The trout begonia, bot. Begonia maculata, impresses with its dotted leaves. That's why it's all the more annoying when they get brown tips. But how do you get rid of the brown tips on the trout begonia?
In a nutshell
- brown leaf tips are not natural discolorations
- Causes lie in the location or in the maintenance
- Adapt culture conditions to the needs of the trout begonia
- long-term: care for the plant properly
occurrence and causes
On the one hand, it is natural for the tips of the trout begonia to turn yellow or brown; on the other hand, unfavorable cultivation conditions can trigger the discolouration. However, if brown tips appear on the leaves of the leaf begonia, you can assume that this is not a natural process.
The reasons for brown tips on the leaves are different, but can be summarized
- care mistakes and
- an unfavorable location
lead back.
care mistakes
The trout begonia reacts to some care mistakes with brown tips. Here you can find out where the error can be.
over-fertilization
While the leaves turn yellow when there is a lack of nutrients (under-fertilization), over-fertilization causes brown tips on the leaves of the trout begonia. The reason for this lies in the roots, because they burn if there is too much fertilizer in the substrate.
To compensate for this care error, you should repot Begonia maculata immediately so that the root ball is not damaged further:
- Lift the plant out of the substrate
- Carefully remove the soil from the root ball
- Cut off rotting and decayed roots
- Rinse off residue under lukewarm water
- let dry
- remove over-fertilized substrate from the pot
- Clean the planter with hot water
- Replant the plant with new soil
- pour on
Tip: However, a freshly repotted trout begonia needs additional fertilizer in the first year.
In the future you can prevent over-fertilization by fertilizing Begonia maculata according to its needs when the nutrients in the substrate are running low:
- every two to four weeks
- from April to September
dryness
If the trout begonia suffers from a lack of water, the tips of the leaves also turn brown. To compensate for this, the plant must be watered. But be careful, too much water at once can also damage Begonia maculata. Therefore, proceed as follows:
- water the plant
- Increase the amount of water slowly
If it has recovered after a few weeks, adapt your watering behavior to the needs of the plant. It is only poured when the surface of the substrate has dried one to two centimeters deep, because too much water also damages the ornamental plant.
With the right care, brown tips on the leaves will disappear and with a little luck, the trout begonia will start to bloom.
Unfavorable location
If the trout begonia does not feel comfortable in its location, brown tips on the leaves are a first sign of this. It cannot cope with direct sun, dry (heating) air and drafts. But it can also happen that the leaves are constantly touched when passing by, be it human or pet.
In both cases you should move Begonia maculata. A location with the following characteristics is ideal:
- bright, but without direct sunlight
- ideally partly sunny (morning and/or evening sun, also in winter)
- Summer sun: distance to the window at least one meter (solar radiation, heat)
- Temperature: room temperature (all year round)
- no drafts (passages, ventilation)
- no radiation of the heating heat (window sill with heat source nearby)
frequently asked Questions
Can Pests Cause Brown Leaf Tips?Brown tips on the leaves are usually not caused by diseases or pests. In addition to the typical webs of spider mites, you can recognize some pest infestations by brown spots on the leaves. Nevertheless, you should fight the pests immediately.
Should I remove brown-tipped leaves?As long as the browning doesn't progress any further, you can leave the leaf on the trout begonia as it will continue to serve its function for the plant. However, if the brown tip is a thorn in your side, you can trim it off with sharp scissors. So that the optics is not disturbed, you should cut the sheet to a point.
Can brown tips also appear on the leaves on the balcony?Yes, if the trout begonia gets too much direct sunlight, for example. However, sunburn is more likely to occur outdoors in direct sunlight, especially at midday. However, this typically shows up in the form of large brown spots.