Begonia Escargot

Begonia Escargot is a rhizomatous rex begonia hybrid that has the potential to reach a large size in ideal conditions. Leaves can reach a length of up to 10″. It’s characterized by some folks as difficult to grow, although I’ve found to respond well to our tray culture and as such, it should do well in most vivarium settings.

NOTE – 2″ cups will are generally offered once these Begonias have 3 leaves; while you may receive larger, consider it a bonus, not the norm! The large plant shown in the gallery is exceptionally large, grown as a houseplant rather than a vivarium specimen. It’s shared here to show what a mature plant can develop into (note that the same plant used for our product image is shown alongside the parent plant it was grown from!)

General Care Information

Escargot is an interesting Begonia for vivariums. It appreciates humidity, but also like excellent drainage. This begonia will drop old leaves. Given the size potential for this plant, over time it may require pruning, although it will likely not grow tremendously quickly in most vivarium settings. It will appreciate a well-draining planting medium; I culture these bottom watered and they do well. It also makes a great houseplant, and I even have grown it outdoors in the summer months, where it thrives in part shade with heavy fertilizing (e.g. 20-20-20 every 7-14 days). And therein lies the key…lower light and the relatively low nutrient levels of a frog tank should help keep this plant in check.

Escargot is often offered as a houseplant or even as a garden plant, usually an annual. It is reportedly hardy to zone 10. The large specimen shown here was less than 2 years old at the time of being photographed. It has easily quadrupled or more in size in the first year and was grown outdoors for a summer (when overnight low temps were above 50F) where it was heavily fertilized. While most online references suggest that this plant is usually only 6 to 12 inches in height, clearly the plant can get much larger if given favorable conditions and heavy feeding.

Any plants I grow outdoors are returned indoors in the fall, but only after two treatments with OMRI Neem Oil sprays (one week apart) and visual inspection to ensure we’re not bringing pests indoors. A word to the wise, if growing begonias like this as “summer outside, winter inside” plants, be sure to move them outdoors and at first only into shade, otherwise you may fry the leaves completely.

At times, Begonias do not ship well and can drop leaves in different conditions. So, be sure to save any dropped or broken leaves upon arrival and attempt to propagate them in case the original plant fails – we *instantly* create “insurance frags” of any new Begonia we receive here!

About MiniWaters Vivarium Plants

Any plant whose cultivation condition is denoted as “sanitized” has been put through MiniWater’s bleach treatment and have been held in animal-free conditions following this treatment. While we do not guarantee our plants to be disease and pest free, we believe we are offering the lowest-risk plants possible. We encourage all customers to sanitize any plants they purchase from us, or any other vendor or hobbyist, prior to their use with your animals.

Visit www.MiniWaters.fish/vivplants for further details about how we grow our plants animal-free with organic methodologies while integrated pest management protocols, as well as detailed instructions for our bleach-sanitizing process.