What to Do When the Leaves of the Mini Impatiens Shrub Wrinkle? Causes and Solutions

The antler begonia (Monilaria moniliformis) is a succulent plant of the genus Monilaria in the family Aizoaceae. Its leaf shape and color are rather beautiful, with high ornamental value. Many people, when growing the antler begonia, feel that they have been watering and fertilizing it well all along, yet some problems still appear. Generally, these problems can be summarized as the leaf surface becoming wrinkled and cracks appearing on the leaves. Now let us take a look together at what to do when the antler begonia wrinkles!

What to Do When the Antler Begonia Wrinkles?

1. Too little watering: Because the antler begonia lacks water, the water supply to the leaves is insufficient, which causes the leaves to be short of water, resulting in wrinkled skin, or cracks or openings. At this time, increase the amount of water.

2. Too much watering: Because the antler begonia is watered too much, the roots rot, which affects the water supply to the leaves. If the above problem occurs, it is recommended to cut off the rotten roots, then do not water; after the soil dries, water a little less, and wait for the roots to grow back.

3. Direct strong light: In summer, if direct light rather than diffused light is used, the directly exposed leaves will also become short of water, because transpiration is too strong, causing cracks or wrinkled skin. It is recommended to place it in a semi-shaded spot in summer for diffused light.

How to Grow the Antler Begonia Well?

1. Soil: For growing the antler begonia, loose and breathable sandy soil is best. Of course, it does not necessarily have to be sandy soil; the soil mix can be the same as for other succulents.

2. Environment: The antler begonia should be kept in a sunny environment. If it is newly planted, it can be acclimated in a cool, ventilated place.

3. Watering: The antler begonia does not need the soil to remain moist for a long time; keep the soil on the dry side, so when watering, control your hands. It is drought-tolerant and not easily killed by drought, but it is prone to root rot from water accumulation.

4. Pests and diseases: When the potted antler begonia is too humid, root-knot nematode disease often occurs, which can be controlled with 3% carbofuran granules. For pest damage, there are mealybugs, which can be sprayed and killed with a 1500-fold dilution of 55% fenitrothion emulsifiable concentrate.

Notes on Growing the Antler Begonia

1. If the antler begonia is potted, the soil in its pot needs to drain and be ventilated. It must not accumulate water. The soil should not be too acidic; neutral is fine. The soil must not have too much humus; ordinary soil is enough. The size of the pot depends on the length and size of its roots.

2. The antler begonia does not like being wet, nor does it like being dry. Generally, it is recommended to water only when the soil is neither dry nor wet. In summer, maintain a certain humidity, and you can spray a little more water on the leaves.

3. For the growth of the antler begonia, it is generally recommended to use diffused light. In summer, because the temperature is too high, it is recommended to place it in a cool place to grow, keeping the soil from drying out. In spring and autumn, growth is vigorous, so appropriate light can be given.

4. During the growing period of the antler begonia, it is generally recommended to fertilize in spring and autumn. The fertilizer should be a thin fertilizer, applied once every half a month or 1 month.

5. The recommended growing temperature for the antler begonia is around 20°C. If it is below 15°C, it will not grow, but if it is below 5°C, then it will stop growing and may even develop wrinkles. In summer, place it in a ventilated, cool spot as much as possible.