how to divide a rex begonia

When the plants are 3 inches tall and have at least two leaves, theyre ready to lift. Dont forget to rotate your plant whenever possible, so all parts are getting equal amounts of light. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Booman has another trick: Water thoroughly so that at least 20 percent of the water flows out of the pot, and don't let the plant sit in the water for a second, so that the salts cannot be taken up by the plant. There are wide different Begonia rex varieties available: Begonia rex has vibrant foliage that ranges from red to green to purple with various patterns. Blight plant disease is challenging to battle. Begonia rhizomes are sensitive to soggy soil or overwatering and may rot. The roots should be completely covered in soil. Begin by removing the tallest, thinnest stalks. Fill the remainder of the container with the potting mix, carefully firming it up around the begonia and being sure not to plant any deeper than it was growing in its nursery pot. Make sure the water isnt running full blast. You Might Also Like: This can take about two or three weeks. It may seem brutal, but there really isnt much to it. Snip off flowers and older leaves first to give the division more energy for root growth. Rex Begonia. They frequently have large leaves (up to 6 inches long) that are brightly colored in various shades of green, red, silver, and even purple. After youve resolved the initial problem, prune your plant from the top-down, removing the leggy parts. If planting outdoors, do so in May after frosts, but plant anytime indoors. When choosing your pot, a good general rule of thumb is no more than 20cm across the top for each begonia. Its a great way to get your begonia bushing out instead of legging it upwards. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Lush Garden 5.95K subscribers 108K views 2 years ago #begoniarex #waterpropagation #begoniarex. This is it! A Begonia rex needs porous fast-draining soil using peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Among the various types of begonias, Begonia rex is one of the most beautiful and dramatic plants. Knowing which Begonia you have can help a lot in having success with bringing the plants indoors for the winter. Open the containers lid once a week for 10 minutes to let the cuttings breath. Rex Begonia plants are rhizomatous plants. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don't have a very long lifespan. Remove the begonia from its container and gently tease the roots apart, position it in the pot and backfill around it. Rex begonias like bright, indirect light year-round. Mixing plants in a small indoor pot is not recommended in general, but when it is literally parts of the same plant, you can avoid the pitfalls of over-planting your pot. To prevent transplant shock (common with heavy-handed transplants), water the plant 24hrs before the main event. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You Might Also Like: When the water evaporates, it creates moisture in the air. Flip the begonia leaf over and use your knife to make a 12-inch cut across five or six of the main veins. Use a sharp knife and divide into as many pieces as you like, as long as each piece has at least one bud on it. Don't water the leaves, only the soil to avoid fungal disease issues. The soil should be watered to feel slightly, but evenly moist. It should be getting bright indirect light. A small amount of root-binding is ideal for keeping your plant compact and lush. This is how you may get more of these wonderful plants for free. This plant disease can destroy a plant. Theyre full of chemicals, so its important to test an area of your plant before using it. The Rex Begonia originates in areas without salt in the water. Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Do not put a Begonia where it gets a southern or even a western exposure. Here is where you will find the Rex begonias, Dragon Wing begonias, and other specialty ones like Eyelash begonias. Learn how from The Urban Gardener, Alan Creach of Creach Greenhouse and The Plant Farm.In this video, Alan refers to root tone, which is the same type of product as Bonide Rooting Power, which is what we currently use and recommend at The Plant Farm. How Much Light Do Anthuriums Need? While begonias are prone to becoming leggy, there is a relatively simple fix that can result in even more begonias! Provide 50% humidity. These cuts (and the stem cut) are where the new plantlets will form. Fertilise every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertiliser. Young leaves should be removed before they unfurl. Temperature and Humidity Fertilize your begonia no more than once a month during the growing season for best results. This will help make it stand up. Deer will eat the former and turn up their noses with the latter. Find out to divide your rex begonia house plants, in our step-by-step guide. