Learn how to water and fertilise rex begonias , along with what potential pests and problem to look for .
Rex begonia caution can be a bit tricky , but the basics are simple — don’t overwater or overfertilize the plant , and keep it in a suspicious , humid area .
What to Look For
To avoid rootage rot , which will kill your rex begonia , water supply your plant only when the top inch or so of the potting premix feels ironic to the touching . Do n’t get the leaves pie-eyed , or you go the risk of powdery mildew .
If you mark that the leaf tips are browning , make certain your plant is catch enough humidness . To help with humidness , keep the potted flora on a tray of gravel or pebbles , where the overflow piddle can help raise the wet level . Also , keep your king begonia away from fans , drafty windowpane , air conditioners , and heaters .
The Beauty of Rex Begonias
Thoughbegoniasare often sleep with for their pretty blooms , rex begonias tolerate out for their intriguing foliage . you may witness rex begonia with textured leaves in bass plum or hopeful Red River with a nice shine . You ’ll have plenty of choices — there are at least 4,161 cultivars of rex begonias .
Denny Schrock
Here ’s what you require to make love about how to grow rex begonias outside or at bottom .
Credit:Denny Schrock
All parts of rex begonias are toxic to dogs , cats , and horses .
Where to Plant Rex Begonias
Like most begonias , rex begonias are tropic plants requiring affectionate , humid conditions to flourish . alfresco , rex begonias can be plant in containers in bright or shady spots in regions with ample humidity . They bring home the bacon outdoors within a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees , but they must be brought within when the temperature drops .
Indoors , these begonias do well in east - facing locations or due south - facing window just outside verbatim Dominicus . Areas in the house with higher humidity , such as bathrooms and kitchen , will help provide enough ambient moisture not to train burn leaf edges . Keep the begonias far away from fans , heater , and air conditioners .
How and When to Plant Rex Begonias
Rex begonia can be planted or repotted indoors at any meter of the year , but they do better while actively growing during the ardent bounce and summer calendar month .
Begonias can be moved outside during the summer month while temperature remain above 60 degree and humidity is gamy . Rex begonia are not cold or freeze - liberal and will quickly give out back after even a light hoarfrost .
implant the rootstalk inwell - drain potting soil , adding compost or perlite to ameliorate drainage . Plant rex begonia close together to allow them to trap their own moisture and stay good for you .
Credit:Lynn Karlin
Rex Begonia Care Tips
Light
For the best colour and wellness , give your rex begonias plenty ofbright , collateral light . verbatim light will burn most rex begonia leaves , while too little brightness level can lead to to a fault recollective , weak leafage and staunch . An east - facing location in the house with dayspring sun or just outside the reaching of direct brightness level in a south - facing location is ideal . Outdoors , morning sun or mottled igniter under a tree is prefer .
Soil and Water
Rex begonia are vulnerable to overwatering and can rapidly rot if not planted in soil with excellent drainage . Use a quick - drain soil oradd perlite , sand , or modest barque chipsto attention drainage . While drainage is essential , rex begonia favor perpetual wet with tenuous drying between waterings during their growing season .
Water your begonia thoroughlyand provide any excess to drain away from the root . Water plant when the top bed of soil begin to dry or the leaves set out to flag ( thinly wilt ) .
Some rex begonia cultivar experience a little sleeping menses toward the end of the season as temperature start out to chill . If your plants show signs of quiescency , such as slowing growth and dropping leaves , edit out back on watering until emergence sum up .
Credit:Denny Schrock
Temperature and Humidity
Rex begonias prefer temperatures interchangeable to those the great unwashed enjoy , making them great houseplants . daylight temperatures in the seventy or depressed LXXX and temperatures decreasing by about 10 degrees at night are idealistic . Humidity is fundamental to keeping begonia leaves full and unmutilated by unsightly browned edges and deformity . Keep humidness above 50 percent throughout the growing season .
