tiny colorful leafed begonia?

4 years ago

Would like a small begonia with colorful or interesting leaves to try in a terrarium. Ideally not a fussy plant. Smaller it stays even when mature the better. Any suggestions of what I might keep an eye out for?

Featured Answer

hc mcdole

4 years ago

There are many small begonias that would fit into a terrarium environment nicely. In fact some would surely die if not kept at high levels of humidity. Many are species from Asia and Africa. There are hybrids as well.

Check with The Violet Barn as they sell many miniature begonias (but beware some do grow much bigger than expected). Mountain Orchids sells many exotics but their prices are a bit exotic too.

https://www.mountainorchids.com/category/begonias

https://www.violetbarn.com/store/begonias.html

Here are a few terrariums at the SWR earlier this month in Austin, TX. I don't know most of these newer introductions to the begonia world as they are pouring out of Asia in recent years (China, Philippines, Sulawesi, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.)

inophylla

nurii

microsperma x staudtii (I bought one of these as I found it pretty cool looking)

quadrilata var. nimbaensis (I had this a couple of times and it usually does very well if you don't overwater it or forget to water it). Highly recommend this.

koksunii (a new one to me but lovely)

U012

lyallii (very cool begonia and wished I had it once again)

Some are hybrids too

Good old 'Silver Dollar' - doesn't really need a terrarium

'Helen Teupel' gets a lot larger than this and doesn't need terrarium culture.

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Comments (6)

hc mcdole
4 years ago
If you want tiny try prismatocarpa, 'Peridot', bogneri (grass like leaves), vankerckhovenii, polilloensis, amphioxus, bipinnatifida (well this one can get big if grown in a large greenhouse like the ABG - Atlanta Botanical Garden), and many, many more.

melanobullata can get quite large

bogneri was voted best in show

ningmingensis (what a name)

vankerchovenii

roseopunctata

cleopatrae
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Paul MI
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks, HC!

hc mcdole(z7)

"Check with The Violet Barn as they sell many miniature begonias (but beware some do grow much bigger than expected). "

I have run into that issue with many types of plants. Result is I tend to be a nuisance with vendors as I "bug them" for what the real max height of their plants will be.

"Mountain Orchids sells many exotics but their prices are a bit exotic too."

Heh. I'm not surprised. That's why, whenever possible, I have acquired plants via trade.

microsperma x staudtii -- that one is pretty cool

koksunii -- that one is awesome

quadrilata var. nimbaensis -- looks familiar ... definitely rather cute

.'Silver Dollar' -- quite lovely

'Helen Teupel' -- pity as to the "gets a lot larger" part .... really like that one

bogneri -- now THAT is just plain nifty! I like that. (but then I tend to like the "weird stuff")

cleopatrae -- lovely little thing

prismatocarpa -- did try once but, alas, couldn't keep the humidity as high as it wanted in my big terr

melanobullata -- rather like the look but, again, "gets large" would be an issue, I suspect

ningmingensis -- rather nice, that one

Thanks again, HC. Given me some plants to keep an eye out for. Mayhaps I will get lucky and obtain some via plant trades. :-)
hc mcdole
4 years ago
Have fun with whatever direction you go. Begonias can be addicting.
petrushka (7b)
4 years ago
all of the above are porbably quite difficult to get.

the one that can be found is 'Tiger Kitten'. the veining is pretty but I don't know how fast it can get out of bounds :).

I propagate using whole leaves and usually enclosed and mostly in perlite - and most of my young plants stay very small for at least a year with very small leaves. but no artificial light. any rhizomatous or rex.

but hc begonias grow super fast under lights.

so I am thinking if your lighting is not strong and you confine the plant to a sep small pot buried / covered with sphag they can stay small for like 2 years.

then you have a much larger choice.
Rosie1949
4 years ago
Yes, Paul,,,,,,,definitely take HC McDole's advice! Begonias ARE addicting, especially when you have a friend who is an enabler!!!! lol Rosie