How to Care for Saxifraga (Strawberry Begonia) - Expert Tips for Thriving Plants

Imagine having a hidden gem in your home, and that's what owning a Saxifraga is like. While it's not on the most popular list of houseplants, it's quite a unique and hard-to-find plant. This beauty is no diva. It can handle medium-shade spots and even cooler air quite well. So you get beauty without all the fuss. Pretty cool, right?

Saxifraga plants belong to the Saxifragaceae family, which includes 400 plant species. Most of them are plants suited for the garden, but some Saxifraga plants grow well in our urban jungles as well! The most popular is Saxifraga stolonifera, commonly known as ‘Strawberry Begonia’, which is odd since it is not even related to the Begonia. But it is a very cute name, and that definitely fits this plant!

It has cute round leaves with a nerve pattern. You can also get a variegated version with adoring pink accents. The Saxifraga has the ability to grow lots of babies. It will grow string-like stems, and pups grow on the bottom of these strings, cool right? This also makes Saxifraga a perfect candidate for a hanging plant.

Saxifraga Care: 10 expert tips for growing it successfully

1. You'll get the best results from your Strawberry Begonia when it gets lots of natural light. Choose a spot near a window with lots of indirect light.
2. Make sure to keep it out of intense midday sun rays that can damage its pretty leaves. You can shade those intense rays with curtains. However, it’s good to have a little morning or evening sun.
3. It's all about light when bringing out the beautiful pink hues of your Strawberry Begonia. Natural light and morning or evening sun will make its leaves more pink.
4. Always check the soil before you water it again. Saxrifraga is pretty sensitive to overwatering. It’s best to water it when half of the soil has dried out.
5. Don't let it completely dry out. Unlike some houseplants, this one doesn't like being left completely dry for extended periods.
6. Try to keep the leaves of your Strawberry Begonia dry when you water it. It might be easier for fungus to grow on hairy leaves as they dry out slower.
7. Your Saxrifraga makes a stunning hanging plant. Put it in a hanging basket or place it on a shelf where it can hang down beautifully.
8. Trim back the runners if the plant becomes too wild. These plants can quickly sprawl outwards, so don't be afraid to cut them.
9. Saxifraga stolonifera appreciates a cooler winter rest period. It is best to find a location where temperatures in the winter range from 10°C to 13°C.
10. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids and spider mites. If you notice any bugs, use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution.

Saxifraga Care Tips

Light requirements

Your Saxifraga grows best in a bright spot, so make sure to spoil this cute with lots of bright indirect light. Choose a spot near a window facing east or west. Avoid too much intense sunlight during midday because it can hurt its leaves. A little sun in the morning and evening is fine since it is not as intense and even enhances its colours.

Expert tip! Light is the magic wand to bring out the beautiful pink hues in your Strawberry Begonia! With more natural light, the colours will be more vibrant.

Without enough light, Saxifraga stolonifera might struggle. The plant can become leggy, stretching out, and its leaves may become spaced out as it reaches for more light. Its growth can also slow down, and it might produce fewer of the charming rosettes it's known for.

Watering

These beautiful plants grow pretty fast, which results in them being pretty thirsty. It’s best to water whenever the top of the soil has dried out. Just remember, your Saxifraga likes a balance - it doesn't like being left thirsty for too long, but on the other hand, too much water can cause the base of the plant to rot.

Expert tip! Strawberry Begonia plants require even less watering during the winter because the days are shorter and the soil dries slower.

Fertilising

You can give this pink lady some PLNTS liquid fertiliser during the growing season. Add some liquid nutrition to your water every 2 weeks. That should be sufficient nutrition for this plant to grow for you!

Temperature & humidity

Your Saxifraga plant likes cooler temps, best between 15-24°C. It doesn't enjoy the heat at all, and they even prefer the temperature to be a little colder rather than hotter. When it becomes too hot for your Saxifraga, it might start feeling stressed and won't grow as well. If so, you should place it in a slightly cooler spot. The good news is that your Saxifraga doesn't require a lot of humidity - it tolerates moderately humid spots as well as dry conditions very well.

Expert tip! Your Saxifraga has very tiny hairs on its leaves. Usually, plants like to be misted with a spray, but these hairs hold water very well, increasing the risk of getting fungal diseases.

In winter, Saxifraga plants need cooler temperatures, ideally between 10-15°C. It mimics their natural habitat, allowing them to conserve energy and prepare for spring growth. Don't worry if you can't give your Saxifraga these conditions - it's not a must, but it definitely helps.

Repotting & soil

Saxrifraga needs regular repotting after every 2-3 years once its roots start to grow out of drainage holes. Choose a slightly larger pot, but not too large! Your plants like to have well-draining soil, so we suggest making a soil mix with potting soil, perlite and peat chunks. This makes sure the soil can drain well but also holds moisture.

Saxifraga propagation

The Saxifraga will provide you with propagations herself, which makes it very easy for us PLNTSparents! It naturally grows 'runners', which are long stems with potential baby plants at their tips. You can simply place a baby in some soil with the string still attached to the mother plant. Your new baby plant will root, and eventually you can cut the string and have a brand new Saxifraga Tricolor!

Most common pests on Saxifraga

This cute plant is a little bit sensitive to getting infested with plant pests. You should keep an eye open for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, fungus gnats and white flies. You can check her every month as a prevention from getting large infestations in your urban jungle.

Is Saxifraga poisonous for your pets or children?

The Saxifraga is safe around pets and children since it’s not toxic to humans, cats and dogs. We will never advise you to encourage any nibbling, but if it happens accidentally, you don't have to stress about it.

Buy your new Saxifraga online at PLNTS.com

Is this Strawberry Begonia with her adorable ability to make babies the new addition to your urban jungle? At PLNTS.com you can buy Saxifraga online, like the Saxifraga Tricolour. Whether you like your Saxifraga big from the start or prefer to grow them from tiny BabyPLNTS into full-grown PLNTS - Buy Saxifraga online at PLNTS.com