Begonia albopicta T8
small tropical plant in an 8cm pot, ideal for rainforest terrariums
Begonia albopicta, often referred to as the spotted begonia, is a true eye-catcher with tropical charm. Its narrow, elongated serrated leaves with silvery-white spots resemble trout scales and give it its distinctive name. A low-maintenance, striking ornamental plant for windowsills, shelves, or plant displays.
Characteristics:
Begonia albopicta grows upright to slightly trailing and forms decorative, lanceolate leaves with striking patterns. The undersides of the leaves show a reddish sheen. With good care, it produces delicate, pink flower clusters that elegantly stand above the foliage, providing additional decorative appeal.
Care instructions:
Light: Bright to partially shaded – no direct midday sun
Water: Keep evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging
Humidity: High – loves a humid microclimate, ideal in displays or with a humidifier
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1-2 times per month with a diluted liquid fertilizer for foliage plants
Temperature: Optimal at 18-24 °C, not below 15 °C
Note: Do not mist the leaves – it is better to regulate humidity through increased moisture or water containers nearby. Ideal for slightly shadier locations.
Our greenhouses are equipped with modern energy screens and double glazing to efficiently save on heating costs. Additionally, we collect rainwater over the entire roof area of 9,000 square meters and use only this water to irrigate all our crops. We collect the rainwater in underground tanks with a total volume of 600,000 liters.
Since 2007, we have been heating our entire operation with a fully automated 850 kW wood chip heating system and a 100,000-liter buffer storage tank. Environmentally friendly and CO2-neutral. Only to support during very cold winter days and nights is a conventional oil heating system available.
Since 2014, the heating has been supported by a solar thermal system with an annual yield of about 20 megawatt-hours.
In 2020, we installed a photovoltaic system with 30 kW peak and have been producing more green electricity per year than our entire operation requires.
Since 2021, we use exclusively pots for our self-produced plants that are not only 100% recyclable but are also entirely made from recycled pots. To this end, we collect all used pots that arise in our operation and have them picked up in big bags by our pot supplier Göttinger. There, the pots are cleaned and processed in a water-free recycling facility into new pots that come back to us.