Light
Medium to bright
Ideal spot
Begonia rex · Foliage plant
Medium to bright
Ideal spot
about weekly
In the growing season
Moderate
Moderate grower
Toxic
Cats & dogs
Painted-Leaf Begonia (Begonia rex) belongs to the Begoniaceae family and is a moderate houseplant to look after. This moderate grower plant is happiest in medium to bright and reaches 20–60 cm indoors.
For watering, the rule is simple: keep evenly moist. In the growing season it needs water roughly every 5 days, dropping to every 9 days in winter. Use the watering calculator below to tune that rhythm to your pot size, light and household humidity.
Important: Painted-Leaf Begonia is toxic to pets — keep it out of reach of cats, dogs and children.
Set your pot size, light and humidity — the calculator tunes the watering rhythm to your home.
Light at the spot
Humidity
Season
Water Painted-Leaf Begonia
every 5 days
≈ about weekly · 6× per month
Let the top 2–3 cm dry and finger-check before watering again.
Painted-Leaf Begonia prefers medium to bright but will cope with medium, indirect. Harsh midday sun can scorch sensitive leaves, while too little light leads to leggy, sparse growth.
Keep Painted-Leaf Begonia between 16–26 °C and aim for around 60% humidity (45% minimum). Below 12 °C it risks cold damage — keep it away from draughty windows and radiators.
16–26 °C
Not below 12 °C
60%
45% minimum
Keep evenly moist
Soil between waterings
Pot Painted-Leaf Begonia in light, airy, free-draining mix. A drainage hole is essential — soggy, airless soil is the single most common way houseplants die.
Begonias are toxic to cats and dogs — the underground tubers most of all — causing mouth irritation and vomiting; mildly irritating to people.
The best ways to propagate Painted-Leaf Begonia are leaf cuttings, stem cuttings and division. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
A single Rex begonia leaf, pinned flat on damp soil and nicked along its veins, will sprout a whole row of new plantlets.
In the growing season Painted-Leaf Begonia needs watering about weekly (about every 5 days in a 16 cm pot at medium light), and much less in winter — roughly every 9 days. Use the watering calculator above to get the exact interval for your conditions.
Painted-Leaf Begonia thrives in medium to bright. A spot near a bright window out of harsh midday sun is ideal; give it a little more light in winter.
Painted-Leaf Begonia is toxic to pets. Begonias are toxic to cats and dogs — the underground tubers most of all — causing mouth irritation and vomiting; mildly irritating to people.
The most common problem with Painted-Leaf Begonia is powdery mildew. Check your watering and drainage first — most issues trace back to too much or too little water.
The best ways to propagate Painted-Leaf Begonia are leaf cuttings, stem cuttings and division. Late spring and summer are ideal, when the plant is growing most actively.
Indoors Painted-Leaf Begonia typically reaches 20–60 cm. With the right light and occasional repotting it stays compact and bushy.
Care data last verified on 15 June 2026.
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