Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is soggy or wet.
- Look at the leaves for any yellowing or mushy spots.
- Assess if the plant has been in the same light for a while.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow or mushy before falling off the stem. The soil may stay wet for too long.
What to do: Let the soil dry out until the top centimeter is dry to the touch. If the soil is waterlogged, repot the plant into fresh, well draining soil.
Low light
PossibleHow to tell: This is less common for this plant, but it happens if the begonia is kept in a dark corner for too long. The stems will stretch out and leaves will drop as the plant struggles to photosynthesize.
What to do: Move your begonia to a spot with bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can burn the leaves.
Find out what's wrong with your begonia
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the plant is losing many leaves at once, it is a sign of stress. Losing one or two old leaves at the base is normal as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Ensure the pot has good drainage and place the plant in a spot with consistent, bright indirect light.
Keep your begonia healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Is it normal for my begonia to lose leaves in winter?
- Some leaf drop can occur in winter due to lower light levels. Try to keep it in the brightest spot you have.
- Should I fertilize a plant that is losing leaves?
- No, wait until the plant is healthy again. Fertilizing a stressed plant can cause more harm.
More problems with Begonia
- Why are my begonia's leaves turning yellow?
- What are these white bugs on my begonia?
- Why are there spots on my begonia leaves?
- Why is my begonia drooping?
- How do I fix root rot in my begonia?
- Why is my begonia growing so tall and leggy?
- Why are my begonia's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my begonia not producing any flowers?
- Why are my begonia leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.