Begonia Julau, also known as the Butterfly Begonia, is a beautiful plant that has butterfly-shaped leaves.
It is not a large plant, but it is a stunning plant because of its pink leaf patterning on its leaves which are often mistaken for flowers.
In this article, we will go into what a Begonia Julau is and how to take care of one.
Table of Contents
What is a Begonia Julau?
Begonia Julau is a hybrid and rare houseplant in the begonia family. This begonia got its name from where it was first discovered.
The Julau begonia was first discovered in the city of Julau in Malaysia.
The leaves are shaped like butterfly wings or angel wings and thus are also known as the “butterfly begonia” or “angel wing begonia”.
The foliage of this begonia is made up of rounded dark green leaves with pink spots around the edges and within.
To some, the pink dots actually look like they’ve been painted pink.
This plant thrives indoors because of its love for warm temperatures and partial light; nevertheless, other care requirements like watering and soil type play a huge role in determining how well the plants will grow.
A mature Begonia Julau plant can grow up to 14 inches, but if it doesn’t, this plant is one of the cutest begonias you can grow.
We should note that there are two main varieties of Begonia Julau. There is Begonia Julau Type 1 and Type 2.
Begonia Julau Type 1 is the more common of the two. Nevertheless, because of the resemblance, they are often confused with each other, the latter.
Type 1 is the smaller of the two, with more subtle markings, whereas Type 2 is taller and has longer leaves. However, both types have pink leaf patterning.
How to Care for a Begonia Julau
It is simple to care for Julau begonias. However, beginners have struggled to care for this plant due to its delicate nature.
Continue reading to learn how to care for Begonia Julau plants.
Climate
Begonia Julau can be grown outside in USDA hardiness zones 9-10.
Note that they are not frost-hardy so colder regions such as USDA hardiness zones 2 through 8 may harm Julau begonia plants.
Hence, if you live in these colder areas, you should grow this plant indoors instead.
With that said, the plant’s location indoors matters; avoid keeping them close to a cold corner as the cold air may cause Begonia Julau leaves to wilt.
Temperature
Begonia Julau will thrive best in temperature levels of 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
They can grow anywhere under this level of temperatures due to the plant’s general preference for warmer air temperatures.
Humidity
Julau begonias love high humidity in excess of 60% relative humidity. All you need to do is move it to an area with a lot of moist air.
Places like the kitchen or bathroom would be enough. You can also use a pebble water tray or humidifier to help Begonia Julau meet its needs.
Light
Begonia Julau thrives in indirect light. An easy way to get indirect light is to place your begonia near a south-facing window.
However, if you are unable to provide enough light, you can use artificial lighting such as grow lights or fluorescent lights.
When exposed to direct sunlight, Begonia Julau can become discolored or, worse, the leaves can get burnt.
These symptoms are often misinterpreted and novice gardeners tend to think the plant needs more light.
However, by giving your plant more light, you will be doing more harm than good.
So, if you ensure that your Begonia Julau only receives indirect sunlight, your plant should be fine.
Water
Water your Begonia Julua plant liberally whenever you notice the top portion of the soil drying out slightly.
Begonia Julau requires moist soil to thrive. The rule of thumb for watering begonias is to allow the top portion of the soil to dry slightly before adding more water.
However, there is a fine line to this approach as if you let the soil dry for an extended period of time, this can result in droopy leaves because the leaves have no more water to stay healthy.
On the other hand, exercise caution when watering too much as overwatering will make the soil soggy and will create a perfect environment for root rot to set in.
Lastly, during the winter, don’t water Begonia Julau plants frequently because this is when they are dormant and with the lack of heat and light, excess water does not evaporate well.
Soil
Begonia Julau prefers moist soil. However, to help balance moisture and prevent waterlogged soil, we recommend using well-draining potting soil with added compost or peat moss to retain some moisture and nutrients.
Rich, nutrient-rich soil that is watered just right can prevent root rot and deter pest infestations.
Use an airy soil mix combined with some soil amendments like peat moss and perlite, which will help your soil breathe.
Fertilizer
Begonia Julau generally does not require fertilizer. A naturally rich potting soil will have enough nutrients to feed it.
However, if you notice your plant getting discolored or just unhealthy, you can use a general house plant fertilizer to help it grow better.
