Begonia 'Connee Boswell' (Connee Boswell Rex Begonia) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Begonia 'Connee Boswell' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright, filtered light brings out the silver-and-plum contrast. Shield from direct midday sun, which scorches and bleaches the leaves; an east window or a few feet back from a south/west window is ideal. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering begonia 'connee boswell': when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 5-7 days in growth. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep the mix lightly, evenly moist but never waterlogged; the rhizome rots quickly if it sits wet. Water around the rhizome at the soil surface, not over the crown, and ease off in winter.

Soil and pot

Begonia 'Connee Boswell' grows best in light, airy, well-draining rhizomatous mix. A loose blend of peat or coir with perlite, bark and a little leaf mould suits the shallow rhizome. Use a wide, shallow pot so the rhizome can creep, and never plant deeply. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Begonia 'Connee Boswell' sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-24°C (65-75°F). High humidity keeps leaf margins from browning. Group with other plants or stand on a pebble tray; avoid misting the leaves directly, which encourages powdery mildew on Rex begonias. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed begonia 'connee boswell' sparingly. Feed every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. Stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth naturally slows or pauses. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on begonia 'connee boswell' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Powdery mildew — White patches on leaves from stagnant, damp air; improve airflow, avoid wetting foliage, and never mist Rex begonias directly.
• Rhizome and crown rot — Caused by overwatering or planting too deep; keep the rhizome on the surface and let the top of the mix dry between waterings.
• Brown, crisp leaf edges — Low humidity or dry air from heaters; raise humidity with a pebble tray and move away from radiators and draughts.
• Faded, washed-out colour — Too little light dulls the silver markings, while harsh direct sun bleaches them; aim for steady bright indirect light.

Propagation

Propagate by rhizome division or by leaf and leaf-wedge cuttings pinned onto moist mix; new plantlets form at the cut veins. Keep warm and humid until rooted. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Begonia 'Connee Boswell' is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Begonia (including Rex Begonia) as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The toxic principle is soluble calcium oxalates, most concentrated in the underground rhizomes and tubers; ingestion causes intense mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Begonia 'Connee Boswell' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of begonia 'connee boswell' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' watering schedule
• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' light requirements
• Best soil mix for begonia 'connee boswell'
• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' fertilizing guide
• When to repot begonia 'connee boswell'
• How to propagate begonia 'connee boswell'
• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' growth rate & size
• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' cold hardiness
• Begonia 'Connee Boswell' temperature & humidity
• Is begonia 'connee boswell' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is begonia 'connee boswell' toxic to cats?
• Is begonia 'connee boswell' toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Begonia 'Connee Boswell' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

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Begonia 'Connee Boswell' is also commonly called Connee Boswell Rex Begonia.

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