Dainty Dancer Begonia Begonia Dainty Dancer = 'Yadance' (PBR)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Begonia Dainty Dancer boasts a lush foliage that harmoniously combines rich green with darker spots or marbling, creating an attractive contrast that catches the eye. This foliage often has a unique sheen to it which makes the plant look vibrant and lively. The leaves themselves are delicately edged, often with a subtle ruffling or slight waviness that adds to their charm. They arise from the plant in a full, bushy appearance, giving it a lush and healthy look. The flowers of the Dainty Dancer are where it truly shines; delicate blooms in shades that can vary from light pinks to more saturated hues. These blossoms may either be subtle or bold, but always retain a certain daintiness, as the name suggests. They're typically small to medium in size and grow in clusters that rise above the foliage, providing a lovely contrast against the greenery. Each flower has a gentle, inviting appearance with soft petals that may appear in a graduated tone, further enhancing the ornamental appeal. What's also striking about this particular Begonia is its growth habit, which is generally well-structured and neat, contributing to an overall pleasing appearance. It presents itself not just as a plant, but as a natural artwork that can add life and color to any setting it's placed in. The Begonia Dainty Dancer is a testament to the diversity of its genus, showcasing both the beauty of its blooms and the ornamental value of its foliage.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Begoniaceae
- Synonyms
  Dainty Dancer Begonia
- Common names
  Begonia 'Yadance' PBR.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Begonia, including the Dainty Dancer variety, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, they can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. If ingested, parts of the plant may cause minor symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or salivation in some individuals.
- To pets
  Begonias are toxic to pets, specifically cats and dogs. If a pet ingests part of the plant, it could experience symptoms such as vomiting, salivation, and difficulty swallowing due to the irritating compounds known as calcium oxalates. These symptoms can vary in severity, and it is advised to seek veterinary care if a pet has consumed any part of the plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  1 feet 6 inches (45 cm)
- Spread
  1 feet (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: The Begonia Dainty Dancer has vibrant foliage and flowers that add a pop of color and interest to any garden or indoor space.
- Compact Growth: With a naturally compact growth habit, it's ideal for small spaces or as a potted plant for balconies and patios.
- Ease of Care: Begonias are relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance apart from regular watering and occasional fertilization.
- Shade Tolerance: It thrives in shaded areas where other plants might struggle, making it an excellent choice for darker corners of the garden.
- Long Blooming Period: This plant often has a long flowering season, which can extend from late spring through fall, providing extended visual interest.
- Versatility: It can be used in a variety of garden applications, ranging from bedding plants to hanging baskets and container arrangements.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, some Begonia varieties exhibit a degree of drought resistance, making them suited for climates with occasional water scarcity.
- Non-Invasiveness: As a cultivated variety, the Begonia Dainty Dancer is not prone to becoming invasive, ensuring it won't overrun other plantings in the garden.
- Attracts Pollinators: Flowering Begonias can attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, which are beneficial for the ecosystem.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Craft Projects: The Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' can be used in craft projects such as creating botanical prints or pressing the leaves and flowers into a scrapbook or herbarium.
- Edible Arrangements: Although not a traditional fruit or vegetable, the leaves and flowers of Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' can be used as a decorative and edible garnish in salads and cold dishes.
- Photography: With its unique and appealing form, the Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' is an excellent subject for botanical and still life photography, adding color and visual interest to photographs.
- Education: This plant can be used in educational settings to teach about plant biology, hybridization, and the care of houseplants, serving as an example of successful crossbreeding in Begonias.
- Themed Gardens: Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' can be included in a themed garden, such as a ballet or dance-themed space, due to its name and graceful appearance.
- Color Studies: The plant’s varied colors can inspire artists and designers for color palettes, studies in shading, and hue combinations in their visual art projects.
- Nature-Inspired Decor: Its bright foliage and flowers can be included in live nature-based decor setups in events like weddings or garden parties.
- Study of Pollinators: Gardening enthusiasts can observe which local pollinators are attracted to the Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' to understand the ecological interactions in their gardens better.