To avoid over-fertilizing your begonia, try applying half of what the directions recommend.
Over-fertilization will certainly harm your plant and burn it from the inside. There is one situation in which we suggest adding fertilizer.
When you repot your begonia in the new Begonia Julau soil mix, add some extra fertilizer so that your Begonia Julau will have an easier time adjusting to the new pot.
Propagation
There are two popular ways to propagate Begonia Julau: Stem cuttings and Leaf cuttings.
Both methods are straightforward, but stem cuttings will provide better results.
Below, we will go over how to propagate Begonia Julau by stem or leaf cuttings.
Stem cutting
To propagate Begonia Julau by stem cuttings, cut the stems using a pair of clean pruning shears. Make sure to have a few leaves on the stem cuttings.
After this, root them in clean water and expose them to indirect light rather than direct sunlight.
You can also use a hormone rooting powder to help with the rooting process.
As a last step, transplant the stem cutting into a potting mix once you see roots starting to form.
Lastly, use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to facilitate water drainage, helping your young plant grow.
Leaf cutting
Single leaf propagation of Begonia Julau plants is effectively the same as stem cuttings.
Start by using a pair of sterilized shears to cut a leaf. Take the leaf-cutting and place it in moist potting soil.
After roots start to form on the leaf-cutting, replant them into fresh potting soil, add water, and place them somewhere sunny.
The whole process should take about a month.
Common Pests
Begonia Julau can be infested by spider mites, mealy bugs, gnats, snails, and caterpillars.
For most of these pests, you can wipe them off by using a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol.
To prevent further pest infections, apply a general insecticide.
Diseases
Begonia Julau plants are susceptible to a number of diseases that can negatively impact their overall health and appearance.
These diseases can cause the plant’s leaves to curl, yellow, and drop.
Begonia Julau plants are susceptible to Botrytis blight, powdery mildew, and leaf spot, some of the most common diseases that affect Begonia Julau plants.
These diseases can be treated with fungicides and other methods, but it is more important to take precautions to avoid them in the first place.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that infects the leaves of Begonia plants.
You will know that it is this disease when a white powdery coating covers the surface of your plant.
The leaves of the begonias may become yellow and droopy.
However, you can control powdery mildew by ensuring that the planting area is thoroughly aerated.
To get rid of the disease, you can apply a fungicide like Neem oil.
Prevent Spreading Plant Disease
One of the ways you can prevent this disease is by ensuring that you use a clean pruning shear during propagation.
Another way is by cutting off dead leaves or separating your plants from the infested ones.
The most reason for pest infestations lies with overwatering issues. Hence, ensure the watering of Begonia Julau plants adequately.
FAQ
Why are the leaves of my Begonia Julau brown?
The edges of Begonia Julau plant leaves turning brown is a sign that the plant is not getting enough water. Begonia Julau prefers to be kept in a moist environment, such as a terrarium, where it will receive heat, moisture, shade, and the right amount of light.
Is the Begonia Julau toxic?
Begonia Julau plants, like all other begonias, are toxic to humans and animals. Despite the fact that the majority of the toxic components are underground, it is still recommended that you keep begonias out of the reach of your pets. When eaten by dogs and cats, they cause vomiting, and they can be even more dangerous when eaten by grazing animals like horses.
Why is my Begonia Julau wilting?
Severely dry soil is probably the cause of wilting Begonia Julau plants. It is best to water the plant as soon as possible after noticing that the soil is dry to the touch. Begonia Julau plants grow best in a moist and humid environment, so make sure it is watered well.
Conclusion
Begonia Julau is one of the 1000 begonia species that adds vibrance to your environment.
Begonia Julau is a beautiful plant that is known for its bright butterfly-shaped leaves.
In order to keep your Begonia Julau plant healthy, you will need to water it regularly and give it plenty of indirect sunlight.
You can also fertilize the plant every month or so with a balanced fertilizer. Lastly, you can make more Begonia Julau by simply propagating them.
Other Types of Begonias to Consider
There are many types of begonias to think about when choosing a plant for your home or garden.
For example, cane begonias have tall, tuberous begonias are small, compact plants used for bedding or fibrous begonia for their flashy blooms.
Read further for other varieties of Begonias to grow in your garden.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.