Begonia 'Pink Lady'

The 'Pink Lady' Begonia prefers bright indirect light, without ever being exposed to direct sunlight.

In its natural tropical habitat, this begonia grows under the forest canopy, filtered by the surrounding foliage. Indoors, an east or west-facing window is ideal, with a distance of 50 to 100 cm from the glass to prevent sunburn on the leaves. In summer, a light curtain effectively protects the colorful foliage.

In autumn and winter, move the plant closer to the light source or orient it towards a south-facing window to compensate for the decrease in natural light. The pink colors of the foliage intensify with good light.

Important tip 🌿A prolonged lack of light leads to leggy stems and a loss of the vibrancy of the pink colors characteristic of this variety.For low-light rooms, our full-spectrum grow light for indoor plants faithfully mimics natural light, without harmful UV rays.

The 'Pink Lady' Begonia is considered toxic to cats, dogs, and young children.

Begonias contain soluble oxalates, mainly concentrated in the underground parts such as tubers and rhizomes, but also present in the leaves. These chemical compounds cause irritation of the oral mucous membranes, excessive salivation, and difficulty swallowing if ingested.

In pets, especially cats and dogs, ingestion can lead to vomiting, digestive upset, and hypersalivation. Symptoms generally remain mild but require a veterinary consultation if they persist.

What precautions should you take on a daily basis?

Place your 'Pink Lady' Begonia out of reach or in a room inaccessible to pets and young children. A wall shelf or tall piece of furniture is an ideal location.

By taking these simple precautions, you can continue to enjoy peaceful daily life with your pets and children.

Begonia 'Pink Lady' leaves most often turn yellow due to overwatering, insufficient light, or a nutrient deficiency.

• If the leaves turn yellow and become limp, the problem is generally caused by too much water, which leads to the early stages of root rot.
• If the leaves gradually turn yellow while remaining firm and dry, the plant is often lacking light or fertilizer.
• If the yellowing is accompanied by small light-coloured spots, a dull appearance, or fine webbing, it may be a spider mite infestation, which is common indoors, especially in dry conditions.

The Begonia 'Pink Lady' is particularly sensitive to excess moisture in the growing medium: watering too frequently without allowing the growing medium to dry out is the leading cause of yellowing in this variety.

Important tip 🌿One or two older leaves turning yellow from time to time is completely normal.However, you should be concerned if several leaves turn yellow quickly or if the problem spreads to the young leaves.

In the event of a spider mite infestation, choose our biological spider mite control solutions, which are effective and plant-friendly.

The Begonia 'Pink Lady' is ideally repotted in spring, between March and May, when growth actively resumes.

Repotting is necessary when:

• roots emerge from the drainage holes,
• growth slows down,
• or the growing medium compacts too quickly after watering.

As a general rule, repotting every 2 years is sufficient for an adult plant.

After receiving your Begonia 'Pink Lady', wait 2 to 3 weeks before repotting to allow the plant to acclimate gradually to its new environment. Repotting too early increases stress and slows down recovery.

Choose a pot 2 to 3 cm wider than the old one, which must have drainage holes. Our clear pots with holes for observing the roots after repotting are ideal: their transparency makes it easy to monitor root recovery without disturbing the plant.

We recommend our premium growing media made in France, designed for drainage, aeration, and healthy growth.

1. Gently remove the plant from its pot, tapping the pot if necessary.
2. Gently untangle the roots if they are very compacted, without breaking them.
3. Place a layer of growing medium, position the plant upright, and fill in without burying the crown.

Important tip 🌿After repotting, water to help settle the growing medium. Repotting every two years is sufficient.

Fertilize the 'Pink Lady' Begonia every 2 to 3 weeks from March to October with a liquid fertilizer diluted in the watering water.

From November to February, reduce fertilization significantly or stop it altogether. This is the plant's dormant period.

Properly balanced fertilization promotes:

• denser, more vibrant foliage,
• steady growth,
• and greater plant resilience.

The 'Pink Lady' Begonia particularly benefits from fertilizer to maintain the intensity of its pink and green hues, which can fade if nutrients are deficient for an extended period.

👉 For best results, we recommend our concentrated liquid fertilizer for tropical plants, which is easy to dose and delivers quickly visible results.

Important tip 🌿Never fertilize dry soil: this could burn the roots. Water first, then apply the fertilizer 2 to 3 days later.

Water the Begonia 'Pink Lady' when the potting mix has dried out thoroughly, approximately every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 10 to 15 days in winter. Use room-temperature water.

How to tell when to water?

The finger test remains the most reliable method: insert your index finger 2 to 3 cm into the potting mix. If the mix is dry, it is time to water.

The Begonia 'Pink Lady' tolerates a slight lack of water better than overwatering: its thick, asymmetrical foliage is susceptible to stem rot when the potting mix remains damp for too long. Bottom watering in a saucer is preferable for a gradual and controlled supply.

Important tip: If in doubt, wait rather than watering. Plants tolerate a lack of water better than overwatering, which causes root rot.

The Begonia 'Pink Lady' roots very easily from a stem cutting or a leaf cutting, ideally in spring or early summer.

Stem cuttingTake a healthy stem with at least 2 nodes and 2 to 3 leaves. Cut cleanly just below a node using our stainless steel straight-tip secateurs for a clean cut that limits the risk of infection. Remove the lower leaves so that only one or two remain at the top.

1. Leave the cut to air dry for 1 to 2 hours to seal the wound.
2. Place the cutting in one of our clear pots to monitor root development, filled with a light and slightly moist growing medium.
3. Place the cutting in a warm, bright location away from direct sunlight, at a constant temperature of 20 to 22 °C.

For optimal rooting, you can also use live sphagnum moss as a rooting medium: it maintains constant moisture without suffocating the roots. When transplanting, use our all-purpose growing medium enriched with essential components to promote rapid recovery.

Important tip 🌿The first roots generally appear in 3 to 5 weeks. The cutting is ready to be repotted when the roots are at least 3 to 4 cm long and new leaves begin to emerge.