Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' (Begonia × 'Cowardly Lion')
Also called cowardly lion begonia, rhizomatous cowardly lion.
More about begonia 'cowardly lion'
About Begonia 'Cowardly Lion'
Begonia × 'Cowardly Lion' · also called cowardly lion begonia, rhizomatous cowardly lion · houseplant
Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' is a robust rhizomatous hybrid grown for bold, textured leaves in warm chartreuse-to-amber tones with a dark, ruffled, scalloped margin and a slightly puckered surface. It forms a vigorous mounding clump and throws up sprays of pale flowers in late winter. Forgiving and fast, it suits brighter shade and rewards steady warmth and humidity.
Preferred mix: Light, airy, humus-rich, free-draining mix
Watch for — Rhizome rot: Overwatering or a buried rhizome causes soft, mushy rot. Keep the rhizome on the surface and let the mix dry between waterings.
Why begonia 'cowardly lion' needs this mix
Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' wants a light, fine, evenly moist mix — soft-rooted and crown-sensitive, it suits an airy 1:1:1 blend, not heavy compost.
- Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' has fine, shallow roots and a crown that rots if it sits wet, so the mix must be light, airy and only evenly moist.
- Equal parts compost, perlite and vermiculite give steady moisture and plenty of air at once — the balance this plant flowers on.
- A heavy, dense mix smothers the fine roots and is the usual reason it sulks and refuses to bloom.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons begonia 'cowardly lion' struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Heavy, water-holding compost rots begonia 'cowardly lion''s crown and fine roots — the plant goes limp and mushy at the centre.
- A coarse, gritty cactus-style mix dries too fast and the fine roots desiccate.
- Burying the crown when potting (rather than keeping it just at the surface) causes rot even in a good mix.
Using heavy compost and burying the crown. Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' wants a light 1:1:1 mix with the crown sitting right at the surface.
pH — does it matter for begonia 'cowardly lion'?
Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for begonia 'cowardly lion' as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
Use a small pot with a drainage hole and water from the bottom to keep the crown dry — wet leaves and a wet crown are this plant's main enemies.
Refresh begonia 'cowardly lion''s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for begonia 'cowardly lion' covers the timing and technique step by step.
Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for begonia 'cowardly lion'?
1 part peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part vermiculite. Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' has fine, shallow roots and a crown that rots if it sits wet, so the mix must be light, airy and only evenly moist.
Can I use normal potting soil for begonia 'cowardly lion'?
Heavy, water-holding compost rots begonia 'cowardly lion''s crown and fine roots — the plant goes limp and mushy at the centre. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for begonia 'cowardly lion' as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does begonia 'cowardly lion' need a special pH?
Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for begonia 'cowardly lion'?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for begonia 'cowardly lion' as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for begonia 'cowardly lion'?
Refresh begonia 'cowardly lion''s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. Use a small pot with a drainage hole and water from the bottom to keep the crown dry — wet leaves and a wet crown are this plant's main enemies.
Keep reading
- Begonia 'Cowardly Lion' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water begonia 'cowardly lion' — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting begonia 'cowardly lion' — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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