myindoorplants

Rex begonia is a species of the Begoniaceae family. Many call it the King of Begonia. It is found from Arunachal Pradesh to southeastern China. This plant is known for its large variegated leaves with green, red, silver and purple coloured. Rex begonia is a flowering plant that grows in looks so beautiful. The leaves of this plant look very designer. This Rex Begonia is the parent of over 500 indoor plants. It will grow very nicely if you can keep the environment in your house like this plant. Here are some grow and care tips for your Rex Begonia Plant.

Rex Begonia plant Prefers

• Scientific Name : Begonia rex
• Family : Begoniaceae
• Plant type : Perennial
• Length : 6 inches
• Temperature: 60°F to 75°F
• Humidity: 50%
• Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil type : Well draining
• Soil pH : 5.5 and 6.5
• Native area : Southern China
• Bloom time : Late Winter and Spring
• Flower colour: White, Red and Pink
• Toxicity: Human and Pets

How to Grow and Care of your Rex Begonia plant

Adequate amounts of light, water, soil, temperature, humidity and fertiliser should be obtained for the plant to grow healthy. This article will help you with help you with all the essentials you need to grow your plant.

If you want to know Wax Begonia plant care.

Light

Rex begonia plant prefers bright, indirect light and South facing windows are best for your plant growth. To be care, provide indoor rex begonia with proper lighting and use artificial lights to encourage healthy growth.Foliage of these plants could burn when plants are exposed to excessive direct sunlight.

Water

Get water once a week or when the top inch of soil is dry. The leaves and stems of Rex begonias are thick and succulent-like, established plants don’t need constant moisture. Established plants require less moisture and can go a long time between waterings. Allow the soil surface to become dry to the touch before watering. To be careful, don’t begonias sit in water which encourages root rot.

Soil

This plant grow best in rich, well draining soil like a standard potting mix with little care. If planting in containers, use a high-quality potting mix. Use a quick-draining soil or add perlite, sand, or small bark chips to aid drainage. Make sure containers have adequate drainage holes. The peat-based potting mix with a pH of 5.7–6.4 would be ideal for containers.

Temperature & Humidity

The ideal temperature range between 60 degree Fahrenheit to 75 degree Fahrenheit. In late spring, after all threat of frost has passed and when temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Rex begonia plant require humidity level is ideally above 50%. To maintain the humidity level, if you can increase the humidity level then use humidifier.

Fertiliser

Feed your plant during their growing season with a balance fertiliser. To make your plants grow faster, apply fertilisers when the plant starts flowering. It should be fertilized when they are actively growing. Use liquid fertilizer at half strength every two weeks during growing season.

Rex Begonia plant: Propagate your plant in healthy way

Rex begonia can be propagated from rhizomes devision or leaf- tip cutting. Propagation is the process when you want to grow up another plant. The best time to take your plant cutting for propagation is growing season when the plant actively grow healthy. This is the method of choice for getting a true plant from the parent. Replant the divided stalks with roots into their own pots. Take a 4 to 6 inch the cutting just below a node. Remove the lower leaves and produce rooting hormone but it is not necessary.Cut a healthy piece of stem with a few leaves attached, ensuring at least one node is present.

Pruning your Rex Begonia plant

Pruning is the essential part of its care that keeps your plant healthy and encourage lush growth. If the plants begin to grow out of their pots, prune them back and replant the cut-off portions to form clones of the original plant. The best time for pruning is late winter to early spring just before plants are actively in growth. To removing dead or yellowing leaves with sterilised scissors and make to encourage a bushier, fuller plant. 

Variety of Rex Begonia

• Escargot : This plant has pointed-leaf begonias with dark green color. They have a frosty silver swirl that looks like a snail shell.
• Salsa : Another variety of Rex Begonia is Salsa, it has dark green border that turns to a frosty silver and a dark fuschia center.
• Yamileth : It has medium sized leaves with dark green and fade to silver then to a dark purple at the edges.
• Curly Fireflush : This plant has unique feature round leaves that are light frosty green with a bright red margin.
• Cowardly Lion : Another variety of Rex begonia is Cowardly lion, it has
  fairly large-sized, swirled leaves and also have green color with chocolate-brown streaks through the veins. 
• Fireworks : Fireworks’ rex begonias pack quite a punch. The large, pointed leaves have three layers of colors that look like exploding fireworks.

Repotting of Rex Begonia plant

Reporting is important for those who want to grow more than one of your favorite plants and want to add to their garden. You should wait until a plant has filled its pot with roots before repotting. This plant will need repotting every 1-2 years and depending on how quickly it’s growing. Divide overcrowded plants by removing them from the pot then use a sharp knife to cut into the root mass and dividing it into 2 or 3 sections.

Facing common problem of Rex Begonia plant

1. Rex begonia plant has fungal disease like powdery mildew, mealybug and spider mites. It caused by fungal or bacterial infections and leading to discolored spots on leaves. 
2. Leaf browning is caused by low humidity or underwatering. Overwatering symptoms include yellowing leaves, mushy stems, and fungal growth on the soil surface. 

Benefits of Rex Begonia Plant

• The most common benefits of Indoor plant is air purification which can help filter indoor air by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen. Rex begonia can contribute to healthier indoor environment by removing toxins.
• This plant is use for aesthetic decorative purposes. They can be used to add colour to flower beds and borders in shady locations.
• Rex Begonia has eye-catching foliage if you can find a place for some in your workplace. It symbolise positive, gratitude, uniqueness and harmony etc.

Rex Begonia plant Faq

1.What’s the difference between a begonia and a rex begonia?

Ans. Begonia plants are perennial plants grown for their flowers. Rex begonia is grown their foliage.

2. Do you grow Rex Begonias outdoors for Summer?

Ans. They don’t tolerate very hot temperature well but otherwise they do fine. Keep an eye on them for powdery mildew after it rains.

3. How in the world do you grow thriving Rex begonias?

Ans. I am not a Rex begonia whisper but I do know that plants that have a damaged or weak root system might not show signs of active growing while they are putting energy into developing the roots.