Name: Begonia vankerckhovenii [cutting]
Brand: Sunshine State Foliage
SKU: BEG-VANK-CUT
Price: 6.38 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Home / All Plants (Excluding Marcgravia) / Begonia vankerckhovenii [cutting]

May include: A small plant with five green leaves and red stems. The plant is being held by a pair of silver tweezers.

Begonia vankerckhovenii [cutting]

GenusBegoniaRegionAfrica & MadagascarPlant GroupBegoniasGrowth HabitRhizomatousSetupTerrariumDifficultyIntermediate

Care information

This Begonia species is an excellent true miniature species. It will grow at a manageable speed, and trail + mound slowly.

Seems to grow fairly easily with moderate-low lighting, and a damp but not soaked growing media. I have mine growing in Sphagnum moss ontop of peat. Last photo is an example of a mature plant.

Root by laying across a damp substrate and keep that humidity up!

Good airflow is helpful
High humidity
Keep roots damp, not soggy
70°F to 85°F is the likely sweet spot for good growth
Low-medium light
Well drained potting media
Promix HP is my media of choice for this plant, and Sphagnum works as well.

Plant Details

Airflow: Medium — Essential for "wetish" setups. Needs regular air exchange or internal circulation fans to prevent water from sitting on leaves, which helps avoid rot and fungal issues.
Family: Begoniaceae
Growth strategy: Terrestrial
Humidity: 80–100% — The "Sweet Spot" for most rare tropicals and shinglers. This high-saturation environment is essential for aerial root attachment to hardscape and ensures that delicate foliage maintains its turgidity and sheen.
Lighting: Moderate — Prefers bright, filtered, or indirect light. This is the "sweet spot" for most terrarium species; however, direct sun or high-intensity LEDs will scorch delicate juvenile leaves.
PH: 5.5–6.5 — Acidic (Optimal): The “Goldilocks” zone for most tropical terrarium plants, including Marcgravia. This range ensures maximum nutrient availability and mimics the natural decomposition of leaf litter on the rainforest floor.
Sales form: Cutting
Size: Medium
Temperature: 65–75°F — Ideal for "Cool-Growers" or highland species. These plants prefer the lower end of the tropical spectrum and may show signs of stress or heat-dropping leaves if temperatures consistently exceed 80°F.
Watering substrate: Damp — These plants love high moisture levels; the substrate should stay wet to the touch at all times but should not be sitting in a stagnant, waterlogged state.
World: Old World — Native to the Eastern Hemisphere: Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and surrounding islands.