This Begonia species have leaves with a fun fuzzy feel. Cut away any shrivelled or soft and rotten sections of the tuber and discard these. When the water evaporates, it creates moisture in the air. Dip each piece into hormone rooting powder and shake off the excess. To get rid of an infestation naturally, you should try neem oil. You can care for the leaf-cutting as you do the original Begonia rex. Rex begonias are semi-tropical perennial plants native to Asia, usually grown as house plants. This plant dislikes cold temperatures. Begonia rex is toxic to pets such as cats, dogs, and horses, according to ASCPA. Use warm water in a misting bottle. External Information Resources (NCBI . A very well draining potting mix with added sand and perlite. A tuber ready to divide should be large and also have at least two clear stems. Stick the leaf petioles or wedges into the soil, and slip the tray into a plastic bag. Begonias, according to conventional wisdom, benefit from smaller-than-average pots. Rex begonias can also be propagated by pinning a leaf to the bedding mix and making small incisions in the leaf veins or by inserting a leaf (with a petiole) directly into the soil. We empower you to efficiently solve each new challenge and make your life better and easier. Mix together well and moisten with water. How to Grow Tuberous Begonias When it comes to repotting, your choice of potting medium is critical. (6 Useful Methods of Use). They assume that the plant needs more water. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Be careful not to over-water your plant, though. Water the begonia transplant and acclimate it in an area out of direct sun. Plant with the flat or concave section of the root facing up. Deer will eat the former and turn up their noses with the latter. Rex begonias are rhizomatous plants that grow from a, When the rhizome begins to butt up against the sides of the pot, however, it's time to. I am going to walk you through how to propagate Begonia using root division and through leaf cuttings. The best light for rex begonia vine when growing indoors. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/divide/how-to-propogate-rex-begonias-from-leaf-cuttings/, How to Root Succulents with Leaf Cuttings, How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings. Rhizomatous begonias such as the rex begonia can be easily propagated by. The leaves on this plant can grow to about 6 inches in width. Most of the time, the roots should be easy to divide by hand. Let me show you the secret to propagating rex begonias from leaf cuttings. Your plant cannot photosynthesize and produce food if it is not exposed to light. These cuts (and the stem cut) are where the new plantlets will form. Because of its thick stems, this Begonia is known as a fibrous Begonia. It should sit right under the top layer. Provide 50% or more humidity and fertilize every three weeks using a liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/2 strength. A systemic fungicide can help. Begonias are prone to fungal infections, and bleach kills any lurkers. Because they are not aggressive bloomers, they can tolerate less light than other begonias and will thrive under fluorescent lights. Step 1 - Find a suitable tuber. Make a hole in your planting medium with a dibble stick (or if you're like me, use that pencil sitting on the counter) and insert your stem into the hole. This plant is only a semi-tropical plant. Giving your leggy begonia a haircut is the absolute best way to deal with it! 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. 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. If it has, remove the rotten roots. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Find out to divide your rex begonia house plants, in our step-by-step guide. Pests love hopping from one plant to another. It can be a tattered, older leaf, but on the underside, the main veins should be plump and undamaged. Rex begonias grow from a rhizome, which is a root system that sprouts buds and roots to grow into the plant. The soil should be watered to feel slightly, but evenly moist. I like to take leaf cuttings because its so fascinating to watch a single leaf sprout a whole bunch of babies. Etiolation is the rapid growth of the portion of the stem between the leaves. Expect one or two plants per cut. Common Issues with Strawberry Begonia. How many Begonia rex plants can I put in one pot? Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Stick to the plan above, and your bundle of twigs will be restored to its verdant glory in no time. The Rex Begonia originates in areas without salt in the water. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. They come in various colors, the most common color being green. Keep the temperature setting at about 70 degrees. It's best to divide the tubers in the early spring, after the buds have begun to swell. Begonia Listada Plant Care Best Practices, Scarlet Begonia (Begonia Coccinea) Best Care Tips | Plantophiles, [] The leaf surface has a mixture of colors ranging from green grass ting to red. Avoid putting a pin through a main leaf vein, or that vein may not root. You deal with powdery mildew when you see a white powdery substance all over your plant. 1. Make sure you pack the soil tightly around the cutting. The Rex Begonia requires bright but indirect sunlight. Gently remove the begonia from its container and immediately transplant it into the new medium. . You start by filling a tray with smooth pebbles. Or pink with silver edges. This begonia is rhizomatous, growing from a thick, fleshy rhizome that grows just below the surface of the soil. Rex begonias are a special group, because we grow them for their beautiful leaves. . This is to prevent the spread of spores and fungi. What are the Anthurium Roots Above the Soil? wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Find out how, in our step-by-step guide. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. 