Its best to do your pruning in the warmer months when the plant is growing, too. To fix a leggy begonia, first, determine what is causing the overgrowth and then correct it by increasing light, temperature, or changing the plants pot. Rex begonias are a colourful addition to your indoor or patio potted plants. A Begonia rex needs porous fast-draining soil using peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. Over-watering can make your plant sick and fast. Po each piece into individual pots of new compost, making sure each portion of rootball is planted at the same depth it was originally. Remove the begonia from its container and gently tease the roots apart, position it in the pot and backfill around it. Rex begonias require high humidity and heavy fertilization during the growing period. Tuberous begonia. You can test the moisture with your finger. Mealybugs like to feed on the sap from the inside of a plant. Temperature and Humidity Because they are not aggressive bloomers, they can tolerate less light than other begonias and will thrive under fluorescent lights. You can care for the leaf-cutting as you do the original Begonia rex. How to Make a Kokedama. Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. And make sure your plant is always getting bright but indirect sunlight. Step 3: Cut the rex begonia leaf. Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. Copyright 2023. How to Grow Rex Begonia Rex begonias are grown from seed and require about four months to reach maturity before being ready for flowering. Toxic to pets such as cats and dogs and horses. Its not uncommon for a clipped cane to produce two new shoots, resulting in an overall thicker and bushier plant. This beautiful plant was introduced to cultivation in 1952 and has puckered leaves with a dark cross in the middle. The rhizome is cut apart and divided in order to propagate new plants. Mist the foliage of Rex (foliage) type begonias twice a week or provide high humidity to avoid leaf drop. The leaves are hairy and wavy. Begonia rex plants can quickly get mildew or fungal diseases. Begonias are easily propagated at home. Thank you! If you see silver or grey spores on your plant, it has Botrytis Blight disease. Fill containers with fine-textured potting mix and moisten it. Ingestions may lead to vomiting, kidney failure in grazing animals, and salvation in cats and dogs. She is a Master Gardener and lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. Youll also want to check the roots to ensure root rot hasnt started. Here is where you will find the Rex begonias, Dragon Wing begonias, and other specialty ones like Eyelash begonias. Youll only need to refill the tray with water once its empty. Then, place the vase or glass containing the plant in a light and warm spot to provide the perfect growing conditions. Allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings. It was published in 1857. The vibrant colored leaves of a Begonia Rex start to fade and look bleached when it is getting too much direct sun. If your plant is turning brown, with brittle leaves/dead leaves, it is likely to be one of three causes. It contains Soluble calcium oxalates. To grow a begonia in a pot, you need to allow for growth, so ensure you choose a pot that is twice the width and depth of the plant. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, a tablespoon of canola oil, and a tablespoon of dish soap. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. Rex begonias like bright, indirect light year-round. Allow the top layer of soil to become completely dry in between waterings. How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings Youll know you have a mealybug infestation if you see cotton fluff covering your plant. Its leaves can be almost round, angel-wing shaped, or any other form. To be cautious, I always rinse all my supplies (and my hands) in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart of water. Tamp down the medium to hold the cutting upright. After you've resolved the initial problem, prune your plant from the top-down, removing the leggy parts. The biggest plant disease you want to avoid from over-watering is root rot. Published: Wednesday, 26 August, 2020 at 3:06 pm. Rex begonias are often troubled by powdery mildew and botrytis fungal disease. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Fertilize your begonia no more than once a month during the growing season for best results. Plant one Begonia rex per pot. If you give your begonia too much space, it will seize the opportunity and spread as quickly as it can into the new space. Carefully cut away the rotted portion of the roots, and re-pot in better soil. How to Water Houseplants Cut the tuber with a sharp knife directly between the two stems. There are a few plant pests that love the Begonia rex. Begonia rex is toxic to pets such as cats, dogs, and horses, according to ASCPA. Male and female flowers are borne separately on the same plant, the male . It contains soluble calcium oxalates. All of that summer zeal will end up in the leaves, giving you a display of growth to be proud of. You can use tape to keep the plastic wrap to the cutting. Once a nice cluster of roots has formed, they can be potted as a separate plant in their own right. The roots should be completely covered in soil. The best light for rex begonia vine when growing indoors. The biggest way to prevent plant pests is to examine all new plants before you bring them into your home. Is the Begonia rex plant toxic to animals? Its a great way to get your begonia bushing out instead of legging it upwards. Knowing which Begonia you have can help a lot in having success with bringing the plants indoors for the winter. Place the cutting at a 45-degree angle in a fresh pot of peat moss and perlite. 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. This is how you may get more of these wonderful plants for free. Dont be afraid! Make sure you pack the soil tightly around the cutting. Plants are root bound when you can't insert a pencil into a drainage holes on the pot. If you have a heat mat for seedlings, that will help the begonia leaf cuttings get off to a faster start. You should only fertilize this plant during the growing season when new growth emerges. These leaves are arranged in an asymmetrical manner on the stems. Provide 50% or more humidity and fertilize every three weeks using a liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/2 strength. Flip the begonia leaf over and make a -inch cut across five or six of the largest veins with your knife. Its a natural oil and isnt known to harm many plants. Painted-leaf begonia can be propagated in different ways, including: Leaf cuttings; Stem cuttings; Dividing the rhizome; Of the three, the most common is leaf cutting because it requires less work to set up. Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Plant Disease Handbook. Use warm water in a misting bottle. Let me show you the secret to propagating rex begonias from leaf cuttings. You want to switch out the saturated soil for fresh, moist soil. Using a shovel or flat-edged spade, slice completely around the outer perimeter of the plant, a few inches away from the foliage. For a Begonia, use regular houseplant fertilizer at half strength every two to three weeks in spring and summer. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. To prevent transplant shock (common with heavy-handed transplants), water the plant 24hrs before the main event. After youve resolved the initial problem, prune your plant from the top-down, removing the leggy parts. It drains well while retaining a good amount of moisture, and the slow but steady decomposition of the moss provides a consistent amount of nutrition. Direct sunlight can cause damage to this plant. As with other begonias, the rex and other foliage begonias prefer the same humid, gentle environment in which understory ferns thrive. The Begonia is a stunning houseplant with colored leaves that grows from a rhizome. Now, set your plant on the pebbles. 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. The leaves are narrow and spotted white. A great way to prevent powdery mildew is through a spray mix you can make at home. Youll want to repeat this process about three days later. But the air in the plants environment cant be dry. And the Begonia rex isnt the only wonder species out there. This plant dislikes cold temperatures. With a moderate growth rate, rex begonias may grow to less than 12 inches in a year. Mealybugs are the biggest plant pest problem with this Begonia. University of Connecticut Home and Garden Information Center. The soil for your Begonia should always be moist. Ive cut each vein about an inch from the central vein in the photo above. If the begonia will be transplanted to an outdoors location, prepare the soil about 7 to 10 to days before planting by adding aged manure or compost and mix into the soil. Because of its thick stems, this Begonia is known as a fibrous Begonia. Use a well diluted balanced plant feed monthly in the spring and summer. 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. A leggy begonia appears bare, with an insufficient amount of foliage. ". Examine your begonia growing environment. This Begonia species have leaves with a fun fuzzy feel. How to Divide Bearded Irises Pin the leaf down so that each cut makes good contact with the seed-starting mix. Gather the items on the "Materials & Tools" list above. . They can take up to 6 weeks to emerge, so be patient. How to Make a Kokedama. There are two main ways to propagate a Rex Begonia. Then go ahead and fill the tray with water. But because they propagate so easily, it's a simple matter to keep a steady supply of healthy plants by creating new plants from cuttings. These cuts (and the stem cut) are where the new plantlets will form. Unlike other houseplants, bigger plant pots are better. 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. You deal with powdery mildew when you see a white powdery substance all over your plant. The truth is, dry leaves are a sign of over-watering. Leave them in place until they start to get in the way. The plant needs more light, but not intense light. These elegant plants arent hard to propagate. The temperature should be between 65-75F (18-24C). After you've placed your Begonia Rex seedlings into holes in the soil, cover them with soil and water them generously. Rex begonias are a colourful addition to your indoor or patio potted plants. The original leaf probably will have torn apart and may have even disintegrated. Rex-cultorum begonias can be propagated in three ways, based on their type: by softwood cuttings, by leaf cuttings, or by dividing the rhizomes in summer. Find out how, in our step-by-step guide. Rex Begonia plants are rhizomatous plants. Rex begonias do best in moderate temperatures (60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and moderately high humidity (around 50 percent). Keep the temperature setting at about 70 degrees. Whats more, dividing rex begonias reinvigorates them and makes them grow better. There are wide different Begonia rex varieties available: Begonia rex has vibrant foliage that ranges from red to green to purple with various patterns. Stand the stem into the bottle, and keep foliage above water or on top of the bottle. Anthurium Light Tips, How Cold Can Anthurium Tolerate Temperature and Humidity. First, let's talk about the best light for Cissus discolor when it is grown as a houseplant year-round. Begonia rhizomes are sensitive to soggy soil or overwatering and may rot. Now that weve restored your radiant beauty, lets look at how to keep that legginess from reappearing. Cut the germinated tubers longitudinally, each with 1 to 2 buds, and plant in a pot after the incision is dried. Slice down several inches deepat least 6 inches for most plants and more for extremely large, well-rooted plants. Taxon 67(2): 267-323. Sow so the surface of the tuber is right at or right beneath soil level. The best temperature is 65-75F (18-24C). Theyre perfect for the pastel plant lover. But if all the roots are rotten, there isnt anything you can do for the plant. I am going to walk you through how to propagate Begonia using root division and through leaf cuttings. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we Find out how, in our step-by-step guide. Water when the top 1 of soil becomes almost dry about once a week. Remove the stem with a sharp knife and slice the leaf into wedges, each piece with a main vein. A temperature between 65-75F (18-24C) is ideal. However, while they do best in partial shade and indirect light, this is not the same as no light at all. Keep the temperature setting at about 70 degrees. . 2.