The name Angel Wing Begonia can be VERY confusing. Luckily their care is much simpler than trying to work out which Angel Wing begonia you have. This guide will help with both. In fact this family of begonia are the hardiest, easiest-care of them all (and there are a LOT of different types of begonias). However, what you may have been told is an Angel Wing (sometimes called a Dragon Wing), is actually the common name used for the leaf shape rather than the exact variety, cultivar or hybrid you have.
The angel wing plant, known by its botanical name of Caladium x hortulanum, is an incredibly ornamental houseplant cherished for its vibrant, artistic leaves. This popular indoor plant is very easy to grow when given the proper care. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll outline the key tips and tricks for keeping your angel wing healthy and thriving.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
Angel wing plants need the following growing conditions to reach their full potential:
-
Light Bright, indirect light is ideal. Place near an east or west facing window. Provide some shade if situated in direct sun
-
Temperature: Average room temperatures between 65-80°F are suitable. Keep away from hot or cold drafts.
-
Humidity Higher humidity levels of 60-70% are preferred Mist leaves or use a pebble tray
-
Water: Allow soil to dry out halfway down before watering. Water deeply until it flows from drainage holes.
-
Soil: Use a rich, well-draining potting mix. Incorporate peat moss or compost.
Getting these basic environmental factors right goes a long way towards ensuring a strong, vibrant angel wing plant. Monitor your plant and tweak conditions as needed.
Watering Correctly
When it comes to watering, angel wing plants need a thorough drink once the top 50% of the soil becomes dry. The frequency depends on factors like light, temperature, humidity, and size of pot.
Always check soil moisture before watering. Lifting the pot helps determine weight. Insert your finger into the soil to check depth.
Water until it drips freely from the drainage holes, then discard any excess water in the saucer. This ensures the soil is fully saturated.
Allow the soil to partially dry out before watering again. The plant should never sit in water.
Achieving the Right Soil
A well-aerated, loose potting mix provides the ideal foundation for angel wing plants. Look for a mix containing:
-
Rich organic matter such as compost or peat moss
-
Perlite or pumice to improve drainage
-
Coarse sand or fine gravel for texture
You can create your own blend by mixing 2 parts potting soil, 1 part peat and 1 part perlite or sand.
Add a thin layer of pebbles at the bottom of pots to assist drainage. Repot every 2-3 years into fresh soil.
Controlling Pests
Angel wings are prone to common houseplant pests like:
- Mealybugs
- Aphids
- Spider mites
Check under leaves for small insects. Treat promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Wipe leaves regularly with a damp cloth to prevent buildup.
Isolate infested plants away from healthy ones. Remove badly damaged leaves or stems via pruning.
Maintaining High Humidity
The large leaves of angel wing plants transpire a lot of moisture. Supplementing humidity around the foliage helps the plant stay hydrated.
Some options for increasing humidity include:
- Placing pots on pebble trays topped with water
- Misting the leaves daily using a spray bottle
- Running a humidifier nearby
- Grouping plants together to create a greenhouse effect
Shoot for 60% humidity or higher. Watch for any fungal issues and reduce humidity if needed.
Feeding Throughout the Seasons
Fertilizing at the right times ensures your angel wing gets the nutrients it needs for vigorous growth.
In spring and summer, use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Feed every 2-3 weeks during the active growing season.
In fall and winter, reduce fertilizer to once a month as growth slows. Flush the soil every 3-4 months to prevent salt accumulation.
Displaying Your Angel Wing
One of the joys of growing angel wing plants is their versatility. Some fun ways to showcase them include:
-
As a tabletop or desktop accent. The colorful leaves brighten any space.
-
Grouped with other plants in a lush indoor garden or conservatory. Combine with ferns or bromeliads.
-
Placed in front of a bright window where the foliage glows.
-
Grown in hanging baskets, wall planters, or unique containers like driftwood or seashells.
-
Lined along a windowsill to create a living privacy screen or bold statement.
Pruning for Optimal Growth
To keep angel wings bushy and full, prune back leggy stems in early spring. Make cuts with clean shears just above leaf nodes or where new buds are emerging.
