what's wrong with my spotted begonia? - Ask Extension
howdy, have had the plant for years*. while it continues to produce vibrant new leaves, many inevitably begin to pale and fall off, or an area on them...
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what's wrong with my spotted begonia? #923943
Asked January 26, 2026, 10:24 PM EST
howdy, have had the plant for years*. while it continues to produce vibrant new leaves, many inevitably begin to pale and fall off, or an area on them withers & they fall off. i don't understand why and what i could be doing to prevent the decay?
*obviously it's an indoor plant :)
thank you!
thank you SO MUCH for getting back to me so quickly!!
the plant is almost 9 feet (yes, nine feet) tall so it’s kind of hard to photograph all of it. plus, i have lightweight monofilament line around a few of the branches to help them remain vertical….
it may’ve looked wet as i’d watered it the day before the photos and i was surprised to find an accumulation of water in the catch-tray under the pot, yet the soil itself looked pretty dry, including at its bottom, so i’m still confused…… it may well be suffering from irregular watering, as i’ve worried it’s been too wet, so’ve slowed down on the watering, then see those dried out areas and completely dry topsoil (into an inch down into the soil, for example) so i water it…..
going to attach the photos i took last night here - hopefully you’ll still be able to see them.
again, i REALLY APPRECIATE your expert advice and will follow whatever you recommend!!!!
ps - i repotted it from a clay pot into this plastic (which i hate) one so it could fit within the decorative pot my daughter gifted me
The pictures are very helpful. The spindly leaves signify far too little light. https://easyplant.com/care/begonia-maculata It prefers at least 50% humidity (Brazil is like that). The water damage I noted was long standing. Prune that plant! Cut to 3 feet, change the light. Write me in two weeks