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Once you see the plant roots coming through the pots drainage holes, its time to re-pot it. Your plant will get plenty of sun but it wont receive direct sunlight. But doing this can mean accidentally over-watering your plant, which makes using fast-draining soil super important. When you cut a leaf, make sure the leaf-cutting has three inches of the petiole attached. The Begonia is a stunning houseplant with colored leaves that grows from a rhizome. Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Plant Disease Handbook. In most cases, it is easiest to divide a perennial plant by first digging and lifting the entire plant. By cleverly planting multiple plants in the same space, each with sprouted cuttings from the parent plant, you can give the appearance of a bushier plant. Gently remove the Rex begonia from its nursery pot, handling the root system with care, and place in the middle of the new container. Begonia seeds are tiny and you might mistake them for dust or pollen. These cuts (and the stem cut) are where the new plantlets will form. 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. Don't water the leaves, only the soil to avoid fungal disease issues. If you see silver or grey spores on your plant, it has Botrytis Blight disease. You should only allow the top inch or so of the soil to dry out before you water. Begonia rhizomes are sensitive to soggy soil or overwatering and may rot. A temperature between 65-75F (18-24C) is ideal. There are a few different methods that can be used to propagate rex begonias, but the most common is stem propagation. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. On the other hand separating the rhizome takes the most work since you need to get the plant out of its container. Rhizomatous varieties, such as the popular begonia rex, are even easier, requiring only a single leaf in water to produce a new addition to your collection. Keep it out of direct sunlight, but in a warm, well-lit spot. Now you care for the new plant like you do the mother, Rex. Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. Copyright 2023. Start as many leaves as will fit in your tray or pot without the leaves touching. Letting the cut sides dry overnight before replanting as well as the use of fungicide helps prevent this. Start as many leaves as will fit in your tray or pot without the leaves touching. Tuberous, rhizomatous, and waxy begonias do not suffer as frequently as cane varieties, but long and malformed leaves can still be seen. Once the plant pot is ready to go, you can go ahead and plant the leaf-cutting. Trim the cutting to just below the next node along for cane or tuberous begonias. Its both economical and satisfying to watch your sad, leggy begonia transform into a thriving swarm of new plants. The petiole is the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the plant stem. Bright indirect sunlight, and can tolerate direct sunlight too. How to Grow Rex Begonia Rex begonias are grown from seed and require about four months to reach maturity before being ready for flowering. The rex begonia is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. [], [] want to dilute the neem oil with water in a spray bottle. Theyre perfect for the pastel plant lover. All rights reserved. You need to dilute the neem oil with water. The vast majority of begonias offered in the trade are hybrids so they cannot be accurately propagated from seed. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening andPlant Care Review Board. And the Begonia rex isnt the only wonder species out there. Its best to do your pruning in the warmer months when the plant is growing, too. Ive cut each vein about an inch from the central vein in the photo above. Step 3: Cut the rex begonia leaf. Move your plant to a shadier area. Cut the leaf and stem from the main plant, then take off the leaf stem and throw it away so youre left with just the leaf. It should be getting bright indirect light. Consider using a grow light if you cant find a good bright spot. However, if you have over-fertilized your begonia, it may seize the opportunity to really get going, shooting up and becoming leggy. . "I've been losing all my beautiful leaves off most of my favorite plants! This is a common method for dividing hardy begonias. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don't have a very long lifespan. Begonias require less light than most house plants. This is because of []. Have a lovely tuberous begonia who has been blooming well since August but is leggy now in December. Learn more Rex begonias are striking known as painted-leaf begonias or fancy-leaf begonias because of their stunning leaf coloration. Let me show you how to get more of these great plants practically free! Your begonia, regardless of variety, requires partial shade to bright, indirect light to thrive. Plants are root bound when you can't insert a pencil into a drainage holes on the pot. Take a close look at the shape of your begonia first. Water Rex begonias like regular water but hate being overwatered. 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. This is how you may get more of these wonderful plants for free. Divide rex begonia in early spring right before the plant begins growing again. If you have a heat mat for seedlings, that will help the begonia leaf cuttings get off to a faster start. If you can squeeze water from the medium, it is too wet. They need room to spread. This means they steal the hydration and nutrition from the plant. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When to Start Seeds Indoors You can cut off up to two-thirds of the top of any given cane begonia. How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Plants 5 Proven Ways! Use regular houseplant fertilizer tri-weekly diluted to half-strength. Flip the begonia leaf over and use your knife to make a 12-inch cut across five or six of the main veins. Take a transparent bottle half filled with water. Allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings.