You May Also Like: 15 Amazing Phalaenopsis Orchid Facts. This can be done by tip cutting, by rhizome, or by leaf cuttings. Rex begonias are rhizomatous begonias. A rhizome is basically a thickened stem, and the leaves emerge from the rhizome. Rex Begonia Plant Propagation. Rhizomatous begonias have similar roots to normal plants but produce large puffy rhizome out of which the roots grow. Rex begonias are striking known as painted-leaf begonias or fancy-leaf begonias because of their stunning leaf coloration. 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 … Commonly grown as a houseplant for its foliage, these begonias are also known as painted-leaf or fancy-leaf begonias. Different Types of Rex Begonia Plant. Rex begonias do well in bright indirect light. Propagating begonias is actually quite simple and easy. Aug 26, 2018 - How to Propagate a Rex Begonia Leaf. Rex begonias require high humidity and heavy fertilization during the growing period. Ideal as houseplants or in hanging baskets, elatior begonias (Begonia x hiemalis) are short-lived but flower prolifically and come in fabulous colours, from hot reds and oranges to softer sherbet-like pinks, lemons and apricots. The first thing you must know before propagating begonias is that there are three basic types: fibrous, rhizomatous and tuberous. Select a healthy leaf. Marketing Information: Bench Card Download a Bench Card. Rex begonias are technically a rhizomatous begonia, but are often put in a group of their own because of their amazing iridescent foliage. Generally, the rex begonia indoors prefers relatively cool temperatures, moist soil and humid conditions. Remove dead leaves promptly and keep the soil surface free of debris to avoid disease problems. It is best done from leaf cuttings. The advice given here will help guide you to growing success. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. The easiest method to turn one Rex Begonia into two (or more) Rex Begonias is by dividing the rhizome. Also try propagation using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings or by starting begonias from seed. The leaves may have bold shapes or striking, often silver markings. Rex begonia propagation is possible but it is a slow process. Growing begonias from their seeds, which are as fine as dust, takes time and careful handling. Increase your stock of rex begonias by taking leaf cuttings. Begonia rex is the most popular among the decorative foliage types, and its numerous varieties hold a distinct place in the garden. Growing Information: Culture Guidelines. Propagating the rex begonia is easy. They're wonderful in summer flower beds or containers, especially when combined with ferns and other semi-shade companions. Rex begonias are propagated in the same ways as other rhizomatous begonias and require much the same care. Creating new rex begonia plants is not a complex process. Many varieties go into a sort of semi-dormancy in the winter, losing many or most of their leaves. Some direct sun is okay for short times, especially if it is from an eastern window that … Simply put a leaf cutting in a mixture of moist peat moss and perlite and wait for it to root. Place the cutting at a 45-degree angle in a fresh pot of peat moss and perlite. 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. Choose a healthy leaf and cut it off from the base of the plant. Begonias such as Begonia Rex and Begonia metallica are popular houseplants grown for their attractive foliage or flowers. 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. Advertisement. Growing Rex Begonias Indoors. Dip each piece into hormone rooting powder and shake off the excess. 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. Trim the stem down, as close to the leaf as possible. The rhizome is cut apart and divided in order to propagate new plants. We're back this week with Steve Rosenbaum of Steve’s Leaves to talk begonia propagation, which is easier than you think! 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. 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. In terms of growing, they like rich, well-drained soil and detest soggy feet. This variety is known by the name winter begonia because it can be brought indoors for winter blooming. The Rieger begonia can be propagated by wintering the plant indoors and taking new … How to grow begonias . Sep 29, 2018 - How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings: Rex begonias are beautiful and easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Once the Rex begonia starts growing again in spring, fertilize with an all-purpose, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer applied at quarter strength. Above: Begonia rex ‘Red Tango’ mixes well with other shade- and humidity-loving plants such as asparagus ferns and geraniums. It is grown for its large colorful leaves rather than its small pink flowers. All begonia foliage is varied and attractive, and the flowers are long lasting. I had several pots of Rex Begonias this summer that I grew outside for their coloured leaves and because they tolerate quite deep shade. