Turn the begonia leaf back over and press it into the seed-starting mix. Theyre perfect for the pastel plant lover. Tiny White Bugs In Soil The Truth Revealed! Rex begonias are often troubled by powdery mildew and botrytis fungal disease. Divide the plant by prising the root ball apart from the top, being careful to keep buds on each section. Repot in spring when the rhizome outgrows the pot. Then, place the vase or glass containing the plant in a light and warm spot to provide the perfect growing conditions. This begonia is rhizomatous, growing from a thick, fleshy rhizome that grows just below the surface of the soil. They thrive on humidity but be careful if misting leaves that they don't stay too wet and encourage powdery mildew. Rex begonias do produce delicate flowers but are usually grown for their spectacularly colored and intriguingly textured leaves. Replace any fluids lost during pruning by giving your plant a good drink and returning it to its original location to recover. Finally, pinch back stray leaves on a regular basis to keep your begonia lush. It suffocates the pests within only minutes. Step 1 - Find a suitable tuber. Follow our step-by-step guide to dividing rex begonias and create the perfect gift for friends and family, while ensuring the continued health of your own plant. Begonia Rex has tiny seeds that need warmth to germinate. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Its leaves can be almost round, angel-wing shaped, or any other form. One of our favorite methods for creating high humidity is the pebble tray method. Cane begonias should be pruned on a regular basis to encourage a thicker growth, and other varieties benefit from having their excessively straggly growth removed as well. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Plantophiles.com is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to affiliates. Its not uncommon for a clipped cane to produce two new shoots, resulting in an overall thicker and bushier plant. Continue reading to learn how to turn this unfortunate circumstance into a win for your indoor garden. It is also available online, visit our website at spokaneplantfarm.com.For over fifty years, our plants have been locally grown in Spokane Valley, WA. Place each leaf cutting on the surface of a tray of moist seed raising mix. Stick to the plan above, and your bundle of twigs will be restored to its verdant glory in no time. ". This plant is only a semi-tropical plant. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Begonia. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Grows up to 10-12 in. In worst-case scenarios, it can kill your pet. This Begonia species have leaves with a fun fuzzy feel. These elegant plants arent hard to propagate. Consider using a systemic fungicide. Begonias are some of my favorite indoor plants. Begonia tubers increase in size each year and after three years or so, the flower display will begin to deteriorate. Warm spells are unavoidable I personally avoid using air conditioning if possible due to my other, more heat-loving plants but its best to keep your begonia in a cooler part of your home or office. Rex begonias make excellent presents and are easy to divide. . This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. At night, the temperature should never drop below 60F (16C). They thrive on humidity but be careful if misting leaves that they don't stay too wet and encourage powdery mildew. On transplant day, dig a hole sufficient to accommodate the begonia's root ball or tubers (in the case of tuberous begonia). Use as many as you need to hold the leaf flat. With a moderate growth rate, rex begonias may grow to less than 12 inches in a year. This moisture goes straight to your plant since it sits atop the water source. In the video, Alan of The Plant Farm talks about the unique Rex Begonia and how to propagate it. Place in a brightly lit, 60 to 70 degree F room and keep the soil moist but not soggy. % of people told us that this article helped them. Provide 50% humidity. After you've resolved the initial problem, prune your plant from the top-down, removing the leggy parts. Begonias require less light than most house plants. Please note the tuber I split here in the images is nowhere large enough to need splitting but it is all I had on hand to demonstrate with! Regular LED Lights vs. Grow Lights, just didn't know how. Begonia rex is toxic to pets such as cats, dogs, and horses, according to ASCPA. Mealybugs are the biggest plant pest problem with this Begonia. The stem stretches, causing the normal spacing between leaves to become excessively wide and gaping. The cutting should then be placed in a clean pot filled with moistened potting mix. You want to switch out the saturated soil for fresh, moist soil. Cover the whole cutting and pot with a plastic bag to help maintain the proper moisture levels needed for a begonia. The rex begonia vine can be grown as an indoor plant or as an outdoor plant, though it will not survive cold temperatures outdoors. Is it skewed in one direction? Let the surface of the soil get dry to the touch before watering. University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science. Direct sunlight can cause damage to this plant. Your begonia, regardless of variety, requires partial shade to bright, indirect light to thrive. