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Rex Begonias aka thepainted - leaf begoniagrows on window sills , on plant life base , tables , and even a breezeway .

At one fourth dimension , the Rex begonia was think to be rigorously for the greenhouse hobbyist . Such is not the case any longer !

The beautiful leaves of the Rex Begonia

Are Rex Begonia Houseplants ?

Today anyone can have the necessary ethnical know - how to grow these most luxuriant and beautiful of house plants . Rex begonia can be grow much anywhere in the house where there is good igniter and some sun .

Rex Begonia Needs No Extra Special Treatment

Surprisingly enough , most Rex do not need supernumerary - especial catering to , as is conceive by many the great unwashed . By nature , these works want and ask :

Here are the basics for a good Rex Begonia potting medium .

Mix all these factor good . The deal - over - bridge player method acting proves the well and safe , as the hands will detect any rough-cut materials that might have launch the sifting .

wedge propagation of a begonia leaf

Get the “ feel ” that the mixture is uniform . After mix these constituent , wash thoroughly so that all of the medium is damp , but not wet .

Now the potting process is quick to begin .

Never Allow Rexes To Dry Out

At no time should a rex begonia be countenance to become dry . These begonia demand moisture from the territory – top to bottom of the pot . At no time should the variety be drippy wet .

Do not allow the pots to baby-sit in H2O for any distance of time , as this can cause source guff . water supply thoroughly each time ( never just the top soil ) .

Water again when the soil at the top is slenderly crumbly to the pinch .

Begonia leaf propagation showing where to cut the veins

The water used should be passably tepid so that the tender etymon system does not become dismayed and cool by inhuman temperature such as would follow from the ordinary faucet , especially in wintertime .

The one thing many learn when they start with king is that they begrudge cold , squiffy feet . They before long learn that Rexes need to be watered in the daylight rather than at night , especially during the colder calendar month .

day temperatures usually dry off spare wet and warm up the dirt , thus creating a affectionate evaporation of moisture up around the leaves .

rooting begonia leaves in water

Yet , if a male monarch is dry , it should be watered regardless of the sentence of the day .

plant water at Nox are more susceptible toBotrytis blight . If the weather is cool , be certain the plant is well - drained and not left standing in water overnight .

Watering from the top causes no injury , and it is quicker than placing the pots in water to drench up the moisture .

If a industrial plant is not get thorough chroma of the dirt , it may show signs of dryness by a deficiency of growing and eventual drooping and dropping of the leaves .

Humidity Required

king necessitate humidity at all times . All begonias necessitate it . It ’s well-heeled to cater the humidity necessary for theater plant .

During the summer , with window open , and moisture in the air travel is provided by nature .

Even with air conditioning , during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when there is hot , drying air stirring , humidness can be given by spraying with a fine mist of piss or define the pots on moist pebble , sand , or vermiculite .

If you spray the parting , attention should be fill to keep the plant life out of unmediated sunshine until the moisture has dried .

In the wintertime , supply the humidness by having a bubbling teakettle on the stove during the day .

Rexes Like Fresh Air Too

Rexes expect impertinent melodic line as much as people . If they are on the window sill , it is good not to have the wind and hot air of summertime will take wet out of the leave of absence and get browning .

In the wintertime , the strain is too chill . Open a windowpane and give up fresh tune to amount from another window to the plant indirectly .

Bright light and some sunshine are needed by all rexes at all metre to serve keep the foliage color undimmed . The sun ( and impertinent zephyr ) help oneself to forestall fungus problems .

Details on the growing the HouseplantRex Begonia under fluorescent lights .

Many variety can gracefully have the early to the mid - morning time Sunday , and tardy afternoon sunshine in summer . I find many variety will take , and be most happy , in full winter sun , especially the darker - toned ones .

Some of the silvery - tone ones are likely to incinerate , but if given the mid - morning sunlight , they will answer with a shiny sheen . The sun does much in the deepening of the color feel in rex leafage .

Rex Propagation

Rex are propagate by various methods .

The leave may be rooted in water or a mixture of peat moss and sand . The rooting medium must be dampish , and the leaves must have a gamey percent of humidity while they are first rooting .

The plantlets come up in much the same room as do African reddish blue .

For the first potting , habituate saturated peat moss and 2 1/2″-inch pots . I prefer clay plenty , though other raiser praise plastic containers .

After pot , the young plant life are watered thoroughly , allowed to enfeeble well , and then congeal back into umbrageous after part for a few days so that they will have a chance to start new growth .

untried plants will thrive if the small great deal are aggroup together and snuggled into moist peat moss .

Related : Tips on develop the Dragon Wing Begonia

Propagating From Wedges

experience rex begonia growers often propagate from wedges of the leaves . You ’ll ask a sharp knife and a pair of crisp - edged shears .

The knife is for cutting the leaf from the flora , and ignore away the leaf root word about one - quarter to one - one-half in from the sinus , for it is from the sinus that the rootlet of the new plants rise .

NOTE : The “ sinus ” is that portion of the leaf where the folio theme join the folio itself .

With the shears , the wedge heel are shaped – mean to issue away the excess leaf .

The wedges need to be three inches high-pitched at the most . Some people make them triangular , some orchard apple tree - mold , but the shape of the wedge has no bearing on the fruitfulness of it .

When the submarine sandwich are shaped , normally the cut of meat stem and sinus is dip into a hormone powder , then cautiously insert into the rooting spiritualist to just above the fistula , sprayed in softly but thoroughly with tepid water to go down the medium .

At no time should the medium become dry . Put the tray of wedges where it will receive undifferentiated warmth , night and mean solar day , but no direct sun .

The root process is unremarkably quicker if they are kept uncovered , specially in the summer , when there are ordinarily while of very humid weather .

submarine sandwich allow uncovered are much less likely to decompose before roots have a chance to forge .

Leaves used for generation , and particularly for wedge , must be strong and goodish .

If one wishes to set a rex folio on any rooting culture medium , best results are obtained by thoroughly moistening the medium first , and draining off any excess wet .

Fine cuts may be made in the large veins on the back of a rex leaf , the cuts treated with hormone pulverization and the folio laid carefully and swimmingly on the root medium .

It is then pin down carefully ( I employ hairpins ) so as not to penetrate the cut veins .

leave rooted in body of water should be pot as soon as the roots are an in long .

I ’m afraid I wish ALL rex begonias , but my favorites are the coloured I that have personality plus . Many , in my ruling , will develop anywhere , anytime , under any and all term .

Their openhanded , satiny , dark leafage spotted red and purpleness .

Yes , I am afancy lead rex begonia hobbyist , an nut could be the word , but I enjoy them to the level best . The more I have , the more I want , and so it will be with you !