Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Begonia 'Maori Haze' (Begonia rex 'Maori Haze')— schedule & NPK
Also called Maori Haze Begonia, Rex Begonia 'Maori Haze', Painted-Leaf Begonia 'Maori Haze'.
More about begonia 'maori haze'
About Begonia 'Maori Haze'
Begonia rex 'Maori Haze' · also called Maori Haze Begonia, Rex Begonia 'Maori Haze' · houseplant
Begonia 'Maori Haze' is a rhizomatous Rex begonia grown for silvery, pewter-purple, pointed foliage. It thrives in bright indirect light, high humidity above 50%, and evenly moist but well-drained soil. Compact at 10-50cm tall, it suits warm, sheltered indoor spots. Toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA, so keep it out of reach.
Growth habit: Rhizomatous, clump-forming and bushy, with an upright tendency. Pointed, triangular silvery-green leaves are flushed with hazy purple. Pinch stems or remove older leaves at the base to encourage a fuller, more compact shape.
Watch for — Faded or scorched variegation: Too much direct sun bleaches the silver-purple colour and burns the leaf surface. Move to bright, indirect light.
What fertiliser begonia 'maori haze' actually wants — and why
Begonia 'Maori Haze' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for begonia 'maori haze': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed begonia 'maori haze', and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For begonia 'maori haze':
Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to roughly half strength. Stop or sharply reduce feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Avoid over-feeding, which can scorch the sensitive foliage and cause salt build-up. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when begonia 'maori haze' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for begonia 'maori haze'
Half strength is the safe default for begonia 'maori haze' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water begonia 'maori haze' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the begonia 'maori haze' watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding begonia 'maori haze'
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for begonia 'maori haze':
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding begonia 'maori haze'
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full begonia 'maori haze' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of begonia 'maori haze' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for begonia 'maori haze'
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising begonia 'maori haze' — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does begonia 'maori haze' need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Begonia 'Maori Haze' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed begonia 'maori haze'?
Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to roughly half strength. Stop or sharply reduce feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Avoid over-feeding, which can scorch the sensitive foliage and cause salt build-up. Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to roughly half strength. Stop or sharply reduce feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Avoid over-feeding, which can scorch the sensitive foliage and cause salt build-up. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for begonia 'maori haze'?
Half strength is the safe default for begonia 'maori haze' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding begonia 'maori haze' look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding begonia 'maori haze' year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of begonia 'maori haze'?
Flush the pot of begonia 'maori haze' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Begonia 'Maori Haze' care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water begonia 'maori haze' — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 569 fertilising guides in the Growli library