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Fertilize your begonias. Cissus discolor, also known as rex begonia vine, is an evergreen, perennial, flowering trailing plant in the grape or family Vitaceae native to Southeast Asia, . have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. With a sharp spade, cut a piece off. They bloom in several colors, including pink, orange, and red. The Begonia rex is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. You should fertilize your winter-blooming plants with a high-phosphorus, water-soluble fertilizer that contains little or no nitrogen. Begonias shed their lower leaves as they grow older. Tuberous begonia. Rex begonias are beautiful and easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Amend the medium with a couple of tablespoons of ground limestone to help control humidity. How to Divide Bearded Irises. Letting the cut sides dry overnight before replanting as well as the use of fungicide helps prevent this. Obviously, a larger pot is required if you have a larger plant, but its best to err on the side of caution and stick to smaller ones to prevent them from sprinting off into every available bit of the new roomy pot. Fibrous rooted and rhizomatous begonias do not die back once a year like tuberous begonias. By dividing/propagating plants you can continue to enjoy them throughout the years. You want to be careful during this process to avoid injuring the plants roots. With a moderate growth rate, rex begonias may grow to less than 12 inches in a year. You'll notice if the leaves of your lovely rex begonia begin to wilt, which is one of its most common problems. Get rid of these infected leaves right away. Pests love hopping from one plant to another. Water the begonia transplant and acclimate it in an area out of direct sun. It's best to divide the tubers in the early spring, after the buds have begun to swell. My begonia is so leggy that I wonder if when I cut it I can cut the stems several times to propagate them? Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. Copyright 2023. Well walk you through both methods step-by-step down below. We earn from qualifying purchases. This will double the chance of being successful with propagation. There is a major downside to spritzing the Rex Begonia. I am going to walk you through how to propagate Begonia using root division and through leaf cuttings. If you have a heat mat for seedlings, that will help the begonia leaf cuttings get off to a faster start. How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Plants 5 Proven Ways! But most come with leaves in a pretty pink with blackened edges. These leaves are arranged in an asymmetrical manner on the stems. When used sparingly, this will encourage the growth of those lovely leaves without inspiring them to reach for the stars. To fix a leggy begonia, first, determine what is causing the overgrowth and then correct it by increasing light, temperature, or changing the plant's pot. "I've been losing all my beautiful leaves off most of my favorite plants! Brush off the excess soil and inspect the rhizome to find the buds. This means it wont absorb the fertilizer. Soil Airy, light, fast-draining soil is best for rex begonias. These resemble pink or red bumps, similar to the growing eyes on potatoes. 100K views 9 years ago In the video, Alan of The Plant Farm talks about the unique Rex Begonia and how to propagate it. Painted-leaf begonia can be propagated in different ways, including: Leaf cuttings; Stem cuttings; Dividing the rhizome; Of the three, the most common is leaf cutting because it requires less work to set up. Cultivar Selection Begonia rex : Evergreen perennial to 30cm, with large, obliquely ovate leaves which are metallic green with a silvery zone on the upper surface, reddish beneath; panicles of small pink flowers in winter. I have a question. The first thing you do is to dig up your Rex Begonia plant. How to propagate Begonia Rex from stem cuttings Take 4-6 in. If you have a heat mat for seedlings, that will help the begonia leaf cuttings get off to a faster start. Look for a healthy, full-grown leaf on the parent rex begonia plant. Its both economical and satisfying to watch your sad, leggy begonia transform into a thriving swarm of new plants. Water when the top 1 of soil becomes almost dry about once a week. The best way to thicken the stem of your begonia is to simply wait. Keep in mind youll want to use distilled water for this plant. You can purchase this Rooting Powder in our retail store, The Plant Farm located in Spokane Valley, WA. Overgrowth occurs in all begonias, but it is most noticeable in cane begonias. It grows 8 inches tall and wide. Continue reading to learn how to turn this unfortunate circumstance into a win for your indoor garden. Typically grown for their beautiful leaf markings, most rex begonias have large leaves with intricate swirling patterns in a variety of colours including green, red, purple and silver. However, while they do best in partial shade and indirect light, this is not the same as no light at all. And the soil should be porous and fast-draining soil. Giving your leggy begonia a haircut is the absolute best way to deal with it! Rex begonias are herbaceous perennials in zones 10-12 so they are treated as annuals or houseplant specimens in Connecticut. Because they are not aggressive bloomers, they can tolerate less light than other begonias and will thrive under fluorescent lights. Plant with the flat or concave