Plant care
Begonia 'Maori Haze'temperature & humidity
Begonia rex 'Maori Haze'
More about begonia 'maori haze'
Ideal temperature for begonia 'maori haze'
Aim for 18-24°C (minimum 10°C) (65-75°F (minimum 50°F)) on the thermostat and you've handled the easy part. The hard part is the half-metre around the plant: window glass that drops to near-freezing on a January night, a radiator pumping out hot dry air, a draught from an opened front door. Move the plant 30 cm and you've usually fixed the problem. Below roughly 18°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Begonia 'Maori Haze' is comparatively hardy (USDA RHS H1B (tender; min 10°C). Outdoors only in USDA zones 10-11; grown as a houseplant elsewhere., RHS undefined). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for begonia 'maori haze'
Begonia 'Maori Haze' sits happiest at around 50-70% relative humidity. A humidity-loving Rex begonia; aim for above 50%, ideally 60% or more, during the growing season. Boost humidity with a pebble tray or by grouping plants, and ensure good airflow. Do not mist directly onto the leaves, as standing water on the foliage encourages powdery mildew and fungal spotting. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Begonia 'Maori Haze' temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for begonia 'maori haze'?
Begonia 'Maori Haze' grows best between 18-24°C (minimum 10°C) (65-75°F (minimum 50°F)). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can begonia 'maori haze' tolerate?
Begonia 'Maori Haze' starts to suffer below roughly 18°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA RHS H1B (tender; min 10°C). Outdoors only in USDA zones 10-11; grown as a houseplant elsewhere., but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does begonia 'maori haze' need?
Begonia 'Maori Haze' prefers about 50-70% relative humidity. A humidity-loving Rex begonia; aim for above 50%, ideally 60% or more, during the growing season. Boost humidity with a pebble tray or by grouping plants, and ensure good airflow. Do not mist directly onto the leaves, as standing water on the foliage encourages powdery mildew and fungal spotting.
How do I raise humidity for begonia 'maori haze'?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can begonia 'maori haze' live outside?
Begonia 'Maori Haze' is rated for USDA zone RHS H1B (tender; min 10°C). Outdoors only in USDA zones 10-11; grown as a houseplant elsewhere.. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More begonia 'maori haze' care
In the UK? Keeping begonia 'maori haze' warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full begonia 'maori haze' care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.