Rex begonias are a colourful addition to your indoor or patio potted plants. It contains Soluble calcium oxalates. Begonia fungicide is available at garden centres. You should only fertilize this plant during the growing season when new growth emerges. . Your begonia has indicated this need by stretching its leaves in the direction of a brighter light source. Youll know you have a mealybug infestation if you see cotton fluff covering your plant. Learn how from The Urban Gardener, Alan Creach of Creach Greenhouse and The Plant Farm.In this video, Alan refers to root tone, which is the same type of product as Bonide Rooting Power, which is what we currently use and recommend at The Plant Farm. a Few Hardy Begonias @ Then go ahead and fill the tray with water. There is a major downside to spritzing the Rex Begonia. Then you can use the mix to spray down your plant. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don't have a very long lifespan. Now that weve restored your radiant beauty, lets look at how to keep that legginess from reappearing. Begonia rhizomes are sensitive to soggy soil or overwatering and may rot. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Plus, there will be minimal damage to your plant. To treat this disease, remove all infected leaves on the plant. If there are several plants in one pot, they will crowd together. If the two asexual propagation methods of cutting and branching are adopted, we should pay attention to maintaining high environmental humidity and temperature from 20 to 25 . Rex begonias are rhizomatous plants that grow from a, When the rhizome begins to butt up against the sides of the pot, however, it's time to. If you can squeeze water from the medium, it is too wet. You may get several cuttings depending on the size of your leaf. Its a natural oil and isnt known to harm many plants. Make sure you pack the soil tightly around the cutting. After reading this, I am quite confident that I can now save my favorite plants, and to have many more! They thrive on humidity but be careful if misting leaves that they don't stay too wet and encourage powdery mildew. How to divide rex begonias - removing old leaves Step 2 Divide the plant by prising the root ball apart from the top, being careful to keep buds on each section. 6. You can use a mixture of perlite, vermiculite and peat moss, if you prefer. Rex begonias require regular water, but be careful not to overwater them. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. After youve trimmed your plant to the desired height, pinch off new growth sprouting at the top on a regular basis. Rather, your plant is balding, which many older gardeners can certainly relate to! Dip each piece into hormone rooting powder and shake off the excess. Mist the soil as needed, so the cuttings stay moist, but don't keep them so wet that water stands on them. Divide a Rex begonia when it begins to outgrow its pot or once the plant is at least three years old if you want to add more begonias to your houseplant collection. I mist mine daily and water the soil once a week. To water propagate your Begonia, all you have to do is partially submerge the stem in water, leaving the leaves sticking out. Because of its thick stems, this Begonia is known as a fibrous Begonia. Plant one Begonia rex per pot. Appearance. Begonias require less light than most house plants. Young leaves should be removed before they unfurl. This causes begonias, particularly cane varieties such as the popular Polka Dot or Angel Wing varieties, to grow tall and lean, with few leaves along the stems. Step 2: Take a leaf cutting from your rex begonia. It can affect the animals breathing and cause excessive drooling. Snip off flowers and older leaves first to give the division more energy for root growth. How to Make a Kokedama. Make sure the soil is always moist. Rex begonias are herbaceous perennials in zones 10-12 so they are treated as annuals or houseplant specimens in Connecticut. The petiole is the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the plant stem. Rex begonias are not only lovely and graceful, but they are also very simple to cultivate from leaf cuttings. . Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. Its also the most common issue youll come across. Use a sharp knife and divide into as many pieces as you like, as long as each piece has at least one bud on it. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Rex begonias grow from a rhizome, which is a root system that sprouts buds and roots to grow into the plant. Rex Begonia can also reproduce by dividing tubers. Stem cuttings are very simple. Get rid of these infected leaves right away. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/divide/how-to-propogate-rex-begonias-from-leaf-cuttings/?epik=dj0yJnU9X0NGUGk3bDdwbWdZUk16SVNJRVFuczRFUVMxYzdmaDUmcD0wJm49RDgtMjg5UmhGOVN6WlBLNlVNbGsydyZ0PUFBQUFBR0hmWWp3, How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings, How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings. Leave them in place until they start to get in the way. Open the containers lid once a week for 10 minutes to let the cuttings breath. Pruning on a regular basis causes the plant to mature and develop a thicker set of stems. University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science. I am personally against misting the leaves of plants manually as mist on the leaves can cause leaf rot if the airflow is not sufficient to dry them quickly. Alternatively, you can propagate using water as a medium for Begonias. Insert the cuttings in moist, free-draining potting mix and place the set up in a warm, shaded place. They frequently have large leaves (up to 6 inches long) that are brightly colored in various shades of green, red, silver, and even purple. How long does it take a begonia tuber to How to start a new Virginia creeper from How to propagate and split perennial geraniums, Clemson University Extension: Growing Begonia Indoors. Water Rex begonias like regular water but hate being overwatered. Then spray your Begonia down with the oil. How to Propagate Begonia Rex in Water by using a single leaf | plant Propagating Experiments. Move your plant to a shadier area. I like to take leaf cuttings because its so fascinating to watch a single leaf sprout a whole bunch of babies. When shopping for a new pot, choose one that is only an inch (2.5cm) or so wider across the top. % of people told us that this article helped them. Ingestions may lead to vomiting, kidney failure in grazing animals, and salvation in cats and dogs. But you can also propagate this plant through leaf cuttings. You Might Also Like: Press seeds onto the surface of the medium and cover them lightly with milled sphagnum. A leggy begonia, like an adolescent, is one that is rapidly growing. One of our favorite methods for creating high humidity is the pebble tray method. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Water once the to 1-inch of soil is dry once a week. Why are the leaves on my Begonia rex fading? Moisten the sphagnum with a sprayer, then cover with glass or plastic wrap to keep moisture in. The Begonia is a stunning houseplant with colored leaves that grows from a rhizome. tall and wide (25-30 cm). Fertilize your begonias. Step 1 - Find a suitable tuber. Check weekly. Toxic to pets such as cats and dogs and horses. Some Begonias go dormant for the winter and others have no dormant period and continue to grow and flower for the entire winter. Common Issues with Strawberry Begonia. But be careful not to let the plastic touch the leaves or you could risk fungal problems. Plant growth is costly and necessitates the use of nutrients. I have a question. To prevent transplant shock (common with heavy-handed transplants), water the plant 24hrs before the main event. Provide 50% or more humidity and fertilize every three weeks using a liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/2 strength. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, The 5 'It' Plants of 2021, According to the Pros, 10 Varieties of Begonias for Gardens and Containers, 9 Great Foliage Plants for Container Gardens, How to Grow and Care for Begonia Maculata, 34 Best Plants That Grow in Water Indoors, How to Grow and Care for Black Bat Flower, How to Grow and Care for Persian Silk Trees, Northeastern India, southern China, and Vietnam. If you grow cane or wing begonias, give this technique a try with them, as well! This plant dislikes cold temperatures. The rex begonia vine can be grown as an indoor plant or as an outdoor plant, though it will not survive cold temperatures outdoors. Rex begonias are semi-tropical perennial plants native to Asia, usually grown as house plants. Take a transparent bottle half filled with water. When you cut a leaf, make sure the leaf-cutting has three inches of the petiole attached. Needed good info to prune and appreciate this info as I am not as good a plant person as my sister who gave me this plant. Plus, you want to trap in moisture so itll grow quicker. Plant a tuber section per pot. Youll want to repeat this process about three days later. How to Divide Bearded Irises. It came from Assam, India which is in the Himalayan foothills. Do not put a Begonia where it gets a southern or even a western exposure. Rhizomatous begonias such as the rex begonia can be easily propagated by. Letting the cut sides dry overnight before replanting as well as the use of fungicide helps prevent this. The temperature should be between 65-75F (18-24C). Use