Because they offer the home gardener outstanding foliage with long bloom time, learning their ways is well worth the time. Most of the 1,500 species and 10,000 begonia hybrids share a few common cultural requirements. They like warmth, high humidity, good air circulation and judicious watering and fertilizing. The angel-wings are no exception to these general guidelines. Place them in a bright east or west window.
Bright light intensifies the leaf colorations and promotes good flower development.
When taken outside for the summer, they will prefer partial shade to avoid leaf scorch. Indoor room temperatures should be 70 to 75 degrees during the daytime and no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Water the plants when the soil is dry. Fertilizing more often than this results in excessively caney growth. Because angel-wings are in the cane grouping of begonias, careful pruning of these canes will keep the plants compact, rounded and, in many cases, suitable for hanging baskets.