---
title: "Need help! I have a begonia melanobollata and west Texas blizzard.…"
description: "Need help! I have a begonia melanobollata and west Texas blizzard. I’ve been having an issue with the tiny new leaves off the rhizome just rotting off. It’s…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/E0XplorCSjGLEBS-wt3jlg/Xnu8VnInNmJtnq80LGWDmg"
community: "Begonia Buddies"
author: "Elodie"
published: "2026-07-09T23:53:43.265071Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/grx3ywrzeticy5alaqof.jpg"
---

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# Need help! I have a begonia melanobollata and west Texas blizzard.…

_Posted by Elodie on 2026-07-09_

Need help! I have a begonia melanobollata and west Texas blizzard. I’ve been having an issue with the tiny new leaves off the rhizome just rotting off. It’s been rotting where the leaf meets petiole. I can’t get a feel for if it’s too much or too little water and looking for insights. Both my problem plants have very hairy new growth. I thought maybe it was water sitting on the new bits but I also know melanobollata likes terrarium conditions so I’m confused. I have other Rex begonia I have no issue with.

## 6 comments

### Bri commented on 2026-07-10

What do you have each planted in?

#### Elodie replied on 2026-07-10

One in a 4” terracotta one in plastic nursery pot

### plantgeek commented on 2026-07-10

bortrytis blight? it appears as a greyish mold and usually lives on the petioles, it attacks fresh growth.

#### Elodie replied on 2026-07-10

I did notice mold on the last leaf I lost, grayish almost blue.

#### plantgeek replied on 2026-07-10

yurp sounds exactly right. it's common in begonias. treat with a copper based fungicide, cut off any affected growth

### SuccySuccy commented on 2026-07-18

This exact thing happens with my Rex Jive. A lot of new petioles seem to unalive themselves just as they start developing 🤔

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