Fertilizer
During their growing time of year , rex begonias profit from a constant supply of a well - balanced liquid fertiliser applied every other hebdomad , come after the instructions on the production packaging . However , toward the end of the growing time of year , when plants slow in growth , halt fertilizing your plant to avoid overfeed them . rest begonia do not want to be fertilize and may even show signs of burn along their leaf edges or root rot if over - fertilized .
Pruning
While rex begonia do not need pruning , some hint - up trimming can be beneficial to redirect plant growth or get rid of drained leave . If the plants lead off to grow out of their pots , crop them back and replant the cut - off circumstances to constitute knockoff of the original flora .
Potting and Repotting Rex Begonias
When pot rex begonias , use aceramic or terra - cotta potwith drain holes . Fill it with a straightaway - draining soil or tally perlite to commercial potting grunge . The container should be only 2 to 3 inch wide than the plant ’s root ball . Your begonia can remain in the container as long as the rootstalk is n’t touching the sides . Once it grows gravid enough to touch the sides , it is time torepot your flora into a new containera few column inch with child with fresh planting metier .
Pests and Problems
Begonias of all kinds are prostrate to a variety of pests , includingmealybugsandaphids , as well as fungous infections and ancestor rot .
Indoors , mealybug are among themost common houseplant pestsaffecting rex begonias . Isolate overrun plant life and manually take out the insects with a fingertip or cotton fiber mop . Next , spray the plant with neem oilor insecticidal soap . Multiple applications may be necessary to eliminate mealybugs and other pests .
tooth root rot is a common job for many begonia mintage and hybrids . To avoid antecedent putrefaction , plant begonias in loamy soil with excellent drainage . Perlite , Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , and ground orchid bark can be bestow to the soil to ameliorate drain , porosity , and airflow . Planting in terra - cotta clay pots can also help to keep off overwatering .
Credit: Justin Hancock
How to Propagate Rex Begonias
Rex begonias are relativelyeasy to propagate through folio cuttings and division . However , harvest seeds are unlikely to resemble the parent plant , so seeds should only be sown when experimenting or creating unexampled hybrid .
Leaf Cuttings :
novel plants begin to form in about three to four weeks . Be patient , as this process can take quite for a while . novel plants will form leave , rhizomes , and antecedent . The plantlet can be divided and planted in individual containers at this stagecoach .
Divisions : bend one rex begonia into two bydividing the rhizomes . Remove the plant from its container and use your hands to deplumate the rhizomes and roots apart . Immediately replant the two section in container filled with pot soil . These plants can be separate at any meter of twelvemonth , but they react more tardily in the winter .
Types of Rex Begonias
Although there are one C of varieties of rex begonias , here are a few that show the diversity of variety and colors .
‘Escargot’ Rex Begonia
Lynn Karlin
Begonia rex’Escargot ' is a relatively common mixture that is rightfully popular due to its wondrously swirled green and silver medal leaves , appearing almost like the shells of its namesake . It grows 6 to 12 inches marvelous and wide .
‘Fireworks’ Rex Begonia
Begonia rex’Fireworks ' is another exceptionally colorful plant . ' Fireworks ' produces hard textured leaves with deep plum purple , gullible , and silver . It grows 10 to 16 inches tall and 18 inches extensive .
‘Shadow King Lava Red’ Rex Begonia
' Shadow King Lava Red ' is a bright red leaf with a classifiable shine . It grows 8 to 12 inches magniloquent and spreads 15 to 18 in broad .
Frequently Asked Questions
Because of their complex ancestry , rex begonias do not typically develop truthful from seed . Any seeds plant will more than belike be unlike from the parent plants .
While rex begonia can grow passably large , they have very stringy root systems and do not need deep or overly large containers . They can acquire 12 to 24 inch over several years .
Most rex begonia live only a few years , so plan to start leaf cuttings for the next generation by spring of the third year .
“ Rex Begonia . ” University of Connecticut Home and Garden Education Center .
“ Rex Begonias . ”Fine Gardening .
" Rex Begonia . " ASPCA .
