My angel wing begonia's leaves are getting really bleached out. It has not been fed for awhile and it has been a couple years since I repotted it. It sits about two feet from a southern window.

I could cut off healthy green shoots and restart it but there are not many starts. Any ideas?

Thank you in advance.
Leda

I would wait until spring to do anything to Begonias unless you have ample light for them. I have a ton of them in the house, but during winter, they are just surviving, not really doing much. That's what they've done in the house the past few years since other plants take precedence over getting the good light spots, but they pop back to life when they can go outside again. I've given up on trying to do cuttings of Begonias over winter since they don't seem to be able to do it well in the conditions I have available for them.

Forgot to say, pale sounds like chlorosis. Could be from nitrogen deficiency, or tap water making the PH of the soil too high.

Thanks Tiffany,
I did not know how picky begonias are until I read it here. I know what you mean about just surviving. I bought a couple sets of begonias, all but one out of eleven died. I decided to try one more time and contacted the grower for help. All of them made it with their help but here in semi-arid Colorado, I have to keep them covered all the time. My window light is taken so they sit on the floor under the violets and I think they are living because of the lights of the CFL bulbs.

The angel wing though has lived a long time by that window so I think Nitrogen may be the answer. If you wish, I will let you know.

Thank you for caring and for the help,
Leda

Absolutely look forward to an update!

Good idea Tiffany, so I am going to take before and after pictures. (I noticed it needs a long shower too to take some of the minerals out of the soil.) This is January 21, and here is how it looks.




So the variables will be "the shower", the increase in light because of the time of year, and the feeding...we will see. (Maybe! LOL.)

I have that same one, love it! Yours looks better than most Begonias at my house of any type, (besides the wax ones that actually seem to like winter.) In the 2nd pic you just added, that IS more light. If my Begs saw that pic, they would be jealous! Obviously a better spot/window, and probably more hours of sunshine at your place this winter.

I can tell the difference of all of the missing sun here this winter because last winter at this time, rhizomatous Begs were full of beautiful leaves, making flower stalks. This year I'm not even sure they're all still alive, same spots, same care, repotted before coming in like last time.

It has a south window and I keep pinching it back. One picture was in the shade, the other in the light. This will be interesting....

From my experiences with different Begonias, the only thing that kills them is rotting roots, or cold. If you can avoid those 2 things, they should stay alive, pests or simply never watering at all, notwithstanding. The exception is tuberous Begonias which can't take high heat, so just can't survive here at all. They're a dangerous addiction, so many of them.

If you like pinching plants in general, you might have the personality type for bonsai. Fast-growing plants like Begonias (and Coleus) are fun to learn on.

Thank you, I will remember your cautions on Begonias. I read that they need humidity and this is a semi-arid climate in Colorado. I wonder if I can ever take them out of the plastic bag. Today I am going to clean my fish tank and water my plants with the yucky water, unless I procrastinate again. LOL

I never thought of using coleus for bonsai. I don't really enjoy pinching plants back. In fact it feels kind of cruel but it makes lovely, lush plants. Sigh. I only have one braided bonsai tree that is beautiful but I bought it that way. We had three to begin with. One is in front of me, one in the plastic greenhouses in my living room, barely holding on. (Yes the living room! The best light in the house and one of my sanctuaries.) The other sanctuary is in the family room with a north window and my very crowded table with some of my succulent plants grown under a plant light. There is even room for a couch inhabited with a hubby, 3 dogs, and a cat. LOL That is where my aquarium of goldfish reside - and of course the TV.

Thank you for the advice.
Leda