how to divide a rex begonia how to divide a rex begonia

Powdery mildew is a pain to get rid of, but its possible with a lot of effort. Whats more, dividing rex begonias reinvigorates them and makes them grow better. Needed good info to prune and appreciate this info as I am not as good a plant person as my sister who gave me this plant. Ensure it bears at least one leaf node. Temperature and Humidity Do not mist, increase humidity with humidifier or pebble tray. Repot in spring when the rhizome outgrows the pot. Rex begonia can be difficult to grow because of its need for high humidity. Flip the begonia leaf over and use your knife to make a 12-inch cut across five or six of the main veins. They can take up to 6 weeks to emerge, so be patient. Cut the stem off all the way back to the base of the leaf. The best time to divide is during the repotting period in the spring or summer. A systemic fungicide can help. Since you must wait for the roots to dry, prepare the plant pot. Youll also want to check the roots to ensure root rot hasnt started. How to Divide 45 Favorite Perennials BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. It can harm or even kill your plant. 4. You should also make sure theres good air circulation near your plant. Make sure you sterilize the pruning shears with isopropyl alcohol. It can be a tattered, older leaf, but on the underside, the main veins should be plump and undamaged. They are resilient and thrive under that level of pruning. It can be challenging to find just the right conditions for rex begonia to display its best leaf color. Rhizomatous types grow from fleshy, caterpillar-like structures inclined to spread over the pot lips or even stand upward. When the plants are 3 inches tall and have at least two leaves, theyre ready to lift. . If you must use soils in your growing medium for any reason, make sure there is plenty of organic material scattered throughout to allow for proper drainage. How to Propagate Begonia Rex in Water by using a single leaf | plant Propagating Experiments. This beautiful plant was introduced to cultivation in 1952 and has puckered leaves with a dark cross in the middle. And always make sure the first inch of soil is dry before you water your Begonia rex. Regarding the Rex Begonia, you want to repot in a shallow pot. See those tiny plants unfurling? Above: Moist soil, happy begonia. This means they steal the hydration and nutrition from the plant. 100K views 9 years ago In the video, Alan of The Plant Farm talks about the unique Rex Begonia and how to propagate it. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. Slice down several inches deepat least 6 inches for most plants and more for extremely large, well-rooted plants. Press seeds onto the surface of the medium and cover them lightly with milled sphagnum. So what are you waiting for? Its important to pay careful attention to your plant so you can fix any problems as they arise. Remove the diseased leaves. BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. The Begonia tuberous plant creates beautiful pink flowers. Why are the leaves on my Begonia rex fading? These flowers have a slight resemblance to roses. It contains Soluble calcium oxalates. They bloom in several colors, including pink, orange, and red. Step 4: Pin the rex begonia leaf into seed-starting mix Turn the begonia leaf back over and press it into the seed-starting mix. Dip each piece into hormone rooting powder and shake off the excess. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Begonias shed their lower leaves as they grow older. Read our. I like to take leaf cuttings because its so fascinating to watch a single leaf sprout a whole bunch of babies. Potting soil, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. The biggest plant disease you want to avoid from over-watering is root rot. It takes about 1,000,000 begonia seeds to make up 1 ounce, with each seed weighing about 28 micrograms. They need room to spread. The easiest method is to buy a humidifier. When an infestation is too big for you to handle, consider pesticides. To be cautious, I always rinse all my supplies (and my hands) in a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart of water. You should fertilize your winter-blooming plants with a high-phosphorus, water-soluble fertilizer that contains little or no nitrogen. When to Start Seeds Indoors Propagate by leaf cuttings or sections of rhizome No pruning is required. Ingestions may lead to vomiting, kidney failure in grazing animals, and salvation in cats and dogs. When the water evaporates, it creates moisture in the air. Avoid putting a pin through a main leaf vein, or that vein may not root. A leggy begonia reminds me of a teenager in the middle of a growth spurt, gangly and out of proportion, and theres some truth to that. How to Water Houseplants Rex begonias make excellent house plants, and are easy to divide so you can gift them to friends. But don't let the soil become overly dry or the plant will begin to wither. These elegant plants arent hard to propagate. Let me show you how to get more of these great plants practically free! Dividing and conquering the fastest-growing genus: Towards a natural sectional classification of the mega-diverse genus Begonia (Begoniaceae). The biggest way to prevent plant pests is to examine all new plants before you bring them into your home. Brush off the excess soil and inspect the rhizome to find the buds. After you've placed your Begonia Rex seedlings into holes in the soil, cover them with soil and water them generously. Rex begonias grow at a medium speed, but they like a pot with room to grow, so you won't need to worry about repotting too often. The best temperature is 65-75F (18-24C). 2. Start as many leaves as will fit in your tray or pot without the leaves touching. Begonias are prone to mildew and mold. You can use a pair of sterilized pruning shears to do this. Rex begonias can be bought at the following online retailers: Logees, Amazon and Etsy, and many other online and offline shops. The most common affliction from too much direct sunlight is the scorching of leaves. Keep in mind youll want to use distilled water for this plant. Its also the most common issue youll come across. Advice on chopping top half do you have to cut where there's still green on the base or can you cut lower if there's pups growing? There are two main ways to propagate a Rex Begonia. a Few Hardy Begonias @ Beefsteak geranium,King begonia,painted-leaf begonia,Rex begonia. Or pink with silver edges. Begonia rex Taxonomy ID: 200043 (for references in articles please use NCBI:txid200043) current name. You can purchase this Rooting Powder in our retail store, The Plant Farm located in Spokane Valley, WA. How to Divide 45 Favorite Perennials 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. Allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings. Theyre full of chemicals, so its important to test an area of your plant before using it. Po each piece into individual pots of new compost, making sure each portion of rootball is planted at the