Begonia 'Arctic Breeze' Ø12cm

Begonia 'Arctic Breeze' is a Rex begonia with leaves dusted in silver frost, coiled at the base into a tight spiral and furrowed by dark, almost wine-red veins. The wine-red underside lights the plant up in raking light, and the low, rhizomatous habit looks best in a wide pot seen from above. An elegant challenge, easy to please with bright indirect light and humid air. Care instructions The good news is that, once the right corner is found, this begonia becomes a stable and patient companion. It grows from the surface rhizome, spreading gently in width and raising new leaves month after month. It does not climb or stretch but thickens instead - which is why it looks best in a wide, low pot seen from above. Nothing it asks for is complicated; it is simply a plant that responds to attention. Here is everything you need to know, gathered in one place: Light: bright but indirect light. An east- or west-facing window filtered through a sheer curtain is perfect. Keep it from direct midday rays, which fade the silver frost and scorch the margins; too little light, on the other hand, dulls the spiral and mutes the metallic shimmer. Temperature: it is happiest between 18 and 24 °C, which is exactly the comfort of a home. It favours steady temperatures; avoid cold draughts from a door or window in winter and proximity to a radiator, which dries the air. Watering: water when the top 2-3 cm of substrate has dried out, then water thoroughly and let the excess drain away completely. Pour the water at the base of the plant, not over the rhizome or the leaves, which can spot or rot if left wet. In winter, water less often. Humidity: it loves humid air, around 50-60% or more. Group it with other plants, set it on a tray of pebbles and water, or use a humidifier in dry rooms. Avoid direct misting on the powdered leaves, which can spoil the frost and encourage mildew. Substrate: a loose, well-drained, airy mix - for example indoor potting soil blended with perlite and a little coco fibre. A wide pot with drainage holes is ideal for the rhizome that spreads along the surface. Feeding: in the growing season, from spring to autumn, feed every 2-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength. Stop feeding in winter. Propagation: very easy from leaf cuttings. Cut a healthy leaf with its petiole, nick the main veins lightly on the underside and lay it on moist substrate; from each nick a small new plant will start within a few weeks - the most spectacular way to fill your window. If small problems appear, do not be discouraged - they are signals easy to read, not obstacles. Dry, scorched margins call for more moisture in the air or less direct light. Powdery, whitish patches appear when the air sits too humid and still around the leaves; airing the room a little and giving up direct misting makes them disappear. Leaves that soften and blacken at the base usually betray excess water at the rhizome, so let the substrate dry out more between waterings. All these adjustments are minor, and the plant responds to them quickly, putting out new leaves as soon as conditions settle back into place. With these few pointers, Begonia 'Arctic Breeze' becomes a natural gateway into the world of collector begonias - once you have mastered this one, your eye will inevitably wander to other silver spirals, such as that of a Begonia 'Temuyuk Silver', and so a passion begins. Specifications Pot diameter: 12 cm