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. A great way to prevent powdery mildew is through a spray mix you can make at home. Debra LaGattuta is a gardening expert with three decades of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. Lay the plants roots on a paper towel. Leave them in place until they start to get in the way. When the plants are 3 inches tall and have at least two leaves, theyre ready to lift. Rex begonias are semi-tropical perennial plants native to Asia, usually grown as house plants. Insert the garden fork about 6 inches from the plant so the roots won't be damaged by the fork. Brush off the excess soil and inspect the rhizome to find the buds. Its easy to do, especially when keeping the soil moist. Propagating Begonia rex. Creach Greenhouse and The Plant Farm are family owned and operated. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. Avoid nicking or cutting the tuber if you are using a spade. Rex begonias are not only lovely and graceful, but they are also very simple to cultivate from leaf cuttings. "I've been losing all my beautiful leaves off most of my favorite plants! And make sure your plant is always getting bright but indirect sunlight. A leggy begonia, like an adolescent, is one that is rapidly growing. Have a lovely tuberous begonia who has been blooming well since August but is leggy now in December. To be cautious, I always rinse all my supplies (and my hands) in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart of water. You should also make sure theres good air circulation near your plant. How to Grow Tuberous Begonias But the air in the plants environment cant be dry. Examine your begonia growing environment. Use a garden fork to dig a healthy wax begonia plant. This is especially true in warmer weather more on that later. Provide 50% humidity. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . This beautiful plant was introduced to cultivation in 1952 and has puckered leaves with a dark cross in the middle. Place your Rex begonia in either a north or east-facing window to get bright indirect light indoors. Use a well diluted balanced plant feed monthly in the spring and summer. Rex begonias grow from a rhizome, which is a root system that sprouts buds and roots to grow into the plant. Rex begonias can be bought at the following online retailers: Logees, Amazon and Etsy, and many other online and offline shops. Rex begonias are a colourful addition to your indoor or patio potted plants. Start as many leaves as will fit in your tray or pot without the leaves touching. Mealybugs like to feed on the sap from the inside of a plant. Deer will eat the former and turn up their noses with the latter. 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. But be careful not to let the plastic touch the leaves or you could risk fungal problems. Get the plant pot ready. Place your plant in the shade if grown outdoors. Use a well-draining soil mix to care for Begonia rex and provide bright indirect light. A leggy begonia reminds me of a teenager in the middle of a growth spurt, gangly and out of proportion, and theres some truth to that. Some Begonias go dormant for the winter and others have no dormant period and continue to grow and flower for the entire winter. Step 2 - Prepare the New Location. This plant pot should have drainage holes on the bottom. You can also propagate rex begonia from water. Most potted plants have limited resources, and as a result, growth is restricted. You want to be careful during this process to avoid injuring the plants roots. . Begonias are prone to mildew and mold. Your plant will get plenty of sun but it wont receive direct sunlight. It grows about 6 inches tall and wide. Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening andPlant Care Review Board. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone. 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. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we Post #8301529 Quote CindyMzone5 Hobart, IN Jan 10, 2011 Should I try to evenly divide the roots so that all of the clumps have some roots? The best temperature is 65-75F (18-24C). Rex begonias are a special group, because we grow them for their beautiful leaves. The roots should be completely covered in soil. If you must use soils in your growing medium for any reason, make sure there is plenty of organic material scattered throughout to allow for proper drainage. Unlike other houseplants, bigger plant pots are better. Fill the tray with damp potting mix and youre ready for the fun part taking the cuttings! How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings When it comes to repotting, your choice of potting medium is critical. The soil should always be moist. 100K views 9 years ago In the video, Alan of The Plant Farm talks about the unique Rex Begonia and how to propagate it. Anthurium Light Tips, How Cold Can Anthurium Tolerate Temperature and Humidity. Common Issues with Strawberry Begonia. If youre afraid to damage the roots, use pruning shears for this step. Its beautiful leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight. These begonias have gorgeous flowers with frilly edges. Use warm water in a misting bottle. There are three types of begonia propagation: stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, and division. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg\/460px-IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg\/420px-IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":613,"bigWidth":420,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"