liquid fertilizer weekly at quarter strength or at half strength every two weeks. A Rex Begonia can grow to be 12 to 18 inches in height. Care guide highlights: Known as the painted-leaf begonia, Begonia rex performs quite well in standard potting mix with the addition of peat moss or leafmold for increased acidity, in bright to moderate light with good ventilation and high humidity, higher, in fact, than other begonias. If you have a heat mat for seedlings, that will help the begonia leaf cuttings get off to a faster start. But they will also let you know if they feel that their water, light, and soil conditions are a bit off for their liking. Dont forget to rotate your plant whenever possible, so all parts are getting equal amounts of light. Let the soil surface become dry to the touch before watering. All you have to do [], Begonia Venosa Care - Guide To Plant Success | Plantophiles, [] you are interested in Begonia, other Begonia to have a look at are Begonia Rex, Begonia Darthvaderiana, Begonia [], Begonia Cucullata Care: Here's What You Need to Know | Plantophiles, [] can also gradually move your Begonia into lower light as time goes on, but keep in mind you will have to adapt it to bright light in the [], Begonia Bipinnatifida Care: Here's What's Important | Plantophiles, [] this Begonia is also very prone to powdery mildew and other fungal and bacterial diseases. How to Water Houseplants How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings In worst-case scenarios, it can kill your pet. See those tiny plants unfurling? Consider using a grow light if you cant find a good bright spot. . Ive cut each vein about an inch from the central vein in the photo above. It was published in 1857. The humidity levels are too low (but don't mist the plant because rex begonias do not like wet foliage). There are three types of begonia propagation: stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, and division. Cut the leaf and stem from the main plant, then take off the leaf stem and throw it away so youre left with just the leaf. Spray your plant down every three weeks or so. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. When it comes to repotting, your choice of potting medium is critical. It's available in various colors. Get the plant pot ready. NCBI BLAST name . Rex begonias like bright, indirect light year-round. Within minutes youll see plant pests popping up deceased. They assume that the plant needs more water. Youll want to use the root division process for the best results. . To get rid of an infestation naturally, you should try neem oil. Trimming a cane begonia allows you to remove up to two-thirds of any stem without fear of killing the plant. Allow fleshy cuts to dry for an hour before potting. How to Divide Bearded Irises Pin the leaf down so that each cut makes good contact with the seed-starting mix. Examine your begonia growing environment. Pruning and pinching will help you concentrate the growth of your plant and make it denser and bushier. Flip the begonia leaf over and use your knife to make a 12-inch cut across five or six of the main veins. The leaves are hairy and wavy. Cut apart the tuber with a sharp knife, leaving three growing eyes on each piece. Cover your container with its dome or plastic wrap. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. When the water evaporates, it creates moisture in the air. The leaves on this plant can grow to about 6 inches in width. Its beautiful leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight. Keep your begonias in a growing environment that is between 58 72F (14 22C) for the best results. Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. Copyright 2023. Tuberous, rhizomatous, and waxy begonias do not suffer as frequently as cane varieties, but long and malformed leaves can still be seen. 2. 50%. An older begonia may become leggy as the leaves on its older stems fall off. Grows up to 10-12 in. Use a pair of sterilized pruning shears to get your leaf cutting. With a moderate growth rate, rex begonias may grow to less than 12 inches in a year. A small infestation isnt a big deal; once it grows, your plant can be in big trouble. On the other hand separating the rhizome takes the most work since you need to get the plant out of its container. We earn from qualifying purchases. Don't water the leaves, only the soil to avoid fungal disease issues. If planting outdoors, do so in May after frosts, but plant anytime indoors. The plant needs more light, but not intense light. ". This beautiful plant was introduced to cultivation in 1952 and has puckered leaves with a dark cross in the middle. Step 2 - Prepare the New Location. It needs bright but indirect sunlight and the soil should always be slightly moist.