section of the root facing up. The temperature should be between 65-75F (18-24C). An older begonia may become leggy as the leaves on its older stems fall off. It isnt too good to be true! Follow our step-by-step guide to dividing rex begonias and create the perfect gift for friends and family, while ensuring the continued health of your own plant. I hang fluorescent lights 6 inches above the cuttings and leave them on about 12 hours each day until the new plants start to grow. Pruning on a regular basis causes the plant to mature and develop a thicker set of stems. Gently transplant the babies into 3-inch pots. ". Use a well-draining soil mix to care for Begonia rex and provide bright indirect light. Start as many leaves as will fit in your tray or pot without the leaves touching. First, let's talk about the best light for Cissus discolor when it is grown as a houseplant year-round. Finally, pinch back stray leaves on a regular basis to keep your begonia lush. 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. Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. Copyright 2023. A temperature between 65-75F (18-24C) is ideal. Dividing and conquering the fastest-growing genus: Towards a natural sectional classification of the mega-diverse genus Begonia (Begoniaceae). Other common problems caused by over-watering include yellowing leaves, fungi, and stunted growth. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. She is a Master Gardener and lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. They can take up to 6 weeks to emerge, so be patient. Fill an 8-inch diameter pot with well-draining soil mix. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. NCBI BLAST name . This article will show you the easiest way to propagate a rex begonia leaf. Another way to prevent pests is to remove dead or dying leaves right away permanently. Most indoor plants, on the other hand, live in a kind of perpetual spring, where it is warm but not hot and there is little moisture in the air. You can care for the leaf-cutting as you do the original Begonia rex. 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. If the begonia will be transplanted to an outdoors location, prepare the soil about 7 to 10 to days before planting by adding aged manure or compost and mix into the soil. This is how you may get more of these wonderful plants for free. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Simply break off rhizomes that have grown outside the pot and start them in a small pot. Salsa Rex begonia is a silver-leaf type that's variegated with shades of green and burgundy-red. A leggy begonia, like an adolescent, is one that is rapidly growing. Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. Propagating Begonia rex. Begonia roots are prone to rot immediately after dividing. But theyre covered in a cotton-like substance that protects them from outside forces. Get the plant pot ready. These flowers have a slight resemblance to roses. Its beautiful leaves are sensitive to direct sunlight. Expect one or two plants per cut. What if I told you that you could propagate a bunch of beautiful rex begonias for almost nothing? If you do this too often, it can create powdery mildew. This plant is only a semi-tropical plant. How to Divide Bearded Irises. The seeds . Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. They thrive on humidity but be careful if misting leaves that they don't stay too wet and encourage powdery mildew. Divide the leaf into sections about 2cm long, each with . Rex begonias do produce delicate flowers but are usually grown for their spectacularly colored and intriguingly textured leaves. Ive cut each vein about an inch from the central vein in the photo above. Rhizomatous types grow from fleshy, caterpillar-like structures inclined to spread over the pot lips or even stand upward. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. . Please note the tuber I split here in the images is nowhere large enough to need splitting but it is all I had on hand to demonstrate with! But if you place a piece of paper under your plant and shake it, you should see them fall. Use warm water in a misting bottle. . The scorch marks can be either dark or white. You want to switch out the saturated soil for fresh, moist soil. Is it skewed in one direction? Take a close look at the shape of your begonia first. Step 2 - Prepare the New Location. This plant dislikes cold temperatures. A small infestation isnt a big deal; once it grows, your plant can be in big trouble. There is an entire group of hybrid begonias that the world knows as Rex Cultorum meaning that they can all trace their . Now, set your plant on the pebbles. Fill the plant pot with porous and fast-draining soil. Rex begonias are semi-tropical perennial plants native to Asia, usually grown as house plants. The best light for rex begonia vine when growing indoors. Because rhizomes have shallow roots, a shallow pot will do. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg\/460px-IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg\/420px-IMG_20160613_180020-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":613,"bigWidth":420,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"