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don’t have a very long lifespan. The easiest and most straightforward way to propagate rex begonias is by whole leaf cuttings. Propagation of the rex begonia is much easier than actually caring for the plant as a whole. You may get several cuttings depending on the size of your leaf. Leaf cuttings are the easiest method of propagating rex begonias. A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest. Related Posts. Make sure the stem is at least an inch or two long. Propagating tuberous begonia using the tuber method is only one way of adding to the begonia collection. Fibrous begonias have roots like most plants. Begonia leaves come in a variety of shapes, sizes, color combinations, and patterns. Photo - Eve81/Shutterstock.com. 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. By dividing/propagating plants you can continue to enjoy them throughout the years. Cut off the leaf’s stalk. Reapply every two weeks while the plant is actively growing. Sunday, 24 March, 2019 at 3:00 pm . Larger flowered types are often grown as specimen house plants, as are rex begonias, which have impressive foliage. Remove the stem with a sharp knife and slice the leaf into wedges, each piece with a main vein. Clean a sharp scissors or small garden pruner. Grow begonias in peat-feee, multi-purpose compost in dappled sunshine to partial shade. Propagate by leaf or stem cuttings. Propagating Rex Begonia. They are rhizomatous, meaning they typically grow horizontally and with shortened stems. Conditions: Considered perennials in tropical and semitropical climates, Rex begonias are frost tender and typically grown as annuals or houseplants in North America. Origin: The initial species, B. rex, originated in the forests of northern India.Today, there are countless cultivars derived from this species enjoyed around the world. 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. With a clean cut remove a healthy leaf. Rex Begonias are beautiful tropical foliage plants, but they are expensive to buy. Do not allow water to remain on the leaves, other wise they become susceptible to botrytis. Let me show you how to get more of these great plants practically free! You can start them in a glass of water. Semperflorens group: - Evergreen, bushy perennial, often grown as half-hardy bedding annuals. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec; To do; To do: J Do not To do in January F Do not To do in February M Do not To do in March A Do not To do in April M Do not To do in May J … 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. Any of these propagation methods—or all of them—can result in spectacular begonias in the home garden. Remember that if you save the seeds from your hybrid begonias, you won’t get baby plants that look exactly like the parent. They are however considered harder to grow well, especially over time. 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).). To sanitize the implement, wipe it with a solution that is at least 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. A Rieger begonia is a hybrid cross between a fibrous and tuberous begonia. You can also use a slow-release, all-purpose formula applied every three months. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. Propagating The Rex Begonia. Tuberous begonias produce a fleshy tuber at the base of the stem, similar to a bulb. Begonia Rex-cultorum group, (bah-GO-nyah). Rex: Rex begonias are entirely their own class of begonia. You can take a cutting from any healthy leaf in the spring or summer season. RuudMorijn / Getty Images. For example the Begonia (Rex Cultorum) cv. No need to use a soilless mix and rooting hormone, these plants want to grow. Oct 16, 2020 - How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings: Rex begonias are beautiful and easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. The plant produces male and female double rose-shaped blooms with the male blooms dropping two to three days after opening. Most rex begonias sold today are named hybrids, although they are not always labeled as such. There are hundreds of cultivars of B. rex to choose among, usually classified by leaf size—small (three inches or less), medium (three to six inches), or large (more than six inches). Their distinct foliage makes them a popular houseplant, but they can be finicky. Fortunately they're part of the rhizomatous begonia group and that means you can take leaf-cuttings and save money. More From Doityourself . Rieger: This category of begonias is winter-flowering. If you would like to propagate more pots of begonias, fill out the original pot with more plants, or just share with friends, begonias are some of the easiest to root from cuttings. A group of two or three pots of these little beauties will brighten any room. 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