches get dry.
Another important factor is to avoid using cold water. Prefer using lukewarm water in winter. This will save the roots from freezing out.
Sunlight Requirements
The bright indirect sun is what your Begonia ricinifolia Immense needs. Moreover, direct sun is harmful to the delicate Begonia leaves. So, make sure the plant stays away from direct exposure to the fierce sun.
Choose an outdoor spot with bright sun or dappled shade to grow the plant outdoors. Just make sure, the plant is out of the direct sun especially in the peak hours. On the other hand, the indoor plants just need a well-lit spot near some window.
Soil Requirements
Well-draining and light soil are what you need to grow your Begonia plant. You can simply use the house plant growing mixture commonly available in the market and nurseries.
Other options for growing the begonia ricinifolia plant are self-mixed mixtures consisting of sphagnum moss and perlite in the ratio 2:3.
Temperature Requirements
A moderately warm temperature is what you need to keep your Begonia happy. To be precise, a temperature between 55 to 75F is ideal for all the Begonia plants.
When we talk about the cold, Begonias have poor tolerance for it. So, make sure you transfer the outdoor plants to some warm indoor spots before the winter.
Humidity Requirements
Begonias like to be in good humidity. According to an estimate, around 60 to 80% of the moisture is ideal for the plant.
In dry weather, the plant might need a little more effort to stay happy. You can follow any of the methods including a pebble-water tray and a humidifier.
Fertilizer Requirement
Use a graded house plant fertilizer once a month in spring and summer. The concentration should be mild, preferably half of the stated dose. Over-fertilizing is strictly prohibited, as it can burn and even kill the plant.
Dormant plants in fall and winter minimize their nutritional requirements. Fertilizing at this time is strictly forbidden and will show results of over-fertilization. This includes burning or even destruction of the plant.
Re-potting Requirements
Begonias don’t need frequent repotting unless the roots grow out from the drainage holes. An estimated period of two to three years is good enough without any efforts of repotting.
Pruning Requirements
Remove the dead and damaged leaves from the plant to make it look fresh and healthy.
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Begonia Ricinifolia Propagation
Just like the other members of the genus, this one too is easy to propagate the plant. You can use any of the common methods like seeds sowing and stem-cuttings. However, rooting the stem-cuttings is an easy and most popular way to enhance your Begonia collection.
Let us have a detailed understanding of ‘How do you propagate the Begonia immense ricinifolia’?
Propagation by Stem-cuttings:
Middle of the spring and summer are the ideal days for plant propagation.
Method:
- Take a garden knife to cut some stem cuttings. The size of these should be around 5 inches. It is better to cut below the leaf node. Remove the leaves from the lower side while keeping a few at the other end.
- Plant these cuttings about three inches deep in a well-draining growing mixture.
- Provide them with indirect sun and water the soil mildly right after the upper layer gets dry.
- You have to wait for about 4 to 6 weeks for the cuttings to develop roots. Puling them mildly and feeling feeble resistance will help you to check for the baby roots
Propagation in Water:
Begonias are good with water propagation also. You can dip the same cuttings in a jar of tap water and wait for the rooting. Just make sure the cuttings get bright indirect sun. Moreover, change the water twice a week to avoid mucking.
Summary
Begonia ricinifolia is a rhizomatous hybrid. The large green cleft leaves with hints of red on the lower sides. The stems are long with prominent reddish thread-like structures all over the surface. The plant gets one to two feet long and is perfect for both indoor and outdoor plantations.
These are easy-to-care plants. Indirect sun, good humidity, and watering after the upper soil get dry are the basic growing requirements.
The propagation of these plants is also easy. Planting some stem cuttings on warm days is the most popular method to enhance your collection.
