Begonia Baik is an exceptional and uncommon species of kingdom Plantae, which exists only in one habitat on Earth. It is found naturally in the Sarawak region of the Malaysian Islands.
Other than that, another feature that makes this plant distinctive is its fuzzy foliage and supersensitive nature. But, due to all these traits, this plant requires special attention to thrive as a healthy houseplant.
Don’t worry as we have got covered every detail from features to the care guide. Scroll down to get into the facts.
Begonia Baik Classification
Class: Magnoliopsida
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
Genus
As the name implies, this plant belongs to the genus Begonia. It is a vast genus of flowering plants. They are native to tropical and subtropical areas of South Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Its species are known for their unique fuzzy foliage and contrasting leaf colors.
History
This species of Begonia, due to its rare occurrence, was discovered recently in 2013. It was found first on sandstone cliffs in the Sarawak region of the Malaysian Islands. The plant is named after Mr. Jui Chin Hung, a plant lover who was nicknamed ‘ Budak Baik ‘ which means ‘ Good Boy ‘ in the Malay language.
Features of the Begonia Baik Plant
Begonia Baik is known to be an indoor ornamental plant. Its fascinating color and shape make it a great addition to your home. You are going to love it due to its marvelous features.
Foliage and Size
Begonia Baik is well known for its bright and colorful foliage. The leaves are usually dark green to magenta. Their broad surface has a fuzzy appearance with small magenta-colored fine hairs.
Another distinction of foliage is the sensitivity of leaves. Surprisingly, upon contact with any surface, the leaves melt. Now melting here refers to the death of leaves which may lead to wilting of the whole plant.
If we talk about size, this Begonia has small leaves even when mature. On average, this plant can only achieve a height of 8 inches when it becomes an adult. So even if you have a small space available, this plant will easily fit anywhere.
Growth Rate
Begonia is a very fast-growing species. It quickly grows in size in just a few days. So, in this case, you should buy a large-sized terrarium. It is because when your Begonia Baik increases its leaf number and size so fast, you would have to buy new terrariums again and again.
Flowers
Most of the flowering plants bloom during the growing season. So is the case with this Begonia. It produces beautiful white flowers which makes the plant look even more charming than before.
But flowers also require optimum growth conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunlight to grow. Hence, flowers are the output of favorable conditions available to plants.
Drought Tolerance
As we all know, Begonia requires a high level of humidity to show optimum growth. In such a case, if the weather becomes dry and hot, the plant can still survive.
It is because if a high humidity level is maintained in terrariums, the plant will not require much water content. Hence, terrariums can still save the day, even if you forget to water your plant!
Toxicity
It is known to be a toxic plant. The toxicity of the plant lies in its leaves. When consumed it can lead to severe consequences, which include vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation.
Another fact is that the plant is toxic to both humans and animals. Hence it should be strictly kept out of reach of toddlers and pet animals.
Dormancy
As Begonia is naturally adapted to a warm and humid environment, any change may lead to changes in growth patterns. Hence, if the temperature falls below a certain level in winters, the plant ceases to grow.
This stage of plant life is called dormancy. To avoid this stage of no growth, you should maintain a temperature suitable to the plant.
Begonia Baik Care
Every plant has specific requirements when it comes to light, water, and humidity. They should be followed at all costs, otherwise, the plant may face dire consequences.
Begonia Baik also has very specific needs to grow and thrive. Initially, you may face a hard time making it grow indoors. It is because it has very particular demands due to its rare natural occurrence. So, this plant is quite unsparing when it comes to its needs.
Quick Care Guide
Temperature: 24 – 28 degrees Celsius
Sunlight: Medium-light (preferably shade).
Humidity : 70 – 90 % .
Soil type: Potting Medium.
Watering: Once a Week.
Fertilizer: Once a Month.
Place Requirement
This plant is considered a perfect new addition to terrarium plants. A terrarium is a glass container that contains soil and the necessary microenvironment for fragile plants such as Begonia Baik. Hence, placing your plant in a terrarium will be of great help even if you are not able to take good care of your plant.
Water Requirement
Begonia Baik doesn’t require much water. In summers, you should water it once a week. Whereas in winters, it requires very less water. Once a month’s regime of watering would suffice its water requirements in cold weather.
Also, you need to be very careful to not give extra water. It is because this plant is highly susceptible to root rot. You should water the plant only when the soil is devoid of water.
Sunlight Requirement
Sunlight is an important determinant of plant growth. For this reason, this species of Begonia also has a fixed requirement for sunlight.
It prefers medium to low sunlight. Hence, you should place the terrarium containing your Begonia in a place away from bright sunlight. You can also find shade near a window to give the plant the optimum environment and light it needs.
Temperature Requirement
As Begonia Baik comes underclass of tropical plants, it grows vigorously in warm temperatures. A normal room temperature between 24 to 28 Degrees Celsius is considered for this species. Therefore, a terrarium provides the perfect environment as it retains air within it and gives Begonia all the warmth it needs.
Soil Requirement
A normal potting mix with a low pH is perfect for the growth of this Begonia. This mixture will be sufficient in terms of both nutrients and drainage in the soil. A pot with drainage holes is not a necessity for this plant. You can also add perlite to the soil if you want your plant to thrive well.
Humidity Requirement
Begonia Baik is a native of the Sarawak region, an area known to be high in humidity. Consequently, this plant will require high humidity in indoor settings too.
For this purpose, placing your plant in a terrarium will be the best idea. It is because a terrarium is a closed container that doesn’t let its moisture escape. So a high humidity level between 70 – 90 % can be easily achieved.
Fertilizer Requirement
A dilute fertilizer can be used once a month to increase the rate of growth of your Begonia. It has been recommended to not add fertilizer in the winter months. It is because the plant does not have a fast growth rate in winters. Hence, adding fertilizer may even damage the plant. Another recommendation says that slow-release fertilizer is required only once or twice a year and that too in a diluted state.
Pruning Requirement
Begonia species grow their leaves in a close-packed fashion. This means that it does not has extra leaves which may require pruning. But, old and wilted leaves can be removed now and then.
This exercise increases your plant’s growth and overall health. But, while pruning be careful not to touch the healthy leaves as they might melt and die.
Repotting Requirement
Begonia Baik may need to be repotted if the plant has outgrown its original container. In this case, you should very carefully take the plant out of potting medium without touching the leaves.
With the roots intact you can place the plant in a new pot of larger size. The plant can now grow easily to fill up the new space.
Begonia Baik Propagation
To propagate your Begonia, you can cut a small leaf out. Make some cuts on the surface of the leaf. Now, you can wait for the leaf to develop a new offshoot on its surface. After that, you can plant the new shoots in the potting medium and take care of it just like the original Begonia.
Common Issues
Some diseases and pests may attack your Begonia plant. Due to its presence inside a terrarium, the plant may encounter powdery mildew. It is a fungal disease that may result from poor ventilation inside the terrarium. For this purpose, you can frequently shower and spray the soil of the plant to retain moisture.
If the container remains open some insects and pests may find their way into the terrarium. The pest may eat away and destroy the whole plant. Now to get rid of them you should keep the terrarium closed and spray pesticides if possible.
Summary
Begonia Baik is favorable as an indoor plant, due to its captivating foliage and small size. You can grow it easily, but you need to clearly understand its care routine and its requirements.
This rare plant will be a great inclusion to your houseplants if grown properly. Due to ease of propagation, you can easily increase the number of Begonias. Its incredible leaves will make it a great plant for ornamental use and decorative purposes.