- Container Gardening: Because of its compact size, this Begonia makes an ideal specimen for container gardening, allowing for creative displays on balconies or patios.
- Companion Planting: When planted alongside other shade-loving plants in outdoor landscaping, Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' can provide interesting texture and color contrast in the garden.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Begonia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Begonia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Caution: Begonias are often associated with caution or a warning to be careful, suggesting that one should think twice before proceeding in a particular situation.
- Individuality: Begonias can symbolize uniqueness or individuality due to their wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, reminding us to embrace our own distinctiveness.
- Harmony: The Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' conveys a sense of harmony and balance with its delicate appearance, promoting peaceful interactions and environments.
- Gratitude: Giving someone a begonia plant can express gratitude or thankfulness, making it a fitting gift when you want to show appreciation.

💧

Every 5-7 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' requires consistent moisture, but it is important to let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings to avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. As a guideline, water approximately every 7 to 10 days, adjusting for your home's humidity and temperature conditions. When watering, use lukewarm water and aim to moisten the soil evenly throughout the pot without drenching. Typically, watering with about 8 to 16 ounces of water should be sufficient, depending on the size of the pot and the plant's environment. Always ensure there is proper drainage to allow excess water to escape.
Light
Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' prefers bright, indirect light without direct exposure to harsh sun rays. The best spot would be near a window that offers plenty of light but is shielded from the intense midday sun, such as an east-facing or north-facing windowsill. Diffused light through a sheer curtain can help to prevent leaf burn and provide the ideal lighting conditions for this plant.
Temperature
Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' thrives in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and should be protected from temperatures exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure the health of your 'Dainty Dancer', keep it in a location away from drafts and sudden temperature changes which can stress the plant.
Pruning
Regularly pruning Begonia 'Dainty Dancer' is necessary to promote bushier growth and remove any dead or yellowing leaves. Prune lightly every few months, especially during the growing season, to maintain shape and encourage new foliage. The best time to prune extensively is in the early spring, just before the onset of the growing season, to prepare the plant for new growth.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Begonia Dainty Dancer should be light, well-draining, and rich in organic material, such as a mix of peat, perlite, and compost. A pH range between 5.5 and 6.5 is ideal for this begonia.
Repotting
Begonias like Begonia Dainty Dancer typically need repotting every 1-2 years or when they outgrow their current container, which allows for fresh soil and more room to grow.
Humidity & Misting
Begonia Dainty Dancer thrives under high humidity conditions, ideally between 50% to 70%, to maintain healthy growth and foliage.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil consistently moist.
- Outdoor
  Provide shade, keep moist, and shelter from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  10-11 USDA
Life cycle
The Begonia Dainty Dancer, typically known as Begonia 'Yadance', begins its life cycle as a seed, which upon successful germination in warm, moist soil, grows into a small seedling with a few leaves. The seedling stage entails developing more leaves and a root system until it matures into a vegetative state, wherein foliage growth becomes more abundant. As the plant enters the flowering stage, it produces distinctive flowers that add aesthetic value and can attract pollinators, necessary for sexual reproduction. After pollination, the flowers develop into seed capsules, which upon ripening, release seeds, thus completing the reproductive cycle. Throughout its life, the Begonia 'Yadance' undergoes periodic leaf shedding and regrowth, maintaining a cycle of renewal to sustain its health and vigor. The plant may also be propagated vegetatively using cuttings, bypassing the seed stage to create genetic clones of the parent.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Summer
- Propogation: The Begonia 'Dainty Dancer', a hybrid often favored for its striking foliage and blossoms, is commonly propagated through stem cuttings. To propagate, a healthy stem cutting about 3-4 inches (approximately 7.5-10 centimeters) long with a few leaves is taken, ideally during spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. The cutting should be snipped just below a node, which is where the leaf joins the stem, as this area contains the growth cells needed for root development. The cut end can then be dipped in rooting hormone and planted in a moist potting mix. Keeping the soil consistently moist and providing warm, indirect light will facilitate the rooting process. After a few weeks, the cutting should develop roots, and new growth will be evident as the 'Dainty Dancer' begins to establish itself as a separate plant.