Place the cutting at a 45-degree angle in a fresh pot of peat moss and perlite. Propagating Rex Begonia. The advice given here will help guide you to growing success. You can take a cutting from any healthy leaf in the spring or summer season. The plant produces male and female double rose-shaped blooms with the male blooms dropping two to three days after opening. They're wonderful in summer flower beds or containers, especially when combined with ferns and other semi-shade companions. Rex begonias are technically a rhizomatous begonia, but are often put in a group of their own because of their amazing iridescent foliage. Rex begonias grow from a rhizome, which is a root system that sprouts buds and roots to grow into the plant. Propagate by leaf cuttings or sections of rhizome; No pruning required. Propagating The Rex Begonia. Increase your stock of Begonia rex by leaf propagationBegonia rex is one of our most popular houseplants due to its gorgeous foliage and the fact that it is easy to keep, coping with low light levels and the occasional drying out. Begonia rex is the most popular among the decorative foliage types, and its numerous varieties hold a distinct place in the garden. It is best done from leaf cuttings. Rex Begonia Plant Propagation. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don’t have a very long lifespan. Do not allow water to remain on the leaves, other wise they become susceptible to botrytis. Some direct sun is okay for short times, especially if it is from an eastern window that … Remember that if you save the seeds from your hybrid begonias, you won’t get baby plants that look exactly like the parent. Growing Information: Culture Guidelines. Clean a sharp scissors or small garden pruner. Reapply every two weeks while the plant is actively growing. Let me show you how to get more of these great plants practically free! Propagation of the rex begonia is much easier than actually caring for the plant as a whole. Photo - Eve81/Shutterstock.com. Growing Rex Begonias Indoors. Their distinct foliage makes them a popular houseplant, but they can be finicky. The easiest method to turn one Rex Begonia into two (or more) Rex Begonias is by dividing the rhizome. For example the Begonia (Rex Cultorum) cv. A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest. 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. By dividing/propagating plants you can continue to enjoy them throughout the years. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. Begonia leaves come in a variety of shapes, sizes, color combinations, and patterns. Grow begonias in peat-feee, multi-purpose compost in dappled sunshine to partial shade. Tuberous begonias produce a fleshy tuber at the base of the stem, similar to a bulb. Rex begonias require high humidity and heavy fertilization during the growing period. Rex begonias are propagated in the same ways as other rhizomatous begonias and require much the same care. Propagating begonias is actually quite simple and easy. Rooting tips (the plant tops) is simple, and can be done in much the same way as rooting tip cuttings for other plants (see, for example, the lesson on kohleria).). You May Also Like: 15 Amazing Phalaenopsis Orchid Facts. To sanitize the implement, wipe it with a solution that is at least 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Conditions: Considered perennials in tropical and semitropical climates, Rex begonias are frost tender and typically grown as annuals or houseplants in North America. This can be done by tip cutting, by rhizome, or by leaf cuttings. Dip each piece into hormone rooting powder and shake off the excess. Commonly grown as a houseplant for its foliage, these begonias are also known as painted-leaf or fancy-leaf begonias. Aug 26, 2018 - How to Propagate a Rex Begonia Leaf. Any of these propagation methods—or all of them—can result in spectacular begonias in the home garden. You can start them in a glass of water. I had several pots of Rex Begonias this summer that I grew outside for their coloured leaves and because they tolerate quite deep shade. Also try propagation using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings or by starting begonias from seed. They are rhizomatous, meaning they typically grow horizontally and with shortened stems. Let me show you how to get more of these great plants practically free! Propagating the rex begonia is easy. Larger flowered types are often grown as specimen house plants, as are rex begonias, which have impressive foliage. Marketing Information: Bench Card Download a Bench Card. Related Posts. The rhizome is cut apart and divided in order to propagate new plants. Fortunately they're part of the rhizomatous begonia group and that means you can take leaf-cuttings and save money. Sunday, 24 March, 2019 at 3:00 pm . How to grow begonias . Rex begonias (Begonia rex) are tropical plants, prized for their colorfully patterned and intriguingly shaped leaves.Although they are at home in a shady garden, they are also popular as houseplants.Many people collect and display several varieties. Rex begonias are striking known as painted-leaf begonias or fancy-leaf begonias because of their stunning leaf coloration. A group of two or three pots of these little beauties will brighten any room. No need to use a soilless mix and rooting hormone, these plants want to grow. Different Types of Rex Begonia Plant. Rieger: This category of begonias is winter-flowering. With a clean cut remove a healthy leaf. Begonias such as Begonia Rex and Begonia metallica are popular houseplants grown for their attractive foliage or flowers. Select a healthy leaf. Using a single leaf, you can grow new plants for your personal enjoyment or give away as gifts to fellow plant lovers, family members, friends, or co-workers. A subgroup of rhizomatous, Rex begonias (Begonia rex), are widely available, sold by florists and garden centers year-round, and generally reach 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. It is grown for its large colorful leaves rather than its small pink flowers. Begonia Leaf Cuttings Easy Propagation Method Begonia Leaf Cuttings are the easiest way to propagate these plants such as the beautifully foliaged Rex types as they really have no significant stems to work with. Begonia Rex-cultorum group, (bah-GO-nyah). Remove the stem with a sharp knife and slice the leaf into wedges, each piece with a main vein. We're back this week with Steve Rosenbaum of Steve’s Leaves to talk begonia propagation, which is easier than you think! Rex begonia propagation is possible but it is a slow process. The Rieger begonia can be propagated by wintering the plant indoors and taking new … A Rieger begonia is a hybrid cross between a fibrous and tuberous begonia. Rex Begonias are beautiful tropical foliage plants, but they are expensive to buy. Choose a healthy leaf and cut it off from the base of the plant. Increase your stock of rex begonias by taking leaf cuttings. The leaves may have bold shapes or striking, often silver markings. You may get several cuttings depending on the size of your leaf. Propagate by leaf or stem cuttings. Plant Details: Scientific Name: Begonia rex hybrid Common Name: Rex Begonia Hardiness Degree: 50°F (10.0°C) Blooming Season: Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Autumn, Late Summer Plant Habit: Mounded, Upright Characteristics: Drought Tolerant, Colorful/Attractive Foliage, Shade … Creating new rex begonia plants is not a complex process. Growing begonias from their seeds, which are as fine as dust, takes time and careful handling. They are however considered harder to grow well, especially over time. RuudMorijn / Getty Images. A Begonia Rex plant, also called a Painted-Leaf Begonia, a Fancy-Leaf Begonia, or King Begonia, is a colorful perennial flowering plant that originally came from India. Above: Begonia rex ‘Red Tango’ mixes well with other shade- and humidity-loving plants such as asparagus ferns and geraniums. Cut off the leaf’s stalk. Propagating tuberous begonia using the tuber method is only one way of adding to the begonia collection. 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