same depth it was originally. Cover your container with its dome or plastic wrap. For a previously leggy plant, a good all-purpose balanced liquid fertilizer is ideal. Within minutes youll see plant pests popping up deceased. Now that weve restored your radiant beauty, lets look at how to keep that legginess from reappearing. Step 3: Cut the rex begonia leaf. Now, set your plant on the pebbles. I am going to walk you through how to propagate Begonia using root division and through leaf cuttings. The soil for your Begonia should always be moist. . Set Up Your Apiary With the Best Beekeeping Supplies, Create a Safe Deer Feeding Station With the Best Deer Feeder, Become More Efficient With the Best Rubber Buckets, Declutter Your Outdoor Space With the Best Deck Boxes, Liven up Your Lawn With the Best Grass Paints, Create a Relaxing Sitting Space With the Best Gazebos, Optimize Your Orchids Growth With the Best Orchid Fertilizers, Improve Your Gardens Soil Health With the Best Fish Fertilizers, Relax and Unwind With the Best Inflatable Hot Tubs, Best Patio Sets to Level up Your Outdoor Space, Seclude Your Garden with the Best Outdoor Privacy Screens, Unleash Your Flower Power With the Best Fresh Flowers, Safeguard Your Equipment With the Best Riding Lawn Mower Covers, Guarantee Extra Protection With the Best Lawn Mower Covers. How to propagate Begonia Rex from stem cuttings Take 4-6 in. Then spray your Begonia down with the oil. While begonias are prone to becoming leggy, there is a relatively simple fix that can result in even more begonias! But they will also let you know if they feel that their water, light, and soil conditions are a bit off for their liking. Cut away any shrivelled or soft and rotten sections of the tuber and discard these. See those tiny plants unfurling? When shopping for a new pot, choose one that is only an inch (2.5cm) or so wider across the top. Because they are not aggressive bloomers, they can tolerate less light than other begonias and will thrive under fluorescent lights. Fill the tray with damp potting mix and youre ready for the fun part taking the cuttings! 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. On transplant day, dig a hole sufficient to accommodate the begonia's root ball or tubers (in the case of tuberous begonia). You will want to be looking at the underneath side of the leaf. 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. 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. Step 1 Snip off flowers and older leaves first to give the division more energy for root growth. It can be a tattered, older leaf, but on the underside, the main veins should be plump and undamaged. Once fall hits, the plant goes dormant. Plant with the flat or concave section of the root facing up. Rex Begonia can also reproduce by dividing tubers. These plants are grown almost exclusively for their foliagetheir blooms tend to be small and less showy and many growers pinch off blooms to maintain breathtaking leaf displays. 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. A leggy begonia appears bare, with an insufficient amount of foliage. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Place in a brightly lit, 60 to 70 degree F room and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Other varieties may not require as much vigorous pruning, but even the most delicate begonia will benefit from having its overgrown stalks and stems trimmed back. Keep your leaf cutting near 70 degrees and give it plenty of humidity. It isnt too good to be true! How to Make a Kokedama. Learn more Rex begonias are striking known as painted-leaf begonias or fancy-leaf begonias because of their stunning leaf coloration. 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. Then you can use the mix to spray down your plant. Move your plant to a shadier area. It contains soluble calcium oxalates. Then, to keep the cuts in contact with the mix, start pushing T-pins through the leaf into the soil. These strange plant pests are soft-bodied. It's best to divide the tubers in the early spring, after the buds have begun to swell. When you cut a leaf, make sure the leaf-cutting has three inches of the petiole attached. If you can squeeze water from the medium, it is too wet. Gently tease away some of the soil, and split the horizontal rhizome along with its healthy root systems. Then simply immerse the entire stalk in water. On occasion, Ive pruned the top of a begonia, removed the leggy portion of the stem, and then immersed the remaining top in water to establish root. Appearance. Make sure the water isnt running full blast. Let the surface of the soil get dry to the touch before watering. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overwatering as it may cause fungal diseases or rot. But if you place a piece of paper under your plant and shake it, you should see them fall. Begonias are prone to fungal infections, and bleach kills any lurkers. Tamp down the medium to hold the cutting upright. Grows up to 10-12 in. But you should always test a small area of your plant to be on the safe side. Lay the plants roots on a paper towel. Always be careful during this process, you dont want to damage the Rex Begonia plants roots. Begonia rex plants can quickly get mildew or fungal diseases. Divide the vine into smaller pieces, ensuring each has at least two or three leaves. Gather the items on the "Materials & Tools" list above. The plant needs more light, but not intense light. Make sure you sit your plant a few inches away instead of sitting it right under the light. This Begonia creates both gorgeous leaves and flowers. Water once the to 1-inch of soil is dry once a week. You can use a mixture of perlite, vermiculite and peat moss, if you prefer. Simply keeping your new dense delight well-watered and well-lit will result in thicker, more luscious growth. To get rid of an infestation naturally, you should try neem oil. This article will show you the easiest way to propagate a rex begonia leaf. Dry, brittle leaves are a symptom of dry air. This is to prevent the spread of spores and fungi. Don't water the leaves, only the soil to avoid fungal disease issues. Keep your leaf cutting near 70 degrees and give it plenty of humidity. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Taxon 67(2): 267-323. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Plus, you want to trap in moisture so itll grow quicker. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. And make sure your plant is always getting bright but indirect sunlight. The humidity levels are too low (but don't mist the plant because rex begonias do not like wet foliage). Rex begonias grow from a rhizome, which is a root system that sprouts buds and roots to grow into the plant. It should have drainage holes. Divide rhizomatous begonias in spring, ensuring that each portion of the rhizome bears one or more growing points. Rex begonias do best in moderate temperatures (60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and moderately high humidity (around 50 percent). 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.