Removing spent leaves and flowers as needed also improves appearance. Prune away damaged or diseased portions promptly.
Limit pruning in fall and winter to allow plants to enter dormancy. New growth will emerge come spring.
Propagating for Extra Plants
Angel wing plants can be easily propagated from stem cuttings during the growing season. Cut a stem below a leaf node and remove lower leaves.
Place the cutting in water until roots develop. Plant in moist potting soil once rooted. New plants will establish in a few weeks.
Division of mature plants is another option. Carefully separate the tuber-like bulbs and repot.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your angel wing plant is struggling, review these potential problems:
-
Brown leaf tips: Usually caused by dry air. Increase humidity around the plant.
-
Yellowing leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
-
Drooping leaves: Needs more water. Water thoroughly until it flows from drainage holes.
-
Few flowers: Too much sunlight. Move to a shadier spot.
-
Leaf drop: Cool temps, overwatering, or transplant shock. Improve conditions.
With the proper care, angel wing plants will flourish for years. Focus on providing evenly moist soil, high humidity, good lighting, and protection from pests. Your efforts will be rewarded with a healthy and breathtaking specimen.
Can you create seeds from a flowering Begonia?
Begonias are monoecious, meaning they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant (compare them using the photos below), so yes, you can create seeds from a flowering begonia.
However, the male and female flowers do not normally bloom at the same time, so it can be a process over time, collecting the pollen from the male flowers (which normally bloom first) then pollenating the female flowers, and later harvesting and planting the seeds. If youre interested in creating and growing from seed, heres a good how to create begonia seeds from the American Begonia Society.
Above: TOP male flowers and BOTTOM female begonia flowers.
This guide covers how to care for Angel Wing begonia, including light, watering, soil, temperature and more, plus problem-solving for common Angel Wing issues, as well as tips and photos to help you ID some of the more common varieties and cultivars…
There are many gorgeous Angel Wing begonia that are hybrids without names and dont exactly match named varieties or cultivars you might find online. The reason Angel Wing are difficult to ID is largely because begonia varieties and cultivars are so easy to cross, but also because (until recently), begonia were restricted for what was able to be imported here, so hobbyists have got busy creating their own.
Now the rules have changed prepare to be wowed by all sorts of new begonias coming soon (my hands up for Begonia White Ice in particular, but there are so many with wow-worthy foliage), however, also keep in mind something a store sells as a named variety or cultivar might still be a hybrid.
Some you wont know for sure what you have until they flower, such as Begonia Orange Rubra with its scented, orange blooms, or the white flowers of Begonia maculata Wightii. Some are easier to get an ID on from the leaves alone, like the very large leafed Corallina de Lucerna whose ruffled leaves can get larger than your head, or the Angelica which looks similar to Rosea Picta but with wider leaves with slightly frilled edges and the tips dipped in silvery white.
Above: Likely Begonia Angelica or an Angelica hybrid. Note the wider leaf, slightly frilled edges and silvery white tips.
Another commonly confused pair are the narrower-leafed, more sparsely spotted Maculata compared to the wider-leafed, spottier Annan Grace, both which have distinct red backs to their leaves. To make it trickier, the conditions your Angel Wing is in can change the amount of spots, their size and colour, and the colour of the leaves.
Thats why two Angel Wings can look very different, yet both be correctly called an Angel Wing begonia. Although your Angel Wing may not perfectly match a named variety or cultivar, and the chances its a hybrid are high, one of the most common Angel Wing found here is what we call the Begonia Rosea Picta locally, also known as the Begonia albo-picta var. Rosea overseas.
Above: Begonia Annan Grace LEFT and Begonia maculata Wightii RIGHT. Credit Galina Shutkowski. Copyright .
Above: Begonia Snow Capped TOP and Begonia White Ice BOTTOM.
Above: The most common Angel Wing begonia available here is the Begonia albo-picta Rosea (also known as Rosea Picta or just Begonia albo-picta), which normally produces flowers in shades of pink.
I finally figured out ANGEL WING BEGONIAS Care Tips & Tricks
FAQ
How do you maintain angel wings?
How often should angel wings be watered?
How do you make Angel Wing Begonia thrive?
How to revive angel wings plant?